Its tough being a movie lover because you really do have to sift through a sea of indie crap to find gems. I usually have high hopes when I see an indie film that reads well so I was very hopeful for this one. Simply put...wow. IMDb has this listed as a comedy/drama which is ludicrous. There is nothing comedic about this story. This is an incredibly sad, angsty, often depressing story about an emotionally turbulent teenager and the lie he tells that spirals out of control. It is truly well acted and touching tale that is well written and intriguing to watch. It is certainly a coming of age film and has a definitive dark edge to it. It won't be for everyone, I can't get over how dark some of this really is but they don't keep things permanently dark and there is some definitive redemption in the end which I thought was a relief but at the same time almost disappointed me. That seems ridiculous but a film that is so down seemed to wrap things up just a little too neatly. But this movie's flaws are few and far between. It is one of the best indie dramas I have seen in a very long time featuring three actors whom I enjoy a lot in their respective other roles.
Dan Byrd is mostly known to me in comedic roles (Cougar Town, Easy A) He has great comedic talent. Well this firmly proves he also has a lot of talent as a dramatic actor. He absolutely nails the title role and is brilliant in this sarcastic and biting part that will have your heart aching for him. He demonstrates anxiousness and teen angst like few I have seen before. Emily VanCamp is the object of his affections. I adore VanCamp on Revenge and she is very good in this role too. There is plenty of chatter about Byrd and VanCamp playing teenagers and it is noticeable to an extent but the story and characters are good enough that it didn't bother me for a second. VanCamp captures the sweet and pure girl next door image nearly to a fault. Her and Byrd have great chemistry and their relationship unfolds at the perfect pace. Richard Jenkins might be the show stealer in this film. Honestly, I would have applauded an Oscar nomination for him for this and I'm not joking. Jenkins is brilliant as Byrd's father riddled with terminal cancer. He is a supporting cast member and yet steals every scene he is in. The chemistry with him and Byrd as father and son is truly outstanding. Adam Goldberg and Billy Lush round out the main cast playing Byrd's teacher and best friend respectively. Lush was a little underwhelming in his role, almost a little campy, but Goldberg was terrific and a subtle but vital role in the film.
I'm not sure I would ever watch Norman again unless I was recommending it to someone which I would do in a heartbeat. Its not the type of film you put in for entertainment value. However, everyone should see this once. It is truly well made. Jonathan Segal does not have a lot of credits to his name but he is the exception to my own rule about directors and writers without experience. He has crafted a must see drama. Same for writer Talton Wingate, this is his only credit and I would love to see anything he chose to do in the future. This film has all the earmarks of a must see movie. The moral message is there, the teen angst, the excellent performances and story and some truly raw emotion behind it all. I would recommend anyone to have a comedy back up after this to unwind...it can be that intense but don't hesitate to watch this because you will be impressed by the sheer intelligence behind it. 8.5/10
Dan Byrd is mostly known to me in comedic roles (Cougar Town, Easy A) He has great comedic talent. Well this firmly proves he also has a lot of talent as a dramatic actor. He absolutely nails the title role and is brilliant in this sarcastic and biting part that will have your heart aching for him. He demonstrates anxiousness and teen angst like few I have seen before. Emily VanCamp is the object of his affections. I adore VanCamp on Revenge and she is very good in this role too. There is plenty of chatter about Byrd and VanCamp playing teenagers and it is noticeable to an extent but the story and characters are good enough that it didn't bother me for a second. VanCamp captures the sweet and pure girl next door image nearly to a fault. Her and Byrd have great chemistry and their relationship unfolds at the perfect pace. Richard Jenkins might be the show stealer in this film. Honestly, I would have applauded an Oscar nomination for him for this and I'm not joking. Jenkins is brilliant as Byrd's father riddled with terminal cancer. He is a supporting cast member and yet steals every scene he is in. The chemistry with him and Byrd as father and son is truly outstanding. Adam Goldberg and Billy Lush round out the main cast playing Byrd's teacher and best friend respectively. Lush was a little underwhelming in his role, almost a little campy, but Goldberg was terrific and a subtle but vital role in the film.
I'm not sure I would ever watch Norman again unless I was recommending it to someone which I would do in a heartbeat. Its not the type of film you put in for entertainment value. However, everyone should see this once. It is truly well made. Jonathan Segal does not have a lot of credits to his name but he is the exception to my own rule about directors and writers without experience. He has crafted a must see drama. Same for writer Talton Wingate, this is his only credit and I would love to see anything he chose to do in the future. This film has all the earmarks of a must see movie. The moral message is there, the teen angst, the excellent performances and story and some truly raw emotion behind it all. I would recommend anyone to have a comedy back up after this to unwind...it can be that intense but don't hesitate to watch this because you will be impressed by the sheer intelligence behind it. 8.5/10