Genres

Visitors Review

collipal-1 2012-05-20 06:21:14

A fascinating and highly recommended drama

At first sight, Hesher looks like one of those "indie" dramas whichdraw attention for including some famous actors in the cast, whoseparticipation is maybe due to the fact they want to prove that theyhave not been changed by success, and that they keep being artistsinterested in the art itself. On some way, that is an appropriatedescription of the film; but leaving that prejudice against artisticpretensions aside, Hesher is an excellent movie with a fascinatingscreenplay whose narrative force validates the presence of thoseactors, at brining them roles which are worthy of their talent.The premise from Hesher might sound similar to a film starring RobinWilliams, in which a simple but wise wanderer magically rescues anunhappy family. But the reality is very different, because even thoughthe character Hesher is the catalyst of the change in the home of theForneys, his attitude is more towards the one of an authenticsociopath, encouraging violence, rage and legal problems around theones who are close to him. Let's say that the family cinema never showsthe main character trampling a boy with his van, nor trying toencourage a widow man with a speech about amputees testicles. My pointis that Hesher keeps a perfect balance between its disparate funny anddramatic elements, and the result is simultaneously funny, touching andvery satisfactory. Co-screenwriter Spencer Susser (who was also thedirector) and David Michôd built a story which repeats the archetypefrom "indie" cinema (family tragedy, suburban environment,misunderstood outsider), but they distinguished it with a brilliantdominion of characters with well defined emotions and personalities,which are so real that we can excuse the occasional moments ofnarrative incongruence (for example: Who would tacitly accept thepresence of a lout in their house?).And sure, the characters also work because of the magnificentperformances brought by the cast. As I said on the beginning, thepresence from Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Natalie Portman and (on a lesserdegree) Rainn Wilson might look like a commercial "hook"; however, theytake their characters very seriously, and bring them such a force andconviction that I immediately forgot I was watching celebrities inorder to fully focus myself in the characters. Needless to say that thethree of them bring extraordinary performances, and I think that theyoung Devin Brochu also made a magnificent work in his role, because hecan perfectly express the emotional turbulence from his character withonly his face and his look. And finally, the great Piper Laurie alsobrings a perfect performance as the grandmother. I honestly did notknow that Laurie kept acting (the last time I had seen her was 6 yearsago, in an episode of the TV series Dead Like Me), but it was apleasure to see her again fully displaying her big talent.In conclusion, Hesher deserves a very enthusiastic recommendationbecause of its excellent screenplay, solid direction and perfectperformances. Susser had a great debut with this film, and I amdefinitely very interested in watching his next projects.

YoGi 2012-05-19 23:59:40

Worth the Wait...

I have been waiting for this movie for quite sometime. I can't even tell you how much I enjoyed this movie. Most of the time I wait over a year for a movie I end up disappointed. Not In This Case! Every actor carried their weigh in this movie without a doubt. Prepare to laugh and get a little misty eyed. Truly entertaining. A must See!

minniecactus 2012-05-17 06:01:26

Horrible Movie

We rented this movie because we have loved Joseph Gordon-Levitt, RainnWilson and Natalie Portman in several other films. This movie worked atbeing horrible and offensive on just about every level from an adultbeing "friends" with an 11 year old (and the father and grandmotherjust accepting it) to the sappy predictibility of the plot. At no timedid this movie have any believable moments. Even the special effectswere cheesy and unbelievable (does the technical adviser understand howgasoline works?). The dialogue was inane(how many times can you use thef word before it loses its shock value?) I feel certain that the actorsprobably cringe that they were ever in such a terrible movie. Certainlyeveryone in this movie can do better. There was no "feel good" momentat any time and the supposed resolution was just as unsatisfying. Saveyour money!!

Pat 2012-05-16 19:53:23

Great story, great acting, a longshot that wins!

