By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4.2 cats
Director: Michael Cuesta
Starring: Annabella Sciorra | Conor Donovan | Jayne Atkinson | Jeremy Renner | Jesse Camancho | Linus Roache | Marcia DeBonis | Zoe Weizenbaum
Year: 2006
Chris says: “As I watched Michael Cuesta’s subtly audacious follow-up to L.I.E., I was continually anxious. The film sets up and courts so many potential wrong turns (dubious ones that Todd Solondz would probably gleefully travel down), but then constantly surprises and impresses by taking them in different, unexpected directions. This is one of the few films I’ve seen that pretty much nails what it’s like to be twelve years old, living in that intriguing, awkward chasm between childhood and full-blown adolescence. The less revealed about the plot, the better, only that it concerns a circle of friends struggling to deal with death, disappointment, loneliness, and physical shortcomings. Their parents are as much a part of the story as the kids themselves, yet here is a constant (and quite realistic) disconnect between the two sides. The cast is excellent, especially young Zoe Weizenbaum as Malee and Jeremy Renner as Gus, the sad, shellshock adult she develops a crush on. TWELVE AND HOLDING reaches a cathartic, sure-to-be controversial but well handled climax that left me shaken like few films have in recent memory. Hopefully, it won’t fall through the cracks like L.I.E. did. 4.5 cats”
Bruce says: “Since his sensation directorial debut with L.I.E., Michael Cuesta has been directing episodes of ‘Six Feet Under.’ TWELVE and HOLDING, his second feature, is much a more polished product than his debut film. Don’t worry, Cuesta has not chosen to stray from controversial subjects. TWELVE AND HOLDING tells the stories of three pre-teens who, like everyone around them, are traumatized when a schoolmate is accidentally firebombed in a tree house. Jacob (Conor Donovan) is the twin brother of the dead boy. He was the quiet twin and the one he felt his parents loved less. Malee (Zoe Weizenbaum) is a lonely girl being raised by a single mom (Annabella Sciorra) who is a therapist. Leonard (Jesse Camancho) is the overweight neighborhood kid who no one takes seriously.
“Jacob begins secret trips to the local prison where Jeff the killer of his brother is incarcerated. First he torments Jeff and then befriends him. His parents (Linus Roache and Jayne Atkinson) meanwhile are falling apart at the seams. Malee establishes a rapport with one of her mother’s clients (Jeremy Renner) and mistakes his friendship for sexual attraction and romance. Leonard is in hospital as a result of injuries from the firebomb. He loses his sense of taste and begins to eat less. He is convinced by the football coach to work out and lose weight. He extends his mission to his family, with disastrous effects.
“When children don’t understand overwhelming challenges such as the grieving process, they look to adults for guidance. In these situations there is none to be found. In attempts to make things better, each of the children tries to give a woefully misguided version of unconditional love to the adult(s) in their lives. It is supposed to work the other way around.
“Cuesta spins the tales a breakneck pace, cramming lots of action into a relatively short period of time. This is a director who works magic with child actors and it is no surprise that the performances of the children in TWELVE AND HOLDING are as strong as they were in L.I.E. It is great to see under appreciated actors Linus Roache and Annabella Sciorra doing fine work. Jeremy Renner and Macrcia DeBonis (Leonard’s Mother) are both excellent. 4.5 cats
“TWELVE AND HOLDING was shown at the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival.”
Michael says: “TWELVE AND HOLDING is the latest film by Michael Cuesta, who brought us the well-received L.I.E. I was one of the few Chlotrudis members who was not a huge fan of L.I.E. It was a well-made film, but not, in my opinion, great film. I feel similarly about TWELVE AND HOLDING. Once again Cuesta focuses his story on kids, this time a pack of outcast 12-year-olds whose tree house serves as refuge and funeral pyre. When a horrific tragedy occurs at the tree house, three friends must cope with grief and loss, each in their own solitary way. Jacob is the victim’s brother, who tries to find closure by visiting the architects of the misfortune in juvenile detention hall, first as a tormentor, eventually as a friend. Leonard, who was injured during at the tree house, loses his sense of smell and taste and finds himself on the path of weight loss and health, despite the concern of his overweight family. Malee, who gets her first period at the beginning of the film, finds solace in her love for a much older construction worker who has a tragedy of his own keeping him from happiness.
“While there was much to enjoy about TWELVE AND HOLDING, I found myself distracted by the overly melodramatic situations that would arise. Perhaps it was Cuesta’s attempt to convey the way situations and emotions seem so much more life-changing in childhood, but we all agreed that this film wasn’t told from a 12-year-old’s point-of-view, but rather an adult’s idea of what a 12-year-old’s point-of-view would be like. There is a subtle distinction, and perhaps the former would have worked better, but be very difficult to capture. (In fact, perhaps that was what Cuesta was attempting, but I don’t feel he succeeded.) The performances were strong, particularly Zoe Weizenbaum as Malee. Jeremy Renner, who plays Gus, the object of Malee’s affections is also good, but is unfortunately saddled with a scene where he must confess his own emotionally crippling tragedy that just seems forced and overblown, despite the fact that he plays it well and finds some real emotion in the delivery. Leonard’s story was sweet, and Marcia DeBonis, who played his mother puts in a strong performance as well.
“The conclusion of the film was subtle and powerful, leaving the viewer feeling unnerved and perhaps a little perplexed. I thought Cuesta did a good job with this, underlining the theme of his film how parents have a lot of influence over their kids, and their actions and even their words, can have life-changing consequences on their kids. One thing I would have liked to have seen in TWELVE AND HOLDING was more interaction between the friends. It was more like three individual stories that didn’t really have to intersect at all. It would have been nice to see how the kids support each other, if in fact they do. Perhaps this was not a story Cuesta was interested in telling. So, once again, I would say good, but not great. 3 1/2 cats.”