The Standard

This is the first movie based on high school life that I've seen that actually resembled high school. The dialogue is dead on, the characters are real, you knew (or know) people like this in your high school. You can watch the situations unfold and almost know what will happen, because you've been there before.

The movie centers around Dylan, who doesn't know what he wants to do with his life. All around him are adult figures who are putting on the pressure to make the "right" decision and take action for his future, while he's just trying to get through the last two weeks before graduation when he'll be home free with his girlfriend.

The Standard breaks away from the "clean view" of high school that most movies portray. It shows what it's like to be a frustrated teen who isn't ready to make the big decisions, or just doesn't want to yet. It allows you to feel that pressure again, of life sneaking up, of feeling like your decisions will be made without thought because everyone wants you to do what they tell you to do.

The movie comes to an eye-opening finish, giving you an accurate final vision of how high school, along with life in general, truly is.

I saw this at the "world premiere" at SIFF. This movie is so wonderfully accurate, you can't help but sit and think, wow, that kid is in my high school (not to mention whoa, my high school), and you feel a connection, no matter how distant the connection may be, with almost every character. It has a lot of meaning, and is different in many ways to other films about teens. It shows a different side to a student, and is really eye opening. I thought it was great and would recommend it to everyone. It is an intense film, with a great approach to showing the characters, my meaning, not showing to much or to little, as to not affect your opinion about them other then what you see. All in all, it has humor, love, and some real heart wrenching moments, Jordan Albertson did an amazing job and I hope everyone who wants to will see it.

Just saw this at my college in Western Washington. First off I should point out that we usually have pretty lame guests, so having a real filmmaker bring a real film was quite the treat. So writer/director Jordan Albertsen was our guest, and sneak previewed an "almost finished" version of his film "The Standard". All I can say is wow. It left me speechless. It's defiantly best to go into this movie not knowing much about it. It's an extremely powerful film, and quite the debut for Mr. Albertsen (who was only 22 when he shot it!). The trailer would lead you to believe that it's a regular "coming of age" type film, but if anything it rips apart those clichés. I really don't want to go into any spoilers, but I will say that this is a movie that not everyone is going to like, but is a film everyone should see. It will defiantly spark controversy, and discussion (believe me, people are still talking about it). Everyone really seemed blown away by the film. Jordan Albertsen has made a film unlike any other I can think of, and it's very bold. I can't wait to see it again, and look forward to seeing what else Jordan has to offer the world of film.

Hey chucklenuts i gotta bucket of chicken right here.

The Standard, which is said to have been based almost entirely on actual events and characters of Jordan Albertsen's teenage days, is a remarkably accurate portrayal of the life of a high schooler in the 21st century. Gone are the days of Fast Times... & Dazed and Confused - what The Standard delivers is the unfeathered truth of what high school means to today's teenagers.

Dealing with issues of friendship, girls, drugs and the standardization of high school curriculum, the film follows the lives of a handful of teenagers as they struggle to make it through their final month of the school year. With graduation near, Dylan is forced to reconsider his post-high school plans of moving to Boston with his girlfriend Gina. Feeling the pressure from his school, friends, Gina and his father, Dylan and the rest of the cast take us through a roller-coaster ride of the life of a high-schooler.

The Standard is filmed in a raw, realistic manner giving the audience full perspective into the lives of the characters. Edgy and daring, the film does not hesitate to break the rules of conventional story telling. Breathtaking scenery and an educated use of the camera (with shots borrowed from the early likes of Welles and others) is sure to remind the audience of what cinematography used to mean to the filmmaker.

With an outstanding cast of popular young actors and a few recognizable faces for the older folk, The Standard is sure to deliver an entertaining and heartfelt cinematic experience that'll leave the audience talking for days.