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Happy to say, I was wrong. Very wrong.
Had I stayed at home and crimped my hair instead of catching
the debut of writer/director Jacob Aaron Estes, I would’ve
missed out on some of the year’s best performances and
one of the most captivating storylines in quite some time.
Mean Creek is a gem – a rare find – breaking
away from the cliché pitfalls of the genre.
We meet Sam (Rory Culkin) getting his regular beating from
George (Josh Peck). Sam and his brother Rocky (Trevor Morgan
– who looks uncannily like a young Sean Penn) along with
Clyde (Ryan Kelley) and Martini (Scott Mechlowicz) decide
it is time to teach George a lesson.
Without giving too much away (it’s the film’s most
intriguing moment of surprise), the intended prank goes awry,
and the “gang” faces some terribly tough decisions.
The film works because the relationships and performances
feel very authentic.
Many of us as kids suffered at the hands of a bully or watched
a friend get pushed around. This makes the story of the perplexed
bully even more heart wrenching. George is really an incredibly
lonely kid who desperately wants to fit in and leaps at any
opportunity to “belong.” Yet every time you begin
to empathise and care for George, he lapses into acting like
a jerk whenever his feelings are bruised.
George has the knack for finding a person’s button and
pushing hard. But, does he deserve what he got? No. Not in
any stream of water.
Mean Creek is director Estes feature debut and hats
off to him for a well told story that squeezes the most out
of it’s mostly-under-20 cast. It’s a film that doesn’t
take an easy way out in dealing with the aftermath of the
teens decisions gone wrong - and the viewing experience is
the better for it.
DVD Extras
These include some interesting interviews and a by-the-numbers
gallery on the disc. Other than that, not a lot though.
Conclusion: Movie 80% Extras: 35%
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