As Cool as I Am (2013)

A smart teenage girl comes of age in a small town with her self-centered parents who had her when they were teenagers.

Director:

Max Mayer

Writers:

Pete Fromm (novel), Virginia Korus Spragg (screenplay)

Stars:

Sarah Bolger, Thomas Mann, James Marsden

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sarah Bolger	...	Lucy Diamond
Thomas Mann	...	Kenny Crauder
James Marsden	...	Chuck Diamond
Claire Danes	...	Lainee Diamond
Seth Adkins	...	Scott Booker
Tom Romero	...	Manager
Anika Noni Rose	...	Frances
Jeremy Sisto	...	Guy Karlsburg
Mario Batali	...	Self
Beth Bailey	...	Mario's Female Guest
Josh Berry	...	Mario's Male Guest
Evan Adrian	...	Justin Havens
Will Peltz	...	Tim
Terry Walters	...	Libby
Rachel Hroncich	...	Nurse Amber Cremeens

Storyline

Sixteen-year-old Lucy is a tomboy. She gets on well with her father but is frequently separated from him for months on end when he goes to work in Canada. Her relationship with her mother is easy-going and she takes care of most things around the house. She tunes into her sexuality and her not so 'stable' family dynamics. She develops a relationship with her best friend Kenny and starts to realize that her parents' marriage is not as solid as she had previously imagined. She notices that her father's extended stays away from the family are not typical, and that her mother does not pine for her father as much as she herself does.

---

Plot Keywords:

watching tv | small town | teenager | teenage girl | cheating wife | 

---

Taglines:

How do you grow up when your parents haven't?

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual content including an assault, and some teen drinking

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was Claire Danes's first feature film in five years.

---

Goofs

At the beginning of the movie, when Lucy and Lainee eats at the diner, Lainee puts the ketchup bottle back on the table twice.

---

Quotes

Lucy Diamond: [Lainee has just given Lucy the car for the day] Wait, how are you going to get home?
Lainee Diamond: If I can't get a ride in this outfit, I deserve to walk.

---

Soundtracks

I Want the Sky
Written and Performed by Lucy Schwartz
Courtesy of Fortunate Fool Records by arrangement with District Music

User Reviews

A film about people

On the surface this seems like a simple, predictable film. It doesn't have a grand storyline nor does the plot build up to a single defining moment.

Essentially, this is a film about flawed characters who make flawed choices. They don't always say the right thing or solve all of their problems. They are simply human.

Danes is wonderful as the now 'grown up' teen mother, struggling with her own identity crisis as her daughter - the same age as her mother was when she was born - is too exploring her sexuality and considering her future. Bolger plays the role with enough restraint to avoid the teenager stereotype, whilst Marsden, although his scenes are brief, is so believable as the absent father.

I can see where this film could be seen as shallow and it's true that there are a few stronger issues that are touched on but not really developed (consent, domestic violence to name a few). However, in a way I appreciated how the plot continued on without delving into the complexities and our characters continued to make the impulsive and flawed decisions that make them as human and realistic as you or me - shaped by these things that have happened to them, but not defined.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 June 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

Aproape adulti

Filming Locations:

Belen, New Mexico, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$3,234

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,234

Company Credits

Production Co:

Identity Films, Wind Dancer Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1