Although this was released just last year, you may have blindly passed it by. It was not at the forefront of any AMC marquee, there was no mention of it at any big awards show, and the actors are not among Hollywood's A-list- but that says more about the modern movie market than it does about the film. As the title may suggest, Short Term 12 takes a look at life in a short term care facility for troubled teenagers. Newcomer Brie Larson (who you may recognize from Community or 21 Jump Street) is Grace, the guardian angel, watching over the kids with her boyfriend (John Gallagher Jr.). There is not a single scene that is not built on and filled with emotion as Grace attempts to both help the kids- some of whom have come to major turning points in their lives- and fulfill her own personal life as she withdraws within herself and away from the people around her.
All in all, this is a movie about Grace, and Brie Larson executes her role to perfection. What makes her stand apart is that her character is made of the stuff of real life- she's messy, emotional, conservatively intimate, all held together with good intentions. And she's not alone here. Every character is torn from someone's life story, and that's why this film has the power to be so emotionally crushing. Without being over-the-top or melodramatic, Short Term 12 will knock the air from your lungs and use you as a punching bag, then moments later lift you up with a light moment shared between kids. It's rare to find such a true exploration of empathy.
Short Term 12 is currently streaming on Netflix instant.
All in all, this is a movie about Grace, and Brie Larson executes her role to perfection. What makes her stand apart is that her character is made of the stuff of real life- she's messy, emotional, conservatively intimate, all held together with good intentions. And she's not alone here. Every character is torn from someone's life story, and that's why this film has the power to be so emotionally crushing. Without being over-the-top or melodramatic, Short Term 12 will knock the air from your lungs and use you as a punching bag, then moments later lift you up with a light moment shared between kids. It's rare to find such a true exploration of empathy.
Short Term 12 is currently streaming on Netflix instant.