"We all die alone, so why am I supposed to spend my life working, sweating, struggling...I have better things to do with my time." George (Highmore) is a high schooler who has pretty much given up. Bitter with the world and his mother he refuses to do anything and hasn't done a real day's work in his entire senior year. He meets Sally (Roberts) who sees the same thing in herself. This is a very good movie made better by the acting. Highmore, in a departure from his usual disgustingly good boy roles is excellent in this. Roberts, who is fast becoming a better actress then her aunt is, is also fantastic in this movie. The role of George is written to be a total jerk to most people he meets, but Highmore has enough "baggage" with him that even though he is not nice to almost everyone in the movie you still wind up rooting for him and wanting him to succeed by the end. That is a rare thing for an actor that young. While this is a very good movie that forces you to keep watching it does tend to drag in a few places, but not enough to be boring. If that makes sense. Overall, a very good movie with great acting that is a definite watch. The type of movie that all high schoolers should watch. I give it a B+.*Also try Happythankyoumoreplease & It's Kind Of A Funny Story
Buy The Art of Getting By (2011) Now
THE ART OF GETTING BY didn't get much attention in the theaters, but once the word is out by those who have elected to use View On Demand on television it just make a resurgence. Gavin Wiesen both wrote and directed this updated existentialist story and cast it with a very solid crew of actors. The result is a movie that is both nostalgic and heartwarming.George Zinavoy (Freddie Highmore as a very fine developing adult actor) is a lonely and fatalistic high school senior who believes `you are born alone, die alone and everything else is an illusion'. Despite the fact that he is very intelligent and artistic he fails to complete any class work assignments, failing to see the point of doing such mundane tasks if we are all going to simply die anyway. His mother (Rita Wilson) and father (Sam Robards) are at odds: his father's business went bankrupt and he spends his time in the park and in coffee shops to hide the fact that he is unemployed (George sees this unbeknownst to the parents). George finally makes a friend in Sally (Emma Roberts), and develops and attraction for clueless George. The school's principal (Blair Underwood) and art teacher (Jarlath Conroy) introduce him to an alumni, and successful artist, Dustin (Michael Angarano continuing to be one of the most interesting young actors on the screen today), who can help guide George along life's path, but other distractions start surfacing, and George might not even be able to graduate from high school. How George discovers his feelings and his options is a well played out ending.
There are some fine cameos by Alicia Silverstone, Ann Harada, Marcus Carl Franklin, Ann Dowd, Elizabeth Reaser among others. But the significant satisfaction is the privilege of watching Freddie Highmore graduate into more adult roles: he is becoming a very fine actor. Grady Harp, December 11
Read Best Reviews of The Art of Getting By (2011) Here
THE ART OF GETTING BY didn't get much attention in the theaters, but once the word is out by those who have elected to use View On Demand on television it just make a resurgence. Gavin Wiesen both wrote and directed this updated existentialist story and cast it with a very solid crew of actors. The result is a movie that is both nostalgic and heartwarming.George Zinavoy (Freddie Highmore as a very fine developing adult actor) is a lonely and fatalistic high school senior who believes `you are born alone, die alone and everything else is an illusion'. Despite the fact that he is very intelligent and artistic he fails to complete any class work assignments, failing to see the point of doing such mundane tasks if we are all going to simply die anyway. His mother (Rita Wilson) and father (Sam Robards) are at odds: his father's business went bankrupt and he spends his time in the park and in coffee shops to hide the fact that he is unemployed (George sees this unbeknownst to the parents). George finally makes a friend in Sally (Emma Roberts), and develops and attraction for clueless George. The school's principal (Blair Underwood) and art teacher (Jarlath Conroy) introduce him to an alumni, and successful artist, Dustin (Michael Angarano continuing to be one of the most interesting young actors on the screen today), who can help guide George along life's path, but other distractions start surfacing, and George might not even be able to graduate from high school. How George discovers his feelings and his options is a well played out ending.
There are some fine cameos by Alicia Silverstone, Ann Harada, Marcus Carl Franklin, Ann Dowd, Elizabeth Reaser among others. But the significant satisfaction is the privilege of watching Freddie Highmore graduate into more adult roles: he is becoming a very fine actor. Grady Harp, December 11
Want The Art of Getting By (2011) Discount?
The Art of Getting By is a wonderful coming of age film. Freddie Highmore and Emma Roberts turn in wonderful performances and carry this film.George is bored at his expensive New York City prep school. He sees Sally across the rooftop of the school smoking. When a teacher steps out onto the roof, he takes the blame for smoking. He's so used to be being in trouble, what's one more problem? At a very simple level, the film is about Sally and George being friends, and maybe being more than friends which will it be?
This is a wonderful small independent film that focuses on emotions and the two lead characters. The writer and director, Gavin Wiesen, develops the romantic tension between Sally and George without being heavy handed. This is Wiesen's first feature length film. Freddie Highmore (August Rush, The Golden Compass, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) turns in another great performance. I believed that he was that artistic, smart, and that bored. But yet he always seemed to do the right thing, even though he could have done the wrong thing. Emma Roberts (Lymelife, Nancy Drew, Hotel for Dogs, and Scream 4) was radiant as the quirky, bohemian girl that confuses and attracts George. The rest of the cast was quite good; they truly supported these two main characters.
The film is not perfect. Somehow these two seventeen or eighteen year old kids end up with beers in front of them and in bars in New York City a little more often than they should be. Maybe this is classic well to do children in prep school in New York City it certainly wouldn't play that way elsewhere. The teachers weren't necessarily represented in a positive light. George was a little bit too friendly with the principal. The three week ultimatum was a bit odd. These were minor flaws for me, I hung much more on what George or Sally would say. I cared more about those two characters and could overlook the flaws.
This is a short film at an hour and twenty three minutes. Wiesen did an excellent job with pacing; the film did not drag at the usual middle point. I loved the color of this film. For a first time feature length film, this was an impressive film.
The film is rated PG-13. There is underage drinking in the film for those sensitive parents. The f bomb gets tossed once and other strong language is used (all television appropriate language). George and Sally discuss sex. What makes it appropriate is the reaction they have to the discussion. There is a very brief scene where George is seen lying in bed with a tent pole under the covers (it is brief, embarrassing for him, but very natural and appropriate in the film). I'm very happy this film didn't get bumped to an R rating, it is a really fine coming of age film that thirteen year plus viewers should see.
This was a wonderful small independent film that was a surprise. Freddie Highmore and Emma Roberts are worth the price of admission.
Freddie Highmore:
August Rush
The Golden Compass
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Emma Roberts:
Lymelife
Nancy Drew
Hotel for Dogs
Scream 4
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