This indie story revolves around the teen James Charm, portrayed by Kodi Smit-McPhee, who's very intelligent, likes to read, sketch in a notebook, and listen to Chopin. However, since his father passed away, some 6 months before, he's been extremely withdrawn and uncommunicative, and we will only learn very late in the film the shocking details of his father's death.
Seemingly unable to express himself to his mother (Virginia Madsen) or even his therapist (Danny DeVito), he will befriend both Val (Isabelle Fuhrman) and Harmon (Evan Ross) in two separate chance encounters, and they will help to draw James out of his shell somewhat.
The movie was written and directed by Michael Johnson, and is only 1 hour and 16 minutes in length.
In summary, although the acting here is solid, the script doesn't allow for the viewer to really know anything below the surface about the characters they're depicting. Thus, for me, they became sort of clichéd caricatures and I couldn't totally "buy into" their individual stories. One of the plot elements near the end of the movie is quite shocking, but it came across as rather gimmicky as well. Thus, all in all, a fair rating here.
Seemingly unable to express himself to his mother (Virginia Madsen) or even his therapist (Danny DeVito), he will befriend both Val (Isabelle Fuhrman) and Harmon (Evan Ross) in two separate chance encounters, and they will help to draw James out of his shell somewhat.
The movie was written and directed by Michael Johnson, and is only 1 hour and 16 minutes in length.
In summary, although the acting here is solid, the script doesn't allow for the viewer to really know anything below the surface about the characters they're depicting. Thus, for me, they became sort of clichéd caricatures and I couldn't totally "buy into" their individual stories. One of the plot elements near the end of the movie is quite shocking, but it came across as rather gimmicky as well. Thus, all in all, a fair rating here.