Milton's Secret

"Milton's Secret" is a frustrating film. The characters are good and the acting very good. Yet despite this and a lot of promise, the story just fell apart at the end...leaving me very confused and annoyed.

Miiton is a nice 11 year-old boy who, unfortunately, is being bullied. The film did a good job of showing where the bullying is coming from...as the bully comes from a violent and abusive family. However, it really doesn't take the bullying very seriously and by the end of the story, Milton empathizes with the bully and is nice to him...and somehow everything is good with the world.

As a trained psychotherapist and teacher, I appreciate how the film shows that bullying is often generational. A parent abuses their child and the child, in turn, bullies his peers. But what I take exception with are simplistic answers...and in the case of the film it seems to be to be nice to the bully and teach him to breath when he is nervous. Yes,...I am sure that will work (sarcasm intended).

Overall, a story with a lot of pluses...but one that just seems too simplistic and silly at the end. I noticed that other reviewers mostly hated or loved the film...and I'm one who is kind of in the middle....or close to it.

In light of Donald Sutherland's recent passing, I would be remiss if I didn't say that his performance was the only thing worthwhile. Even though I thought that including a hippie grandpa was a lame writing choice and all his dialogue went in one ear and out the other. Overall, it was a bore fest of a film that perhaps tried to give a philosophical message on how to lead one's life or forgive others.

The movie was so unrealistic and dreary. I didn't feel any emotions and the kid actors had nothing to offer. Every performer seemed so agitated and overextended.

There was a slight glimmer of hope when it came to showcasing the young man's anxiety. Otherwise I found myself turning my head away from the screen and wondering if it made sense to turn the film off. I wish I had trusted my instincts.

A good topic but lacking in dramatization. Donald Sutherland is good as the sympathetic grandfather.

Milton Adams is a meek 11 year old boy. Ms. Ferguson (Michelle Rodriguez) is his teacher. His parents (David Sutcliffe, Mia Kirshner) are struggling with personal and money issues. His grandpa Howard (Donald Sutherland) comes for a visit. Milton gets bullied by angry classmate Carter Crane who has an angry father.

The bullying gets really stressful. I like the movie more when it has no easy solutions. That's why I find Howard's self-help guru a bit annoying. I don't mind the attempt but it needs more development. The final bathroom scene is another interesting attempt but it does come off a bit too simplistic. Maybe Howard would face one or two tough hurdles himself. This has such a tough subject matter and the solution feels rather too simple. Some of the self-help talk may have lost a bit translating from the page.

Bullying is a good topic to address but with the way things are in the world it's just gonna get worse. If people would actually listen to the advice in this movie and put down their cell phones, and really talk to one another we might just make some progress, instead of regressing.