Review of Short Term 12 (2013) by Rythemovieguy 3 — 09 Oct 2013

It is tough to describe how much I loved this movie! It is clearly one of the best movies of the year and it features one of the best acting performances in that of Brie Larson. The film centers on a foster home for trouble kids, by troubled I mean kids who are abused by parents or adults to the point they are at risk of committing suicide.

The supervising staff is made up of young adults in their early 20's. The 2 main supervisors are Grace and Mason played with much care by Brie Larson and John Gallagher Jr. Their daily duties included looking after the kids, getting them to be social in groups and to check their room for any objects that do not belong in the facility.

We meet the kids they are looking after - One of them Marcus, is just a week away from turning 18 which means he will have to leave the home. Through a couple of powerful scenes our eyes are painfully opened to Marcus' troubled past and we get some understanding of what he must be feeling.

I say "some" because as great as this movie is, it is difficult to ever fully feel what some of these poor kids do. We also meet Jayden, a young girl who is new to the home. Grace connects with Jayden as she sees much of her self in her.

And speaking of Grace, we learn more about her own trouble past and what led her to a life devoted to helping these young troubled kids out. Brie Larson is simply outstanding from start to finish and this is not a simple character to play.

I also can not say enough good things about the screenplay written by writer/director Destin Cretton. It would be easy to make a movie on this matter and just focus on the kids, but by including the young supervisor's struggles as well he has given us a true gem of a film.

The movie opens and closes with the telling of a story - both are funny, yet one is sad...and one is uplifting....and that sums up Short Term 12 - funny, sad, uplifting. What is a life if it is not cared for.

....Ry's Grade: A.