See this movie! Bring only a sense of humor, and the expectation that you will have a great time! It is totally absorbing and intriguing, perhaps because Hesher, an unlikable and outrageous character, has such unexpected clarity and redeeming qualities, or because Joseph Gordon-Levitt is so amazing in bringing Hesher to life with his anger and ridiculous escapades, or that it is such an engrossing, original and thoroughly entertaining story. Hesher’s sole purpose is to shake up the numb existence of 13-year-old TJ (Devin Brochu), who recently lost his mother in an accident and lives with his zombie-like father (Rainn Wilson) and his semi-senile grandmother (Piper Laurie). Hesher is a loner and seems to hate the world and everyone in it. Both a tormentor and mentor to TJ, he helps the family face their grief through his outrageous antics, giving them hope and the ability to move on. Be forewarned, You Will Laugh!!!

dr-angellicus 2012-05-12 10:43:31

Takashi Miike's Mellow Apprentice - Hesher!

Hesher was here! Violence and aggressiveness have never been somisunderstood! We all frown upon some aspects of human nature, but weoften forget that they always have a purpose: be it benign ormalignant! In modern cinematography, the use of violence has nomeaningful purpose. Hesher changes this stereotype by giving violence atherapeutic function. Violence and aggressiveness become the tools of acounselor. Hesher uses these instruments in order to force the othersto deal with their pain and grief.Hesher is certainly a brilliant work of cinematography, but we mustgive credit to another movie: Visitor Q by Takashi Miike. There areblatant similarities that cannot be overlooked or denied. The twoflicks use the same premises, but in a different degree. Hesher is themellow one, while Visitor Q is overwhelmed by graphical violence andmorbidity.Bottom line: Go see it or else!

mandy-1 2012-05-12 02:39:53

Love and Hate but Why?

I'm so disappointed; I hated it. I love Joseph Gordon-Leavitt, NataliePortman and Piper Laurie. I couldn't wait to see them together. Myfavorites are "Mysterious Skin" for Gordon-Leavitt and "Brothers" forPortman so I think I've earned my "not squeamish, not a movie wuss"badge.But Hesher is so vulgar and gross I just got sick of it. Although allof the performances were excellent, especially the new kid, DavidBrochu, this one left me with one big question -- why? They had to haveread the script to say the lines! There were four people in the theaterwhen I saw it last week. None of them looked pleased when we left.

Superunknovvn 2012-05-10 01:09:07

Somewhat original, but fails to leave an impression

T.J. Forney (Devin Brochu) is a little boy, who after a tragicaccident, in which his mother died, has to deal with his own grief, adepressed father (Rainn Wilson) and a bully at school. One day he runsinto Hesher, a metal kid who more or less lives out of his van, drinksand smokes all the time and speaks in strange metaphors. Hesher startsfollowing T.J. around to a point, where he actually moves in with hisfamily. Slowly they build some weird sort of relationship, whichultimately helps to address a few pink elephants within the Forneyhome.The trailer for "Hesher" promised a whole different, way more radicaland interesting film than the finished product delivers. In the end,T.J.'s problems are clichéd: Mom died, no one understands him, he'sgetting bullied. As simple as the problems are the solutions: T.J.falls in love with a girl from the supermarket (Natalie Portman) andfinds an older brother figure in Hesher, who for all his anti-socialtendencies seems to resonate with everyone around him, offeringmeaningful advice in just a few vulgar words.The main problem is that this is all completely unbelievable. Why isHesher there? Why does everyone accept him in the house? What are hismotivations. Some people have compared this movie to "Visitor Q", butthat film was so far out, one didn't have to bother looking foranswers. "Hesher", however, is fairly standard indie fare. JosephGordon-Levitt's character isn't nearly as edgy or impressive as thewriters intended him to be. In fact, he's fairly annoying. Maybe itwould help, if we got to know anything about his background, if morepeople than just T.J. questioned the character in the movie, but thatnever happens. It all remains shallow, up to the big conclusion thatpeople overcome their grief, when they start shaving again.With good performances by Brochu and Wilson "Hesher" is a solidcomedy/drama, but it doesn't tread on any new territory as the trailerhad us believe.

