Short Term 12 (2013) - Destin Cretton

Grace has dedicated her life to helping underprivileged youth who find themselves lost in the system.  She is very committed to her job and even falling in love with Mason, her co-worker, but deep down she still struggles with her own demons.  Destin Cretton's Short Term 12 is a delicate drama that effectively transports the viewer into the world of a foster care facility.   Destin Cretton drew inspiration from his own life when writing Short Term 12 and it really shows in just how genuine and authentic everything about this film feels.  Much like Grace, our main protagonist, Destin Cretton cares about every child in this film, exploring their problems and giving each character great dimension and depth.  Personally I found the character of Marcus to be particularly compelling.  He is the toughest and strongest character on the outside but as we come to realize through a brilliant scene he is just as terrified and timid on the inside.  I really liked how the environment in Short Term 12 never feels stable with  happiness, sadness, and tragedy blending together in the lives of these individuals. Short Term 12 is like an emotional punch to the gut many times over but it never feels the least bit forced.   Cretton doesn't feel the need to spoon-feed the viewer every lesson instead opting to let them shine through naturally which in turn makes the film much more poignant.  A lot has already been said about Brie Larson's performance and it's all justified as she gives a phenomenal performance that is layered and complex.  Short Term 12 is without question one of the best films of the year, giving a poignant and honest portrait of the foster care system from the underprivileged children to the people who are so desperately trying to make there lives better.
8.5/10

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