Twelve

Written by Jordan Melamed and Nick McDonell and directed by Joel Shumacher, this 2010 film starring Chace Crawford and Emma Roberts was quite a pleasant surprise indeed. Great message, story line, smooth transitions and many interesting camera techniques and lighting used for dream-like sequences. Probably targeted towards a younger audience (teenage/high-schoolers) yet real-life necessary issues were brought forward, allowing the audience to really connect and pose questions by the film’s grittiness and what happens many times behind closed doors when no-one is looking because they’re too busy with their own problems.

Break-out, phenomenal performances I’d say by Rory Culkin (cute as a button) and Emily Meade who shows mature acting far beyond her short years on earth. For me, she unquestionably stole the show from beginning till end. 50 Cent also gave a good performance but I felt they should have ‘dirtied’ him up a bit more as they did ‘White Mike’ played by Chace Crawford.

Emma Roberts played the ‘good-girl’, haven’t seen her play otherwise and wonders if she’ll follow in the footsteps of her aunt Julia Roberts, forever stuck in that ‘Pretty Woman’ who does no wrong with the unforgettable smile and jolting laugh? Zoe Kravitz also had a small part in the film, but to me, she had a more exciting character that could show more range of what her acting abilities can be.

One day you can have it all; the next day due to tragedy, you can become buried with doubts and worry and put yourself permanently in a dark place. Twelve shows how one boy is able to dig himself out before it’s too late.