Enough Said

Movie Name: Enough Said
Year of Release: 2013

Director: Nicole Holofcener

Stars: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, James Gandolfini, Catherine Keener, Toni Collette, Ben Falcone, Tavi Gevinson, Toby Huss, Amy Landecker

Genre: Comedy, Romance

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 8

Synopsis:

Nicole Holofcener's new film is coincidentally, and sadly, one of James Gandolfini's last roles ever captured on film. The film follows the story of Eva, a middle aged, divorced masseuse, whose life runs placidly and comfortably, and who is in the process of "losing" her daughter, since she's moving away to go to college. While attending a party, Eva makes the acquaintance of a potential client, a published and well known poet, but also and more interestingly, a date with a man named Albert. Though not initially very attracted to Albert, himself also a middle aged divorced father of a young woman (who's also going to college), these two individuals find a middle ground and a shared complicity and sense of humor that allows for the relationship to start blossoming. That is until Eva realizes that her latest client, the fantastic poet, is also Albert's ex-wife, whose opinions of him are not exactly the best.
Nicole Holofcener has built a career in films, exploring the relationships of certain microcosms of individuals, where at the center, there's always a heroine who is seemingly displaced or out of contact with the reality that surrounds her. In this case, Eva is the heroine, who is charming and funny, but who hides her heart and feelings behind that sharp wit and humor. Albert is very much like her: a man who suffered through a divorce, and is trying to live his life quietly, hanging on to his only daughter and who embraces this relationship with joy and a possibility of finding happiness. The film allows the actors to flush out these characters, and is filled with humor and a genuine sense of wonder and tenderness between two people who are emotionally bruised. The cast is uniformly fantastic: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, James Gandolfini, Catherine Keener, Toni Collette and Ben Falcone. It's a surprise seeing Gandolfini playing a part that is so grounded and where he's so vulnerable and ultimately real.
A lovely film worth watching.

Prisoners

Movie Name: Prisoners
Year of Release: 2013

Director: Denis Villeneuve

Stars: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Maria Bello, Terrence Howard, Melissa Leo, Paul Dano, Dylan Minnette, Len Cariou, Wayne Duvall, David Dastmalchian, Kyla Drew Simmons, Erin Gerasimovich, Zoe Borde

Genre: Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 8

Synopsis:

"Prisoners" has been a surprise hit of the festival circuit of 2013. Directed by Denis Villeneuve, who made his name with the film "Incendies", which was nominated for the best foreign film Oscar, "Prisoners" is an original screenplay from Aaron Guzikowski, which made the list of best screenplays of 2010. The film follows the story of two neighboring families, who reunite for a Thanksgiving dinner. Both families have two little girls, who suddenly disappear, without a trace left behind. Their parents enlist the help of the police to trace their whereabouts, but nothing is found. Their only clue is a young man with mental issues, who becomes their prime suspect, without much evidence to follow up. Keller Dover, one of the parents, takes matters into his hands, and decides to investigate on his own, while the police, in particular Detective Loki, is feverishly trying to unveil the whereabouts of the girls.
Denis Villeneuve has a keen eye for the dynamics of every day life - he perfectly captures the lives of the families who are hit by this tragedy. In a matter of the first minutes of the film, we quickly realize who these people are. Their grief stricken despair is the more real, since the film never goes for a sensationalistic approach. There's a certain hint of Dennis Lehane's novels in the screenplay, but the characters are deftly presented, and the suspense is built progressively. The atmosphere that is built is certainly oppressive and bleak, but the film is elevated by the fantastic cast: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Melissa Leo and Paul Dano, all deliver more than impeccable performances. A great film worth watching.

