Review of American Teen (2008) by Campbell K — 20 Dec 2008

I'll start from the very beginning: this is a great documentary with shortcomings which is a really sweet and touching thing due to it's subject matter. it's ugly and hard to capture perfectly and I really commend nanette burstein for her efforts, because I know there were a lot of people who were crying "fake" and calling this movie no good. I loved the concept and I was entertained with the sort of nostalgia of seeing the character and placing them in my highschool life. it's even weird to think of highschool as a past tense because I am not that old guy, I still have a good half decade until a reunion of any kind.

I think the hardest part of any documentary is "the casting", i'm not a film maker but I know that as soon as a camera is in a room.. it's just not the same as real life and it shapes the outcome of how the scene plays out. a few outbursts and tears here and there that you just can't hide: that bundled emotion that explodes no matter what.. that stuff is real and untouched. the smaller things like "the text message break-up", maybe mitch would've stayed with hannah longer if there wasn't all the pressure from the camera crews? who knows. I would love to see a follow up "american college" but I think this is what we'll get for now; a touching portrait of the "most important year of your life".