A busy weekend for indie movie releases includes these two offerings: one generic, the other tortured.
“The Art of Getting By,” written and directed by Gavin Wiesen, is a sincere and sprightly coming-of-age story that can’t quite find anything new to say on the subject. High school senior George (Freddie Highmore) may be a misfit at school because of his gloomy one-liners, his fondness for foreign films and his lofty decision to stop doing homework, but he’s not a misfit at all when it comes to the heroes of coming-of-age movies. These types are in the distinct majority.
George doesn’t do homework because he’s realized the futility of life at his tender age. If death is the common denominator for every human existence, why bother finishing that term paper on Thomas Hardy’s “Mayor of Casterbridge”?
It would take the cutest girl at school plus a dashing artist mentor to pull George out of his doldrums, both of which this movie conveniently has, in the engagingly-acted form of Emma Roberts (late of “It’s Kind of a Funny Story”) and Michael Angarano (“Gentlemen Broncos”).
The actors are nice (Alicia Silverstone as a teacher) with Highmore doing a likable turn in the lead. The star of “Finding Neverland” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” may be one of those rare child actors who transitions smoothly to adult parts.
If you’ve never seen a coming-of-age movie before, maybe this one will do. Otherwise, let it pass.
“Beautiful Boy” has an original idea that borders on the exploitative. It follows a question that might have passed through your mind after the all-too-frequent school shootings: I wonder how the parents of the killer are going to react to this? What sort of hell must that be?
Director Shawn Ku follows such a couple in the days following a school shooting. The parents, already somewhat estranged from each other, deal with the press, neighbors and their own feelings of guilt and anger over what happened.
The film creates more heat than light; can a movie really explain such a thing, except to invent a perfectionist mother and an out-to-lunch father? Such ideas seem simplistic, especially because so little is known about why someone cracks on such a dramatic scale.
Thankfully, “Beautiful Boy” does have Maria Bello and Michael Sheen, two strong actors willing to visit the dark places. But even they have a hard time lifting this movie above the level of a grief-wallow.
“The Art of Getting By” (1½ stars)
This is one indie coming-of-age film too many, despite the best efforts of actors Freddie Highmore and Emma Roberts. Here, a high-schooler quits doing homework because of the emptiness of human existence, but a new flame and a new mentor might turn him around.
Rating: PG-13, for language.
Showing: Alderwood mall, Meridian, Metro and Cascade Mall.
“Beautiful Boy” (2 stars)
The parents of a school shooter deal with their confusion and grief in the days following the crime, an interesting situation that generates more heat than light, unfortunately. Mario Bello and Michael Sheen are strong actors, but the film too often seems like a wallow.
Rating: R for nudity
Showing: Metro
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