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The Edge of Seventeen — watched
Starring Hailee Steinfeld (2016)
The Edge of Seventeen, starring Hailee Steinfeld, is a teen, coming of age movie with a 15 rating, is funny, has pathos and the characters are 3D (unusual for this genre). Hailee plays Nadine who has everything you’d want in a 17 year old film character: attitude; drama; insecurity; questioning and self obsession. While including all the typical teen themes like crushes, unrealistic fantasies, fallouts and family conflicts, the phrasing, timing and subtle camera shots build up a back story and weave a complex emotional thread that give the film a depth that make it watchable on second and third repeat.
The film is beautifully put together with every scene building the plot, none being a seque or needing another scene to justify it. Seven year old Lina Renna plays Nadine in 2nd grade introducing the moody and headstrong central character, mirroring her 17 year old version perfectly, her petulance coming through as exquisitely adorable. Woody Harrelson of Cheers fame is the perfect foil as Mr Bruner, her history teacher. While engaging with her teenage theatrics he disarms every grenade she throws with dry, dismissive repostes that both dumbfound and intrigue her, earthing her but with obvious, though guarded, affection and intrigue.
