Gioventù perduta

Ok so I saw the 7.3 score and thought this must be good. 5 minutes into the film I sat thinking this film really isn't looking very good. So I looked at the score table. Have a look yourself and see if it makes any sense, it doesn't. I think somewhere the maths is wrong.

I enjoyed this film. It was an independant low budget crime story of youth without consequence. Essentially teens that spent their life robbing and holding up people. It was a life that was an escape for Oscar from his abusive father only later to repeat as the movie jumps forward 15 years. Michael Pitt amazes me with his diverse roles and again creates another character that is far removed from himself. He looks damaged, he looks on edge yet has a strange moral compass and a deep down love for his family and those that he holds dear. Ron Pearlman provides a believable performance although perhaps something that we have seen a few times before...

The story didn't overly have a strong plot or a deeper underlying message and certainly no real consequence for the crimes they were all commiting which may of added an interesting element to the movie but was interesting enough as it progressed to make you invested in the characters and enough action to keep you entertained.

Ending (NO SPOILERS HERE) was odd imo as I would like to have know what happened next, but as the director said its the kind of movie where you can go home and think about it and kinda make your own mind up.

Enjoyable ride none the less.

Young Oscar (Mitchell Paulsen) saves her friend Loux by killing her abusive father. He runs away to the big city where he is befriended by Peaches (Kylie Rogers). He joins Peaches and a group of young thieves working for Augustus (William Forsythe). It is many years later. Oscar (Michael Pitt) is leading his own group of young thieves under Augustus. Loux and her younger brother are still searching for him.

I like the first half. I like its fantastical Dickensian Oliver Twist nature. Quite frankly, I like to stay with those child actors. I like Mitchell Paulsen and Kylie Rogers. They need to resolve the story with the kids. Once the time jumps, the movie feels different. This is a tale of two halves. They really should be two different movies.

Newb (his third resume entry - this his second full length feature film) producer, writer and director John Swab did a decent job in the directing department, but the writing was a mess. I understood the story he was trying to tell, but it had many plot and technical issues, with choppy scenes. Had a seasoned writer made some edits, the story would've been much better told. Cinematography was great, the score decent, and the acting and casting on point, although Michael Pitt's performance and/or character was bland for the most part. Otherwise, not a bad film from a newbie filmmaker. 7/10 from me

I don't know how this has such a high rating or why people have rated it anything over a 5. It started out really interesting, I quite liked the casting of adult Oscar and found his transition believable. However the movie ends just as soon as it gets going, literally! It was like the director ran out of money or time, or that they didn't know how to write a good ending to the film.

The soundtrack/score was good and atmospheric. The acting was good too. Overall though the movie could have been so much better as it was very promising at the start. Avoid this movie to avoid disappointment... still in disbelief at the waste of potential this movie had.