The Edge Of Seventeen - movie review
The Edge Of Seventeen
Plot: High-school life gets even more unbearable for Nadine when her best friend, Krista, starts dating her older brother.
Cast: Hailee Steinfeld, Haley Lu Richardson, Blake Jenner
Director: Kelly Fremon Craig
Rating: 15 (strong language, sex references)
Runtime: 1hr 44 mins
Release Date: Wednesday 30th November 2016
To quote Futurama, 'Good News Everyone'. I've got an exclusive review of a film that technically, has yet to be released. Thanks to the good people at ShowFilmFirst, I was invited to a preview screening of The Edge Of Seventeen a week before it's UK release. It may not be a big blockbuster but it feels good to be one of very few people to see this already. Thankfully, it also helps that the film is great too.
I know what many of you are thinking. You see a poster or hear the plot of this film and have flashbacks of cringy tween comedies that make you want a bullet in the skull. I'm here to tell you it's nothing like that. All I'd have to do is direct you to the trailer (specifically the redband) and the penny will drop that The Edge Of Seventeen is the antithesis of those types of films. There are many people to thank for that but predominantly, Hailee Steinfeld. In True Grit, she was a revelation and destined to have a lengthy and successful career in Hollywood. Then she popped up in Pitch Perfect 2. Damn, that girl can sing. If she can dance, #triplethreat. And now, finally, The Edge Of Seventeen has given her the opportunity to completely command a film because Steinfeld is utterly tremendous as Nadine. She provides a very authentic and raw depiction of what life is like at high school and how awkward it can be. Firstly, Nadine is really funny and it's from her mishaps or her inability to stop talking and say everything on her mind where the majority of the comedy comes from. However, what stands this film apart from simplistic teen dramedies is that we get an emotional pull too and when Nadine begins to crack, break and then catastrophically crumble, it's heartbreaking to watch because it feels so real due to Steinfeld's performance. Her quick wit, dry sense of humour and stellar acting talent make this a potential game changing role for her. Part of the film revolves around Nadine's fracturing relationship with her best friend, Krista, after Nadine catches her in bed with her elder brother. Krista is played by Haley Lu Richardson and she too, is very good and there's more to her rather than the ditzy best friend archetype that seems so commonplace in other teen-based films. There's a humanity to her and everything she does feels relevant and that is helped along by a solid performance by Richardson.
I also felt interested in the bond she began forming with Nadine's brother, Darian (Blake Jenner, who's been having a very good year after the fantastic Everybody Wants Some!!). Darian fits the gap for the jock of the school, someone who's life seems all planned out for success. This is another idea that gets flipped on its head because the writers reveal that life is quite complex for Darian and Jenner gives a very subdued and calm performance which was refreshing to find in a genre like this. There's also the relationship he has with his sister. Whilst I can't sympathise with the various situations Darian finds himself in, the most endearing fact about his character is his loyalty and continued love for his sister. There are various instances where Nadine tests various people to breaking point but what impressed me the most is that no matter how much they argue and bicker, there is still a love between the two. In some respects, it reminded me of my sister and I. We argue, we know how to push each other's buttons but regardless of the irritation we can sometimes cause, I'd always look after her. Whilst the dynamic between Nadine and Darian was very impressive, Nadine and her mother's relationship wasn't as effective. Part of that is due to Kyra Sedgwick's performance. Obviously she didn't get the memo that this film prides itself on being very authentic because Sedgwick treats the mother like an over-the-top cartoon who constantly shouts, hollers and ultimately, makes her scenes come across very melodramatic. Many of her actions seem unlikely for anyone to do, let alone think, and unfortunately, she becomes very unlikeable. If that was the intention, I'm a little confused because, for the most part, The Edge Of Seventeen develops in such a way where you can relate to everyone's perspective. As for other minor characters, there's two possible love interests for Nadine. One's a bad boy and the other is an equally awkward and shy guy that Nadine has no interest in. You can see where that would go can't you? Finally, as the worst yet best teacher, is Woody Harrelson. Bravo Mr. Harrelson. Funny doesn't even begin to describe his character of the teacher. He acts more of a confidant for Nadine to let her unload all of her troubles and fears and whilst she is in the midst of a psychological breakdown, he gives zero shits. I'm talking sarcasm levels being at an all time high. For a film that has slightly more dramatic elements in it than comedy (which isn't a problem), Harrelson delivers some genuine laugh out loud quips.
