On the Big Board |
| Position |
Staff |
In Brief |
| 11/133 |
Dan Krovich |
Chilling and tense teen movie |
A film that attracted substantial attention during its debut at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival, first-time writer/director Jacob Aaron Estes' Mean Creek takes the classic underdog story about overcoming bullies and turns it topsy-turvy.
Set in a small Oregon town, a shy boy named Sam (You Can Count on Me's Rory Culkin) tells his protective older brother Rocky (Trevor Morgan) that the seemingly monstrous school bully, George (Joshua Peck) is beating him up every single day. Working together, Sam and Rocky put into motion a plan of perfect payback. They invite the mean boy on a birthday trip down the river but surreptitiously plan a surprise ending to the day that will result in George's complete humiliation.
Also invited along on the trip are Rocky's friends Clyde (Ryan Kelley) and Marty (Eurotrip's Don't Tell Scotty himself, Scott Mechlowicz), while Sam brings along his hopeful girlfriend Millie (Lizzie McGuire's Carly Schroeder). As they begin their almost Heart of Darkness-esque trip down the river, the various members of the group begin to develop misgivings about what they are planning to do. As they spend time with George, they begin to see him in a new light, as a lonely kid who wants nothing more than to find friends and to seek out attention. Though Sam wants to call the prank off, the events have already started unfurling, and none of the teenagers involved can predict what might happen as they continue on their journey of morality and redemption. (Kim Hollis/BOP)
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