Thumbsucker (2005)

36 out of 38 people found the following review helpful:

Not comedy, no explosions

Rip from Manchester, 2nd September, 2006

I am quite surprised at the main write up for this film, firstly because the film is placed in the'comedy' genre, which I do not think it is, and secondly it refers to a 'tough father'. The father in the film is struggling with his own feelings and while he has difficulty expressing himself and supporting his son because of this, he is not particularly harsh or 'tough'. The film is a gentle story of everyday people. It is a peek into a family's life. It illustrates great insight into how people develop their own philosophy on life and cope with living. There are no explosions or monsters so it will not suit eveyone.

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10 out of 10 people found the following review helpful:

Quirky but Fun

ahorovitz from , 6th July, 2006

Blessed with Keanu Reeves in his best role since Bill and Ted, as a hippy dentist whose life mirrors tthat of the lead role.

Thumbsucker is a quirky and delightful film, but then I'm a sucker for this sort of life-affirming rights-of-passage-for-oddballs movie.

The acting is impeccable, the story, though a little slight, is persuasive and the cinematography is gorgeous.

If you ever lacked confidence as a teenager, see this movie.

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9 out of 10 people found the following review helpful:

You Know He Sucks His Thumb!

Gary from Croydon, London, 21st March, 2006

This film is brilliant! The story is pretty unique and different compared to many other films out there and the quality of acting is absolutely sensational! The film is really enjoyable it at times runs at slow pace but generally its funny and pretty clever. All of the actors produce some really nice performances in this film and they really stand out as characters, which makes you engage with them a whole lot more. Its a film that not many people would have seen due to it not being a blockbuster but its one that I would fully recommend as a delight to watch. I wouldn’t give it 5 out of 5 because it didn’t have enough for it to stand out as a great film. Its well played out, some nice moments involving all kinds of relationships and it adds a pure sense of beauty to the movie industry. Overall a good film with some exceptional performances and a delight to watch, plus it doesn’t go on for ages. 4 out of 5 stars

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7 out of 8 people found the following review helpful:

does not suck

A Customer from midlands, 3rd January, 2006

a coming of age movie with a modern twist (ritalin etc). great performances all round, particularly from keanu reeves and pucci as the thumbsucking 17 year old. the soundtrack is also great. if you enjoyed igby goes down then you will enjoy this.

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Watch this with your teenager

A Customer from London, 10th November, 2008

Of course, it depends on the teenager, but if yours has discovered cult gems such as Napoleon Dynamite, this slight but compelling comedy will provide a fruitful evening's viewing and add to your film cred. Totally believable performances from Lou Taylor Pucci (who won several awards) as the eponymous anti-hero, Tilda Swinton as his secretive but supportive mother, and Vincent d'Onofrio as his father. And few people can have snapped a rubber glove quite so disturbingly as Keanu Reeves' mystical hippy dentist.

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Thumb-sucked

Maddock100 from from Slough, 20th July, 2008

Had to turn it off after the first 2 hours (or what seemed like). Boring Boring Boring!

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naturalistic, realistic AND American!

Ellesar from from London, 15th July, 2008

I suppose a little like Little Miss Sunshine in that it is a very frank look at a rather less than typical family, though in the film the emphasis is on the 17 year old Thumbsucker - troubled relationship with his dad, suspicious of his mother and generally finding out what life is like in that in between not child but not quite adult world. I love Swinton, and Vaughn was playing against type - I have never knowingly watched any other film he has been in. Gorgeous Keanu is also here and he is always an enigma to me - can he act? I just don't know, but I like him being in films! The actor who plays the lead is great - a pretty revealing role to play - pretty challenging for such a young person, and strong supporting cast. Not afraid to be a bit controversial - and has a nice quality of how it is to be young and trying out different ways to be in the world with varying degrees of success.

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1 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Customer Review

A Customer from UK, 23rd June, 2008

Some hilarious cameos from Keanu Reeves and Vince Vaughn as well as a great indie cast make sure Thumbsucker isn't just any old coming-of-age movie. Also, the soundtrack is magic: written by Polyphonic Spree, with a little bit of Elliott Smith thrown in for good measure.

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