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Disfunction middle class families have become
the staple of independent films lately it seem.
"Thumbsucker" is really nothing new in the genre
but it certainly outshines the contrived "Chumbscrubber"
while being far more demure than Solondz and
far more experimental than most mini- indie's
take on the niche. In other words, this is better
than "The
Safety of Object," but not quite as good
as "The Ice
Storm."
Without a doubt, the main reason to see
the film is Lou Pucci, who played a far less
interesting secondary character in the aforementioned
"Chumbscrubber." Pucci owns "Thumbsucker." Owns
it! His performance here is amazing. And, let's
face it, he's a beautiful young man. Tilda Swinton
plays his mother and when the share the screen
together, he seems nearly her diminutive twin.
Pucci's gentle eyes, pushed-up nose, thin-lipped
mouth and slender frame makes him seem a fawn
in the wilderness of suburbia throughout the
film. Yet, when the story requires he adopt
shirt and tie and change his demure nature into
unflinching orator, Pucci makes the transition
with ease. His work here is as mesmerizing as
his soft beauty.
The film has a hellacious supporting cast
full of recognizable stars. Vince Vaughn and
Vincent D'Onofrio appear her presumably to prove
that they are not the same person. Vaughn, for
what it's worth, gives a wonderfully keen and
witty performance elevating his usual smug goofiness
to a new lever as a debate teacher trying to
be hip. Keanu Reeves has the supporting role
of his career, as does Benjamin Bratt. Reeves
plays a hippy-dippy dentist who provides the
conscience of the film throughout its running
as he evolves much like Pucci's Justin does.
Bratt, meanwhile, leaves behind his squeaky
clean image while also poking fun at it in what
may be the cameo of the year.
Filmmaker Mike Mills, taking a break from
his duties in the alt_pop supergroup R.E.M.,
does an adequate job of pacing the film and
trying to fill it with "oh wow" moments. Pucci
stroking a deer in the middle of a forest is
as indelible an image as your likely to find
in film this year. Mills also evokes the poetic
other-worldliness that the story, based on a
novel by Walter Kirn, requires by hiring The
Polyphonic Spree to provide the score in their
usual "angelic choir" mode. Sure it's pretentious
but it works.
But let's face it, Pucci is the real reason
to see this film. And, of course, the character
he provides. This is the story of a teenager
who finds a path to adulthood through bitterness,
Ritalin, pot and prose and comes out the other
side, at the very least, a person coming into
his own. "Thumbsucker" reminds us that the things
that comfort us; family, drugs (prescription
and otherwise), isolation, sex, alcohol, and
mentors, are just as likely to do us harm. The
only way to escape is to be happy with ourselves
and comfortable in our own skin.
Notes:
Script by Mills. Kirn has a cameo as a
debate judge.
The role of Rebecca played by Kelli Garner
was at one time going to be played by Scarlett
Johannson, who dropped out.
Ted Hope, Swinton and Bob Yari are producers.
The songs of Elliot Smith are also used
frequently in the film.
Pucci won awards at Sundance and Berlin
while Mills was nominated.
Filmed in Oregon.
The film debuted at Sundance in January
2005 and began a U.S. limited run in September.
Viewed in Austin at the Dobie Theater in
the Art Deco room in November, 2005.
Report Card
Script: A-
Acting: A+
Cinematography\Lighting: A
Special Effects\Make Up: A
Music: A-
Final Grade: A
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