Friday, August 27, 2004
Mean Creek
2004
There are some films that are so simplistic in essence, they just move me. Mean Creek is one of those movies.
Brilliant in form, storyline and acting, this movie is a rare indy gem. Following in the likes of George Washington and Fresh, Mean Creek is a movie about a group of kids, bored and slightly troubled, who go on a river ride that turns out to be a nightmare.
But make no mistake, director Jacob Aaron Estes worked long and hard to make this "not another teen movie". In fact, I'd have to say that this movie has less to do about children than it does human nature.
The cast includes surprisingly impressive performances; raw in nature and so purely delivered, that you find yourself stressed in your seat as you watch the awkward moments, the looks of fear and shock in their eyes, as they process the world around them that fateful day at the river. The characters are played by Rory Culkin (Macaulay's younger brother), Ryan Kelley, Scott Mechlowicz, Trevor Morgan, Josh Peck and complete show stopper, Carly Schroeder.
Mean Creek carefully conveys the delicate balance of nature, strength and weakness. It is difficult to express in writing what this movie did to everyone in the theater after it ended. I looked around: people were blown away, speechless...as a hauntingly beautiful melody caresses you into the darkness of THE END (performed wonderfully by Estes' wife, Gretchen Lieberman).
The silence and dumbfounded faces were not quiet because of a two hour overload of images and over-acting. It is a rare look that can only be delivered by a brilliant and simple classic.
WATCH THIS MOVIE.
