tieman64 "It goes without saying that all mental illnesses are neurologically instantiated, but this says nothing about their causation. This requires a social and political explanation. Instead of treating it as incumbent on individuals to resolve their own psychological distress, we need to ask: how has it become acceptable that so many people, and especially so many young people, are ill?" - Mark Fisher Written and directed by Michael Goldbach, "Daydream Nation" stars Kat Dennings as Caroline Wexler, a seventeen year old girl living in small-town America. With a serial killer on the loose, and industrial fires perpetually burning on the horizon, Caroline's world is quite literally both toxic and threatening.Many film-makers have tried to document the various forms of middle-class malaise oft associated with contemporary, techno-capitalism. With its toxic skies and cast of intoxicated, dysfunctional adults and children, "Daydream Nation" attempts to do the same. But Goldbach doesn't peer hard enough, doesn't dig deep enough, and the sociopolitical forces weighing down upon his characters are left entirely unexplored. Like most films of its ilk, "Daydream Nation" then posits depression, addiction, dysfunction, alienation and mental illness as a product of easily curable loneliness. A little companionship, a little sex, and you too can be fixed. That these constitute evasions at best, socially sanctioned addictions at worst, doesn't occur to Goldbach. With fine performances by Josh Lucas and Andie MacDowell.6/10 - See "Red Desert", Todd Haynes' "Safe" and "The Devil Probably".

luvsails As painful as it is awkward, this is one movie I will not be watching again. This title wants so desperately to be something it's not, which is profound. While aiming to be the next American Beauty meets Juno, it plays out like the novel of a smarmy teen who just KNOWS that he's smarter than anyone else and that's why he's unpopular. One saving grace is the performance of Reece Thompson, who handles his performance as a tormented, burned-out druggie deftly. On second thought, Andie MacDowell is also a high note as a relatively flat character but refreshingly sweet and supportive mom. Still, I'd give this movie a pass.

jharrisonplease Wow, what a surprise this movie was. I was ready for the typical cheesy Twilight-like lovelorn teenage romance and what I got instead was an incredibly fun ride through the dark side of those hormone-driven years. This film managed to take a lot of elements you've seen before and mashed them together in such a funny, sweet and unexpected way that it came out the other end as what will probably be thought of us a modern teenage classic. Maybe that sounds too generous...but really...this movie caught me off-guard. Reading some of the reviews by those who didn't like it all I can say is they seemed to have missed the subtlety and the humor and the way it mixes trash culture (teenage films) with artier culture (maybe French New Wave? Danish films?) in a manner that reminded me of...well...Sonic Youth. The story is simple. A teenage girl moves to a small town. Bored there she begins to sleep with he teacher who seems like he's a deep and intelligent literary-type but turns out to be emotionally needy and craven. So the girl takes an interest in a boy her age whose only romance up 'til then was with his weed-pipe. The movie crackles with energy and tension. But I should warn you, it's does not feel like your average American teen film. Those looking to have everything telegraphed to them--especially the humor--will be disappointed. For those who like their teen dreams more nuanced, this is a new classic in a tiny but fun genre.

SamHardy This one just happened to appear on Showtime today. I started to watch it and about 15 minutes in I said "ok I will record this and watch it later." I kept watching and at about 30 minutes in I was still watching. I kept watching more and more of it and saying I would watch it later. Pretty soon the whole 1 and 3/4 hours went by and I found myself unable to tear myself away. It was impossible to stop. I was hypnotized.I usually don't find much to like about movies these days. They are violent, loud, juvenile, predictable and boring. Finally one that has real characters, in real situations, with real thoughts and feelings. The characters are mature and well drawn with depth and the kind of complexity that says volumes about the observational skills of the writer. It was sensitively directed and acted. And you know what the best thing about it was? At any moment in the film I had no idea where it was going. I have seen thousands of films and I can spot a cliché a mile away. This one was like no other film I have ever seen. Totally unpredictable.Do whatever you have to do to see it. Treat yourself to something different then you can go back to films with drugs, car crashes, guns, and urban horror stories. Just give yourself one chance to see a really well crafted and mature work of art.