10,000 Saints (2015)

the audience applauded

So much average

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

The basic synopsis of this film is that we get to follow the lives of three mal adjusted kids and their equally messed up parents from Vermont to New York and back again, – sort of. This is one of those films where if you actually say any more you will ruin some of the plot; so I must demur – despite itching to say more.The main character is Jude played by Asa Butterfield who is really very good and Ethan Hawke plays his narcotic loving father. I have to say the more I see Ethan Hawke act the better he seems to get. We also have the wonderful Emile Hirsch playing the lead singer to a hardcore punk type band. It is set in the eighties and they do manage to get a lot of details spot on – even CBGB's makes an appearance. The story is original, the direction great and the actors all seem to live their roles. It is billed as a comedy but I did not see a lot to laugh at here, I did really enjoy it though so as a drama withy light hearted moments it really did work for me.

Review: I'm in two minds about this movie, because it starts off well and the witty script was quite intriguing but once the pregnancy element came into play, it just became a right mess. The acting was great from the whole cast, especially Ethan Hawke (Les), who plays the teenagers father and Emile Hirsch (Johnny) who is a homeless punk but they all seem to wonder through life with any structure or morals. I didn't know who was adopted or not after a while and the whole "selling of babies" subject was a bit weird. You can't really tell that it's an 80's backdrop because there isn't any relevant scenes to that period. Also Eliza (Hailee Seinfeld), seemed to be getting off with everyone, so it wasn't surprising when she became pregnant. The main character, Jude (Asa Butterfeld) was stuck in the middle of all of the drama, suffering with severe father and son issues which started when he was a child. So basically it's a coming of age movie about teenagers growing up without any guidance from there parents, which is quite messy at times but still worth a watch. Watchable!Round-Up: This movie was directed by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini, who have brought you Girl Most Likely, which I didn't really enjoy, the Extra Man, the Nanny Diaries and American Splendor with Paul Giamatti. This is definitely one of those movies which would have been much better if it was made simpler. It just seemed like the directors were introducing too many elements at once, without finishing the one that they had just introduced. With so many movies about teenagers growing up in America nowadays, like Boyhood, which also starred Ethan Hawke, this is not one of the best in that genre but I have seen worse.I recommend this movie to people who are into their drama/music/comedies starring Ethan Hawke, Julianne Nicholson, Hailee Steinfeld, Nadia Alexander, Emily Mortimer, Emile Hirsch, Asa Butterfield and Avan Jogia. 4/10

This film tells the story of three parents, and their four teenage children who live chaotic lives in New York.I didn't think I would like "Ten Thousand Saints" at first because their world is so different from mine. The father, played by Ethan Hawke, is an irresponsible parent beyond imagination. He even shares illegal drugs with his son, which is really beyond me. Yet, soon afterwards the characters grow on me and I care much about their well-being and happiness. Hailee Steinfeld's character as a pregnant teenager really stands out, the things she has to go through is tough even for an adult. The scene that she confides that she does not remember what Teddy looks like is quite breathtaking."Ten Thousand Saints" has great character development, and an captivating story to go with it. I certainly hope there will be a happy ending for the children in the untold future.

Can't help but to love a movie that reminds me of old school New York. Was it really that great? That's how I remember it to be. Than again, I'm not old enough to have struggled on those streets, Squatting in houses and being semi homeless for my art, which the movie glorifies. They did a pretty good job at recreating late 1980s NYC with tight shoots to leave out how alphabet city has change and to keep how it stayed the same, using Super composites of CBGBs, old trains and even phone booths, plus old shots of world trade. It's cool that technology allows us to do that now.The movie's focus on that time period sometimes feels force with one liners explaining how that moment of the late 80s was about to spawn what that neighborhood next to Thompson Square park is now.I thought it was interesting that the actual band, Army of One is showcased in the movie, though not the center focus of the movie, it's about their tour Guitar player Jude and his life, based on a book that I did not read. Ethan Hawke as Jude's dad Les was charming and funny It's a hardcore punk version of Juno in a lot of ways, but all together a coming-of-age story with a lot of layers to it as it Centers around Jude and his friendships with other kids. It was a great ensemble cast. Definitely worth checking out.