Not a whole lot of people went out and saw Thumbsucker, which is a shame because it was a really interesting film. It stars Lou Taylor Pucci, an actor who has made a career out of these types of independent movies, and was based on a book of the same name by Walter Kirn. It's about a withdrawn teenager who has a tendency to suck on his thumb. He tries to find a variety of different treatments from adults that are just as screwed up as he is, but each of them comes with its own set of problems. He gets a prescription for Ritalin, which gives him bursts of energy and focus that help him lead his debate team to the championships, but also turns him into a hyper intense jerk. Eventually, he learns to come to terms with his flaws, and is much happier for it. Thumbsucker is a smart, well-written film, and it deserves a lot more credit than it gets.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
