If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

It's rare to stumble on a film that exceeds any preconceived expectations; a film that pushes the envelop to its limit, and yet delivers not one, but several messages with accuracy and poise. "12 and Holding" (2005) is this type of film. Director Michael Cuesta delivers an emotional masterpiece in redemption, conviction, and forgiveness.It all starts with a fire. A boy dies and lives are forever transformed. It's a domino effect. When change strikes it delivers forcing each character to take a journey into the unknown and face fear head on in a quest to find answers, satisfaction, and justification. All the facets that contemporary society clings to-hoping an eye for an eye won't make the whole world blind. Starving for male attention, one girl expresses her sexuality all too soon while one boy battles the opposition of being overweight, and the other comes to terms with his brother's death.This triangular approach to drama is breath-taking, eye awaking, and shocking. In a typical mainstream film, the audience is taken on a parallel journey. The protagonist (main character) guides the viewer down a path which ultimately leads to the antagonist whom is in opposition with the protagonist, and after a much needed war on conflict a resolution arises. Now, the resolution can satisfy the audience or disappoint. The point is that the end result is justified by action. "12 and Holding," an independent film, clearly defines dysfunction in a family dynamic in which case each family has its own hosts of problems to resolve in a twisted world."12 and Holding" maybe an independent film, but it's distinguished as a rare film to come by. The passion in which the story is told is lucid and frantic. It's a story of deliverance. Family dysfunction does not discriminate. It comes in all shapes, sizes, ethnicity, and religions. Family dysfunction is the cornerstone that binds families together, yet bridges the gap to despair. It sparks a need for change. A need for a reality check. And a need to break down barriers that leads to forgiveness and second chances.

How does this movie hold a 7.5 rating?! I spent most of the film cringing, groaning and giggling at inappropriate times. I feel like I could catch glimpses of what this film was trying to be, which was something rawer, something more profound. But most of the time it was like a TV movie on cough syrup. Why the Gilliam-esque angles? Why the horrible lighting? The score was ALL OVER THE PLACE and really out of touch with what was happening in the scene. Everything was overdone. The acting was terrible and cliché. Why do I care about any of these people? I was very confused as to whether this movie was trying to be serious or not. A vanity project. Try Harmony Korine or Todd Solondz if you want something like this, but better.

I found this movie really interesting, it shows the life of three 12 year old kids with great sincerity, the three kids are great and Jeremy Renner performance is outstanding. I would say this movie could become a classic in the future. Hope to see more kids movies like this, although you don't find a great story and great acting usually together in this kind of movies. I highly recommend it. I would like to say something about the end: when the kid kills his brother's "killer", it was a big shock, I think the kid improvised everything, he wasn't planning it for a long time. I found this a really original part of the script.

'Twelve and Holding' was an amazingly refreshing, surprise and gem of an independent film. I had very little to go on prior to viewing, only knowing that one of my favorite up-coming actors, Renner, starred in it. And being ignorant prior completely paid in dividends with the delight on how well made this adolescent coming-of-dark-ages movie was made. Though not a horror movie (despite one character donning a "Jason Voorhees"-like hockey mask,) I could certainly see Stephen King's vision of best buddies growing up too fast with adult tragedies, such as in his novels 'IT' and 'The Body' (or the movie 'Stand By Me.') How well they captured King's take on young kids dealing with very bad things was like watching a brand new King novel on screen. In this small town, each of three kids has their own demons thrust upon them. One's heavy and criticized to the point he embarks on bettering his and his mother's life. One's in love with someone 2 (or 3) times older. And the final has probably the most to worry about: dealing with large birthmark on his face, a brother who died "by accident" as well as a replacement brother. I really don't want to give away too much – believe me when I tell you, I barely scratched the surface. Sufficient to say, you need to see this movie. Excellent performances all around – I can't believe no one was nominated for Oscars, let alone the screenplay, director, etc. I haven't seen such a movie since the string of adolescent-drama films produced in the 70s/80s, such as, again, 'Stand By Me.' 'Holding' is completely original, had great music, appropriately comedic moments, excellently cast, suspenseful, emotional, and extremely thought provoking. Best recommendation is to recommend this gem to everyone after watching it.