The Art of Getting By (2011)

George, a lonely and fatalistic teen who's made it all the way to his senior year without ever having done a real day of work, is befriended by Sally, a popular but complicated girl who recognizes in him a kindred spirit.

Director:

Gavin Wiesen

Writer:

Gavin Wiesen

Stars:

Freddie Highmore, Emma Roberts, Sasha Spielberg

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Freddie Highmore	...	George Zinavoy
Emma Roberts	...	Sally Howe
Sasha Spielberg	...	Zoe Rubenstein
Marcus Carl Franklin	...	Will Sharpe
Ann Dowd	...	Mrs. Grimes
Maya Ri Sanchez	...	Cynthia
Blair Underwood	...	Principal Martinson
Ann Harada	...	Mrs. Dougherty
Rita Wilson	...	Vivian Sargent
Jarlath Conroy	...	Harris McElroy
Elizabeth Reaser	...	Charlotte Howe
Andrew Levitas	...	Javier
Sam Robards	...	Jack Sargent
Alicia Silverstone	...	Ms. Herman
Michael Angarano	...	Dustin

Storyline

Believing the quote that you are born alone, die alone and everything else is an illusion, George doesn't see the point of life, school, or homework. Then he meets Sally and he now has a reason to go to school and make friends, even if he's not ready to admit to himself or to her that he likes her. The school's principal and art teacher introduce him to an alumni, and successful artist, Dustin, who can help guide George along life's path, but other distractions start surfacing, and George might not even be able to graduate from high school.

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Plot Keywords:

principal | artist | homework | high school | art teacher | 

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Taglines:

The toughest lesson is love.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements including sexual content, language, teen drinking and partying

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 July 2011 (Israel)

Also Known As:

Homework

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$679,160 (USA) (17 June 2011)

Gross:

$1,429,260 (USA) (8 July 2011)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Goldcrest Pictures, Gigi Productions, Mint Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the first scene, the camera passes by Tom's Restaurant, the same restaurant featured in Seinfeld, aka Monk's.

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Quotes

Harris McElroy: You're going to have to start using that brain of yours to access that talent of yours to show that beautiful heart of yours.

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Connections

Features Zazie dans le métro (1960)

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Soundtracks

"Do Do Do"
Written by Ric Markmann, Dan Pinnella and Christopher Wagner
Performed by Matthew Reis
Courtesy of Wild Whirled Music

User Reviews

Hidden gem

So I happened to notice quite a great deal of people hold negative opinions on this movie. That's why I wanted to share my 2 cents.

Basically, the movie was what I expected it to be. Meaning: no blockbuster, no real Hollywood production, no mind-blowing action. A movie with a slice of life, just like 500 Days of Summer (come to think of it, it gets close to it in some ways, even if perhaps a little less mature). If you're looking for these exact characteristics, you may be better of looking for a different movie.

So what to expect from it? First of all: it does not aim towards shocking you. It delivers a message, apparent from the introduction we get at the start of the movie. Starting a movie with a quote is bold, yet it's also original and different. It sets the tone perfectly. So George is this high-school guy who has a different hobby, drawing. He gets so worked up in it that when he does, he loses sight of all his surroundings (anyone who's creative will relate, as do I). On top of this he holds a pessimistic view on life, basically saying 'we're all going to die anyway so what's the point'? Now I know a lot of people will consider this to be 'emo' or whatever, but it's not. Honestly. I plead guilty: I myself often think in this manner. In fact, I can relate so much to George that by the end of the movie, I sat with my mouth open, totally freaked out and overwhelmed, still am. He's the different one, the outcast, the guy nobody knows and everyone ignores. Yet people tend to forget that being quiet doesn't equal being an uninteresting person. On the contrary: this movie likes to show us the other side of the coin. So my conclusion would be that if you often feel misunderstood, or have lost motivation for life in general, this movie would definitely be the way to go, as it requires a certain mindset I believe...

What is so interesting about the movie, is that we see a great deal of changes in George's life from the moment he meets Sally. It triggers different actions and revelations in his life that are irreversible, as is often the case with love in real life too. It basically shows us that loved ones can change one's life for the better, even in a not always positive way. Love surpasses most joys of life, as it surpasses most of its burdens.

There were times when I was slightly annoyed. I was aware there were times where I would tell myself 'just do it/just say it!'. There are many awkward silences in the movie, which are automatically transferred to the watcher's feelings. I wanted to jump into the movie, help G. out, because life can be difficult, more so when you're an introvert. And even more so when love's involved. (personal rant ahead) The world of today is all about extroverts, people who are eloquent and sociable, certainly not something George can boast about.

The amount of growth George shows while struggling with his problems really makes the movie. You see him get out of his shell, while not losing his edge. It's not your typical American movie with happy ending, all's well that ends well. Again, just like life is a lot of the time.

I'd advise anyone to have a look. This movie has been a hidden gem for me and it perfectly fits my taste for movies. Be prepared for some thinking and awkwardness from time to time and when that's OK with you, you'll love it. If this is not what appeals to you, then it will probably not be your cup of tea. If you are an artist and have lost motivation and/or inspiration, you should feel compelled to absorb what this movie has to offer.

If you do enjoy this movie, don't forget to take a look at: '500 days of Summer' and 'It's kind of a funny story', which both are pretty close in terms of atmosphere to this one.