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Short Term 12

Movie Name: Short Term 12
Year of Release: 2013

Director: Destin Cretton

Stars: Brie Larson, John Gallagher Jr, Kaitlyn Dever, Stephanie Beatriz, Rami Malek, Keith Stanfield, Frantz Turner, Melora Walters, Alex Calloway

Genre: Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 8

Synopsis:

Director Destin Cretton's "Short Term 12" has been navigating the waves of the Independent Film Festivals of this current year, and getting accolades and accumulating good reviews. The film takes it's name from a foster care facility, where children are kept while transitioning from traumatic domestic situations, to adoption situations or other more permanent (hopefully) and positive situations.
Grace and her boyfriend Mason are the veterans in the team, alongside Jessica and the newcomer Nate. Grace is the caregiver for all those children, each one coming from different, yet troublesome backgrounds. Grace herself is a survivor of some very difficult situations in her life. She finds out that she's pregnant, as one particularly troublesome child joins the group, making things erupt all around.
"Short Term 12" is a film that could have fallen easily into the "movie of the week" context, with the dramas of child abuse, however director Destin Cretton, wisely chooses to follow Grace, a young woman who has survived difficult ordeals, and who wants to provide help and guidance for the children. The film allows for these characters to fully live and have dimension, and much of it's core and heart, comes from the interaction of the actors. The director is also very successful in capturing the frailty of children's lives and expectations, as is in the way it captures the hardship of a young relationship and the steps to becoming a responsible adult. The threads that the film successfully builds are as delicate as they are strong in it's emotional impact. Brie Larson has a fantastic performance as the experienced, yet frail Grace, as does Kaitlyn Dever as the young Jayden. The film also benefits from the beautiful cinematography from Brett Pawlak. A great film not to be missed.

The Spectacular Now

Movie Name: The Spectacular Now
Year of Release: 2013

Director: James Ponsoldt

Stars: Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley, Brie Larson, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Kyle Chandler, Bob Odenkirk, Masam Holden

Genre: Drama, Romance

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 8

Synopsis:

James Ponsoldt's previous film "Smashed" was a minor triumph with several critics, and "The Spectacular Now", which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, was again greeted with another array of good reviews. The film follows the story of Sutter, a high school senior, who is extremely sociable and engaged in multiple activities. He has a girlfriend whom he loves, and he's also an alcoholic. His mom has been raising him by herself, since his dad left years ago. When his girlfriend breaks up with him, Sutter accidentally discovers the sweet and discrete Aimee. Aimee is honest, grounded, and becomes enamored of Sutter's charisma and charming personality. This romance, Aimee's first, starts developing little by little as the prospect of going to college looms nearby.
James Ponsoldt's core strength in this film are the characters and the actors who bring it to life. Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley create two people who are trying to find their place in the world. Miles drinks himself to a stupor everyday, in order to avoid dealing with the fact that his dad left, and that he's afraid of being alone once his high school days are over (his micro-universe). Aimee on the other hand is smothered by a family life, that doesn't allow her to dream. In a way, they both end up being a catalyst for each other's lives. This web of relationships is captured in a naturalistic way by the director, who captures a slice of every day life, showcasing the dreams and expectations of the young and the sadness and some disillusionment of the older generation. The two lead actors are fantastic, as is the always great Jennifer Jason Leigh and the underrated Mary Elizabeth Winstead. A very good film worth watching!

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones/Beautiful Creatures

Movie Name: The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Year of Release: 2013

Director: Harald Zwart

Stars: Lilly Collins, Jamie Campbell Bower, Robert Sheehan, Kevin Zegers, Kevin Durand, Lena Headey, Godfrey Gao, Jemima West, CCH Pounder, Jared Harris, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Aidan Turner

Genre: Action, Aventure, Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 1

Movie Name: Beautiful Creatures
Year of Release: 2013

Director: Richard LaGravenese

Stars: Alden Ehrenreich, Alice Englert, Jeremy Irons, Viola Davis, Emmy Rossum, Thomas Mann, Emma Thompson, Eileen Atkins, Margo Martindale, Zoey Deutch, Tiffany Boone, Pruitt Taylor Vince

Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Romance

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 4

Synopsis:

