The plot of Charlie St. Cloud is not easily appreciated. It is about two brothers, one 11 and the other 18. They like each other, but neither can say it easily. The older, Charlie, has been asked by his mother to baby sit the younger. Charlie decides that he really deserves a night out away from Sam and tries to leave. Sam stops him and insists on being dropped off at a friend's place. On the way, there is a terrible accident, taking Sam's life; Charlie died, but later was revived.
For five years, Charlie lives a life in which each day has only one high light: at sunset, he goes to meet Sam in a secluded place near the graveyard where Sam is buried and where Charlie works. They talk. They play catch. Sam seems to need Charlie and Charlie feels obligated to fill that need. Sam has not aged since the day he died.
Then one day, Charlie notices Tess (Amanda Crew). She is furious: the plants around her father's grave looks like something designed by Tim Burton for a Batman sequel. She would like someone to do something about it. Charlie is really taken by her.
It turns out they have a common interest – sailing. That basically is the plot.
Charlie's dilemma becomes apparent: he must continue his life as it is or reach out and grasp what presents itself to him.
It is an engaging film with plenty of interesting subplots. Most of all it has good performances in it and music (except for the ending credits and the last scene) does not compete with the dialogue.
I have to say that reading some reviews of Charlie St. Cloud can be a very depressing experience. It makes me wonder if I saw a different film in a theatre that I'd walked into by mistake. Alternatively, maybe the other reviewers did.
Few, for example, praised Amanda Crew, who was astonishing, and even more surprising, this was her film appearance. Check it out. She has no other credits in IMDb's database. Not even a bit part in something. But see edit below.
She has just the right kind of face and figure for the part -- athletic, intelligent, sweet and present. I thought Zac Efron slept walked through his part, or maybe even just slept through it, but Amanda Crew did not.
Every moment she was on screen, even when she didn't have much to do (as in when she walks up behind Charlie and Sam becomes enraged at her presence), she conveys exactly what she says. She does not mean to spy on Charlie. She wants to comfort him, to find out about him.
Slowly she thaws Zac Efron. She had long before he even looked seriously at her.
At this point that you should see the film for yourself. I have done no more than give the barest outline of what is important, and that is finding out that life is more than practising virtue. It is more than hiding or even using one's skills and talents. It is more than breathing in and out. It is about first chances and if we are lucky, about second chances. It is about how well we live what we are given without fear or design. Most of all it is about the intense love that some of us experience without even knowing we are in love.
Edit ==== 1. After watching a Zac Efron interview, I decided that he was doing what he was told. But underacting love is not enticing to an audience. It worked in his relationship with Sam; it does not work with Tess.
2. Amanda Crew's filmography can be found by googling her. I stand by my original view: she carried the film anytime she was on screen. I hope to see more of her.
For five years, Charlie lives a life in which each day has only one high light: at sunset, he goes to meet Sam in a secluded place near the graveyard where Sam is buried and where Charlie works. They talk. They play catch. Sam seems to need Charlie and Charlie feels obligated to fill that need. Sam has not aged since the day he died.
Then one day, Charlie notices Tess (Amanda Crew). She is furious: the plants around her father's grave looks like something designed by Tim Burton for a Batman sequel. She would like someone to do something about it. Charlie is really taken by her.
It turns out they have a common interest – sailing. That basically is the plot.
Charlie's dilemma becomes apparent: he must continue his life as it is or reach out and grasp what presents itself to him.
It is an engaging film with plenty of interesting subplots. Most of all it has good performances in it and music (except for the ending credits and the last scene) does not compete with the dialogue.
I have to say that reading some reviews of Charlie St. Cloud can be a very depressing experience. It makes me wonder if I saw a different film in a theatre that I'd walked into by mistake. Alternatively, maybe the other reviewers did.
Few, for example, praised Amanda Crew, who was astonishing, and even more surprising, this was her film appearance. Check it out. She has no other credits in IMDb's database. Not even a bit part in something. But see edit below.
She has just the right kind of face and figure for the part -- athletic, intelligent, sweet and present. I thought Zac Efron slept walked through his part, or maybe even just slept through it, but Amanda Crew did not.
Every moment she was on screen, even when she didn't have much to do (as in when she walks up behind Charlie and Sam becomes enraged at her presence), she conveys exactly what she says. She does not mean to spy on Charlie. She wants to comfort him, to find out about him.
Slowly she thaws Zac Efron. She had long before he even looked seriously at her.
At this point that you should see the film for yourself. I have done no more than give the barest outline of what is important, and that is finding out that life is more than practising virtue. It is more than hiding or even using one's skills and talents. It is more than breathing in and out. It is about first chances and if we are lucky, about second chances. It is about how well we live what we are given without fear or design. Most of all it is about the intense love that some of us experience without even knowing we are in love.
Edit ==== 1. After watching a Zac Efron interview, I decided that he was doing what he was told. But underacting love is not enticing to an audience. It worked in his relationship with Sam; it does not work with Tess.
2. Amanda Crew's filmography can be found by googling her. I stand by my original view: she carried the film anytime she was on screen. I hope to see more of her.