The filmmakers here, Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini (American Splendor, The Extra Man) throw in too many plot machinations and go in too many directions, in my opinion, which dilute the intensity of this indie drama. As a result, the characters here come across as rather cardboard-like and clichéd, and I was unable to really connect emotionally or care much about them.
Set in the 1980's in Vermont and New York City, the movie does have an all-star cast which includes Ethan Hawke, Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld, Emily Mortimer, and Julianne Nicholson. I did think that they each portrayed their individual characters quite well.
However, without going into too many plot elements, let me put my "moral police hat" on and say I think the film went over-the-top with its rampant depictions of drug use, which included a drug-dealer father (Hawke) enticing and offering his son (Butterfield) drugs. This is right after his son's best friend OD'd in front of him, and after his son was already getting high on weed, turpentine, mushrooms, and Freon. Thus, between the drug use, the promiscuousness, teen pregnancy, and other plot elements, it was hard to really like any of these characters.
Overall, a mixed bag here as the acting was strong but just too many contrived and unlikable characters and plot elements going in too many directions to win me over completely.
Set in the 1980's in Vermont and New York City, the movie does have an all-star cast which includes Ethan Hawke, Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld, Emily Mortimer, and Julianne Nicholson. I did think that they each portrayed their individual characters quite well.
However, without going into too many plot elements, let me put my "moral police hat" on and say I think the film went over-the-top with its rampant depictions of drug use, which included a drug-dealer father (Hawke) enticing and offering his son (Butterfield) drugs. This is right after his son's best friend OD'd in front of him, and after his son was already getting high on weed, turpentine, mushrooms, and Freon. Thus, between the drug use, the promiscuousness, teen pregnancy, and other plot elements, it was hard to really like any of these characters.
Overall, a mixed bag here as the acting was strong but just too many contrived and unlikable characters and plot elements going in too many directions to win me over completely.