EDGE OF SEVENTEEN (2016) — Sleeper Awakened

3/1/2017 - EDGE OF SEVENTEEN (2016) -6+/10

"Sound of silver talks to me. Makes me want to feel like a teenager. Until you remember the feelings of a real life emotional teenager. Then you think again..." Upon watching Edge, it felt as if LCD Soundsystem were whispering in my ear. This teen "comedy" provided an instinctual and biting peak into teen life. Sure, it had some Sorkin/Diablo Cody-esque forked tongue dialogue, but the isolation, the uncouth dynamism of emotions, and the distinct lack of forethought, empathy, and indecipherable uncertainty truly nail the "worlds ending" finality of teendom.

Steinfeld hooked us while constantly retaining a disdain in herself & actions. Fine character work from her. Her brother was strong but not overdone. Harelson was a funny Obi-Wan, playing magnificently off Steibfeld's marose attitude.

A little too "all's well" at the end, not to a "She's All That" kind of level, but a slight bit more retention of an undefeated struggle might have satisfied me more (this is a minor gripe. I wanted a satisfying arrival, not a Von Trier denouement). This was a lived in but cinematic exploration of teen experience, this one in particular, that was smart and funny but feeling. A welcome addition to this genre and a smooth debut from writer/director.