Review of Thumbsucker (2005) by Benjamin F — 14 Aug 2008

Mike Mills' teen angst epic about fragility, focusing on a cast of mostly broken characters, seeking out something more - something better - despite their crippling sensitivity. A lot of good statements are made about the ways people try to escape their problems through substances - whether prescription medication (Though obviously, that's not exactly a two-dimensional issue either.

) or some good old-fashioned recreational self-medication. The cast is strong overall, particularly the core family unit, between Lou Taylor Pucci - who seems to work on interesting movies - Tilda Swinton, and Vincent D'Onofrio.

Benjamin Bratt was plenty alright in his small role, and Keanu Reeves was bearable, which says something, at least. Vince Vaughn avoided rehashing his usual one note characters in his supporting role as well, a rare glimpse at a little more range from him.

And Kelli Garner is simply alluring. The writing is good overall, though not flawless, and trends a bit towards the overly melodramatic at times - though this is the norm for the teen angst subgenre, and this is certainly one of the better movies within it.

Like last year's Rocket Science, it tackles the themes of high school debate and unrequited love, but both films do it differently enough to make them worth one's time. The soundtrack is absolutely blissful as well.

Elliott Smith was originally slated to provide the entire soundtrack in the form of covers of other artists' songs - only three were completed before his suicide. It's hard not to wonder how the overall feel of the film would've changed had he not taken his own life, and what other songs he would have covered.

But the three he did meshed with the film well, as a more subtle counterpoint to The Polyphonic Spree's booming, impressive sound. That said, upon Smith's demise, Mills sought out the next best option in scoring his cinematic anthem to fragility.

The Spree did an amazing job, simply doing their thing - though there are moments where their music almost overshadows the quieter dialogue between the characters - and following the film, their next album, The Fragile Army (Which obviously covered similar thematic topics in the matter of the human experience.

), turned out to be something even more impressive. All in all, a very good - though not flawless - film with a great soundtrack.