shane
02-17-2008, 08:01 AM
Anyone caught this little slice of genius? I rented it on a whim last week from Blockbuster and now a week later I own the dvd and the soundtrack. This is a great little film from the director of Spellbound (and a couple episodes of The Office). Here's a brief synopsis fro IMDB
Functioning 'Midst Dysfunctional: Hal Hefner [Reece Thompson] keeps trying to function in a dysfunctional family. His parents have separated; his Mom Juliet [Lisbet Bartlett] periodically moves in a lover [Judge Pete, as played by Steve Park] and his son Heston [Aaron Yoo]; and Hals angry, violent older brother Earl [Vincent Piazza] could be semi-certified as a Misfit. It is thus no great surprise that Hal has turned into a high-schooler who stutters both verbally and emotionally. He is not so much looking for answers to life's big questions as looking for answers to ANY questions. Meeting top-notch Debating Team star Ginny [Anna Kendrick] gives him a REASON to try to improve his life. He is not always successful at his attempts, but his WILLINGNESS to start making really sincere EFFORTS to improve is what is important.
I instantly fell in love with the film and its music from Clem Snide front man Eef Barzelay. I don't even know if it made it to theaters anywhere last year or if it went straight to dvd but it is definitely worth watching (again, and again). I would put it in the same rack with Thumbsucker and possibly Rushmore.
Shane
Functioning 'Midst Dysfunctional: Hal Hefner [Reece Thompson] keeps trying to function in a dysfunctional family. His parents have separated; his Mom Juliet [Lisbet Bartlett] periodically moves in a lover [Judge Pete, as played by Steve Park] and his son Heston [Aaron Yoo]; and Hals angry, violent older brother Earl [Vincent Piazza] could be semi-certified as a Misfit. It is thus no great surprise that Hal has turned into a high-schooler who stutters both verbally and emotionally. He is not so much looking for answers to life's big questions as looking for answers to ANY questions. Meeting top-notch Debating Team star Ginny [Anna Kendrick] gives him a REASON to try to improve his life. He is not always successful at his attempts, but his WILLINGNESS to start making really sincere EFFORTS to improve is what is important.
I instantly fell in love with the film and its music from Clem Snide front man Eef Barzelay. I don't even know if it made it to theaters anywhere last year or if it went straight to dvd but it is definitely worth watching (again, and again). I would put it in the same rack with Thumbsucker and possibly Rushmore.
Shane