Review of Detachment (2011) by Thomas B — 03 Jan 2013

I think every teacher should watch this. Adrien Brody plays a substitute teacher w/ an earnest passion to better his students, no matter how grim the situation. He lives a very solitary life, nothing to tie him down save his aging and infirm grandfather.

Brody floats between jobs, keeping no real relations with anyone, due to his childhood events, which are frequently hashed back on the screen, giving insight. The only part I really didn't get was when he takes in a teenage prostitute and tries to set her straight.

Poor acting on the girls behalf, a little weak in the writing. Could have been cut. At one point Brody is addressing his students and gives a very moving monologue, which I found profound and deeply unsettling, in a good way.

Overall it was a good movie and would recommend.