The success of "Twilight" has opened the door for a series of adaptations of young adult novels. This year's crop already includes "The Mortal Instruments:City of Bones" and "Beautiful Creatures". Both films, though with different pedigrees and talent involved, definitely have quite mediocre results. On both counts, the story is quite standard - there's a young brooding female hero, who is either an outcast, or misunderstood by everyone, who comes to realize that she's the bearer of special powers. These powers, unbeknownst to her, set her aside from everyone, and of course, during the narrative, she comes to realize that the salvation of Earth relies on her shoulders. In parallel with this coming of age story, there's a forbidden romance, that comes in the shape of a mysterious young man, who is either a supernaturally gifted man, or a sensitive young man who looks beyond our heroine's conflicts. Both of these films also feature a diversified array of supporting characters, that supposedly create a conflicting context for the two young lovers to overcome obstacles.
Harald Zwart has made a career for himself directing films that are targeted primarily to a younger audience, such as "The Karate Kid" and "Agent Cody Banks". His adaptation of "The Mortal Instruments" is a complete mess, with characters that are never quite fully explained (such as the main antagonist, played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers), or ever fully dimensional. It's difficult for an audience to be invested in anything that happens on screen, when the characters are so clumsily created. The actors don't really help much. Richard LaGravenese comes from a different pedigree - an accomplished screenwriter, turned director (he wrote Terry Gilliam's "The Fisher King" and Clint Eastwood's "The Bridges of Madison County" before directing his debut "Living Out Loud", to name but a few), his adaptation of "Beautiful Creatures" doesn't fare much better, but has a great cast that elevates the flimsy material. Jeremy Irons brings his usual gravitas and depth to any part, as does Viola Davis. Emma Thompson however is poorly cast as the villain, overacting and feeling out of place in a film that is otherwise quite placid and also forgettable. The young leads are engaging, but the film never goes beyond the typical cliches.
Summarizing these adaptations - both films feel devoid of substance and of authenticity (and enthusiasm) of any kind. What elevated the "Harry Potter" series for instance, was the creation of a universe filled with magic, where the spark of the unknown and wonder/menace was always present. These current films try to be angst filled, but end up portraying their young ingenue leads as vapid and selfish heroines, stuck in a two dimensional world where their antagonists are as paper thin as the depth of their feelings.

The World's End

Movie Name: The World's End
Year of Release: 2013

Director: Edgar Wright

Stars: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Paddy Considine, Martin Freeman, Eddie Marsan, Rosamund Pike, Reece Shearsmith, Bill Nighy, Pierce Brosnan, David Bradley

Genre: Action, Comedy

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:

Following "Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World", director Edgar Wright is back to his UK based stories, this one again devised with Simon Pegg, whom he worked with on "Shaun of the Dead" and "Hot Fuzz". "The World's End" follows the story of 5 high school friends, all of whom come from the same small town. 20 years after they all finished school, the leader of the pack, Gary King, decides to reunite the group, so they can celebrate an alcoholic itinerary through all the pubs that are part of their hometown. Gary has never outgrown his high school days, and desperately wants to relive those glory days. When this diversified group comes to town, they start realizing that things have changed with their inhabitants. What they discover leads them on a bigger adventure than they expected.
Edgar Wright and his frequent collaborator, actor Simon Pegg, have smartly been deconstructing genres with their previous films. "Shaun of the Dead" and "Hot Fuzz" smartly mixed their original genres (horror and action respectively) and infused them with a sense of humor that makes them unique and unlike anything else. "The World's End" again uses this genre mix, this time with the "end of the world"/"alien invasion" concept, mixed with a comedy ensemble component that makes this film a riot to witness. The cast is uniformly good, with Simon Pegg making the best of his character's lunacy, whereas Nick Frost this time around gets the more serious, responsible part. The film ends up faltering a bit towards it's epilogue (which ultimately ends up being unnecessary), but it's nonetheless a fun film to watch.

The Grandmaster

Movie Name: The Grandmaster
Year of Release: 2013

Director: Wong Kar Wai

Stars: Tony Leung, Ziyi Zhang, Chen Chang, Jin Zhang, Darren Leung, Qingxiang Wang 

Genre: Action, Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:

Director Wong Kar Wai's first full length feature after his american movie "My Blueberry Nights", is a biographical story focusing on legendary kung fu master, Ip Man. The film follows the story of the renowned master, as he gains his iconic status, through his hardship (and his family's) with the japanese occupation of China and his ultimate escape to Hong Kong (where he ultimately becomes the teacher of Bruce Lee).
Wong Kar Wai has made a name for himself since the early 90s with films that impressed both stylistically and aesthetically, but also for his renowned focus on shooting for quite some time, to get exactly what he wants from the performers and from each scene (his celebrated "In the Mood for Love" had a shooting time of 15 months). "The Grandmaster" though apparently distinct in tone from his previous films, ends up being a kung fun film that has a love story at it's core. The forbidden love of master Ip Man and Gong Er, gives the film it's beating heart, which is surrounded by the fantastically well choreographed kung fu scenes. It's a romantic film, stylized, but rewarding in terms of the characters it presents. The film also benefits from the incredible cinematography of Philippe Le Sourd, which gives the film an almost abstract tone, from the color, to the details it captures (and also the visual trademarks from the director, with slow motion sequences). A good film worth watching.

