We watched Hesher and Enter the Void. This is an impromptu video blog of our thoughts. Featuring a special guest, Rudie from Criterioncast.com!
Sundance Video Blog 2 WeAreMovieGeeks.com from Anthony Meadows on Vimeo.
Tag: Hesher
Sundance Review: HESHER
When I saw the stills from HESHER I was under the assumption that this movie would be a very intense drama. What we actually got was a film that cannot be placed into any genre of film and is so politically incorrect it would make Howard Stern blush. Please don’t get me wrong, this movie is fucking fantastic and I cant rave enough about it… a quarter of the way through the film I turned to AJ and told him this would easily be my favorite of the festival, if not the year. With an all star cast of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Rainn Wilson and Natalie Portman there is very little that can go wrong.
The movie revolves around T.J. who is dealing with the loss of his mother who died in a car accident. He and his father Paul (Rainn Wilson) are forced to move in with his grandma because the death pretty much sidelines them. After a series of events T.J. comes to know of a metal head squatter known only as Hesher (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who forces himself into his life.When I say forces himself, I literally mean he moves in with T.J. at his grandmothers house.
Not only is T.J. having issues with Hesher, but the school bully also has it out for him and after a run in with him, he is saved by a grocery store clerk named Nicole (played by the amazing Natalie Portman), whom he also falls in love with. Without spoiling too much of the film (more than I already have), I will say that the rest of the plot is like a roller coaster ride that you don’t want to get off.
There are so many things in this movie that leave you scratching your head, and that’s part of what makes the movie so amazing. The fact that Hesher essentially moves into T.J.’s house without as much as asking the father or grandmother and is met with little to no resistance from either of them seems so far fetched that it would never happen but it just fits here. Add that in with all of Hesher’s stories that always have some type of deeper meaning despite them being somewhat unrelated.
Joseph Gordon Levitt gives one of the greatest performances of his career, playing Hesher. He is gritty, raw, unforgiving and in your face. He doesn’t care what you think, nor does he worry about any of the consequences to his actions. Gordon Levitt hasn’t played a character like that of Hesher, but damn… you truly understand just what kind of range he has if you didn’t before.
I was also pleasantly pleased with Rainn Wilson as the father Paul. There were several moments that he could have gone the Dwight Schrute route and been a little on the cheesy side but there are no moments in the film where you get that.
HESHER also features some of the best one liners in a film… ever. Here is a quote for you to drool over:
Hesher: Where’s the laundry room?
T.J.: You cant be in here.
Hesher: Have you ever been skull fucked?
Hesher: You want to?
I walked out of the screening smiling ear to ear with the knowledge that we just had our minds blown by director Spencer Susser. Susser had previously done a short called I LOVE SARAH JANE which is one of the coolest zombie concepts I’ve ever seen. He used some scenes and plot lines from I LOVE SARAH JANE in HESHER which made me super excited to see. Specner Susser is going to do amazing things, and I am pleased to say that I have been witness to one of the first.
Overall Rating: 5 out of 5
Sundance 2010 Preview: HESHER
Anything Joseph Gordon-Levitt is in is promptly thrown to near the top of my “most anticipated” list any more. He is, without a doubt, one of the best actors working today, and he’s only 29-years-old. As much as we love him in the lighter films a la (500) DAYS OF SUMMER, it is the darker films like BRICK and THE LOOKOUT that really pique our interest. HESHER is no exception, and, with a cast that also boasts Rainn Wilson, Natalie Portman, and Piper Laurie, it is easily one of the films at Sundance this year we cannot wait to feast our eyes on.
Official synopsis:
Hesher is the story of a family struggling to deal with loss and the anarchist who helps them do it—in a very unexpected way.
TJ is 13 years old. Two months ago, his mom was killed in an accident, leaving TJ and his grieving dad to move in with grandma to pick up the pieces. Hesher is a loner. He hates the world—and everyone in it. He has long, greasy hair and homemade tattoos. He likes fire and blowing things up. He lives in his van—until he meets TJ.
Hesher is that rare film that manages to be a completely original vision, a thoroughly entertaining story, and a provocative metaphor. Joseph Gordon-Levitt brings the character of Hesher to life with anger and angst, and Devin Brochu makes quite a splash as the young boy dealing with both the loss of his mother and an unwanted houseguest. Cowriter/director Spencer Susser crafts a multidimensional, darkly humorous film that exhibits an immensely talented storyteller at work.
Check out the film’s official site.
HESHER plays at the following times:
Friday, January 22nd at 3:15 PM at the Eccles Theatre in Park City
Saturday, January 23rd at 6:30 PM at Peery’s Egyptian Theater in Ogden
Sunday, January 24th at 11:15 AM at the Racquet Club in Park City
Wednesday, January 27th at 6:45 PM at the Broadway Centre Cinema V in Salt Lake City
Thursday, January 28th at 5:15 PM at the Racquet Club in Park City
and
Saturday, January 30th at 3:00 PM at the Egyptian Theatre in Park City
Stills:
First Look: HESHER
We are at that stage where we need to put away the indie flicks of 2009 that made up stand up and take notice and start thinking about the 2010 films we have to look forward to. With the recent announcements on what is on the slate for Sundance 2010, we can gather a fairly good inclination as to what some of those films are going to be.
For instance, we have HESHER. Directed by Spencer Susser, the director who brought us the zombie short, I LOVE SARAH JANE, HESHER stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a death metal slacker who comes down on an already troubled family and its 13-year-old son. Rainn Wilson stars as the drug addicted father/widower and Natalie Portman plays a local store clerk who also becomes friends with the youngster. Devin Brochu, last seen as the young Matthew McConaughey in GHOSTS OF GIRLFRIENDS PAST, also stars as the 13-year-old.
Today, courtesy of the fine people over at /Film, we have our first stills from this upcoming film. You already know, but just looking at the pictures, you can tell without reservation that this is going to be another amazing performance given by Gordon-Levitt.
Check them all out:
HESHER makes its debut at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. Actual showtimes and dates have not been announced yet.
Gordon-Levitt, joins Rainn & Portman in ‘Hesher’
Spencer Susser will make his feature-film debut as a director with ‘Hesher’. The film is already looking up as the cast will feature Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Natalie Portman and Rainn Wilson.
The comedy/drama will tell the story of Hesher (Levitt), a slacker who becomes involved in the life of a 13-year old who lives with his drug addict father (Wilson) who is attempting to cope with his wife’s death while keeping his family together.
Natalie Portman plays a grocery store clerk that the teen develops a crush for after she saves him from some bullies. Portman is also co-producing the film, which is co-written by Susser and David Michod.
[source: Empire]