bowmanblue I don't know why I originally chose to sit down and watch 'The Chumscrubber.' Maybe it was the name, or maybe it was the impressive cast list? Or maybe I was just bored. Whatever the reason, it left a profound impact on me. I watched it. Loved it. And then forgot about it completely until the next time. Then I repeated that - again and again. I've seen it at least three times now and every time I love it and, for whatever reason, have real trouble recalling what it was about until I find myself watching it again a few years later.I guess it could be described as a really 'unique' type of film, or at least it would be if it wasn't for the fact that it feels very similar to the legendary 'Donnie Darko.' In today's world of 'shared cinematic universes' I reckon there's a reality out there somewhere where the two of these films co-exist. Both are about a young, troubled boy whose world is turned upside down in an insular community of modern suburban America.Whereas 'Donnie Darko' was definitely science fiction, I'm tempted to say that 'The Chumscrubber' is also - at least part - sci-fi. However, on my latest re-watch I'd say whatever 'supernatural' elements are here, they are so minor they're barely worth talking about. Jamie Bell plays Dean, whose drug-dealing best friend kills himself, leaving the local thugs out of pocket when it comes to their stash. Therefore, the town's clichéd school bullies kidnap another boy and try to blackmail Dean into retrieving the 'merchandise.'Seeing as I'm refusing to acknowledge 'The Chumscrubber' as science fiction, I'm going to call it a 'satire.' In other words... it's not quite funny enough to be a comedy, but there's enough in it to make you smile to stop it from being an out and out drama. Its message is how parents are too wrapped up in their own - legally medicated - worlds to notice what's happening to their own children.I can see a lot of people finding this film 'too weird' to be enjoyable, but, put simply, if you're a fan of 'Donnie Darko' type movies, you should like what's happening here, too. It's clever, dramatic, funny, different, has a message about our modern way of life and did I mention practically every cast member is a recognisable face in his or her own right?

xcforeverboy2772 About the disconnect between parents and kids, our true desires and what we choose to do in life, about being so caught up and afraid that we ignore everything except what we want to see and hear. This movie uses a video game character that aptly describes the feelings, a kid who got his head cut off but came back to life and is neither alive, nor dead. The main character longs for his father's acknowledgement and acceptance so he does whatever his father asks him to, the father hungers for importance so he writes a book about his son's problems and ignores his family, the mother wanted to be loved and accepted so she sells veggie vitamins looking for a family who will cherish her...It's about the solution being right in front of our face but instead of reaching out fulfilling our true desires we find some tepid remedy ignoring the reality of things as they slowly build and not seeing it until everything explodes...about listless entertainment and never knowing satisfying pleasure. This tale is expertly woven to describe a facet of the American suburbia...For me, only the end leaves us unsatisfied and wanting. So I can't help to ask if the film is really coherent in it's message. Anyways, if you liked American Beauty, or Donnie Darko, or Wristcutters: a love story...watch this film!!

treeline1 Dean is a withdrawn teen living in a wealthy suburb where his only friend is Troy, his drug dealer. When Troy dies, a school bully kidnaps Dean's little brother to force him to find Troy's stash.What a terrific movie! I loved it and I think I could see it again and again and still see new things. Although the "rich, alienated teens with self-absorbed parents" plot has been done before, there was nothing cliché about this script. The story constantly surprised me and was quite intense and exciting. The cast is full of big stars: Glenn Close plays Troy's shell-shocked mother, Ralph Fiennes is a spaced-out groom, John Heard plays a tough cop, Allison Janney is Dean's mother obsessed with selling VeggieForce, Jason Isaacs is another parent oblivious to his child and the list goes on. Jamie Bell ("Billy Elliot") is the star, however, and he's quite wonderful as the pill-popping, long-suffering Dean.The movie is a dark comedy/tragedy with a fresh look at the emptiness behind the picture-perfect homes of suburbia. Highly recommended.

blowfly13 I really liked this movie. It was unusual, and the casting and acting were good. The movie captured the wide gulf between adults and children very well. I see a lot of shows on TV where the parents are concerned and mentally healthy and wonderfully helpful and caring with their children, but in my experience that's pretty rare. This movie was much closer to what I see - parents that are self-involved and very out of touch with their children's lives, and what their children are doing or dealing with. The actor who played Dean was perfect in that role, as was the kid who played Billy. I liked the scary touch when Billy's dad called him out of the room and you didn't know what he was doing to him. The weaselly kid who studied and kidnapped and almost committed murder was hilarious. I didn't like the kid who played Dean's brother - too creepy and annoying. All of the parents were good, and I was glad to see Trinity come out of the Matrix and play a non-sci fi role - she's pretty talented, and too many sci-fi actors/actresses get typecast into that genre. The only thing that really detracted from the movie was the weird storyline of the mayor and the dolphin - what the heck was THAT all about? it seemed disassociated from the rest of the movie, and added absolutely nothing (except boredom). I don't know how Ralph Fiennes agreed to play that role. Other than that, a really good movie for people who are tired of the same old retreaded Hollywood tripe.