Elysium

Movie Name: Elysium
Year of Release: 2013

Director: Neill Blomkamp

Stars: Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley, Alice Braga, Diego Luna, Wagner Moura, William Fichtner, Brandon Auret, Josh Blacker, Emma Tremblay, Faran Tahir

Genre: Sci-Fi, Action, Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:

Neill Blomkamp's second feature after the success of his debut "District 9", is another futuristic story. The film introduces us to a future where Earth is overpopulated and where the rich have left the planet and created an orbiting station named "Elysium", where there's no sickness and where few people are in fact allowed in. This "privileged moon" is overrun by Delacourt, a ruthless leader who wants to instate her iron will and control the destiny of Elysium and to a certain extent, Earth. A young man named Max challenges her plans - Max grew up wanting to go to Elysium, but after a life of petty crime is stuck working in a plant. After an accident occurs, Max is given 5 days to live, which propels him to find help to get to Elysium. He gets the help he needs, but also gets a new chaser in the shape of Kruger, a psychotic henchman under the orders of Delacourt.
Neill Blomkamp knows how to create realities that though apparently remote, reflect a lot of the current concerns of society. "Elysium" tackles a lot of current issues related to healthcare, immigration and class struggle. The film is pertinent in it's depiction of a world that is more universal: language itself has altered to reflect the multiple ethnic groups that populate it, the scenery itself is a mix of "District 9" but also Pete Travis' "Dredd" - bleak and chaotic. And of course, the film is extremely successful in it's visual style, special effects and action set pieces. The cast is uniformly good, with Matt Damon and Jodie Foster creating good characters, even if a bit unidimensional, but nonetheless serving the film's narrative perfectly. A very good film worth watching.

Blue Jasmine

Movie Name: Blue Jasmine
Year of Release: 2013

Director: Woody Allen

Stars: Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, Sally Hawkins, Andrew Dice Clay, Bobby Cannavale, Peter Sarsgaard, Louis C.K., Michael Stuhlbarg, Alden Ehrenreich, Max Casella, Tammy Blanchard, Annie McNamara

Genre: Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 8

Synopsis:

Woody Allen's anual film output is out and follows the tepidly received "To Rome with Love". "Blue Jasmine" focuses on the life of Jasmine, a socialite from New York, who sees her life unravel when her husband Hal gets accused of all sorts of financial wrongdoings, and ends up arrested and eventually killing himself in prison. Jasmine finds herself completely bankrupt and forced to go to San Francisco, and live with her more humble sister Ginger, and her two young sons. Ginger and her ex husband were affected by Hal's financial miscalculations, and though Ginger has moved on, she continues to be involved with men who are of dubious taste and nature. Jasmine on her hand, is going through a complete nervous breakdown, and is trying to restart her life, with some encouraging results, that come in the form of a diplomat who shows a romantic interest in her.
Woody Allen's latest films have been of uneven pertinence and interest. Though his depiction of some of the emptiness of the lives of the privileged continues to be on the spot, there has been a distinct lack of depth to some of his more recent efforts, including "Midnight in Paris" and "You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger". His universe continues to be very familiar, but has also felt contrived and in films such as "Match Point", like a distant echo from some of his masterpieces from the 80s. "Blue Jasmine" manages to overcome some of his traditional pitfalls, and becomes a fantastic display for one of the most talented actresses currently working, Cate Blanchett. Her performance encapsulates the dynamic of the film, truly giving the narrative the raw nerve that seems to be at it's core. She manages to create the central character as someone who is just barely surviving, scraping whatever sanity she has left to keep going. It's a character that is not entirely likable, and Blanchett makes her feel alive and to a certain extent, relatable. The supporting cast, has somewhat less developed characters, but Sally Hawkins, Andrew Dice Clay and Bobby Cannavale, all manage to create good companions to Cate Blanchett's solo tour de force. A very good film worth watching.

