‘Thumbsucker’ a
strange
but tasty treat for audiences
By
Allison Baldwin
Daily Forty-Niner
Contributing Writer
“Thumbsucker,” based on the novel by Walter Kim, is the story of
Justin Cobb (Lou Pucci), a 17-year-old boy who still sucks his thumb. Justin’s
problem is disruptive to his family and love life, but he can’t seem to
stop himself. Despite attempts at helping their son, Mike and Audrey Cobb (Vincent
D’Onofrio and Tilda Swinton) find themselves desperately unaware of what
Justin really needs.
Justin’s life changes when he is hypnotized by his
guru orthodontist (Keanu Reeves), but the loss of his thumb doesn’t take
away his troubles. The movie focuses on Justin’s downward spiral as he
tries to fill the void in his life with prescription drugs, pot and sex that
only offer short spans of relief.
Everyone can relate to Justin on some level. He is an outsider at school, can’t
seem to please his father, and worries his mother will abandon her family for
another man. Lou Pucci pulls off the character with ease, making him sympathetic
even at his most obnoxious high point.
Vincent D’Onofrio is highly skilled in his role as a distant, frustrated
father who saw his dreams of a football career crushed by a knee injury. It’s
obvious Mike is struggling between his obligations as a husband and father
and his desire to remain youthful.
Tilda Swinton’s performance is uneven;
although Audrey is a strong presence in the beginning of the film, her character
wanes as the story comes to a close. Keanu Reeves is a pleasant surprise as
Perry Lyman, Justin’s new-age orthodontist.
The character is well written, and Reeves pulls off the film’s comic
nuances with seamless accuracy. His tendency to fall back into the voicing
style of “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure” actually works
within the context of the movie and provides for most of the laugh-out-loud
moments.
Also making appearances are Vince Vaughn as debate teacher, Mr. Geary, and
Benjamin Bratt as celebrity Matt Schraam.
“Thumbsucker” combines down-to-earth settings with quite a few mind-bending
transition segments. Director Mike Mills (in his film debut) takes great care
with the shots, and the results are uneven.
There are some beautiful moments where everything just clicks; the scenery
is gorgeous and the contrast between light and dark is just right.
However,
the shots seem overdone at some points when everything stops to focus on a
foot going up the stairs or a part of the house. The shots sometimes disrupt
the flow of the movie, and mess with the focus on Justin.
The montages that appear throughout the movie are often mind-bending. It seemed
like everything was a blur, and I felt like I wasn’t inside my body for
the briefest of moments.
The movie’s music was truly unique. Although it isn’t something
I would listen to every day, the soundtrack worked within the story. Thumbsucker
is good story that offers something different from this year’s other
offerings. Would I recommend seeing it? Yes. But a word of warning: Don’t
watch it if you want feel all happy inside when the credits roll.
Thumbsucker hits theaters Friday. |
