Short Term 12
Dir: Destin Daniel Cretton
2013
***
Short Term 12 tackles a very important issue but it does so in a haphazard, convoluted and somewhat contrived manner. Short Term 12 is a centre for underprivileged kids (although you're not supposed to call them that) and is run by a couple of ex-underprivileged kids (now adults, but only just). So does it take one to know one, does the cycle somehow continue? Or is this a film one big pay it forward message? Well neither really. The story doesn't really focus too much on each persons story which does and doesn't work equally. On one hand you have certain kids who's history we never learn about, maybe it isn't integral to the story, maybe its lazy writing, they're crazy kids, that's all we have to know!? Then the one story that is somewhat focused on, due to it effecting one of the staff, is handled absurdly. The message that only the hurt can help the hurt is contradicted in a rather silly revenge scene involving a car and a baseball bat. The writing isn't half as clever or indeed witty as the makers think it is either. And then you have some absolutely amazing scenes. The heartfelt song sung by Keith Stanfield will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up, it's so powerful and real. The acting is 50/50, some bad (the adults) some brilliant (the kids) but overall there is enough here to get a good message across but nothing to get too excited about.