dallasryan 2012-05-09 19:36:43

You Don't Mess with The Hesher

If John Wayne had been a hessian in our modern day, he would have beenHesher(Hessian in my day was a cross between a gypsy, hippy and astoner, usually posers would wear flannel shirts being wannabehessians,not quite the dictionary version of what a hessian is). If Hesher had a boss he didn't like, he would have said 'Alright let'shave a pistol fight outside, the one who lives gets to keep their job,but after I kill you, I'm taking a 15 minute break to go smoke a bowl'. To know the Hesher is to love the Hesher is to hate the Hesher, butisn't it that way with all of us though? Hesher is like a violent wind of destruction, he comes into town,causes some brief mayhem and destruction, and then he's gone. Hesher'sthe Bat out of hell your mother warned you about. But at the same time, Hesher is human and he gets close to people, andforms bonds and relationships towards everyone he meets such as the kidand the old lady-er-Grandma. And Hesher does some good in the film, he causes things to come to ahead, gets things talked about, and brings everybody into the now, intoa lot of awareness. I can already see that the kid will grow up to be a case on CriminalMinds, 'It's a classic scenario, the symptoms are all there, he killswomen that wear glasses and leaves them in beat up cars before helights them on fire. It all stems from his Childhood, this is a classicexample of narcissiticmurderhduahdgudungdrop syndrome, the unsub takeshis rage out on...' ;)..If only the Criminal Minds team knew how it allstarted with Hesher, if they only knew what they were up against.Hesher didn't plant the seeds in the kid, but he definitely helped themgrow from watering them way too much. This movie is all about Joseph-Gordon Levitt, he owns this movie in thepart of Hesher. Hesher is so incredibly funny, and not from any cheapor forced jokes, but just from Hesher being Hesher.Humor isn't cheap, forced jokes anyway, it's real moments in any givensituation. This movie is Levitt's baby, he's the sole reason it'shilarious! At the same time if you look at the movie as a whole, apartfrom the laughter, it's a pretty messed up film with everything that isgoing on in it. Natalie Portman is as good as she can be, the problem with her part isshe's too beautiful for me to really buy into the fact that she's thislower class Plain Jane. I mean, I've known women that are beautiful,that are stuck where they are because that's where they're stuck intheir mind, but they weren't model beautiful like Portman is, and it'sreally a stretch to believe this 'model'-beautiful girl just isn'thaving any breaks, no friends, no money, oh woe is her, woe is her. Even with Portman wearing glasses and scrubby clothing, I'm still notbuying it, I mean maybe if she looked like the Wicked Queen who turnedinto the Old Crone with the poison apple from Snow White, then maybeI'd believe Portman in this role ;)..Portman is basically playing a Janey Briggs/Laney Boggs role here, 'No,no, no, no, anyone but her! Not Janey Briggs! Guys, she's got glassesand a ponytail! Aw, look at that, she's got paint on her overalls'What's great about the part of Hesher is you could make many differentmovies with his character in them and/or you could make a TV Show withHesher as the Lead or as the Supporting character, that's how funny andinteresting Hesher is, again, all in thanks to how well Gordon- Levittplayed him. :)

jokexom 2012-05-06 04:26:34

Not an easy life of ordinary people

Before this film did not know anything about its director, except thatit is his debut feature film. And I must say, the debut was a success.It's not even famous actors, decorated the film with his presence, andonly reinforce the impression from watching his game. Hesher - movie,thought-provoking, making you empathize with characters. It talks aboutserious things, while there is a place and sense of humor.Many people, losing a loved one, loved one, turn in on themselves intheir grief, forget about those who live nearby and who may be needtheir help. Such is the father of Jay Tee, who lost his wife. And boy,left alone with their problems and their grief, do not know how toreach him, to attract his attention.Hesher - arrogant, boorish, sometimes just unbearable character. A sortof vicious parody of Mary Poppins, appears out of nowhere, goesnowhere. But it is exactly what was needed to father and son to perkback to life.The very first impression of the film - a movie about life, withoutembellishment. But what is surprising ending, it leaves no bitteraftertaste. It does not cause a storm of emotion, but it makes youwonder. And a simple question to be played throughout the film, I wantto ask yourself: "What are you doing?" Maybe it is worth asking fromtime to time all of us? Life is like a walk in the rain - to hide inthe shelter, but you can just get wet.

