Hesher (2010)

A young boy has lost his mother and is losing touch with his father and the world around him. Then he meets Hesher who manages to make his life even more chaotic.

Director:

Spencer Susser

Writers:

Spencer Susser, David Michôd,

Stars:

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Devin Brochu, Rainn Wilson

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Joseph Gordon-Levitt	...	Hesher
Devin Brochu	...	T.J.
Rainn Wilson	...	Paul
Piper Laurie	...	Grandma Madeleine Forney
Natalie Portman	...	Nicole
Brendan Hill	...	Dustin
John Carroll Lynch	...	Larry
Monica Staggs	...	Mom
Mary Elizabeth Barrett	...	Meryl
Audrey Wasilewski	...	Coleen
Lyle Kanouse	...	Jack
Frank Collison	...	Funeral Director
Van Epperson	...	Angry Driver
Helen Slayton-Hughes	...	Mrs. Rosowski
Paul Bates	...	Mr. Elsberry

Storyline

T.J., a high school freshman, lost his mother two months' before in a car accident: his father pops pills and sits on the couch; his grandmother holds things together, chatting and cooking. T.J. wants the car back from the salvage yard where the owner's son is a bully. By happenstance, Hesher, a foul-mouthed squatter, moves in with T.J's family. T.J. also meets Nicole, a grocery clerk near poverty who helps him once. Hesher involves T.J. in crime, the bully is omnipresent, mom's car is slipping away, dad has checked out, T.J. watches Nicole at work, and his grandma invites him to join her morning walk: the odds are long that T.J. can assemble a family to help him thrive.

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Plot Keywords:

van | tattoo | fire | bicycle lock | older woman younger man relationship | 

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Taglines:

Sometimes life gives you the finger and sometimes it gives you...

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for disturbing violent behavior, sexual content including graphic dialogue, pervasive language, and drug content - some in the presence of a child

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 June 2011 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Rebel

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$7,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$126,046 (USA) (13 May 2011)

Gross:

$382,946 (USA) (29 July 2011)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Last Picture Company, The, American Work, CatchPlay

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the pool scene, Hesher asks R2 to shut down all the trash compactors. This refers to R2-D2 from Star Wars. Director Spencer Susser also directed a TV special short, _R2-D2: Beneath the Dome (1992)_.

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Goofs

The cuts on TJ's face from the wrecking yard are on his left side when he falls and leaves, but he has them on his left side and they're already done scabbing and look like scars when Nicole (Natalie Portman) shows up at TJ's house the next day to apologize.

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Quotes

Nicole: What did I do to deserve this chain reaction of shit all the time?

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Connections

References Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)

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Soundtracks

"Motorbreath"
Written by James Hetfield
Performed by Metallica

User Reviews

Angel of Death, and Life

Dark. Very, very dark, and profane, and vulgar, and raw, and rough, and funny and sacrilegious and did I mention vulgar. But I loved it! It's real life. This film yields one the most interesting discussions about how God is speaking through films. A fracked-up family. A pryomaniacal, head-banging, angel of death. A sweet and sexy grocery clerk. And Metallica music… what more do you need? This film is Psalm 88. It's a boy screaming to the heavens, "Why God? Where are You? Why don't you help me?" It's a once happy and bright life ruined by a car wreck. A mother killed. A son trying to be a man. A father dealing with depression. And a strange, reluctant "savior" that brings the family to the precipice of death; and life.

I think the greatest theme in this film comes when Hesher says he lost a (body part), but he has another one. Yes, the boy lost his mom, and his dad his wife, but they still have each other. Life is completely messed up, but we have each other.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Natalie Portman, Rainn Wilson, Devin Brochu: beautifully acted. This film is the epitome of Beauty from Ugliness, Life from Death, Sacred from Profane.