The group of teen agers that are staying in an institution for troubled youths, come from all kinds of backgrounds and problems. All of them are the byproducts of a society in which parents have failed these kids in one way or another. Each one of the kids in the story could have never landed in this private mental facility with the kind of positive nurturing that responsible parents give their children.
It is indeed a motley crew we meet. When we first see Lyle, he is seen in an incident where he beats another teen with a bat and almost kills him. Tracy has been raped and screams at night. Kenny, the sensitive boy, sharing a room with Lyle, has been molested by his step-father. Michael, the rap fan, thinks and acts as though he was black. Chad, who soon will be leaving the place is a boy that should not be released to the outside world.
We get to hear all their stories as the well intentioned Dr. Monroe guide them thorough sessions of group therapies. They all bring their own baggage to the encounters and don't open up in the way the therapist would like them to, yet, it's clear these sessions have a profound effect on all of them.
The film, which was shown on cable recently, deserves an audience as its director, Jordan Melamed shows an affinity for the material written for the movie by Michael Bacall, who also plays Chad, and Blayne Weaver. The director and the cinematographer, Nick Hay, captured nuanced performances by everyone in the cast. The film utilizes the close up technique to emphasize all the emotions running at any given moment among the inmates.
Don Cheadle, a magnificent actor, plays Dr. Monroe with conviction. Mr. Cheadle deserves credit for always making the best of all his characters he has played, as he brings a dignity and vulnerability to his roles. Joseph Gordon Levitt is also another reason for watching the film. His Lyle is a study in contrasts. Zooey Deschanel makes a good impression with her Tracy. Michael Bacall is intense as Chad. Elden Henson, always a good addition to any films makes Michael, a bully, work. Cody Lightning is also good as the taciturn Kenny.
This is a film posing some serious issues and makes the viewer think. It also shows a good director at work, Jordan Melamed, who will go to bigger and better things, no doubt.
It is indeed a motley crew we meet. When we first see Lyle, he is seen in an incident where he beats another teen with a bat and almost kills him. Tracy has been raped and screams at night. Kenny, the sensitive boy, sharing a room with Lyle, has been molested by his step-father. Michael, the rap fan, thinks and acts as though he was black. Chad, who soon will be leaving the place is a boy that should not be released to the outside world.
We get to hear all their stories as the well intentioned Dr. Monroe guide them thorough sessions of group therapies. They all bring their own baggage to the encounters and don't open up in the way the therapist would like them to, yet, it's clear these sessions have a profound effect on all of them.
The film, which was shown on cable recently, deserves an audience as its director, Jordan Melamed shows an affinity for the material written for the movie by Michael Bacall, who also plays Chad, and Blayne Weaver. The director and the cinematographer, Nick Hay, captured nuanced performances by everyone in the cast. The film utilizes the close up technique to emphasize all the emotions running at any given moment among the inmates.
Don Cheadle, a magnificent actor, plays Dr. Monroe with conviction. Mr. Cheadle deserves credit for always making the best of all his characters he has played, as he brings a dignity and vulnerability to his roles. Joseph Gordon Levitt is also another reason for watching the film. His Lyle is a study in contrasts. Zooey Deschanel makes a good impression with her Tracy. Michael Bacall is intense as Chad. Elden Henson, always a good addition to any films makes Michael, a bully, work. Cody Lightning is also good as the taciturn Kenny.
This is a film posing some serious issues and makes the viewer think. It also shows a good director at work, Jordan Melamed, who will go to bigger and better things, no doubt.