But that's the only thing I can say negative about this film. "Home Room" deals not with the event of school shootings themselves, rather what happens to those who survive such a horrific event. As we near the fifth anniversary of the horror that was Columbine High School, "Home Room" (already praised by Columbine students and staff) serves as a voice for those who have survived these events and never fully knew how to explain themselves.
Victor Garber is wonderful as Detective Van Zant, a man plagued with questions as to why, and struggling to find answers under pressure from his Captain, who's demanding arrests to appease the public.
Holland Taylor plays psychologist Dr. Hollander, and while not adding to the proceedings, never detracts either. Nicely underplayed, but her sequence was a bit hokey.
This movie belongs to the two lead actresses. Erika Christensen as pretty, perky, popular Deanna Cartright and Busy Phillips as gothy, possibly warned of the shooting Alicia Browning. These two young women carry the movie, highlighting the stunning differences in their characters, yet slowly and convincingly forming a bond. Alicia is clearly more disturbed than her heart of stone facade reveals, and while maintaining her sunny disposition, Deanna is "dying inside". Busy Phillips steals this movie, despite how strong Ms. Christensen's portrayal is.
Some of the explanations offered towards the end steal a bit of this movie's thunder, but Ms. Phillips manages to save it even in spite of itself. If you've seen her work on "Dawson's Creek", put that aside and drink in her acting masterpiece in this one. Most actors and actresses have one film they can point to and say "I did my best here", and this is Ms. Phillip's.
Ms. Christensen is no slouch however, and Deanna's descent into her nightmares and dealing with the terror she experienced that day haunt her even five months after. I have yet to see "Traffic", but if her acting is better there than here, I've clearly put it off too long. Brilliant job.
"Home Room" is a very honest, painful and emotional look at the survivors of unspeakable tragedy and how they must deal with the fact that ....they lived. They lived and others died. I must temper my rating by saying that, from a critical standpoint I stand by my rating, from an emotional standpoint, this film MUST be seen to be believed, and I eagerly encourage all of you to do just that.
4 out of 5
Victor Garber is wonderful as Detective Van Zant, a man plagued with questions as to why, and struggling to find answers under pressure from his Captain, who's demanding arrests to appease the public.
Holland Taylor plays psychologist Dr. Hollander, and while not adding to the proceedings, never detracts either. Nicely underplayed, but her sequence was a bit hokey.
This movie belongs to the two lead actresses. Erika Christensen as pretty, perky, popular Deanna Cartright and Busy Phillips as gothy, possibly warned of the shooting Alicia Browning. These two young women carry the movie, highlighting the stunning differences in their characters, yet slowly and convincingly forming a bond. Alicia is clearly more disturbed than her heart of stone facade reveals, and while maintaining her sunny disposition, Deanna is "dying inside". Busy Phillips steals this movie, despite how strong Ms. Christensen's portrayal is.
Some of the explanations offered towards the end steal a bit of this movie's thunder, but Ms. Phillips manages to save it even in spite of itself. If you've seen her work on "Dawson's Creek", put that aside and drink in her acting masterpiece in this one. Most actors and actresses have one film they can point to and say "I did my best here", and this is Ms. Phillip's.
Ms. Christensen is no slouch however, and Deanna's descent into her nightmares and dealing with the terror she experienced that day haunt her even five months after. I have yet to see "Traffic", but if her acting is better there than here, I've clearly put it off too long. Brilliant job.
"Home Room" is a very honest, painful and emotional look at the survivors of unspeakable tragedy and how they must deal with the fact that ....they lived. They lived and others died. I must temper my rating by saying that, from a critical standpoint I stand by my rating, from an emotional standpoint, this film MUST be seen to be believed, and I eagerly encourage all of you to do just that.
4 out of 5