Review of The Edge of Seventeen (2016) by Patrick L — 29 Jan 2017

"Remarkable is all I can say about "The Edge of Seventeen". It is funny, well-acted, smartly written and damn near-perfect.".

Movie Review: The Edge of Seventeen.

Date Viewed: November 18 2016.

Written and Directed By Kelly Fremon Craig.

Starring: Hailee Steinfeld, Woody Harrelson, Kyra Sedgwick, Blake Jenner, Haley Lu Richardson, Hayden Szeto, Eric Keenleyside, Laine MacNeil, Katie Stuart and Alexander Calvert.

"The Edge of Seventeen" is the sunshine movie I was waiting for. It's a coming-of-age teen film that has grace, humor and joy and it obviously has echoes to John Hughes' earlier work. With an amazing script and an engrossing lead performance from Haliee Steinfeld, "The Edge of Seventeen" deals with the reality of growing up and teenage life in a way that's frustrating and truthful. It's one of the best movies of the year.

The story revolves around 17-year-old Nadine Franklin (Steinfeld) who has a frosty relationship with her mother, Mona (Kyra Sedgwick) and older brother, Darian (Blake Jenner, from "Everybody Wants Some!!") and she can't stand teenage life because it really sucks. Every time she thinks about killing herself, she turns to her history teacher, Mr. Bruner (Woody Harrelson) for his help and counsel.

Nadine has only one best friend in school and she happens to be Krista (Haley Lu Richardson). The two have been best friends since they were 8-years-old, when Nadine became unpopular and was bullied for being different Krista was always there for her. Their friendship comes to a pause however one night when Nadine and Krista start drinking alcohol, the next morning results in Nadine seeing Krista in bed with her brother.

That one night stand puts a dam on their friendship and she gets more depressed by the day. However in school, Nadine finds a friendly silver lining in Erwin Kim (Hayden Szeto), a classmate who's just as socially-awkward as she is but Nadine has her eyes open for Nick (Alexander Calvert), a mysterious adolescent who works in a pet store. Nadine has only seen him outside of school and has taken an interest in him due to his looks and weird hair. After feeling more alone than ever, Nadine is at least starting to feel hopeful that her teenage life won't be as terrible as she imagined.

When I left the theater, I thought back to my old memories of high school and it was just as frustrating and brutal as Nadine's high school life. I had plenty of embarrassing moments during my high school tenure and I too was teased and bullied for being different but unfortunately that's the reality of high school life and we just have to accept it. You're not going to be the most popular person in school and make a lot of friends on the first day, some people at school will take advantage at you and you will have to accept that sometimes not a lot of people will like you for who you are.

"The Edge of Seventeen" is a remarkable first feature from writer and director Kelly Fremon Craig. Craig's edgy sense of humor and sharp writing keeps the movie from being a total John Hughes rehash and Haliee Steinfeld's wonderful performance is something for the Academy voters to remember during Oscar season. Steinfeld will unlikely get a nomination for her sensational work here but I'm giving the Academy voters a chance for a change to find the time and look at this film for themselves.

Steinfeld creates a character who's sweet, likable, smarmy and at times annoying and we sympathize with her all the way through. Young newcomers Haley Lu Richardson and Hayden Szeto are outstanding in their roles of Nadine's best friend and the cute socially-awkward classmate who's insanely rich and loves to make small animated films. Woody Harrelson and Kyra Sedgwick are fine in their supporting turns as the history teacher who guides Nadine during her suicidal tendencies and the mother who always doesn't understand what her daughter is going through.

Remarkable is all I can say about "The Edge of Seventeen". It is funny, well-acted, smartly written and damn near-perfect.