Stay afloat. A strong drama, the main character of which, a teenager Wen (Norman Reedus) was in a difficult life situation, after his mother left him, and his father became a disabled alcoholic. When a family from Middletown settles in the neighborhood, Van suddenly develops a friendly relationship with their son Doug. But a new acquaintance, suspiciously withdrawn, and in no hurry to share his secrets.
A drama is not a drama unless it is a drama. I mean the intensity that is responsible for a number of emotional receptors that awaken in us various feelings and sensations that make us watch movies with awe. Here, actor Norman Reedus became such a “receptor”, almost single-handedly replacing all the cells and nerve endings of this film. So you can not immediately say that for a 27-year-old boy, the role of a rebellious teenager Van, was the debut work in the movie. So smoothly, he slides from one scene to another, exuding such a powerful charisma, texture, that you can not immediately say that this is his first film experience. For it seems as if he spent his whole life in front of the camera lens. Reedus completely pulls this art house project on his shoulders, but as if declaring, “I don’t need anyone at all, leave me at least one for the entire action of the tape, and I will show you a class!”
With his firm, confident, expressive game, he basically confirms his “toughness”, playfully encouraging everything that his shadow falls on. Wen doesn't seem like a fictional character, he's like every cockroach he's ever had. The family values of his family, falling apart, right before his eyes, the financial means, too, evaporated, along with the well-being of the once strong “cell of society”. School is over, you have to go to college, after your girlfriend, but there is not a penny to study. Going to work is also not an option, but because the hero wanders around idle, in the company of sloppy friends and enjoys swimming in his favorite pond.
All this, Norman Reedus plays without strain, calmly and without nerves, as if the material itself works for him, and not vice versa. No wonder the main role was entrusted to him. Other atkers, of course, are also not bad, and Chad Law in the image of Doug, and Sybil Darrow, who played Julie (girlfriend of Reedus’ hero)... any contribution, of course, they made to this story, about the difficulties of being young. In a small role, there is also Casey Affleck, then just beginning his way to more important roles, and later a real pro in terms of creating complex, ambiguous characters.
As from the drama as a whole, the film remains a very positive impression. This is an easy, down-to-earth movie about how, no matter how pathetic, your mortal existence seems to you, all overnight, can get even worse. So it is necessary to be able to enjoy what is, appreciating every moment of elusive happiness. And even if this is something that has completely lost its meaning, you should not bury yourself and put an end to everyone else. Here are such simple truths, this seemingly unremarkable art house is devoted, but in fact it is not stupid and sometimes even instructive. It is clear that he is not one of a kind, so perceptive, and there is a sea of similar paintings about growing up.
However, all lovers of sharp dramatic stories, it will be interesting to see how the characters diligently try to stay afloat, "in the pool of seething passions." So will the relationship between Van and Doug, who managed to become close friends, while being absolute opposites. The film looks in one breath, plunging its viewer into the abyss of problems that everyone can understand. But the extremely deep narrative, the author, still to create, and failed, because to the main heights, the picture slightly falls short. However, as I mentioned in the introduction of this review, it is strong and under its power, will awaken in you, a number of emotional receptors.
7 out of 10