Review: Short Term 12

A film depicting what goes on inside a half-way house facility for at-risk kids, taking the principal point of view of supervisor Grace (Brie Larson- playing this like she’s lived the part), a young woman with a tragic upbringing of her own. We see her try to do her job and maintain her romantic relationship with likeable co-worker Mason (John Gallagher Jr.) whilst dealing with some pretty damn major scars of her own that she isn’t quite letting Mason in on. These old wounds are possibly about to re-open not only due to her estranged father’s impending release from prison, not only because she’s just found out she’s pregnant, but also because of an angry young arrival (Kaitlyn Dever, one of Larson’s co-stars in “The Spectacular Now”) who seems to come from a similar violent circumstance. Kevin Hernandez and Keith Stanfield play two other at-risk teens, the latter about to turn 18, and therefore leave the facility.

 

One of those indie sleepers just begging to be seen and appreciated by a wider audience is this interesting 2013 drama from writer-director Destin Daniel Cretton (in his second feature-length gig). At its centre is a helluva impressive showcase for Brie Larson, a previously not terribly memorable actress who really comes into her own here and shows us what she’s got. Her performance here is wildly beyond expectations. One day she might actually be a star, if she managed to appear in a film that actual people go to see. I hope so, at any rate. Not only is Larson a good actress and charismatic, but here she pulls a Jenna Fischer in “The Office” by looking de-glamorised yet still looking truly beautiful. Some people are born lucky, it seems.

 

Based on an award-winning 2008 short film by Cretton of the same name, this is a sad film about troubled people, and I’m not just talking about the kids here (One of the kids, by the way, is played by Kevin Hernandez from “The Sitter”, who needs to be careful not to get typecast before he even becomes an adult). The character excellently played by Larson has her own demons she’s still fighting, and hell, she’s only a few years older than some of the kids she’s supervising. I found myself quite moved by this film, and by Larson. Nothing gets my waterworks going more than unselfish human kindness or compassion. Larson’s character, although tough enough to keep a professional distance for the most part, has this quality. Hell, all of the adults in this film do, but with Larson it’s remarkable given what her character is going through herself, she’s mostly able to keep it together.

 

However, one scene in an otherwise spot-on film did make me question her character’s suitability for her job, though. You’ll know it when you see it, because it’s the one time in the film she acts in an unprofessional manner. I get why she does what she does, and there’s major justification for it, but it was still the one moment where I questioned the believability of something. If what she does is believable, then I’m not sure it should be. That and a slightly underwhelming ending are the only small flaws in an otherwise spot-on, well-made and well-acted film. I didn’t even mind that Larson was playing a 20 something the same year she played a high-schooler in “The Spectacular Now”. Does it cover new ground? Absolutely not, but it’s well-done, mostly seems really authentic (Cretton used to work in such a facility himself), and actually kinda sad. Maybe even beautiful in a weird way. Ms. Larson might just be worth keeping an eye on the future. I think she’s got something.

 

Rating: B-