Matrixston Wow! Such a good movie.

FuzzyTagz If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Jakoba True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

Haven Kaycee It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

TheRoyalTenenbaum This movie started off a little heavy and I at first had to ask myself if I was emotionally ready for a long venture into a darker movie. However, after the opening scenes the movie takes shape and what is to be a most accurate description of life as a youth in a "mental institute" begins to unfold. I myself have been in an extraordinarily similar position as Lyle (the main character), going through the ropes of being forced into such an institution and the portrayal is spot on. This film does the world justice by painting a picture of youth that are truly troubled at heart and the struggles that they go through. The characters are truly unique and yet viable at the same time and the cast could not have been more well selected. The relationships that are built and the interactions between parties are truly stunning. I was blown away by how real the entire film felt, especially being quite experienced in it's content and nature. The cast and crew clearly did their homework before embarking on the set. See this film if you're in the mood for a heavy yet feel good movie. Some parts of the film are difficult to experience but in the end you are left with a sense of connectedness and hope for the characters that you will be hard-pressed to find elsewhere.

Shawn Watson Problem teens are everywhere and make everyone's life hell, we know this. I would love to send all of these miserable bastards away to some fortified compound where they can never return from.But you have to think about a few things. Why are problem teens the way they are? Most of the time it can be attributed to bad upbringing, which is really the fault of irresponsible or evil adults. So I guess that some people are just screwed from day one. Either way, they are the kinda folks I like to avoid. Is that the wrong attitude for me to have?The ubiquitous Joseph Gordon Levitt plays Lyle, a teenager who has been sent to a juvenile mental hospital because he cracked open the skull of a kid who taunted him. While I would usually say the kid deserved it, it becomes clear that Lyle has too much aggression crammed inside him and has no way of controlling it other than the occasional blind rage or makeshift mosh-pit.While in the hospital he makes pals (and some enemies) with a fragile Native American kid, a no-confidence girl and another boy with manic depression (oh, sorry...'Bi-polar disorder'). It's nothing particularly astonishing but it's the commitment to acting and making it all seem as real as possible that makes it so watchable. This is helped by director Jordan Melamed's documentary style and hard close-ups of actors without make up and with their honest faces and zits.There's more honesty and realism in the fighting too, which does occur at regular intervals and somehow seems more engaging than in action movies. I myself have pulverised people (who I hated and thought really deserved it) into the dirt only to feel huge guilt as they look up at me all bloodied and broken, their eyes watering. I assume so many of these angry teenagers put on this act of aggression and being hard to hide how sensitive they really are. It's not a big revelation I know, but it's very well done in the film.In the end it doesn't do much else than offer a balanced view of such kids. Not everyone has the power to turn their rage off, not all parents are going to be wonderful. But who says you are any better? Maybe we could all get along better if everyone admits that they could be a better person.

jotix100 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.

michiganfan19 a great movie,its to bad don cheadle didn't get an award for this movie. His acting was very believable, his best role by far. the actors were all really great at there roles, there were all extremely believable characters.the movie itself was completely unpredictable,you really cant tell whats going to happen next.the plot for the movie was good,i have never seen a movie with teenagers in a mental ward before.the only thing that was not great but descent was the dialogue from the characters,the was only descent dialogue.but that wasn't a problem the rest of the movie makes up for that.in my mind this movie is the best movie that is under the radar for most people.