12 and Holding (2006)

Absolutely the worst movie.

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Wow, I'm actually surprised. I did not expect this movie to be so good since it isn't very known, hard to find, and seems to be of a low budget. I think I'm going to do some research and buy the DVD. Like all the other reviews say, the characters are very realistic. The acting is awesome. I definitely recommend this one.

It's rare to stumble on a film that exceeds any preconceived expectations; a film that pushes the envelop to its limit, and yet delivers not one, but several messages with accuracy and poise. "12 and Holding" (2005) is this type of film. Director Michael Cuesta delivers an emotional masterpiece in redemption, conviction, and forgiveness.It all starts with a fire. A boy dies and lives are forever transformed. It's a domino effect. When change strikes it delivers forcing each character to take a journey into the unknown and face fear head on in a quest to find answers, satisfaction, and justification. All the facets that contemporary society clings to-hoping an eye for an eye won't make the whole world blind. Starving for male attention, one girl expresses her sexuality all too soon while one boy battles the opposition of being overweight, and the other comes to terms with his brother's death.This triangular approach to drama is breath-taking, eye awaking, and shocking. In a typical mainstream film, the audience is taken on a parallel journey. The protagonist (main character) guides the viewer down a path which ultimately leads to the antagonist whom is in opposition with the protagonist, and after a much needed war on conflict a resolution arises. Now, the resolution can satisfy the audience or disappoint. The point is that the end result is justified by action. "12 and Holding," an independent film, clearly defines dysfunction in a family dynamic in which case each family has its own hosts of problems to resolve in a twisted world."12 and Holding" maybe an independent film, but it's distinguished as a rare film to come by. The passion in which the story is told is lucid and frantic. It's a story of deliverance. Family dysfunction does not discriminate. It comes in all shapes, sizes, ethnicity, and religions. Family dysfunction is the cornerstone that binds families together, yet bridges the gap to despair. It sparks a need for change. A need for a reality check. And a need to break down barriers that leads to forgiveness and second chances.

for "drama" lovers , this will be "right up their alley". while the actors are generally young kids, this feature is definitely NOT for kids viewing, with or without parents guidance. it is more as something of s to remind you of certain aspects anyone have seen/heard of and could not/did not understand them in their "specific" context, at some time or another during anyone's lifetime. i would refer to it as something similar to the movie "crash" except it does not deal with racial or social tension, but with a "coming of age" one, a quiet "universal" theme as well.the content: there are 3 different "plots" that happens with every single one of the 3 kids in the main roles.they are overall related but only because the characters are "friends", within the same "normal" and "typical" north American family neighborhood(and probably not only). all those 3 ramifications are somehow brutal, yet very realistic in as COULD or DO happen scenarios.all of them also relate to, and tries to show, how the parents upbringing will affect the rest of their lives. the somehow main plot of the "accident" consists of the male teenager's reasoning with "family loss" and the need for "closure". another plot deals with female teenagers's need of "growing up" or at least the instinctual need of doing so sooner then later. and the the lost plot brings to light certain aspects of how and why more and more teenagers are being over-weight, and dealing with that on both personal and within the family plan; what could be behind this quiet increasingly problem we all notice around us?(and i am not talking about simplistic outcomes but THE roots of this problem as some call it.there are some really Awkward moments, rarely seen on the silver screen, especially the ones involving the young girl. yet all the scenes have at least sensibility, quiet emotional in a realistic way and not some "tear-jerker" or "cry for Oscar" ones.the production: the kids actors are phenomenal.especially the young girl which i am sure will have a big carrier ahead. the boys are a bit less "involved" but only because the characters requires them as being more "reserved". all the adult supporting roles are well played as well.the camera work is not great but irrelevant here.soundtrack is quiet "cute", not much but efficient when needs to.i only give it 8 stars because this production is "slow" at times(not consistently but enough to take away some entertainment aspects any movie should have), probably due to budget limits. there were times i was about to loose interest but then something "genuinely" happens, quiet many times actually, to keep me "focused".i recommend this to parents or anyone in a need/mood for a real LIFE drama.the movie generally teaches and it does not preach, which is always a good thing for such features. you will be left with a "positive" feeling of learning/confirming something known or less known

This is one excellent movie, a kind of coming of age story, but then again, the stars of the movie are only 12 years old. A group of young friends have a tree house, and some older kids want them out of it, but when they try, the 12 years old dump a bucket of urine on them. That makes them very mad, and they come back much later setting the tree house on fire, not knowing two of the kids are inside. One of the twin brothers is burned to death, setting off a series of events that are very involving to say the least. This is one of the best acted movies of younger kids I have seen, depicting the torment they share with the loss of their dead friend, and how the twin's brother plans on killing one of the older boys that set the fire. The way they deal with tragedy and their kooky parents is absolutely sensational. Pick this one up, it's definitely a winner.