Jake Randy 2012-05-05 19:53:11

Just saw it, loved it

Great movie. Sort of put me in mind of One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nestor Cool Hand Luke. Seems like Hesher was more of a 90's rocker type,maybe this was supposed to be 10 or 15 years in the past. The endingwas kind of lame, but as folks have said, the acting was so excellentit didn't matter. The flashback scene in the car was one of the saddestscenes I have seen in a movie in a long time and made me cry. I rarelycry during movies. Scenes like that are examples of how powerful thismovie is. Titling the movie by the main character's name wasunnecessary. I think each character was as important as the next-except for Natalie Portman who was great, but like many movies, I feelwas there because there is some rule where a love interest needs to bethrown in to everything. The scene at the dinner table was notable whenthe father and son threw their plates. Notice how Hesher just satthere? You expected him to possibly say something, but he didn't. Helet the two fight it out and let out there feelings. He proved to be amuch wiser and effective "grief counselor" than the lame lady at theformal meeting they attended. The movie is filled with many amazingscenes like this.

Targe 2012-05-02 07:50:54

Dark and hard to stomach tear jerker

Hesher is billed the wrong way, I suspect because nobody would see itif they revealed this movie is just not funny, at all. There areperhaps 3 scenes for a chuckle and one for a laugh out loud, the restof the time you will be cringing, hoping to god in hell you didn't justhear what you just thought you heard omg omg I want to hurl typeexperience.That being said, your in for some very good acting. Hesher is played tothe hilt by Joe Gordon-Levitt. You cannot believe this guy has everbeen anything else other than a loser metal-head doper. He eats up therole and dominates the movie.Natalie Portman does an amazing job of NOT upstaging the lead, andplays a down on her luck grocery clerk to the maxx, which is definitelya +1 on her acting chops list. I'm glad to see her branching out fromQueen Amidala and 'Thor Groupie' roles.This is one to see if you don't mind listening to a lil' MotorHead, youwant good acting and raunchy dialog, and you've never seen a metalheaddope fiend toke up a bong with an old lady (but always wanted to).

Superunknovvn 2012-05-01 16:31:23

Somewhat original, but fails to leave an impression

T.J. Forney (Devin Brochu) is a little boy, who after a tragicaccident, in which his mother died, has to deal with his own grief, adepressed father (Rainn Wilson) and a bully at school. One day he runsinto Hesher, a metal kid who more or less lives out of his van, drinksand smokes all the time and speaks in strange metaphors. Hesher startsfollowing T.J. around to a point, where he actually moves in with hisfamily. Slowly they build some weird sort of relationship, whichultimately helps to address a few pink elephants within the Forneyhome.The trailer for "Hesher" promised a whole different, way more radicaland interesting film than the finished product delivers. In the end,T.J. problems are very clichéd. Mom died, no one understands him, he'sgetting bullied. As simple as the problems, are the solutions: T.J.falls in love with a girl from the supermarket (Natalie Portman), andhe finds an older brother figure in Hersher, who for all hisanti-social tendencies seems to resonate with everyone around him,offering meaningful advice in just a few vulgar words.The main problem is that Hesher is completely unbelievable. Why is hethere? Why does everyone accept him in the house? What are hismotivations. Some people have compared this to "Visitor Q", which alsoleft a couple of things unexplained. That movie, however, was so farout, one didn't bother looking for answers. "Hesher", however, isfairly standard material. Joseph Gordon-Levitt's character isn't nearlyas edgy or impressive as the writers intended him to be. In fact, he'sfairly annoying. Maybe it would help, if we got to know anything abouthim, if more people than just T.J. questioned him in the movie, butthat never happens and the story remains quite shallow. In the end youknow that somebody overcame his grief, when he starts shaving again.With good performances by Brochu and Wilson "Hesher" is a solidcomedy/drama, but it doesn't tread on any new territory as the trailerhad us believe.

xtrmike 2012-04-28 16:26:51

So far from "HILARIOUS" it isn't even funny.

