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Crutch

Crutch (Nominated for Best Picture, Best Indie Film, and the Gay Press Award), a film by Rob Moretti, is an unsweetened taste of the acting world as experienced by a member of today's morbid adolescence. Crutch is based on Moretti's real life which is translated into the character of David Grey and his meandering venture into self discovery, with his teacher to lead the way. This tour of one teenage boy's life within his troubled family was like looking under a scab that can't seem to heal. This independent film shows us that for some of us acting is the only way to stop pretending.

David, (played by Eben Gordon), delivers a powerful performance as an emotionally worn teenager struggling to cope with his family's dysfunctional suburban lives. This erratic environment coupled with self-doubt causes him to feverishly seek out escapism. David is a conflicted character that is exploited as his family's "crutch" as he tries to deconstruct himself in order to better reconstruct his existence. But, as "they" say, out of chaos comes order, and out of order spawns chaos.

David is the ultimate sweet boy-next-door nestling his innocent girlfriend, until he experiments with new things. Only when David joins an acting class does he tap into his true nature. David is gradually more and more attracted to and gently seduced by his supportive acting teacher Kenny (played by directorRob Moretti). Perhaps Kenny "didn't mean to intrude" upon David, but he did. Furthermore, if David left himself open as such a willing receptor, is it really an intrusion or a passive aggressive invitation? In Crutch, we see a student/teacher symbiosis of two energies that feed off of one another like hungry, lost beings. From this film we learn that in order to turn into someone else you first have to stand naked in front of a jury… your insecurities upon the faces of your audience. In David's tumultuous union with his loved ones, love eventually spawns hate, since he loves those whom hate themselves. Every member of his family is self-loathing and self-destructive, especially his mother.

Certain scenes had very dynamic uses of light and composition within their environment. I noticed a load of classic textbook shots and space designs. In the sense of visual originality, I have to say that I wasn't blown away. The score was nicely selected for the most part, although a few scenes were a bit off in their coordination with their musical background. However, those elements aside, emotion is never lacking. The acting is the strongest point within this film.

The acting is incredibly sensitive and delicately expressed. The acting is so organic that it feels improvised rather than scripted. Real pain and vulnerability takes place behind closed doors with our arms wrapped tightly around a down-feather pillow. In this aware film

we witness that true pain and anguish are private. We will never see our Abercrombie-wearing neighbor rocking back and forth in unbearable confusion and sorrow… but they do.

The way that sexuality is explored throughout this film begs a few inquiries. I watched this film with two heterosexual male friends of mine, and it was as though they were learning. Sexuality is not something that you can shop for, it is something that you're endowed with and grow into… whatever it may reveal itself to be at whatever stage in your life. It's true… life is what happens when everything you know is wrong and your plans fall to pieces. In David's case, his life truly seems to begin with the deteriation of his family.

The day you know yourself is the day you realize you know nothing. That is one of the underlying messages. In this film we see the repercussions David experiences as the result of acting as a cast for all the broken people that surround him. We also observe how lust, betrayal, obsession, and desperation form a mechanism that will push one to incredible heights and then plummet one to surrealistic lows. A crutch, if leaned on hard enough, will break.

Movie Grade: B+

This was a well-made depiction of suburban self-deconstruction and examination. If you're an actor you'll love this movie, because you'll be able to relate to the process of opening yourself to an audience. If you're looking for an honest look at sexual self-discovery in adolescence this movie will truly touch you. However, if you're on the look out for something cheery and fast paced, keep looking. On this DVD deleted scenes as well as scene selection options are available. There are no soundtracks, music videos, trailers, or language options.