10,000 Saints

Greetings again from the darkness. Sex, Drugs, and Rock 'n Roll – not just a bumper sticker, but also frequent and fun movie topics. Throw in 1980's New York City, some excruciatingly dysfunctional parenting, and the coming-of-age struggles of three youngsters, and you have the latest from co-writers and co-directors Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini (the real life couple behind American Splendor, 2003).

Based on the novel from Eleanor Henderson, it's a nostalgic trip with little of the positive connotations usually associated with that term. The surprisingly deep cast features Ethan Hawke and Julianne Nicholson (August: Osage County, 2013) as parents to son Jude played by Asa Butterfield (Hugo, 2011). Emily Mortimer plays Hawke's new girlfriend and mother to Eliza played by Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit, 2010). Avan Jogia plays Jude's best friend Teddy, and Emile Hirsch is Teddy's big brother Johnny. It's an unusually high number of flawed characters who come together in a story that features some familiar coming-of-age moments, yet still manages to keep our interest.

The story centers on Jude as he comes to terms with finding out he's adopted, works to overcome his less than stellar parents, and spends an inordinate amount of time finding new ways to experiment with drugs. One night changes everything as it leads to a tragic end for one character and pregnancy for Eliza. Ms. Steinfeld is extraordinary as Eliza and really makes an impressive step from child actress to young adult. Julianne Nicholson is also a standout, and Ethan Hawke provides some offbeat comic relief.

So many elements of 1980's New York are included, and no effort is made to add any touches of glamour. The Tompkins Square park riots also play a role, if only briefly as the key characters realize life is just not so simple … a consistent theme for both kids and parents. The fragility of life is always an interesting topic, and the filmmakers bring this to light through some characters that we feel like we know – and wish we could help.

"Ten Thousand Saints" is a drama movie which takes place in 1980's and shows a boy who is living with his mother in Vermont and moves to New York City to live with his father. When he arrives in New York everything change for him but also for his father. Something new starts for both of them since they did not have the opportunity to know each other better before.

I liked this movie because of the plot which I found interesting due to some twists. I also liked the combination of drama with music influence. I believe that the interpretation of Ethan Hawke who played as the father of the boy has to be mentioned because it was very good. In addition to this Asa Butterfield made a very good interpretation too. Also the title of this movie is very good because it makes you think a lot of different things about the movie but everything change when you watch it.

Finally I have to say that "Ten Thousand Saints" is a nice movie to watch and shows plenty of interesting things not only about the relationships between people but also about music and the gentrification that exploded back then.

"The women? They make their decisions and men? We just do our best not to be men. The whole system needs a looking over."

I don't know how I missed this film in 2015, but I am happy that I've finally come across it. Better late than never.

As a film, it's really well-done. It's shot beautifully and the acting is very good. But, come on! Look at the talent they got for this: Ethan Hawke, Emily Mortimer, Hailee Steinfeld, Asa Butterfield, Julianne Nicholson... It's a great cast, and they do a great job here.

The terrain traveled by this story is nothing new, but the fact that all of these people seem so devoted to the telling of it that it makes it special and new. It's an incredibly realistic exploration of young adults and older(ish) adults trying to navigate the consequences of past actions and create a better future for those little people who they will bring into this world.

Hailee Steinfeld is very good as Eliza. In her early scenes she starts out as confident, sarcastic and likeable. Then she gets serious, then she is terrified. Eliza goes through many emotions through the course of the movie, and she has many decisions to make about her life.

Teddy is a likable character but we don't get to see much of him. Avian Jogia does a good job.

Les is a cool dad, which means he doesn't always do things the way good parents should. He's not a good influence but he and his son get along really well. It's a fine performance by Ethan Hawke.

Most of the major actors do a good job.

At one point, Eliza moves in with Harriet, which is surprisingly pleasant. Harriet also has a better than expected relationship with Diane, though when they first meet, it is quite satisfying for those who recall how the movie began.

Religion is a topic mentioned several times. Eliza had a bat mitzvah but she and her mother don't seem all that religious. There is a funeral where the scripture reading mentions "10,000 saints". There is also a scene with dancers in beautifully colored costumes where the music seems Middle Eastern or South Asian; Hare Krishnas are mentioned.

There are many questions of morality, and disputes with yuppies who want to move into the rundown neighborhood where most of the characters live. Mostly we see the protesters; if there were yuppies I don't recall them. And there are effective otherworldly scenes where one or more characters used something and we kind of see things as they would have.

Every mention of a word for any drug has been removed in the edited-for-TV version of the movie, with the sound going out and the character's mouth is blurred, and every drug is blurry. The same thing happens with numerous words, some of which might normally be allowed on broadcast TV, but someone must have been overly cautious.

The listings showed this as "comedy, drama, music". I really don't understand this. There are a few funny scenes but comedy shouldn't be listed first.

As for music, there's not much for someone with my musical taste. Most of the music is some form of rock, including softer artists that sound like Sting that don't appeal to me personally. There is also "music" that sounds like 90s grunge except it's just noise and not whatever appealed to those who liked the music in Seattle. My perception is that a lot of the softer music is good quality, but just not what I care for. I liked one song, "I Can't Wait" by Nu Shooz, which isn't typical of my taste but has some sort of appeal for me.

It's a really good movie if it's your taste. It's just not mine.

I wound up liking this a lot more than I thought I would. For the first 20 minutes or so I felt it dragged but then picked up. Overall I thought the acting was excellent, especially Ethan Hawke who played his somewhat complex character splendidly. What I really liked was that most of the characters stepped outside of stereotypical bounds. Hawke's character was a stoner, but in some ways level-headed and responsible. Johnny, the punk singer and tattoo artist, was trying to stay straight and walk the spiritual path and succeeded reasonably well. I read other comments which complained that "nothing happened" in the film. This is not an action film; it's a relationship movie, and given that, I believe it worked well. Plus, the characters all showed some degree of evolution. The scenery, with 1980's East Village was done really well too, very realistic, Twin Towers and all.