Ten Thousand Saints (2015)

Set in the 1980s, a teenager from Vermont moves to New York City to live with his father in East Village.

Directors:

Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini

Writers:

Robert Pulcini (screenplay), Shari Springer Berman (screenplay)

Stars:

Ethan Hawke, Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Henry Kelemen	...	Young Jude
Julianne Nicholson	...	Harriet
Ethan Hawke	...	Les
Asa Butterfield	...	Jude
Avan Jogia	...	Teddy
Nadia Alexander	...	Prudence
Hailee Steinfeld	...	Eliza
Emily Mortimer	...	Diane
Austin Ramsey	...	Hockey Player
Jeff O'Donnell	...	Tory
Matthew James Ballinger	...	Hippie
Emile Hirsch	...	Johnny
Tracy Westmoreland	...	Photo Booth Bum
Warren Kelly	...	Minister
Ellie Bensinger	...	Female Classmate #1

Storyline

Follows three screwed up young people and their equally screwed up parents in the age of CBGB's, yuppies and the tinderbox of gentrification that exploded into the Tompkins Square Park Riots in New York's East Village in the 1980s.

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Plot Keywords:

alphabet city manhattan | indian american | chopsticks | crying | guitarist | 

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Taglines:

Rage. Riot. Rebirth.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for drug use including teens, and language including sexual references

Did You Know?

Trivia

The title is a biblical reference to Jude 1:14.

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Quotes

Les: So you got any New Year resolutions, Princess Di?
Diane: Yes.
Les: What are they?
Diane: To stop dating my dealer.
Les: Now why would you do that? With me you get the whole package: sex and drugs.

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Connections

References The Six Million Dollar Man (1974)

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Soundtracks

Wise Up
Written by Matthew Warnke, Andrew Cardellichio, Timothy Brooks and John Zuluaga
Performed by Bold
Courtesy of Revelation Records

User Reviews

Very good, not really my taste

In 1980 Vermont, Jude's father Les is banished to the greenhouse by his mom Harriet, because Les has been cheating. Jude goes out to be with his father and they have a nice conversation. Because the credits list actors in order of appearance, I now know Jude is much younger in this scene than in other scenes. Les calls himself a botanist, but another term is used for his "profession" by others later, so we have some idea what he is growing. Actually, every mention of a word for any drug has been removed in the version of the movie I saw, with the sound going out and the character's mouth is blurred, and every drug is blurry. The same thing happens with numerous words, some of which might normally be allowed on broadcast TV, but someone must have been overly cautious.

Harriet, by the way, appears to be some kind of glass artist. They have a daughter Prudence.

On New Year's Eve, in a different year that is not specified, Eliza, the teenage daughter of Jude's latest girlfriend Diane, comes for a visit. Eliza's dad died when she was very young but he was a successful lawyer. Diane still lives in a really nice house in New York City, with servants. Eliza is met by Jude and his friend Teddy, and they go to a party. Jude and Teddy both take something, with tragic results. Eliza's behavior also gets her in serious trouble; she may be pregnant.

Les wants his son to live with him in New York City. He has a small rent controlled apartment that belonged to a woman who doesn't need it any more. It happens to be near Teddy's brother Johnny, who is a tattoo artist plays in the hardcore rock band Army of One. Their "music" sounds like 90s grunge with all the noise but without whatever appealed to fans of Seattle alternative music. However, they are also "straightedge" (Les says his generation said "square"), meaning no drinking or drugs.

The rest of the movie concerns the ups and downs of relationships between Eliza and Johnny, between Eliza and Diane, and between Les and Jude. At one point, Eliza moves in with Harriet, which is surprisingly pleasant. Harriet also has a better than expected relationship with Diane, though when they first meet, it is quite satisfying for those who recall how the movie began.

And one problem with Johnny is the fact that his band tours many cities.

There are many questions of morality, and disputes with yuppies who want to move into the rundown neighborhood where most of the characters live. Mostly we see the protesters; if there were yuppies I don't recall them. And there are effective otherworldly scenes where one or more characters used something and we kind of see things as they would have.

Religion is a topic mentioned several times. Eliza had a bat mitzvah but she and her mother don't seem all that religious. There is a funeral where the scripture reading mentions "10,000 saints". There is also a scene with dancers in beautifully colored costumes where the music seems Middle Eastern or South Asian; Hare Krishnas are mentioned.

Hailee Steinfeld is very good as Eliza. In her early scenes she starts out as confident, sarcastic and likeable. Then she gets serious, then she is terrified. Eliza goes through many emotions through the course of the movie, and she has many decisions to make about her life.

Teddy is a likable character but we don't get to see much of him. Avian Jogia does a good job.

Les is a cool dad, which means he doesn't always do things the way good parents should. He's not a good influence but he and his son get along really well. It's a fine performance by Ethan Hawke.

Most of the major actors do a good job.

The listings showed this as "comedy, drama, music". I really don't understand this. There are a few funny scenes but comedy shouldn't be listed first.

As for music, there's not much for someone with my musical taste. Most of the music is some form of rock, including softer artists that sound like Sting that don't appeal to me personally. My perception is that a lot of the softer music is good quality, but just not what I care for. I liked one song, "I Can't Wait" by Nu Shooz, which isn't typical of my taste but has some sort of appeal for me.

It's a really good movie if it's your taste. It's just not mine.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 August 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ten Thousand Saints

Filming Locations:

Ossining, New York, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$59,333

Company Credits

Production Co:

Archer Gray, Bad Medicine Films, Maven Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1