Thumbsucker (2005)

Justin throws himself and everyone around him into chaos when he attempts to break free from his addiction to his thumb.

Director:

Mike Mills

Writers:

Walter Kirn (novel), Mike Mills

Stars:

Vincent D'Onofrio, Lou Taylor Pucci, Keanu Reeves

5 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ted Beckman	...	Stoner Guy
Benjamin Bratt	...	Matt Schramm
Vincent D'Onofrio	...	Mike Cobb
Arvin V. Entena	...	Perry Lyman's Assistant
Tyler Gannon	...	Stoner Chick
Kelli Garner	...	Rebecca
Allen Go	...	Biology Teacher
Dakota Goldhor	...	Girl on Plane
Walter Kirn	...	Debate Judge
Kit Koenig	...	Principal
Sarah Lucht	...	English Teacher
Eric Normington	...	Hotel Desk Clerk
Nancy O'Dell	...	Herself
Lanette Prazeau	...	School Nurse
Lou Taylor Pucci	...	Justin Cobb (as Lou Pucci)

Storyline

Justin is a teenager boy, who has an oral obsession with his thumb. His mother seems to be a normal housekeeper, but she has her own obsessions as well, like a crush on a TV-star. The only person who's aware of Justin's problem is his father, manager in a store, but none of his advices seem to be working for Justin. The kid is signed up in a debate workshop, but the thing isn't going well, because he has his mind in a pretty classmate and, of course, in his thumb, affecting all the rest of his classes. So, Justin is a loner kid in the school, who prefers to lock himself in the bathroom and suck his thumb. Justin's dentist, a mystical-hippie person, will try to help to overcome his thumb problem, through the hypnosis. But the school's psychologist will diagnose Justin with the Attention Deficit Disorder, and will prescribe him some drugs. Suddenly, Justin's problem with his thumb will disappear, becoming an hyperactive genius, winning several debate contests and the admiration from his...

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Plot Keywords:

drugs | school | debate | dentist | drug addiction | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for drug/alcohol use and sexuality involving teens, language and a disturbing image

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Pictures Classics [us]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 October 2005 (Ireland)

Also Known As:

Basparmak

Filming Locations:

Beaverton, Oregon, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$85,327 (USA) (16 September 2005)

Gross:

$1,325,073 (USA) (2 December 2005)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bob Yari Productions, This Is That Productions, Cinema-Go-Go

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The director saw over 100 actors for the role of Justin.

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Goofs

Justin is charged $3.20 to mail a Business Reply envelope which is clearly marked "Postage Will Be Paid By Addressee". However, it is possible he intends to send it Priority Mail, which would have cost $3.20 in the time period of the original novel.

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Quotes

Justin Cobb: What's your power animal?
Dr. Perry Lyman: That's personal.

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Crazy Credits

Special thanks to the people of Beaverton and Portland, Oregon, for their generous contributions to the making of this feature film.

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Connections

Referenced in Ebert Presents: At the Movies: Episode #2.1 (2011)

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Soundtracks

"Let's Get Lost"
Written by Elliott Smith
Performed by Elliott Smith
Courtesy of Anti, Inc.

User Reviews

Two thumbs up!

"Thumbsucker" doesn't suck, at all! It's also not just another teen-angst flick. It is a funny, thoughtful, and enjoyable movie. I would give this two thumbs up! Although the movie revolves around Justin, a thoughtful, sensitive, teenager who happens to have a rather nasty habit of sucking his thumb, it also shows his relationship with his parents, brother, teachers, his peers and his dentist, who all undergo their own personal development during the course of the movie.

Justin and his brother call their parents by their first names, and in the case of the Cobbs, this doesn't seem to increase or decrease the level of respect or obedience teenagers have for their parents. Justin and his mother Audrey seem to be alike - they both have crushes: he, for a girl in his debating class, and she, for an actor on daytime TV.

"Thumbsucker" shows that teenagers with a lot of parental love and support can also end up feeling alienated anyway. The path to adulthood is often fraught with anguish, mostly self-inflicted. But sometimes, meeting a mean girl who'd break your heart in a second can do that too.

The casting is excellent - I hadn't checked the cast list before watching it, and was pleasantly surprised to find so many known and good actors in it. Keanu Reaves was a surprise, and a hoot to watch. Tilda Swinton is one cool lady, and I will certainly be looking out for her other movies.