I would've given this movie more stars if it hadn't been marketed as acomedy. Fine if someone wants to say "poignant" humor or something butreally, this movie was so dark, I couldn't see. I thought the actorsdid a great job. The sets were great. The story was not able to evenbriefly suspend disbelief. I only kept watching because I was expectingthere would be some big moment to enlighten me as to why it had been soawful up until then. I've read the other reviews and if I'd read thembefore the front of the box, maybe this rating would be a 7 instead ofa 2. I read the box first. I never saw a preview for this movie at thetheater or beginning of another movie. The first opportunity themarketing folks had with me was the box at the video store. Their bad(and yes I know the difference and didn't mean "they're").P.S. the soundtrack was also good.

Terry Roehrig II 2012-04-28 00:42:36

A nice blend of comedy & drama, done effortlessly

This is one of those movies where you're either gonna love it... oryou're gonna hate it. I was in the former category, mostly because Ithought the movie transitioned well between comedy and drama. It's nota full-blown goofy comedy and it's not a sad sack movie by any means.Strong performances and an above average script is what drives thismovie for me and made it fun to watch.T.J. (Brochu) certainly doesn't have the best life. He lives with hisgrandmother (Laurie) and his practically comatose, pill-popping father(Wilson). For some reason, he's pretty interested in a red car that'sfreshly banged up, but the man working the counter (Lynch) blows himoff and makes his lackey (Hill) deal with him, which results in T.J.getting bullied at school. Angry while riding his bike to school onemorning, T.J. takes some frustration out on a window of some housingthat's currently being built -- smashing it into a million littlepieces. Not only does it catch the attention of a security guard, italso brings out Hesher (Gordon-Levitt) -- who grabs T.J., drags himinside and informs him that he totally f**ked him. After the securityguard chases after Hesher, T.J. is surprised to find him outside hisschool later that day -- it would appear that Hesher has returned torepay the favor in the form of some unflattering artwork and placingthe evidence in T.J.'s hands. This causes T.J. to be chased down butluckily there's a cashier (Portman) outside the supermarket parking outthat comes to his rescue. She gives him a ride home after seeing thathis bike is rendered useless and drops him off. As he's getting hisbike out of the back of her car, he notices a familiar van approachinghis house. It would appear that since Hesher has no place to go, thanksto T.J. -- he figures he would further complicate T.J.'s life byinsistently moving in.Now -- there's more to the story than just that. I gave you the basicsof how everything is set up. There are more relationships going on,there's still the story of why T.J. is adamant about getting thebeat-up red car back, there's the story of how the dad came to be andwhy they're living with grandma, but above all, it's a story about howsome people come into our lives, shake things up and just howmeaningful (although not on the surface) those kinds of relationshipscan be. There's more going on here than it seems and it just maysurprise you on how it takes a roundabout way to get you think aboutsome things.It has to be said that Joseph Gordon-Levitt gives the film's bestperformance. Every time he is on screen, he just completely demandsyour attention and it's hard to not look away for fear that you'll misssomething he says or does -- even his facial expressions are priceless.I love the character, how he's introduced and how even some of thefilm's musical score changes when he's around or how it reacts tosomething his character just said. Gordon-Levitt steals the show,without a doubt and makes no apologies for it. The rest of the cast isgood as well, mind you -- it's just that Gordon-Levitt's character isso much more interesting and off-the-wall, with some of this year'smost insane dialogue to boot -- that it's hard to compare him to anyoneelse in the cast. A close second would be Brochu's brooding T.J., thekid nails the 'tween angst and frustration. Portman is nice to havehere (and look at), but when it comes down to brass tacks, practicallyanyone could have filled the position. Wilson (in rare dramatic form)does a nice job, but ultimately you'll be wondering why he signed on todo something this instead of making a true blue comedy film.The story is not all that strong, but the script is. Some people maybalk at the idea of someone just moving into another family's home andmaking themselves more-than-comfortable. Some people may not like allof the offensive dialogue and some of the actions that Hesher involveslittle T.J. in. No, the story isn't that strong, it's pretty simple,yet somehow it worked for me -- mainly because of Gordon-Levitt'sperformance and the funny dialogue that accompanied it. The movie has avery nice balance between comedy and drama and it just works. I highlyrecommend it for those who aren't easily offended -- in fact, it was sonice, I've already watched it twice.More reviews at www.soveryterry.com Final Grade: A-

