I can’t say this enough, American Teen is my favorite film of 2008 so far (you can read my review from Sundance). Nanette Burstein, the Academy Award-nominated filmmaker of On The Ropes spent one year following a group of teenagers during their senior year of high school. The movie won the directing award at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, and has been playing the festival circuit to rave reviews ever since. I can’t stress to you how great this film is. I know, at first glance it might look like MTV’s The Hills to some people (evident in the comments for the theatrical trailer), but trust me, there really is no comparison (probably because this is 95% real). I’m sure film festival audiences wouldn’t sit through The Hills - The Movie, never-mind give it a standing ovation.
The heart of the movie for me, and most people, is Hannah, the “rebel” art-student who dreams of leaving her midwest town to go to California to become a filmmaker. Paramount Vantage has put together a series of Character Teaser Trailers. Some of them do a disservice to the film, but I’ve included the trailers below for the two most interesting characters (at least from my perspective, which might say something about me), Hannah and Jake (”the geek”). American Teen hits theaters on July 25th 2008.
Discuss: What do you think of the new character trailers for American Teen?
May 9th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Now this looks like it has potential
May 9th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
not to downplay the movie… but the poster looks like a complete rip of the breakfast club…
May 9th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Jomama: I’m not a big fan of the poster art, but the whole point is that it’s a parody of the breakfast club poster. Apparently most of the reviews compared the movie to The Breakfast Club so Paramount Vantage thought this was a good way to market it. Problem is, I don’t think people quite get what they;re trying to say.
May 9th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
i think that was intentional
May 9th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Yeah, not a fan of the poster, even though I know the reason
behind it, but I’m interested in this film.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Any region free links?
May 9th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
I heart you Peter!
May 9th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I can’t wait to see this movie!
May 9th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
I just caught this at the Minneapolis Film Fest, and it was amazing. By far the best movie I’ve seen all year and one of the only movies I’ve ever seen i really connected to. The director was there and answered questions which was very enlightening. A definite must see
May 9th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Not available in my region.
TBH… I only want to see this film because Peter loves it so much. The trailers I’ve seen seem like the same old shit you see on TV every weak…. ” real people, with real problems blah blah blah…” If you follow anyone with a camera for a year..you will get a story… Like Tyler Durden said… ” You are not a beautiful and unique snow flake” We all have an interesting story….It doesn’t make you special.
Also…..I don’t give a shit about Teenagers and their bullshit, Highschool is not the most significant moment in your life…and I hate all the Uncle Rico’s who think it was.
But I trust Peter…. So I’ll see it.
( but if I hate it… Prepare for a post of me wishing you were stabbed in the neck with a crack pipe… :P )
May 9th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
yes peter, we know you love the movie.
also, there is no way it will be as good as you say.
May 9th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Uh… Peters favorite film is “Back to the future”.
Do you really want to trust his opinion on anything after that?
May 9th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Peter is awesome Dude….I trust his inner vagina.
May 9th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Back to the Future is pretty much universally accepted to be a great movie, if not Oscar material. Why all the hating on Peter suddenly? I like Peter. Peter, keep it up!
I’m also not a fan of the poster. Doing the pose might have been okay, but with the tagline, it just seems way too derivative and gimmicky.
May 9th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
No, the movie can’t be as good as I say it is. I’m definitely doing the hard sell on this one. But trust me, you’ll like this film. I have yet to meet anyone who hasn’t. If you went to high school you will relate.
May 9th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Back to the future is the equivalent of the sitcom of films. Sure we all “liked” it…but when asked for your top favorite films of all times…. would you honestly say BTTF?
FUCK NO
For me… It would be Harold and Maude or Fight Club…the films that changed my life after seeing them. Films that made me a better person.
I still Love Peter…… when I close my eyes, I love to imagine him eating a peach.
May 9th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
the funnny part.. If you had a photo of Peter eating that peach…no matter how good it tasted. He wouldnt crack a smile.
May 9th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
@Liz
I know what you mean girlfriend. Films like Back to the Future
are always snubbed by the oscars. Thats why I don’t watch them. All my favorite films are never nominated. The fact that their is no commedy catagory is a huge reason why I don’t care about the oscars. Jim Carrey should have won an Oscar for Pet Detective. Am I right or am I right?
P.S.
I think Peter looks cute in all the photos he has put on the internet. I’m sure he is a very gentle man in person.
May 9th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
I think “the dude” is reading the wrong blog. Dropping Harold and Maude as your favorite film? We get it, you’re trying to show that you are a film snob. This site, for as long as I’ve been reading, has been about everything from indies to blockbusters and not about the pretentious stuff all of us sometimes get caught up in. It’s one of the few reasons this site is still in my toolbar.
Peter, keep up the great work, I can’t wait to see AT based on your recommendation.
May 10th, 2008 at 11:14 am
At least he isnt posting things about hsi gay lover Wall-E. =]
I am really stoked for this movie. Thanks for keeping us up to date on the film
May 10th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
The poster looks so stupid and awful. It looks like a dumb Wayans Brothers parody of the Breakfast Club. So no, I wouldn’t go see the movie if I saw the poster.
May 10th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
American Beauty, American Pie, American puke….we get it, they are a bunch of spoiled/non-spoiled brats with snippy little attitudes, and opinions. Well here’s my take. You’re little pukes, now get in line with the rest of the cattle and wait your turn to get your hopes crushed. Have a nice day!