There Goes Somebody's Miracle...

You know, I'm praying for it.

  • Reviews
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Just This
  • About

Explore

  • All Reviews
  • Movies
  • Books
  • @ Third Coast Review
  • Film Work

Connect

Movies · September 12, 2013

An indie from Austin

short-term-12I’d heard rumblings about this great little film, something called Short Term 12 – but what a curious title. And what could I really expect of it? Having made its debut at SXSW instead of Sundance, it was one of this year’s slate of indies I wasn’t too terribly familiar with.

But little by little, more and more good buzz about this character-driven drama started to build, started to catch my attention. A lot of good comes out of Austin, so it’s no surprise that this movie was getting noticed.

I made plans over Labor Day Weekend to see several films, and while it took me three days to do it, I saw 4 films overall (Afternoon Delight, Drinking Buddies, Ain’t Them Bodies Saints and Short Term 12). This was the last on the list, and impressed me above and beyond the other three – all of which were great flicks in their own right.

Short Term 12 is the story of Grace, a young woman managing a short-term care facility for troubled teens. She works with another counselor who happens to be her live-in boyfriend and a young man who’s looking for this new job to rub off some of the sheen of his privileged-kid existence. Together they serve a class of kids who’ve been through more in their short lives than anyone should have to endure, and they serve them with patience and humor and an ability to communicate them that is probably only possible between teens and the young adults who weren’t too long ago themselves at that awkward age.

But what could just be a sad, flat tale of kids down on their luck is instead a dynamic, layered story of each of these lives, how they interconnect and how they ultimately rely on each other to make it through each day. Deftly balancing time in the center with glimpses of Grace’s life outside of it, the story is universal even if you’ve never worked in social services.

The cast of relative unknowns turn in award-worthy performances, and with a little bit of research it’s clear at least a couple of them aren’t the overnight successes this film might turn them into. Brie Larson also appears in the spectacular The Spectacular Now (though in a much different, much smaller role), and her on-screen love John Gallagher, Jr. created the role of Moritz on Broadway’s Spring Awakening a few years ago.

I noticed a lot in the film that had I not been currently reading books breaking down the science of screenwriting, might’ve otherwise been left unseen. Lots of elements that the books say will work really did work in the course of the story – the mirror image of the beginning and ending scenes, the “whiff of death” dramatic tension two-thirds of the way through – these elements that risk a formulaic experience for the moviegoer work flawlessly for writer/director Destin Cretin.

Little by little, this little film is gaining national traction and rolling out into more and more theaters. If you see that it’s by you, go see it. You’ll be glad you did.

Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr

Posted By: Lisa Trifone · In: Movies

Let’s all calm the eff down.
Nice people are the best

You’ll Also Love

Review: Bombshell—The Hedy Lamarr Story
John Cho at Miller House, ColumbusReview(s): Columbus and Menashe
Review: STEP

Get on the List

About Photo
Hello! I'm Lisa, and this is—or rather I am—Somebody's Miracle. Explore everything I'm watcing, reading and baking, all my far-flung adventures and ones closer to home. Thanks for reading.

Connect

Get on the List

Subscribe for the latest posts, musings and updates directly in your inbox.

Categories

  • Reviews
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Just This
  • About

Search

From the Archives

May 2025
S M T W T F S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
« Jul    

lisabeesa

Two years ago today, I was coming off what - until Two years ago today, I was coming off what - until that point - was the biggest adventure of my life. I bought a home. I turned 40. I spent a month in Paris. I’d hit a new career milestone. Life was every bit what I imagined it could be. 

Then I walked into a first date with a guy I met on the internet and very quickly realized my (our!) best adventure had just begun. 

Two years of getting my goat (and delighting in it), because you love to see me laugh. Two years of not just making dinners but plating them, too, because you know I like a pretty plate. Two years of grand gestures not because you’re big on gestures, but because I am.

I thought I had it all figured out, and I think I would’ve been fine if you’d never walked into my life. But good grief am I glad you did. ❤️
🎄 Holiday Playlist! 🎄 It's my favorite trad 🎄 Holiday Playlist! 🎄

It's my favorite tradition (of so many!) of the season: my annual holiday playlist. Twenty-four songs. Two hours of tunes.

Sabrina Carpenter and The Kinks. My Morning Jacket and Kacey Musgraves. Ben Folds and Bette Midler and Bad Religion. 

You can listen on Spotify at the link in my bio!

Happy, happy holidays to you and yours. Wishing you a joyful season!
I’d watch Pablo Larrain’s version of paint dry I’d watch Pablo Larrain’s version of paint drying, but thankfully his latest biopic of a famous, troubled woman (after JACKIE and SPENCER) is a far more engaging fever dream of passing time and missed opportunities.

MARIA, featuring a performance by Angelina Jolie that vibrates with vulnerability, is not perfect but it is fascinating. 

Now in theaters; on Netflix next month. Full review at the link!
My phone yelled at me this morning that I was out My phone yelled at me this morning that I was out of storage space, so over a couple cups of coffee I went back through this year’s photos and videos to purge what I don’t need on my device. 

Stumbled on this snap Brian took of me over dinner back in…June?…and honestly, I just love it. I love the way he sees me and I love the way I look when I see him. ❤️

Take care of each other. That’s all.
Eight years ago this week, @justin.f.brady and I w Eight years ago this week, @justin.f.brady and I went to see @waitressmusical on Broadway, and after the show we were treated to full band karaoke with die-hard fans. 

At the end of the show tunes lovefest, @sarabareilles—who wrote the show’s music and was hosting the karaoke—took to the mic to perform Brave, and it was more cathartic than I think any of us realized in the moment. 

It was the night before the 2016 election and none of us were (looking back now) as worried as we should have been. I had early voted, the wind seemed to be at @hillaryclinton’s back and we were ready for history to be made. 

I’ve thought about (and talked about) that moment a lot in the years since - it’s a great story! But especially today, as we’re on the eve of another monumental Election Day, I am imploring anyone reading this who may still be unsure or may not yet have a plan to be brave and vote for the person who is NOT a convicted criminal, serial sexual assaulter, con-man and dictator-in-waiting. @kamalaharris is the only way forward.

We can get back to debating policy in four years. For now, please vote for humanity, for democracy, for decency and for sanity. I wanna see you be brave.
Signs of life! 👋 I feel like I’ve been in a Signs of life! 👋 

I feel like I’ve been in a fog the last week or so, and it’s going to last at least through Tuesday…but I’m here, I promise!

Got to catch @musictheaterworks’ LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (with the lovely @yersha_la_la_la for company!) and it was delightful. Great production with just a hint of that community theater patina, a bit rough around the edges. (Is it just me or is that S in “Florist” totally upside down?!)

Full review coming soon at @thirdcoastreview!
This one gets a spot on the grid! Congrats to Drew This one gets a spot on the grid! Congrats to Drew and Jean on a beautiful wedding day and the start of an exciting new chapter. (But really, thanks for such a great reason to wear my new favorite dress! 😉)
I absolutely love this time of year. 🍂🍁 I absolutely love this time of year. 🍂🍁
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Disclosure

Copyright © 2025 There Goes Somebody's Miracle... · Theme by 17th Avenue

 

Loading Comments...