‎Thumbsucker (2005) directed by Mike Mills • Reviews, film + cast • Letterboxd

Thumbsucker

2005 Directed by Mike Mills

Justin, a teenager boy, throws himself and everyone around him into chaos when he attempts to break free from his addiction to his thumb.

Lou Taylor Pucci Tilda Swinton Vincent D'Onofrio Keanu Reeves Benjamin Bratt Vince Vaughn Kelli Garner Chase Offerle

96 mins More details at IMDb TMDb Report this film

Popular reviews

Review by Naughty ★★ 2

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Film #22 of the February Movie Challenge : Keanu Reeves or Bust!
letterboxd.com/naughty/list/february-movie-challenge-keanu-reeves-or/
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Would have liked it more had they reduced this 96 minute film by 95 minutes and 55 seconds! Leaving everything on the cutting room floor except for the scene where Matt Schramm (Benjamin Bratt) tells Justin Cobb (Lou Pucci) "We're all just scared little animals"

Considering the mad talent featured in this film (Tilda Swinton, Keanu Reeves, Benjamin Bratt, Vince Vaughn) this little indie looked quite promising! The actors were all quite wonderful but try as they might not even their star power and amazing talent could save this film!

I mean come on! You've snagged the great Tilda Swinton.. and the best you can do is squander her immense talent by casting her in a role where her crowning achievement involves (SPOILER ALERT) retrieving a drug filled balloon from Benjamin Bratt's arse by ramrodding her fist up the ole Hershey Highway!
Review by Daniil333 ★★★½

I didn't think a film with the name Thumbsucker could be so good!
Review by Tenzin Sia ★★★★

If this movie was bad I was gonna say that it *sucked* but unfortunately I liked it so

However it's the longest movie ever and at a staggering 27 acts I'd like Mike Mills to get in contact with Guinness, of Guinness Book of World Records to discuss entering his name along with my obituary into the 2005 b0ok, thank you
Review by Chris Upson ★★★½

if u would like good 3 reasons to watch:
a) Keanu Reeves is in it
b) he says this:

"That's all we humans can do. Guess. Try. Hope. But, Justin, just pray you don't fool yourself into thinking you've got the answer. Because that's bullshit. The trick is living without an answer.
...
I think."

c) not even sure it's his best line in the movie
Review by Jakub Flasz ★★★½

Flawed and driven by post-American Beauty inspirations as it is, Mike Mills' debut is an enjoyable exploration of the pains of growing up. Aided by a handful of visual metaphors, one of which is found in the title, Thumbsucker is a very clinical look at the process of coming of age from the perspective of the teenager and his parents as well. With some formidable acting performances from Tilda Swinton and Vincent D'Onofrio, Thumbsucker touches on a fragile dynamic between the parents and their kids and focuses on the idea that none of them know what they're doing.

At all stages of our lives we still run aimlessly with our arms flailing. We respond to problems to the best of…
Review by Kate™ ★★½

i feel like i just watched 3 different movies, and one of them was only half finished

Recent reviews

Review by marian ★★★½

In case you didn't know: I'm a sucker for films with Elliott Smith songs in them.
Review by Quinn Tyler ★★★

Has all the cute, quirky qualities of a early 2000's indie flick mixed with the sweet sensibilities of Mike Mills. A nice viewing for a rainy afternoon.
Review by Daniil333 ★★★½

I didn't think a film with the name Thumbsucker could be so good!
Review by Josh Kadish ★★★½

"I was just getting used to you."

I don't pretend to know what raising a child is like. I don't pretend to know all the right answers. And I definitely don't pretend to think I'm ready for the bundle of responsibility that comes with the world of parenthood.

What I do know is I'll be thinking a hell of a lot about Mike Mills whenever that day does come.
Review by joannanuisance ★★½

keanu was so good in this
Review by Rachel Gamson ★★★★★

Wow I love this movie so much! Such a unique coming of age story. Mike Mills writes the best families.

"The truth is living without an answer...
I think"
Review by George Hanna-Wilson ★★★ 2

Perhaps a little too "after school special" for my taste but Thumbsucker is good.
Review by J. J. Wright ★★½

Excerpted from my blog:

"The coming-of-age stuff works pretty well, though the plot is spread thin across multiple storylines, which causes the film to go off the rails a bit heading into the third act."
Review by Tenzin Sia ★★★★

If this movie was bad I was gonna say that it *sucked* but unfortunately I liked it so

However it's the longest movie ever and at a staggering 27 acts I'd like Mike Mills to get in contact with Guinness, of Guinness Book of World Records to discuss entering his name along with my obituary into the 2005 b0ok, thank you