Throwing out all social conventions and moral standards, Hesher, played by Joseph Gordon-Leavitt, rampages through the film, fire-bombing cars, punching little kids, and in the end, helping a family figure out their own messed up lives. Rainn Wilson departs from his typical goofy roles to provide a meaningful perspective on a recent widower and troubled father to the even more troubled protagonist TJ, played amazingly well by Devin Brochu. Natalie Portman enters the picture and performs the only role I've ever seen by her and liked - a huge feat in and of itself. Hesher was a strategically balanced and carefully configured variety of outrageous humor and the deepest sincere emotions, evoking in me the strongest reaction I've felt at Sundance so far. That's difficult for me to say when the film descends to 'pull my finger' jokes, but to have such a phenomenal mix of the inappropriate and the applicable deserves a class of recognition all its own. The DP and the director were brothers - something I feel would be awesome - and though I didn't get to ask them about their relationship on set (though I had my hand up for a while during the Q&A), from what was projected in the theater, their relationship seems to be quite good. Look forward to Hesher.
In attendance: Director Spencer Susser, screenwriter David Michod, producers Scot Armstrong and Jonathon Weisgal, cinematographer Morgan Susser, and actors Joseph Gordon-Leavitt, Devin Brochu and John Carroll Lynch
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1/22/2010
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