The Miseducation of Cameron Post (2018)

Plot so thin, it passes unnoticed.

Good start, but then it gets ruined

Fresh and Exciting

Don't Believe the Hype

Chloë Grace Moretz has been squarely on our radar since 2011's phenomenal 'Hugo.' In 'The Miseducation of Cameron Post,' she plays a high school junior who gets caught in the back seat of a car with another girl during prom and is subsequently sent to a religious gay conversion facility.Playing a gay character is a rite of passage for many young actors and actresses. At its most poignant, such a performance brings the potential for an Academy Award into the realm of possibility (Tom Hanks in Philadelphia is one such example). In 'Miseducation,' Moretz puts her acting chops on full display and we couldn't be happier to see her continuing to push the boundaries of her talent. While the film itself is superb, it's also likely to fly too far under the radar to land Moretz any awards. However, the expectations for her to someday have enough hardware to fill up her mantle have never been higher.

Actress, Writer, Director Desiree Akhavan ("Appropriate Behavior" 2014) is back in the seat again, this time adding Executive Producer to her list of accomplishments. Presenting a solid summer youth angst film about the 1990's "gay conversion therapy" phase, we are introduced to Cameron (Chloe Grace Moritz "Carrie" 2013) who is caught having relations with her BFF Coley (Quinn Shephard ""Blame" 2017), and sent to camp "Gods Promise" to change her lifestyle. Heading the "conversion therapy" is conflicted leader Reverend Rick (the terrific John Gallagher Jr. "The Newsroom" 2012) and the tightly wound Dr. Lydia Marsh (the amazing Jennifer Ehle ""Little Men" 2016). If these two robots aren't enough to scare you straight, nothing is. However, when you place a bunch of independent blooming young minded kids (Sasha Lane "American Honey" 2016, Emily Skeggs "When We Rise" TV, Forrest Goodluck "The Revenant" 2015, to name but a few of the terrific camp captives) in a place that's all about "don't do this, and don't do that", things don't always go as planned. Akhavan is terrific at slowing reveling each young adults fears and frustrations, while quietly enabling them to work through their issues privately and in bursts of revelation. Gallagher Jr. and Ehle are superb in their self-centered and standoffish roles as leaders. There's something erie behind their facades that keeps the audience wondering if and when their personal dam will burst. Fellow camp captive Mark (Owen Campbell "The Americans" TV) gets on opportunity to stretch his acting chops in a break out scene that is one of the films most powerful displays of personal growth forcibly held back by those charged with helping the young. I haven't really had Chloe Grace Moritz on my radar, but with her strong and appealing performance here, she is someone to watch. In fact, all the youth in this film are sure to see an up tick in their acting careers due to thier honest and heart-filled roles here. I just wish the film had a more resolute ending.

Cameron starts humming "What's Going On" and within minutes is standing on the table singing it loud and proud. There's an inherent energy in that scene that often feels missing from the rest of the picture. Also, the people in this story are flesh-and-blood examples of a tragic emotional Stockholm Syndrome that should not be. I just wish the story did more with them.

Sweet teenage girl gets caught kissing her girlfriend and is sent to a Christian gay conversion camp. The film But I'm a Cheerleader had a comic perspective on this situation but this film Miseducation takes it seriously. Seemed like a realistically awful situation. Fortunately the girl makes some friends at the camp but they all suffer under the pressure to change their orientation. The film shows that this is emotional abuse. The acting of all the teens is excellent.