Steal Me

STEAL ME is one of those little independent films that lacked the budget for advertising and got lost in the theaters until the DVD rolled out. Now it is available and is one of those happy choices for an evening's entertainment that is satisfyingly on more levels than just another coming of age story. Written and directed by Melissa Painter the film has the feeling of extemporaneous creation, so frank and un-pushed are the lines and the story: the fact that it is so beautifully set in the poetic atmosphere of Montana by an unnamed cinematographer takes the film into the realm of professional quality.

Jake (Danny Alexander) is a 16-year-old homeless kid, a street criminal who steals things for the high the experience provides, hopping trains to Montana to meet up with his irresponsible hooker mother whom he never finds. What Jake does encounter as he is stealing a car radio is Tucker (Hunter Parrish) who alters his outrage to feelings of pity for the homeless hungry Jake. Tucker takes him home - a barn and house and ranch and family look that is what Jake has always longer for - and Tucker's father (John Terry) and mother (Cara Seymour) and little sister Cindy (Chelsea Carlson) gradually absorb the mysterious stranger into their home. Jake is given a room in the barn, food, and companionship and eventually a job at the father's train yard company. Jake resists stealing things, encounters Grace (Toby Poser) the next door neighbor who is an unmarried mother and seduces Jake, and Jake meets Tucker's ideal girl Lily Rose (Paz de la Huerta) and encourages Tucker to enter into a physical romance. Tucker introduces Jake to his high school friends, young lads who are fascinated with Jake's knowledge of breaking into cars, hot-wiring autos, and explaining how homes are easy targets for theft. As the story rolls along Jake and Tucker and Lily Rose form a tender relationship, and we gradually discover that most women Jake meets find him not only lovable but also desirable. But Jake's past modus operandi begins to surface and his motives are questioned and in a few surprising turns things turn out against him. Jake is left to continue looking for the mother who has never really 'existed' for him.

Painter knows how to deliver her story with beautiful settings, fine interaction among the characters, and a keen sense on the meaning of family and its importance in becoming an adult. The scenes are at times fragmented with strange kaleidoscopic editing techniques, and unfortunately the dialog is very often inaudible: a qualified sound editor could have altered this critical error and mixed the soundtrack to diminish the music for the sake of hearing the words. But the final feeling of this little film is one of honesty in intention and in production and allows a rather unknown cast to demonstrate some fine ensemble acting. It is a film worth viewing. Grady Harp

I saw this in Brooklyn of all places. The audience loved it, and I did too. Fresh concept, unusual faces, lush scenery. The star, Danny Alexander, broke my heart, and truly has a beautiful and powerful screen presence. Paz de La Huerta is a certified hottie, and Hunter Parrish has a sweet, Opie look. Cara Seymour from "American Psycho" made a transformation from how I remembered her. I noticed too that the cinematographer also did "The River Runs Through It," so no wonder the look was so rich. Melissa Painter wrote an unusual story, and has managed to weave people, dialogue and music (including the very cool over-credits song sung by Danny Alexander) into a work of art. Roger Ebert gives "Steal Me" a "thumb's up", and the LA Times reviewer does too. Combining the best of movies like "The Outsiders" and "Stand By Me," I'd see "Steal Me" again in a heartbeat.

By the end I liked this film very much. Initially I was a bit put off by some technical lapses. It was hard to understand the dialog at times, and there were some confusing juxtapositions of scenes. These were not major distractions, however.

It seemed a believable portrayal of a teenage boy who had failed to attach to his mother as a child. I appreciated the non-judgmental approach of the writer/director. By allowing us to understand the context of the behavior of each of the characters, she facilitates us seeing them in a sympathetic light. I enjoyed the film. I appreciated the opportunity to participate in a Q&A session with the director after the movie. I hope the file can be viewed by a wide audience.

Okay - let's cut to the chase - everyone wants Jake. Sexually, that is. There's more to this film than just a young stranger crashing with a farm family. This movie positively screams unrequited passion. Jake (an unremarkable Danny Alexander) is a serial thief who is ostensibly on the hunt for his wanton mom, but ends up being befriended by fresh as paint farm boy Hunter (Tucker Parrish). Everyone here is obviously (for some reason) in lust with this troubled teen, especially Hunter, whose Oedipal complex would make Oedipus say 'duh'. The two take out their sexual energies for each other with fists, not frolic, but that's the kind of film this is. Hunter's mom (an excellent Cara Seymour) suppresses her secret desires for her own son by deflecting them onto Jake, and even Hunter's butch daddy seems to be in lust with Jake, wandering into the barn where he is sleeping just to 'see if everything's okay'. Hunter's pre-pubescent sister even gets into the act, with Jake telling her how beautiful she is and her 'coming of age' timed to his arrival. After an hour of all this unspoken steam, the film starts to meander and it is apparent (admitted by film maker Melissa Painter on the DVD commentary) that the movie was was being scripted as they went along. In the end, there's no great revelation here, about Jake's past or anything else, so suit yourself. But if you like to watch Montana farm folk squirm with secret lust, this flick may be for you.

We saw this at the Sundance film festival at a showing in Ogden, which is an hour away from the main location of the festival (Park City). I have attended several screenings in this location as it is closest to my home, and in general, filmmakers do not attend screenings at this location as it is too much trouble. However, Melissa Painter, the director/writer of this film was a notable exception. We were absolutely thrilled that she came to the screening and did not mind at all (contrary to one woman in the front row who stood up to complain!...LOL...) waiting a few minutes for her! But I digress. The film told the compelling story of Jake, a homeless young man who is a kleptomaniac. Jake has never had the benefit of a loving family, and the film studies the effect this has had on his life. From the very beginning of the movie, I was drawn into the story of this young man and how he ends up living with a caring family, and his attempts to stay disconnected from them, while all the time being drawn to them. All of the characters are richly developed, and the beautiful location (Montana) adds to the film's visual appeal. The adventure always seems real, not using cliché to study Jake's life. All of the actors in this film did a fine job, especially the lead, Danny Alexander, who at 16 shows a lot of potential. Also wonderful were Hunter Parrish, as the boy Jake befriends early on in the film, and Cara Seymour and John Terry, who played the parents. The rest of the supporting cast was also wonderful. I recommend it!