The Conjuring

Movie Name: The Conjuring
Year of Release: 2013

Director: James Wan

Stars: Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Lili Taylor, Ron Livingston, Shanley Caswell, Hayley McFarland, Joey King, Shannon Kook, John Brotherton, Sterling Jerins, Kyla Deaver

Genre: Thriller, Horror

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:

Following the highly successful "Insidious", director James Wan is back, with another horror story that builds upon on atmosphere and tension, this one in particular based on true events. The film follows the story of Lorraine and Ed Warren, paranormal investigators, who in the 1970s were involved in examining and detailing paranormal events. They are confronted with a particularly dire situation: the Perron family, having bought a house, see themselves confronted with a presence that is haunting them tirelessly. The attacks grow in intensity, until Lorraine and Ed start unveiling the story of the house and of how those presences started to exist.
James Wan is a resourceful director: he builds tension and atmosphere, relying on suggestion to create a sense of unease. He also deftly details the existence of a peaceful and familiar existence that is menaced by something clearly overwhelming. His films are smartly constructed, almost classic in their approach to the hidden menace that makes itself known but not exactly visible. It's a way of creating films that do not rely on gore or extreme violence to entertain the audience. The film has an impeccable production design that recreates the feel of the 70s perfectly. The cast is uniformly good as usual, with highlights going to Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson (he is also part of the "Insidious" franchise). A tense film worth watching.

The Hunt/Jagten

Movie Name: The Hunt
Year of Release: 2012

Director: Thomas Vinterberg

Stars: Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Annika Wedderkopp, Lasse Fogelstrom, Susse Wold, Anne Louise Hassing, Lars Ranthe

Genre: Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 8

Synopsis:

Thomas Vinterberg, director at one point associated with the cinematic movement Dogme 95 (which he co-authored with Lars Von Trier) is back the with celebrated "The Hunt". The film follows the story of Lucas, a divorced father, who is a teacher in a kindergarten, in a small town in Denmark. Lucas is beloved by everyone, and starts a relationship with a fellow co-worker. That relationship comes to a halt when Lucas becomes the target of a serious accusation which stems from the young daughter of his best friend: Klara accuses Lucas of having inappropriate sexual conduct towards her. The police gets involved in the situation, and Lucas' reality worsens by the minute, with the entire community responding with violence to his presence.
"The Hunt" is a film that is relentless in it's approach to detail what occurs when a person's life slowly starts to unravel endlessly. Lucas is a regular man, with an innate kindness towards children and people in general - when the accusation appears, the community who always knew him, rapidly forgets the years of common living, and attacks him endlessly. Thomas Vinterberg smartly creates a reality that is close to anyone, inhabiting this world with people that could live anywhere. Lucas is a man beaten down, hunted in more than one way, and it's devastating seeing the persecution that is created around him. Mads Mikkelsen creates a character that is fully dimensional: a father who's trying to lead a normal life, and yet finds himself cornered by a situation that is overwhelming, abandoned by most of the people he thought were friends. His anguish and sadness are heartbreaking. A devastating film worth watching.

The Wolverine

Movie Name: The Wolverine
Year of Release: 2013

Director: James Mangold

Stars: Hugh Jackman, Tao Okamoto, Rila Fukushima, Hiroyuki Sanada, Svetlana Khodchenkova, Brian Tee, Famke Janssen, Will Yun Lee, Hal Yamanouchi, Ken Yamamura

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 4

Synopsis:

Following the quickly forgotten "Knight and Day", director James Mangold is back, tackling a project that was originally going to be directed by Darren Aronofsky. "The Wolverine" is a sequel to the mediocre Gavin Hood film, "XMen Origins: Wolverine". The film introduces us to Wolverine/Logan, who is in deep isolation after the events of "X-Men: Last Stand" and the death of Jean Grey (for which he feels responsible). Wolverine is tracked by a young resourceful Japanese woman, who is working for a man he saved when Nagasaki was bombed during World War 2. This man is dying, and wants to thank Logan for saving him. When Wolverine arrives in Japan, he is startled to hear that Yashida (the dying man) has become one of the most powerful men in Japan, but also that he can offer him a way to gain his mortality. This is part of a larger plot as Wolverine quickly discovers.
What has always been interesting about the Wolverine character and the XMen stories, is the fact that all these characters are suppose to be outsiders, who though saving mankind, are persecuted by those they save. Wolverine has however always been the rebel and the outsider, even as a part of the XMen. This story in particular tackles a specific series that had Wolverine being in Japan as a Samurai - the film references diverse films, such as Sidney Pollack's "Yakuza", but struggles in finding an identity of it's own. The writers and director, tried to create a mood and provide character development, but ultimately the story feels and looks uninspired, making Wolverine a dull character (again the traditional love story with a woman who barely emotes anything). His quest to find himself and his own mortality feels tired at this point, as does some of the villainous characters in this film (what's the point of having ninjas in a film, if you don't give them much to do). The overall look and feel of the film are again generic and absent of a specific point of view. A wasted effort.

