Jason King12 and Holding ($16.50)
June 29th 2009 08:02
:
Released in 2005, From the Director of L.I.E.
Category: No Category
12 and Holding ($16.50)
Director Michael Cuesta followed up his debut film L.I.E. with another harrowing coming-of-age tale in 12 AND HOLDING. Cuesta casts young Conor Donovan (Matt Damon's junior in the Departed) as his lead, with the impressive actor playing twins - the sociable athlete Rudy and the distinctly introspective Jacob. Joining Donovan in the cast are Jesse Camacho as Leonard, a paunchy kid reminiscent of Jerry O'Connell's Vern in STAND BY ME, and Zoe Weizenbaum (Memoirs of a Geisha) as Malee, a quietly disturbed young girl with a fractured family life. The four 12-year-olds are close friends, but their lives are thrown into turmoil when a revenge prank by local bullies goes horribly wrong and Rudy is burned alive in a tree house. As Jacob's parents fall apart at the news, the rudderless surviving twin realizes he can't rely on them for support, so he makes the surprising decision to make regular visits to the two brothers who killed Rudy as they languish in a juvenile detention center. Meanwhile, Malee copes with the tragedy by obsessing over an attractive older guy named Gus (Jeremy Renner) and Leonard gets on a health kick despite his overweight parents' protestations.
This film has actually been in my top 20 for about a year now. It is bloody sensational. Think hardcore Stand by Me material in a twisted world. It is SAD - of course it has some laughs but is deep and real and it breaks your heart. But boy they do the entire film brilliantly. These kids are all total standouts. Conor Donovan is brilliant playing twin boys - although I do find that his facial birthmark changes shape throughout the entire film - bad continuity person
. Jesse Camacho could have played Vern in Stand By Me if he was born back then and Zoe Weizenbaum is years older than her age. I can't remember who it was, but it was some director of old that said never work with kids or animals. What a stupid director 
I serioulsy believe these kids have better performances than most A league actors out there. It is fresh, emotional and you can feel their sense of isolation from families and the pending change of future.
The film is directed by Micheal Cuesta who started his directorial debut with the most awesome L.I.E. (Long Island Expressway) and has since directed and Executive Produced episodes of 6Ft Under and Dexter. He also has a few new films in the works which I am looking forward to seeing. This was made on a shoestring budget and it didn't need more money - I can feel isolated suburbia and this film has so much tragedy and drama that Shakespeare would have given it two thumbs up.
The film is written by Anthony Cipriano and I am surprised this was his first and best writing and for some reason he went from writing this feature to being assistant writer on a few TV shows I have never heard of. Write more features Mr Cipriano - you can do it
This is a film that I picked up on a wet day at the DVD store and got the surprise of my life - it just shook me. In the film no one has a happy day - it is just tragedy on every level for everyone. I am astounded this did not get a cinema release - it deserved it! I thouroughly recommend you check this out when you can. If you liked Mean Creak or something bordering on Mysterious Skin then this one is for you. Love it - Worth $16.50
12 and Holding
Director Michael Cuesta followed up his debut film L.I.E. with another harrowing coming-of-age tale in 12 AND HOLDING. Cuesta casts young Conor Donovan (Matt Damon's junior in the Departed) as his lead, with the impressive actor playing twins - the sociable athlete Rudy and the distinctly introspective Jacob. Joining Donovan in the cast are Jesse Camacho as Leonard, a paunchy kid reminiscent of Jerry O'Connell's Vern in STAND BY ME, and Zoe Weizenbaum (Memoirs of a Geisha) as Malee, a quietly disturbed young girl with a fractured family life. The four 12-year-olds are close friends, but their lives are thrown into turmoil when a revenge prank by local bullies goes horribly wrong and Rudy is burned alive in a tree house. As Jacob's parents fall apart at the news, the rudderless surviving twin realizes he can't rely on them for support, so he makes the surprising decision to make regular visits to the two brothers who killed Rudy as they languish in a juvenile detention center. Meanwhile, Malee copes with the tragedy by obsessing over an attractive older guy named Gus (Jeremy Renner) and Leonard gets on a health kick despite his overweight parents' protestations.
12 and Holding
This film has actually been in my top 20 for about a year now. It is bloody sensational. Think hardcore Stand by Me material in a twisted world. It is SAD - of course it has some laughs but is deep and real and it breaks your heart. But boy they do the entire film brilliantly. These kids are all total standouts. Conor Donovan is brilliant playing twin boys - although I do find that his facial birthmark changes shape throughout the entire film - bad continuity person
. Jesse Camacho could have played Vern in Stand By Me if he was born back then and Zoe Weizenbaum is years older than her age. I can't remember who it was, but it was some director of old that said never work with kids or animals. What a stupid director I serioulsy believe these kids have better performances than most A league actors out there. It is fresh, emotional and you can feel their sense of isolation from families and the pending change of future. 
12 and Holding
The film is directed by Micheal Cuesta who started his directorial debut with the most awesome L.I.E. (Long Island Expressway) and has since directed and Executive Produced episodes of 6Ft Under and Dexter. He also has a few new films in the works which I am looking forward to seeing. This was made on a shoestring budget and it didn't need more money - I can feel isolated suburbia and this film has so much tragedy and drama that Shakespeare would have given it two thumbs up.
12 and Holding - Conor Donovan
The film is written by Anthony Cipriano and I am surprised this was his first and best writing and for some reason he went from writing this feature to being assistant writer on a few TV shows I have never heard of. Write more features Mr Cipriano - you can do it
This is a film that I picked up on a wet day at the DVD store and got the surprise of my life - it just shook me. In the film no one has a happy day - it is just tragedy on every level for everyone. I am astounded this did not get a cinema release - it deserved it! I thouroughly recommend you check this out when you can. If you liked Mean Creak or something bordering on Mysterious Skin then this one is for you. Love it - Worth $16.50
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