2012-04-25 17:16:11

On Life and Death

Comical and yet darkly weighty. This movie centers on hopelessness, andyet is not without hope, hidden in the very darkness of the jokes itcracks. Feint and hidden hope hides in the cracks of this movie's dirtysidewalk worthy and back alley wicked world. And this hope, hidden ifextant at all in most Sundance films, was found not superseding thedark pain of pathetic lives, but in that very pain, and at the verybottom of it. For, only when dark death (Hesher) enters into the brokenhome at the heart of this story for a second time, or rather, in atangible way, can there be movement. Stagnation falls on the victims ofcommon tragedy. The death of a mother and wife becomes the death of ahousehold and a once happy family. But Hesher forces himself upon thisfamily, as a deafening wake up call. And though the director himselfsuggested in a Q and A that Hesher was a symbol of death, his characterclearly has an arch that would suggest that he becomes the veryopposite by the end. Hesher transforms as the lives around himtransform. Dark death no longer rules – and eventually is no more.Hesher symbolically washes himself as he enters into his new home, andby the end it is clear that he himself - death itself - has the abilityto bring the father and son closer together than they ever could havebeen before. Thus, as death is found inevitably in life, life is foundunbelievably in death. And so speaks this wonderfully honest andprofanely sensitive film about life and death - and life.

dror-lavy 2012-04-25 11:14:11

Good acting ridiculous script

total waste of time. I can't believe that a script this bad was madeinto a film. I guess director Spencer Susser is Passionate about makingmovies (he probably prefer the word film). Just like ad wood. Only heacutely convinced good actors to be in is film. For them it is a goodmovie to show what they have. Joseph Gordon-Levitt in doing some fineacting here but the film gave me the feeling of here is a movie aboutpoor depressed people made by abundant Hollywood people that knownothing about the characters they make the film about. I'm sure theyall felt they are doing an important movie. But For anyone who knowssomething about life this movie is ridiculously silly.

kosmasp 2012-04-22 15:20:25

Offending

Like the music the movie has mostly as a soundtrack (apparently Hesheris "Long haired, usually mullet-ed person who listens and rocks out toMetal or Thrash music", courtesy of Urban Dictionary), this will eitheroffend you or be what you were looking for. I myself am not the biggestRock fan. But I really liked the movies attitude. Joseph G. Levitt isphenomenal in this and Natalie Portman can never be wrong either ofcourse.Plus the kid that kind of is the main role too, is really good. This isanything but PC, so don't even think about watching it, if you willeasily be offended. Rainn Wilson is great too in another OTT role(though in the opposite direction) after "Super". Unfortunately thismovie does not seem to be available yet in most countries. But it doeshave to do with the fact, that they might have no clue how to promotethis ...

Steve B 2012-04-22 07:19:04

Angels in the Outfield, or at least in the House.

