Thumbsucker (2005)

Director:

Mike Mills

Writers:

Walter Kirn (novel)
Mike Mills (writer)

Release Date:

28 October 2005 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Underage Drinking | Thumb Sucking | Debate | Blindfold | Mother Son Relationship

Awards:

4 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Lou Taylor Pucci	...	Justin Cobb (as Lou Pucci)
Tilda Swinton	...	Audrey Cobb
Vincent D'Onofrio	...	Mike Cobb
Keanu Reeves	...	Perry Lyman
Benjamin Bratt	...	Matt Schramm
Kelli Garner	...	Rebecca
Vince Vaughn	...	Mr. Geary
Chase Offerle	...	Joel Cobb
Dakota Goldhor	...	Girl on Plane
Walter Kirn	...	Debate Judge
Kit Koenig	...	Principal
Sarah Lucht	...	English Teacher
Arvin V. Entena	...	Perry Lyman's Assistant
Eric Normington	...	Hotel Desk Clerk
Allen Go	...	Biology Teacher

MPAA:

Rated R for drug/alcohol use and sexuality involving teens, language and a disturbing image.

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:14A (British Columbia/Ontario) | Germany:12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Canada:13+ (Québec) | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | Ireland:16 | Brazil:16 | Argentina:16 | Japan:PG-12 | Finland:K-11 | USA:R | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Beaverton, Oregon, USA

Company:

Scared Little Animals LLC

Trivia:

Scarlett Johansson was originally cast as Rebecca Crane, but she dropped out shortly before filming and was replaced by Kelli Garner.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): It is stated that Ritalin and cocaine have only three molecules different. Both are actually single molecules. Although similar in shape, there are several atoms difference.

Quotes:

[from trailer]
Dr. Perry Lyman: I want to try hypnosis. Imagine you're deep in the forest. Call on your power animal.
Justin Cobb: Come here!
Dr. Perry Lyman: [pause] Do it in your mind.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs "In Living Color" (1990)

Soundtrack:

Let's Get Lost

Two thumbs up!

"Thumbsucker" doesn't suck, at all! It's also not just another teen-angst flick. It is a funny, thoughtful, and enjoyable movie. I would give this two thumbs up! Although the movie revolves around Justin, a thoughtful, sensitive, teenager who happens to have a rather nasty habit of sucking his thumb, it also shows his relationship with his parents, brother, teachers, his peers and his dentist, who all undergo their own personal development during the course of the movie.

Justin and his brother call their parents by their first names, and in the case of the Cobbs, this doesn't seem to increase or decrease the level of respect or obedience teenagers have for their parents. Justin and his mother Audrey seem to be alike - they both have crushes: he, for a girl in his debating class, and she, for an actor on daytime TV.

"Thumbsucker" shows that teenagers with a lot of parental love and support can also end up feeling alienated anyway. The path to adulthood is often fraught with anguish, mostly self-inflicted. But sometimes, meeting a mean girl who'd break your heart in a second can do that too.

The casting is excellent - I hadn't checked the cast list before watching it, and was pleasantly surprised to find so many known and good actors in it. Keanu Reaves was a surprise, and a hoot to watch. Tilda Swinton is one cool lady, and I will certainly be looking out for her other movies.