The Wackness
2008 Directed by Jonathan Levine
Synopsis
Set in New York City in the sweltering summer, The Wackness tells the story of a troubled teenage drug dealer, who trades pot for therapy sessions with a drug-addled psychiatrist. Things get more complicated when he falls for one of his classmates, who just happens to be the doctors daughter. This is a coming-of-age story about sex, drugs, music and what it takes to be a man.
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Superb writing made even better by such great soundtrack and performances. You expect Ben Kingsley to be amazing, but Josh Peck gives a supringly stellar performance. Each character feels as real as the story itself, which can be hilarious, sad and moving. Sometimes all at the same time. It feels so honest that it can remind anyone of their teenage years. It takes a few viewings to really appreciate it, but give it time and a coming of a age classic can be found in this film.
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Loved this film. A coming-of-age tale with a great cast, killer soundtrack and smart script that asks all of those existential questions that have been asked a million times before but without the cliches.
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Man, Jonathan Levine really knows how to put together awesome soundtracks. If this is even the least bit autobiographical for him then he lived a pretty awesome teenage experience, I must say. Oh yeah - and Ben Kingsley's a cool guy, too.
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Ben Kingsley The Gawd!
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Despite feeling a little uneven in parts, The Wackness is an entertaining little film. Sure, getting constantly reminded that it's 1994 can get a little tiresome, but the film handles its coming-of-age plot with a good sense of fun and honestly.
It's a film which may be a little offbeat for some, but it's a fresh and enjoyable watch which could be worth checking out if it pops up on TV some night.
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To me, The Wackness is one the most underrated films with one of the greatest soundtracks ever.
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Not a single shot that didn't feel like it had smoked at least a little pot. Soundtrack ate my brain, would've grooved out if I wasn't so fucking tired. Lots of 90's hip hop, suited the atmosphere, suited this lame, doped-up high schooler who's parents are defaulting on their pleasant mortgage. Nice play between the older and the younger generations, lots of equality of emotional portrayal. S'been described as a coming of age film? It's not, I don't think. He's not "of age" at the end, when he's catching his train out of town, he's just a better boy. That's what I thought the whole film was about - this kids shrink, the old man, he's still dealing with shit…
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yawn
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Pretty standard coming-of-age film, highlighted by a fantastic golden-era hip-hop soundtrack (A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, KRS-One, Craig Mack, Souls of Mischief, Wu-Tang Clan, etc). Olivia Thirlby needs to be in more movies.
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every once in a while, a movie really captures the streets of NYC. the wackness is one of those gems of cinema that captures that last summer before freshman year of college with the city pulsating as deep as the brilliant hip hop soundtrack.
movie magic bonus points: sir ben kingsley spitting out biggie smalls lyrics.
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The layman's description of this movie would be "The adventures of a teenage drug dealer and his shrink." But it's just so much more than that it's about heartbreak and fitting in and finding meaning in life. You cannot expect to understand this movie just by looking at the surface. And foolishly the first time I watched it about two years ago that's what I did. I saw the surface, a comedy with a few laughs (mostly sexually related humor). But it's also a statement about depression and it's effect on the human psyche. It's about getting old, trying to relive your youth, regret and a mix of other depressing ass shit. Sounds great right?
So this movie stars a…