12 & Holding

 

Picture: B-     Sound: B-     Extras: B     Film: B

 

 

One of the few credible films about preteen years we have seen lately is Michael Cuesta’s 12 & Holding (2005), the story of young children left to their own devices until an angry prank turns to murder.  Twin brothers Jacob & Rudy Carges (both played by Conor Donovan, nearly pulling it off with the devices of a red facial birth mark and hockey mask) like to go out and have fun with their friends, but they are also being bullied by some larger kids.  They get one of them good from their tree house, but that kid decides to set the house on fire, killing one of the twins.

 

Fallout ensues, all while the surviving brother falls in puppy love, the middle-class parents are “suddenly shocked” and a legal case goes forward.  Instead of bring a stupid melodrama focusing on the parents or “child’s story” that would be watered down and unconvincing, Cuesta and writer Anthony S. Cipriano make it a deeper study of the situation and character study of certain principals in particular.  Like his fascinating and controversial L.I.E. (reviewed elsewhere no this site), the children are seen in a mature light without sexualizing them, exploiting them or pretending the society protects them when it increasingly does not.  Annabella Sciorra and Jesse Camacho also star.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 image is not bad, with some good color and detail, but Romeo Tyrone’s cinematography is decent though memorable shots are limited.  The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix has ambient surrounds and clear dialogue in the least, with music by Pierre Foldes and some sound effects kicking in here and there.  The combination is more watchable than several big budget duds we’ve seen recently.  Extras include deleted scenes, trailers for other Genius/Weinstein product and a very smart, fine audio commentary by Cuesta.

 

For more on L.I.E., you can read more about the uncut DVD at:

 

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/362/L.I.E.+(Uncut)

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo