Review of Short Term 12 (2013) by Allen V — 30 Jan 2014

This mindblowing realistic drama written and directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, based on his short film of the same title and starring Brie Larson, John Gallagher, Jr., Keith Stanfield and Kaitlyn Dever, premiered at the 2013 SXSW Film Festival, where it won both the Grand Jury Narrative Feature Award and the Narrative Audience Award. It is difficult to find a negative review for it, because it is a movie which has almost everything - a roller coaster of every emotion, managing to be both heart-warming and heartrending at once. It has some faults, it's not perfect... like life itself!

The story is told through the eyes of Grace, a twenty-something supervisor at a foster-care facility for at-risk teenagers. She is passionate and tough, a formidable caretaker of the kids in her charge - and in love with her long-term boyfriend and co-worker, Mason. Grace and Mason work hard, but sometimes struggle to help some of the children... like Marcus, for n example... an intense, quiet kid who is about to turn 18, cope with the difficulty of having to leave the facility. We are let in slowly to discover Grace's own difficult past, added to the surprising future that suddenly presents itself - throwing her into unforeseen confusion. A new arrival, girl called Jayden, a gifted but troubled teenage girl with whom she has a charged connection, just complicates things more!

Acting was top level, especially Brie Larson as Grace, but I could not say I didn't enjoy the easy going attitude of John Gallagher, Jr. as Mason, serious and intelligent Kaitlyn Dever as Jayden, confused Rami Malek as Nate, amazingly transformed Keith Stanfield as Marcus and one of the most natural young actors I've ever seen - Kevin Hernandez as Luis.

If you want to see performances to be remembered, have experience of sharply written screenplay and beautiful directing - this is a very special movie for you.