I think Mike Mills really does have such a knack for really getting under his characters' skin and really examining this with such care and detail. He brought that to his later films, Beginners and 20th Century Women, and he does it here. The cast is also excellent. Lou Taylor Pucci really understands his character and he really brings such a heartfelt and sincere genuineness. Tilda Swinton also gives a very strong supporting performance, always rising above what is simply on the page and making an impact in the way she always does. This definitely seems like a common teen angst film but there's a lot going on that would be missed if people merely labeled it as such.
Review of Thumbsucker
