Short Term 12

Just...wow. This was such an amazing movie. It was funny, sad, heartfelt, and touching in all the right places. The story was well written and just felt so real and natural. I would definitely recommend everyone to give this a watch.

A tough, touching, and humorous look at a youth foster/psych home and its staff. It would have been very easy for this movie to slide into triteness and over-saccharine lessons, but outside of a few moments, it always feels grounded and real. A large part of that is thanks to the children actors, so often a detriment, they truly shine in this movie. Especially strong is the young man who plays Marcus, he may have big things ahead of him. The intimate camera work and natural feel to scenes add to the sense that you are in the world with these characters, and it rewards you in an emotional way. The connections and empathy you build are more than enough for me to overcome any of the writing flaws, though there aren't many to begin with. An incredible film, I'm excited to see what the writer/director has in the future.