Charlie Bartlett (9/10)
posted in Movie Reviews |
This is one of those odd and charming indie films that moderately breaks through into the main stream. In this case, I think it’s primarily for the cast involved, and the somewhat easily marketable story.
Writing: There no doubting the low key, indie mentality of the script, featuring a number of screwed up and quirky characters. It’s the kind of stuff that actors spend their careers trolling for. While the writing may not be perfect, it definitely has a unique voice and an interesting set of characters and interactions.
Production: Like the writing, the production of the film works to find a balance between low key, normal kinds of production and oddly unique levels of design and environment. Most everything is designed to allow the cast to cut loose and play around with the fun material.
Cast: Here’s the real shining highlight of the film. Anton Yelchin (the soon-to-be Pavel Chekov in Star Trek) delivers a fantastically charming and slightly off-center performance as the titular Charlie Bartlett. He manages to play both the naive and the wise aspects of the character equally well. And he plays off the rest of the cast spectacularly. Robert Downey Jr, who’s long been a favorite actor of mine, is spot on with his downplayed character. Him and Yelchin in particular are great together in their scenes. Kat Dennings, who stars in the upcoming Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist (a movie that seems to appeal to many of the characteristics of this film), is a refreshingly unique foil for Charlie, and an effortless romantic interest. Then there’s the perfectly odd Hope Davis playing Charlie’s very off-balance mother. Davis is an under appreciated actress, one who can play odd and complex roles like this to perfection.
Music: Christophe Beck, a very talented composer, comes through with an appropriately odd and downplayed score. It’s nothing that’ll grab attention as the best score of the year or anything, but it drops into the film with ease.