Los Amantes Pasajeros/I'm so Excited

Movie Name: Los Amantes Pasajeros
Year of Release: 2013

Director: Pedro Almodovar

Stars: Javier Camara, Raul Arevalo, Lola Duenas, Hugo Silva, Antonio de la Torre, Jose Luis Torrijo, Cecilia Roth, Penelope Cruz, Antonio Banderas, Blanca Suarez, Paz Vega, Jose Maria Yazpik

Genre: Comedy

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:

The wonderfully gifted director Pedro Almodovar is back after the fantastic "La Piel que Habito". Whereas his previous effort was a dark thriller, "Los Amantes Pasajeros" is definitely a more lighthearted effort. The film follows the events that surround a flight departing Madrid towards Mexico. Due to the negligence of an airport crew member, the plane has problems with the landing gear, which forces the plane to fly around in circles trying to find a nearby airport to land. While this is taking place, the flamboyant crew tries to entertain their diversified first class passengers, which include a runaway banker involved in a financial scandal, a psychic, a high class prostitute and a hired killer, to name but a few.
"Los Amantes Pasajeros" is an attempt by the fantastic Pedro Almodovar to go back to his more lighthearted moments of previous comedies such as "Kika", where there's an outrageous component to the story, which also underlines a deep social commentary and criticism. This film in particular tries to underscore the current financial tribulations and scandals that are dominating Spain's economy. The film has a series of interesting and quirky characters, very typical of the director, but unlike his previous directorial output, none of these characters is particularly drawn out very extensively. Much like John Waters, Pedro Almodovar has always been a director who builds a universe that is thoroughly coherent, from a story, aesthetic and performance point of view - this film lacks a sense of genuine joy and transgression though. It's a lighthearted feature from one of the most distinct and consistent voices currently working in film these days.

The Way Way Back

Movie Name: The Way Way Back
Year of Release: 2013

Director: Nat Faxon, Jim Rash

Stars: Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Allison Janney, Sam Rockwell, AnnaSophia Robb, Maya Rudolph, Liam James, Robb Corddry, Amanda Peet, River Alexander, Zoe Levin, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash, Adam Riegler

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:

"The Way Way Back" is Nat Faxon and Jim Rash's debut feature - this directing team is mostly known for their acting careers, and also for winning an Oscar for the screenplay of Alexander Payne's "The Descendants". "The Way Way Back" follows the story of 14 year old Duncan, whose parents divorced and who is spending his Summer with his mom, her new partner, an obnoxious man named Trent, and Trent's self-absorbed daughter. Duncan feels isolated from everyone and finds his way to a Water Park, where he starts a friendship with the owner, a wisecracking man by the name of Owen. Duncan slowly builds friendships and starts having fun, until he realizes that Trent isn't all that he presents himself to be.
"The Way Way Back" is a coming of age story for a young man, whose parents have divorced, and who is trying to belong somewhere. Though the story itself isn't exactly something entirely surprising, the directors/writers create interesting characters that give this small film an additional quirk and interest (there are references from films such as Greg Mottola's "Adventureland" or even Chris and Paul Weitz's "About a Boy").  The film knows it has it's fair share of cliches, and tries to insert some nostalgia for the Summer Camps of the 80s, but it also has a heart and you can't help but embark on the trip with these characters. The actors are uniformly good, with Allison Janney, Maya Rudolph and Sam Rockwell creating interesting and funny characters. This is an interesting debut feature, that though not priming for originality, it has the capability of embracing a variety of characters and making us empathize with them. Worth watching.