And Then I Go

I've seen this film a few times now, very good acting, but the story needed more. The ending was barely seen, as in the final event happens, but all you see really is blur and the voices are muffled. There wasn't a lot of development from anyone, and Edwin and especially Flake needed it the most. Things just happen that don't explain anything as to why the characters act the way they do. Zero Day does this much better, with its video diary style and final scene completely seen to the viewer, but I prefer this over that but only because of its clearer visuals, music, interaction, and less drag. It was good, but could've been better to give this a 10.

NOT for kids. The Language again, gets old fast. Not sure why they think adding F this F that in every other word makes for a good movie. On the upside, it was very thought provoking but rather sad. Get pass the cursing and the strange fear that is there one second and then good to go the next and freeze.

You have two boys, one codependent on the other and parents that aren't there or don't do anything along with bad parents and a lack of respect or common decency of the kids. They see violence as the only answer.

Edwin, the eyes the movie is based on, was a good kid but being dependent on Flake, Flake influences Edwin to do the unthinkable. As for Edwin, his parents know he is miserable, see his breakdowns and know something is up but NEVER DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. Edwin supposedly adores his little brother but NOT enough to stop his actions that they know will lead to disaster or worse.

Flake starts off with trying to poison the school's food but are stopped by a locked gate. So, they plan on shooting up the school. Probably more truth than fiction when one kids' parents aren't around Edwin just doesn't know how to deal with life in general. He has no respect, manors and know nothing about talking to people. As a result, he relies on Flake to function. What Flake says, they do.

As a result, they plan to shoot up the school and throw their lives away forever. The adults know something is seriously wrong but they're too slow to do anything and nobody ever really jumps in to get the kids psychological help.

Even when they are attacked on the soccer field, and clearly being assaulted, the coaches do nothing but break up the fight.

In situations like this, yeah, you know why some kids do what they do because there's no discipline, no psychiatric treatment or counseling. When you're NOT actually doing anything, you get what you have. Everyone knows what is going to happen they just sit back and watch it play out.

This one scene in the end when Flake goes down, you know what is and that's when Edwin loses it. Why, IDK. Never said what happened to him and the others involved.

Clueless families and kids that don't communicate even though when they try nobody listens. What I don't understand is Edwin shows the need to be helped and they offer a socialization class but NOT counseling which is obvious he needs it. The worse of the two, Flake, everyone knows he's disturbed but not a SINGLE person does anything to help or talk to the kid, He's bullied and that's it. He doesn't even ask for it.

It shows that they're a lack of love but I think it is worse than that. Their plans hit a snag when a younger kid talks about using his father's gun to stop his tormentor. One thing NOBODY does is sit a kid down and truly talk. When your kids gets under the bed in an emotional breakdown, that's the key to seeking MAJOR psychological help. Yet, it never comes.

Then when the shooting starts, Edwin freaks and can't do it and the rest his story. As if calling for your friend for help when he's at the point of no return, they have no chance at life now.

The signs are there just everyone ignored them.

There was the one parent in the part that his son came to Edwin to throw his little brother's safety net, which was a blue football, he throws it to the kid and the kid runs off with it and they start to leave and Edwin tries to get his ball back but the father doesn't like Edwin's lack of respect and pushes the boy down and as Edwin screams to get it back, he was showing his kid you take whatever you want.

That's about it to the main event and nothing more to say.

The acting and filmmaking are very realistic. It's almost like you're watching a documentary. A very important film to see and talk about in today's climate of tragic school shootings in America. Addressing bullying, the consequences of a destructive friendship on a young mind, adolescent alienation and the hardship in processing or communicating inner pain and turmoil as a result, and an adult generation that may be hearing but not actually listening.

It's younger kids and they don't own a computer or smart phone totally unbelievable....9 & 10 year olds own a smart phone or play games on a Ipad. The acting and directing was good. This movie was either about gun control or being bullied.

AND THEN I GO is a movie about a school shooting, but rather than inspiring anger or outrage, I found it deeply sad and though-provoking. There are flaws, but I encourage thoughtful viewers to take a look.

The film is seen primarily through the eyes of Edwin (Arman Darbo) a very smart and clearly depressed young man. He's one of those kids who doesn't really make friends and doesn't engage much in school life. Dare I say it, he's "misunderstood." (He also endures some pretty nasty bullying.) His parents (Justin Long, Melanie Lynskey) are trying to understand their sullen and angry kid, but they are also clearly frustrated and out of ideas. Dad has resorted to glibness and mockery, and mom is just trying to be placating. There is also a much younger brother, and we see through his reactions to his brother that Edwin is capable of love. And while most of his teachers and school administrators are equally frustrated with him ("you're a smart kid; why can't you behave and do your work"), Edwin does find a spark of interest in art class, and his teacher puts him in a group art project with two young ladies who are actually happy to have him on their project because they see his skill. Edwin slowly and reluctantly warms to their casual friendliness and genuine compliments.

If all this sounds like I've spoiled much of the movie, what I've really done is told you about a movie that COULD have happened. An exploration of a young boy growing into manhood and into finding a tentative place for himself in the world. That might have been something like a very low-key EIGHTH GRADE, but for boys.

Unfortunately, Edwin has had one friend since he was a little kid. The whip-smart but sociopathic Flake (Sawyer Barth) who has endured similar bullying and a similar sense of disconnection from the world around him. But his parents have lost interest in him and he clearly feels he has nothing to lose when he starts to push back against the forces that he feels are assailing him (and many of them are). Edwin is torn between his ties to his lone friend, and his deep discomfort with the dark places Flake clearly wants to take him.

The film is though-provoking because it forces the viewer to examine just how far our sympathies can be pushed. Have these boys been betrayed by the adults in their lives who either don't see the danger or don't see how they have failed these kids. But then again, what could the parents be doing better? How far can a school be pushed by bad behavior and acting out? How much should be tolerated? Yet on the other hand, how much should these kids be forced to tolerate themselves? Do we see where this movie concludes as inevitable given all that has gone before...or are these two boys ultimately still monsters (as we would think of them if we just saw a news report with no "background").

And it is sad. Director Vincent Grashaw has not exactly made a briskly paced movie here. Even though it is only 99 minutes, it still feels too long. Many scenes just seem to be repeats of what we've seen before. A point is made, and then the same point is made again, and yet again. But thankfully Darbo's Edwin is amazingly well-rendered. His performance just really made me feel the sadness this character lives with 99.9% of the time (and makes the 0.1% happiness all the more heart-breaking).

Aside from the pacing, the film, aside from the two leads, is not terribly well-acted. Long, Linskey and Tony Hale as the principal are the "biggest" names in the film, but their performances feel a bit phoned-in. Likely the director had limited time with his expensive talent and honestly, the script makes these characters a bit cardboard anyway. And for me, the idea of art class being what finally engages Edwin is so clichéd. It's the trap artists fall into, that only art is redemptive. I appreciated Edwin's journey (thanks, again, to the actor) but still felt there was a lapse of imagination.

Having said all that, on balance, I still very much appreciated this film and the difficult journey it took me through. It isn't "fun" to see this movie, but it's got a lot to offer in its sometimes clumsy way.