FACT: The film's Lakewood High School is actually Guildford Park Secondary in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.
It's the performances that really sell this movie because they're so much better than your average teen-centric film. Sadly, as edgy and fresh as The Edge Of Seventeen wants to be, it does slip into the pitfalls that most entries into the genre usually do. This isn't the first film to discuss the idea of teens struggling with high school life so there are common plot lines that weave its way in and out of the runtime. Falling in love with the wrong person even though the perfect guy/girl is in front of you face, feeling underprivileged though someone has it a lot worse than you and an eventual divide between lifelong friends. Unfortunately, it means that when all plots have been set in motion and characters introduced, it's pretty easy to estimate how the film will go through the motions and eventually wrap up. On the plus side, those awkward encounters, dumb moments and bad life decisions do make sense for them to be included because that sort of stuff does happen in school. That's where Kelly Fremon Craig impresses as a director and writer because the dialogue feels real and whilst the story isn't anything new or inventive, it's presented brilliantly. The biggest positive I can give The Edge Of Seventeen is that it nails the life of a teenager and for someone who has recently departed the life of school and teenager-land, all the struggles Nadine was facing (maybe not all), I could emphatically relate to them. There would be situations that would arise in which I sat thinking 'That's me'. Whether it's being at a party in which you know noone or drafting the most ridiculous of messages to people and then deleting it because you sound like a lunatic. The dialogue between characters is also very accurate. I hate it when films water down the behaviour of teens to make them seem angelic. Films like The Fault In Our Stars and The Goonies perfectly depict that teenagers can be smart, so complex dialogue can be included, as well as say bad language. We're teenagers! We swear! It's so good to see a film like this show teenagers in a real light rather than this untouchable façade they're often given. The dramatic notes are spot on and the comedic jokes land 99% of the time. If I'm being really critical, and I'm pushing here, to make it that little bit better, about ten minutes could have been cut out to make it run slightly smoother but even though I say that, I struggle to think what can be cut out because everything is treated with such care and relevance.
A very charming, funny and realistic look at life in high school. Hailee Steinfeld is remarkable and Woody Harrelson gives a great comedic performance that manages to balance obscene humour and spades of heart. It may follow a very trodden path for its plot but the emotion is brought forward in full force.
My Verdict: 7.5/10
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Great critique! But I so loved this movie I'd give it 5 stars. All the actors in this fine film were indeed ideally cast for this film's sharp, realistic dialog and sarcasm, with a masters class of subtilely nuanced facial expressions regaling every sparkling scene in this masterpiece of a movie.
ReplyDeleteEven your criticism of mom's overly edgy performance rang true, but in Sedgwick's defense, given that there are such mothers in real life, and the reality that all mom's lines and directions were provided for her by the same brilliant woman, writer-director, Kelly Craig, so perhaps Mom's grating character may not have been all Kira'a fault, but might have been just what Ms. Craig was shooting for?
Two characters you omitted commenting on were the father, and Erwin Kim. The Dad's brief, but not too brief, perfunctorily avuncular performance helped to reinforce Nadine's lost soul persona. Though Nadine's rebelliousness was well established in the opening scenes before her dad's tragic demise in her presence , his kindliness solidified the basis for Nadine's later alienation being at the edge of 17, that manifested itself as a half self-doubting inferiority complex and a half hyper-critical superiority complex. Dad's performance made the recounted memory of him between Nadine and Darian and later with her mom all the more poignant, and added to Nadine's feelings of being an unlucky, lost soul.
And secondly, I would have also given very strong kudos for Erwin's skillful performance, going from a befuddled duffus who Nadine wanted to carry around in a "Baby Bjorn", to the boy who in the end would woe and win the heart of this cute and funny fire brand.
PS. At 73, I haven't seen any of the other coming of age teen movies you compare to the too predictable teen angst plot of "Edge of Seventeen", that you saw as its one downfall, but will look up the one's you thought also intelligent films with smart dialog as well as Steinfield's "Pitch Perfect II".
***** Thanks for your fine review and opportunity to respond. Wayne Webster