Comments on: TRUE ADOLESCENTS Review, SXSW 2009 http://blog.spout.com/2009/03/15/true-adolescents-review-sxsw-2009/ Daily coverage of what is truly interesting in the film world Sat, 28 Nov 2009 05:47:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: X3 http://blog.spout.com/2009/03/15/true-adolescents-review-sxsw-2009/#comment-123176 X3 Thu, 19 Mar 2009 21:36:02 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=11944#comment-123176 Ioda, the independent music marketing and distribution company, is providing the SXSW Opening Day Bash Sampler 2009 as a free MP3 download. You can find a link to the album <a href="http://dealdogs.net/?p=14718" rel="nofollow"> here</a>. Ioda, the independent music marketing and distribution company, is providing the SXSW Opening Day Bash Sampler 2009 as a free MP3 download. You can find a link to the album here.

]]> By: winston http://blog.spout.com/2009/03/15/true-adolescents-review-sxsw-2009/#comment-122977 winston Tue, 17 Mar 2009 03:56:52 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=11944#comment-122977 I thought that the shift halfway through was actually well handled. There are contrivances involved sure, but the shift in tonality worked to show Sam being confronted with a need to grow up. Rather than the typical Hollywood model of having some mentor giving the "man up" speech; Johnson's script allows life to force the character into this transitional moment. I felt that the transition from lighthearted comedic to dramatic was necessary to the story. Viewed another way, this film is a modern take on the spiritual journey; where one goes off and "finds" oneself, here Sam is sent off and in the process discovers himself. It's a classic cliche, but set in modern times and stripped of all the typical modes of conveyance (like that "mentor" character giving the inspirational speech). That said, I agree completely with your notes about threads that were left unresolved, I wish that they had been wrapped up more. I thought that the shift halfway through was actually well handled. There are contrivances involved sure, but the shift in tonality worked to show Sam being confronted with a need to grow up. Rather than the typical Hollywood model of having some mentor giving the “man up” speech; Johnson’s script allows life to force the character into this transitional moment. I felt that the transition from lighthearted comedic to dramatic was necessary to the story.

Viewed another way, this film is a modern take on the spiritual journey; where one goes off and “finds” oneself, here Sam is sent off and in the process discovers himself. It’s a classic cliche, but set in modern times and stripped of all the typical modes of conveyance (like that “mentor” character giving the inspirational speech).

That said, I agree completely with your notes about threads that were left unresolved, I wish that they had been wrapped up more.

]]> By: Julio http://blog.spout.com/2009/03/15/true-adolescents-review-sxsw-2009/#comment-122888 Julio Mon, 16 Mar 2009 01:43:55 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=11944#comment-122888 Hello Karina, I found SpoutBlog after your name was mentioned in one of J. Hoberman's reviews for the Village Voice. The blog is consistently excellent and your reviews are a treat. My one complaint is that the archives are cumbersome to navigate and it is generally difficult to find older reviews. If you guys can address this admittedly small flaw you'll have the perfect film blog. Just a thought. Hello Karina,

I found SpoutBlog after your name was mentioned in one of J. Hoberman’s reviews for the Village Voice. The blog is consistently excellent and your reviews are a treat. My one complaint is that the archives are cumbersome to navigate and it is generally difficult to find older reviews. If you guys can address this admittedly small flaw you’ll have the perfect film blog. Just a thought.

]]> By: A http://blog.spout.com/2009/03/15/true-adolescents-review-sxsw-2009/#comment-122876 A Sun, 15 Mar 2009 21:10:41 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=11944#comment-122876 For my money (and I am so glad I didn't spend it on True Adolescence), a film that neither entertains enough for a studio treatment or says anything worthy of critical championing exemplifies exactly the kind of pointless, recycled indie filler that is glutting up the market.... For my money (and I am so glad I didn’t spend it on True Adolescence), a film that neither entertains enough for a studio treatment or says anything worthy of critical championing exemplifies exactly the kind of pointless, recycled indie filler that is glutting up the market….

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