In the Pipeline: American Teen
The folks at Paramount Vantage would like you to check out the official website and trailer for the hit Sundance documentary American Teen.
Filmmaker Nanette Burstein (The Kid Stays in the Picture) filmed five Midwestern teenagers, a Jock, a Geek, a Popular Girl, a Heartthrob and an Artsy Girl, for 10 months during their senior year in high school and this is the result.
Variety found it a little too glossy, but liked it anyway and, in the simultaneous acme and nadir of his Sundance coverage, Jeff Wells was memorably booted 15 minutes into an overcrowded screening for which he showed up late. He then declared he was hating it after 5 minutes anyway. As a piece of film criticism, the post is typically useless, but as a piece of entertainment, it’s pretty funny.
You’ll be able to decide for yourself when the film opens July 25.
Filed under: Upcoming
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Wow. That looks ridiculously cheesy and cliche, even though it’s a documentary. I’ll probably stay away form it.
I’m trying to catch it this Sunday night at a festival screening. I think it was a bad idea to rip off The Breakfast Club poster - just serves as a reminder that it probably won’t be as good.
if the movie isn’t any good…Paramount Vantage..can just blame you tube…. ;)
I cannot wait for this!
I have a strong aversion to going back to high school in any way, so unless this has excellent reviews I can’t say I’ll be much interested.
In other Wells-related news, David O. Russell is apparently as big of a domineering jerk as ever. I had to break my “no H-E” rule because I had been told by a friend Wells was very sympathetic towards Russell and said James Caan obviously doesn’t embrace the true creative process of filmmaking.
Here I thought Caan was a strong pro throughout his whole career and, as a couple of posters there noted, happily took direction from some of the more “hardball” directors out there like Francis Ford Coppola, Lars von Tier and Wells’ beloved Michael Mann among others. It’s true he “walked off” the set of Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead but I think those were very different circumstances.
If even George Clooney grew to despise Russell, and that clip of Russell’s behavior on the set of I Heart Huckabees is any indication, well, the real problem is Russell.
Bleah. I guess Wells sees a lot of himself in Russell?
Sorry for pretty much hijacking the thread. Just thinking about Wells after reading the story made me vent.
I remember reading some good things about this out of Sundance, but we’ll see.
Wells on Caan. I debated whether to post something about the Caan/Russell thing…I was even going to call it The Wrath of Caan, but ultimately it’s too close to gossip and too far from what’s on the screen. Wells’ take on it is pretty absurd on its face. Caan’s a pro and he’s been around forever and he’s at an age where he rightfully figures he doesn’t have to take a lot of shit from some punk if he doesn’t want to.
I agree that Russell is the problem, but I still like the guy’s movies.
“I agree that Russell is the problem, but I still like the guy’s movies.”
Ditto. I heart Huckabees and Kings, and enjoyed Flirting and Monkey. I’m amazed, however, that he’s been able to advance his career with a notable anger management problem. It’s inexcusable in anyone, and particularly abusive when directed towards someone you hold power over. The fact that it has impacted in some way on at least three of his films suggests he’s not taking any meaningful actions to address the issue.
Especially after he was publicly busted for it after Huckabees.
What’s surprising is that it’s not like he’s box office gold either. How does he manage to continue to find work?
The Wrath of Caan. Craig, your headlines are just works of art, even when they are not actually posted.
“What’s surprising is that it’s not like he’s box office gold either. How does he manage to continue to find work?”
Having Spike Jonze and Alexander Payne as good buddies probably doesn’t hurt.
“your headlines are just works of art, even when they are not actually posted.”
Yeah, can’t you see Craig in the editor’s office, chomping on a cigar behind his big desk, sleeves rolled up, outlining the next headline in the air before him with outstretched hands as the LiC monkeys look on in rapt devotion?
“What’s surprising is that it’s not like he’s box office gold either. How does he manage to continue to find work?”
I’ve been asking myself this about Renny Harlin for years.
Sartre, you forgot the furrowed brow and the greying at the temples.
Joel, don’t you know Renny Harlin is like Rumplestiltskin? Every time you say his name, he makes a movie. Shhhhhhhhh.
I tried saying his name three times fast, but apparently that only makes Beetlejuice disappear.
Just to confirm - American Teen is fantastic. Like a trip back in time…