There was zero chance that this movie would ever play near me, so Ibought it on BluRay.Here is what this movie is about - ANGELS. That's right ... angels.We mistakenly assume angels enter our lives as beings of bright whitelight. Like Michael Landon, all big hair and white teeth. But, no myfriends, angels are found in the dark and shadows. They don't come tosave, but rather open the door to saving ourselves. They are the nerdbullied on the playground, the homeless man on the street, the carstranded beside the road. Angels come to us as darkness in the hopethat we response with light.Hesher enters the lives of the main characters, all brilliantly acted,like a tornado, all noise and destruction. But he offers opportunities.He offers the chance for the characters to look in the mirror andactually see themselves.I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and am very glad I bought it.Brilliantly acted with a stunning performance by the kid T.J. (DevinBrochu). A story well told.Also, this isn't your typical Hollywood fair, this story is powerful,unique, and harsh but a story that needs to be told none the less.Movies like this are why I love independent film.In another sense, this is not Hollywood fair, in that it is more sliceof life/window in time. It isn't so nice and neatly wrapped up intoperfect happy endings.A captivating and engaging story, and certainly time well spent. If youlove independent film then I say you will enjoy "Hesher".Now you may take my implication that this is a movie about angels as abunch of pretentious bull-crap. Think what you will but that is how Isee it.Steve B.

Jakealope 2012-04-22 09:02:25

Another Movie Where Some Random Homeless Psychopath Saves Family

While I think there was a lot going for this film, character & actingwise, the whole thrust of the movie was depraved. HTere is thistroubled family, you see 10 year old TJ's mom died in an auto accidentwhile his dad was driving. So they are encamped in grandma's old smallsuburban tract house while dad lays on the sofa staring at the TV whileon psych meds. TJ wants to buy the crashed car his mom died in from atow lot owner who is not too sympathetic. So he steals $1800 from dad,a number the tow lot owner threw at him to get him out of his hair.Also, TJ is being picked on at school by (I think) the tow lot owner'sson. The kid takes lumps & spills all through the movie. So he runsinto Hesher, a skinny, aggressive, tattooed heavy metal dirtbagencamped in an unfinished house, after TJ heaved a rock through thehouse's window in rage. Right away you know Hesher is going to comeinto their lives. First he follows TJ around school, smoking cigsshirtless in the school's hall. Then he just walks in uninvited intoTJ's grandma's house, does his laundry and starts eating. of courseboth his dad and nana are too brain dead to even wonder why thisscumbag is now encamped in their small home. Of course, right away youknow as awful Hesher is, he is going to be the catalyst who changes allof them for the better. Then throw in Natalie Portman, who must havethe worst manager, as a part time checkout girl Nicole. She saves TJfrom the previously mentioned bully. She sort of is the moral center,in a loose way.Okay, as awful as this Hesher is, you know he is going to be somepositive catalyst since he is sooooo free, honest and aggressive. Hedoesn't give a hoot, even when he is destroying property and lettingthe 10 year old TJ, his alleged friend, or client, to take the blame.But since the adults in the movie are so lame, uncaring or meanthemselves, Hesher is needed to give TJ "guidance". So we are supposedto be impressed with a man who obviously needs to be jailed or put inan insane asylum. Even Nicole gets compromised. After nana dies, Hesherthrows a fit, then goes off to her apartment to have sex with her.The message of the movie is that society sucks, adults suck and we allneed a total psycho to see us through. We are used to having the whorewith the heart of gold. now we have the psycho with the heart of gold.

embracedasukk 2012-04-21 18:29:14

Don't Judge a Book by its cover

This Movie reaches deep down inside and makes you feel.The sorrow andheart break is unmasked by the outright,straight forward, and mentaladditude of hesher! This is the first role of its type for Levitt, hereally embodies the role and does it well. Portman also makes andappearance in the movie, she play's a down in the dumps cashier women.To make it short and sweet, This movie really will make feel there isno denying that. A boy, his dad, and a wondering soul, Search deep downinside to figure out who they are after a event that changes therelife's. In a very interesting way hesher brings these two men out ofthere slump. This dark edgy comedy drama, will make the toughest of menrun for the tissue box and also bring a smile to all who watch it. Iwas skeptic when i first watched this. fifteen minutes into the movie iwas even able to blink, this movie is one of a kind and in my opinionis a one of a kind role for Levitt. Is a must watch for all who don'tjudge a book by its cover