Review of Short Term 12 (2013) by Christopher Llewellyn R — 01 Feb 2014

Young writer/director Destin Cretton made a short film in 2008, also entitled "Short Term 12," which won the 2009 Sundance Film Festival short film award. It was loosely based on experiences that Cretton, himself, had while working, post-college, in a foster-care facility for troubled youth (you can read more about that in this "Slant Magazine" interview from September, 2013).

After directing his first feature-length film, "I Am Not a Hipster," in 2012, Cretton returned to the previous story with a 96-minute version, which racked up many film festival awards throughout 2013.

Had I seen it before last week, I would definitely have included it in my Top 20, if not my Top 10, of the year. Written with great subtlety of emotion and nuance of character, "Short Term 12" features a breakout performance by its star, Brie Larson ("United States of Tara") as Grace, the lead counselor at the short-term facility of the title.

Never maudlin, frequently original, and always moving, "Short Term 12" signals the arrival of a brilliant new filmmaker.