Norman

Undoubtedly the most moving, realistic, and heartfelt film I have ever witnessed.

Beautiful acting, tremendous plot line, and a perfect ending. I laughed and cried with Norman throughout his entire journey and felt every moment of the film as though I were standing beside him.

All I can say is that this wasn't just a movie, it was an experience. I escaped my seat in front of my laptop and entered another realm. It was what every movie should aim to be.

Watch it. I assure you, you will be watching this one again, and again, and again....

Norman Long (Dan Byrd) is a dissatisfied high school kid. He lost his mother and his father Doug (Richard Jenkins) is dying from cancer. He falls for new student Emily Harris (Emily VanCamp) and she's taken with his awkwardness. His teacher Mr. Angelo (Adam Goldberg) is forcing him to do a speech. He has a fight with his best friend James and tells him a crazy lie. Soon everybody at school thinks he has cancer.

I like Dan Byrd as an awkward sarcastic teen and Emily VanCamp is super cute. They're a little old to play high school kids but they could still pass. I like their sweet cute relationship and then there is the lie. It's such a weird thing to say. I wish the script adds more of a prompt for Norman to go to that place. Maybe James should ask if he's sick. Maybe James could find the scans first. I just need him to be guided there a little more. The other problem is that he's lying to Emily. Emily already likes him before the lie. The lie doesn't make her like him more. It just makes everything awkward. It would make more sense that he would tell her the truth. Of course, Norman doesn't have to make sense.

No matter your age, if Norman doesn't make you remember your own high school years it's time to pull out that old yearbook.

Mine were painful, though less so than his, and I laughed and cried with him along his journey from self disgust and boyhood to self respect and manhood. Never an easy task, Norman takes tough subjects and presents them with a strange combination of charm, dignity and sarcasm. Somehow it all works, and works beautifully. I'm not sure I've ever seen a more moving but tasteful, no cheap tricks, handling of love and loss. I highly recommend it to kids of all ages (17 and older of course given the R rating). And I'll be watching for more from this extremely talented creative team.

Also, I'll be seeing this one again...

colleen1011 AKA Colleen Shannon

Norman is standard and safe as it gets, which is to say that it does nothing new, and it's all a bit of a bore. In this regard it kind of adheres to your worst ideas about what constitutes an indie film. Dan Byrd was pretty okay in the lead role -- but I found something very surface-y about his performance, and, for that matter, in the movie itself. It's one of those movies that isn't really bold enough in its concept or execution. At the end you just ask yourself why it exists. I did enjoy the soundtrack, however, and as bizarre as it sounds I liked the poster art as well (that's what made me decide to watch this movie in the first place). But beyond that there is little to recommend here. Pass.

I recently saw this film at the Chicago International Film Festival and I was blown away by it. Dan Byrd did a fantastic job playing the title character who is both hilarious as well as heart breaking. Richard Jenkins, as always, is great and witty. This is just an all around wonderful film. I can liken it most to the adult male version of Juno or Easy A. It has Juno's wit, charm, and strangeness as well as Easy A's basic story line (though much darker). Andrew Birds score to this film is perfect. I don't think anyone could have made a more suitable score for this film. If it seems like I am gushing about this film, it's because I am. It deserves it. If it comes to a festival near you or is eventually widely released be sure to go and see it. I can't recommend it enough.