MOVIE OF THE WEEK (8/21/20): WORDS ON BATHROOM WALLS
WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE:
KEY CAST MEMBERS: Charlie Plummer, Taylor Russell, Molly Parker, Walton Goggins, Andy Garcia, Beth Grant, Devon Bostick, Lobo Sebastian and AnnaSophia Robb
DIRECTOR(S): Thor Freudenthal
WEB SITE: https://www.wordsonbathroomwallsmovie.com/
DIRECTOR(S): Thor Freudenthal
WEB SITE: https://www.wordsonbathroomwallsmovie.com/
THE BACK STORY: Based on the book of the same name by Julia Walton, Adam Petrazelli (Charlie Plummer) has not had an easy go of things in his young life. Sure, his mother Beth (Molly Parker) loves him, but since his dad left he's never really accepted her new beau Paul (Walton Goggins) in his place. But if that was Adam's only problem, he'd be okay. Problem is, Beth's and Paul's voices aren't the only ones he hears.
You see, Adam suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, which is why he has an overtly outspoken, crass personality in Joaquin (Devon Bostick), a peaceful, loving side in Rebecca (AnnaSophia Robb) and a bodyguard (Lobo Sebastian) – who often comes with two friends – that is ready to throw down at a moment's notice. Charlie sometimes takes medicine for his condition, but it doesn't always help given the side effects and its effect on his passion – cooking – and his dream of attending culinary school upon graduation.
Then there's an incident at his school – which is why he ends up at a new Catholic school headed by Sister Catherine (Beth Grant), which is also where Father Patrick (Andy Garcia) resides. But it is his meeting of a new enterprising young lady named Mya (Taylor Russell) that could provide a way for Adam to escape the madness in his head and achieve his dream.
Well, if he can avoid self-destructing first, perhaps ...
You see, Adam suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, which is why he has an overtly outspoken, crass personality in Joaquin (Devon Bostick), a peaceful, loving side in Rebecca (AnnaSophia Robb) and a bodyguard (Lobo Sebastian) – who often comes with two friends – that is ready to throw down at a moment's notice. Charlie sometimes takes medicine for his condition, but it doesn't always help given the side effects and its effect on his passion – cooking – and his dream of attending culinary school upon graduation.
Then there's an incident at his school – which is why he ends up at a new Catholic school headed by Sister Catherine (Beth Grant), which is also where Father Patrick (Andy Garcia) resides. But it is his meeting of a new enterprising young lady named Mya (Taylor Russell) that could provide a way for Adam to escape the madness in his head and achieve his dream.
Well, if he can avoid self-destructing first, perhaps ...
THE REVIEW: Save for an ending that may feel a bit too convenient for some, Words on Bathroom Walls isn't remarkable for any one thing; instead, each of the film's elements is executed well enough to be engaging, entertaining and above all else, hopeful.
For a young actor put into a tough role of trying to accurately deliver a performance that doesn't become made-for-TV fodder in terms of being overly dramatic or too glib, Plummer is solid in his role with enough screen presence to keep you engaged. Smartly, director Thor Freudenthal keeps the focus on Adam rather than letting the voices (including the fourth unseen, dark spirit voice) overtake the film; instead, the quartet work in concert with Plummer's straightforward performance to present a fully-rounded scope of his paranoia, why it exists and how it begins to affect him without again ever being too over-the-top. While the supporting cast turns in solid performances – Garcia is particularly keen as a priest who is hipper than he probably should be – the film really is Plummer's to carry, which he does admirably.
While the film likely won't serve to break any barriers or provide revelatory insight in terms of dealing with actual paranoid schizophrenia, Words on Bathroom Walls makes a clear distinction between being a person with an illness versus the illness and person being one in the same. That may be the film's biggest contribution, especially for young people in an era where mental illness stigmas are seemingly coming down but still rising – especially in young people.
Those are words that need to be read, bathroom location or not be damned.
For a young actor put into a tough role of trying to accurately deliver a performance that doesn't become made-for-TV fodder in terms of being overly dramatic or too glib, Plummer is solid in his role with enough screen presence to keep you engaged. Smartly, director Thor Freudenthal keeps the focus on Adam rather than letting the voices (including the fourth unseen, dark spirit voice) overtake the film; instead, the quartet work in concert with Plummer's straightforward performance to present a fully-rounded scope of his paranoia, why it exists and how it begins to affect him without again ever being too over-the-top. While the supporting cast turns in solid performances – Garcia is particularly keen as a priest who is hipper than he probably should be – the film really is Plummer's to carry, which he does admirably.
While the film likely won't serve to break any barriers or provide revelatory insight in terms of dealing with actual paranoid schizophrenia, Words on Bathroom Walls makes a clear distinction between being a person with an illness versus the illness and person being one in the same. That may be the film's biggest contribution, especially for young people in an era where mental illness stigmas are seemingly coming down but still rising – especially in young people.
Those are words that need to be read, bathroom location or not be damned.
OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):
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