| | | It's Not What You Think.
Features: DVD, Widescreen, Aspect Ratio 1.85:1, English, French, Subtitled
It's war at Trinity Prep School for Boys. Brother Leon is counting on profits from the annual chocolate sale to save the school but the school's strong-arm group, The Vigils, have other plans.
"The acting is superb." Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
"Seriously underrated and annoyingly overlooked. Gordon delivers a great film in his very first try." Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Editor's Note
Keith Gordon's directorial debut is an adaptation of Robert Cormier's novel about one boy's quest for personal freedom. Jerry (Ilan Mitchell-Smith) is an idealistic freshman at Trinity, a Catholic high school for boys, who refuses to accept the status quo of the conventional school. The annual chocolate sale at Trinity is a source of revenue and great pride for Brother Leon (John Glover), a tyrannical and egomaniacal teacher who has been put in charge of the sale as acting headmaster. In an attempt to undermine Brother Leon's grand scheme to sell more chocolates than ever before, Archie (Wally Ward), the smug and brilliant leader of the Vigils, an elite secret society at the school, delivers an assignment to Jerry--refuse to accept any chocolates to sell for 10 days. Jerry willingly agrees to the plan but unexpectedly defies the system when he refuses to take part in the sale at all, infuriating Brother Leon and Archie, who unite to terrorize the young rebel. The power struggle that ensues is a brilliant lesson in intimidation and manipulation delivered by schoolmates and teachers alike. This dreamy and surreal study of youths coping with power and rebellion is reminiscent of LORD OF THE FLIES and DEAD POETS SOCIETY, delivering a refreshing and simple view of a classic underdog played with great subtlety by the young Mitchell-Smith. Glover is superbly wicked as the pathological Brother Leon.
Plot Summary
This adaptation of Robert Cormier's novel is an unusual study in personal freedom, as an idealistic freshman at a Catholic high school for boys unexpectedly defies the system and learns firsthand about the power of manipulation and intimidation.
| Features | Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, Dolby Digital Mono | | Feature Audio Commentary By Director Keith Gordon | | Interactive Menus | | Interview With Director Keith Gordon | | Scene Selection | | Subtitles: English, French |
| Technical Info
|
Release Information
| | Studio: Foxvideo |
| Release Date: 4/17/2007 |
| Running Time: 105 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 1988 | | Catalog ID: 107320 | | UPC: 00027616073204 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English | | Available Subtitles: English, French | | Video: Color |
Aspect Ratio | | Widescreen 1.85:1 |
| Cast & Crew
| Awards |
Nominee (1989) | | | Independent Spirit, Keith Gordon, Jonathan D. Krane, Best First Feature |
|
| | Professional Reviews | Los Angeles Times
"...A first-rate adaptation....A fascinating film done with style, with care and with excellence in every department..." 11/23/1988 p.C6Film Freak Central 9 of 10
The opening moments of likeable actor Keith Gordon's directorial debut (he played the psycho-nerd in John Carpenter's banal Christine) put me at ease. This 1988 adaptation is by no means letter-faithful, but the grim tone of the book is preserved and the alterations are exciting...Gordon's compression of several chapters into beautiful, static montages may have been influenced by time or budgetary constraints, but this stripped-down approach captures the simple poetry of Cormier's prose well. The movie is often like watching a bizarre tango between the no-frills aesthetic of Cassavetes and the big-budget minimalism of Kubrick--at times, the camera placement and direction of actors has improvisational zing, while at others, there is a methodical, antispontaneity to the proceedings that is equally engrossing...This is an inspiring first effort from Gordon full of great performances... - Bill Chambers
|
| |
|
|
|
