12 and Holding

12 and Holding
Theatrical poster for 12 and Holding
Directed by	Michael Cuesta
Produced by	Brian Bell Michael Cuesta Jenny Schweitzer Leslie Urdang Amy Robinson
Written by	Anthony Cipriano
Starring	Conor Donovan Zoe Weizenbaum Jesse Camacho Jeremy Renner
Music by	Pierre Földes
Cinematography	Romeo Tirone
Distributed by	IFC Films
Release date(s)	May 19, 2005
Running time	95 mins.
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$400,000 (estimated)

12 and Holding is a 2005 film directed by Michael Cuesta. The film is distributed by IFC Films and was released on May 19, 2005 in limited theaters.

Plot

The film explores adolescent issues through the minds of three friends and their reactions after a boy named Rudy Carges (Conor Donovan) dies in a tree house set on fire by local bullies Jeff and Kenny.

The boy's twin brother Jacob, a boy with a huge birthmark (also played by Donovan), decides to seek revenge against the bullies. Leonard (Jesse Camacho) who's overweight, survives the tree house fire but loses his sense of taste and smell. This prompts him to go on a diet, which isn't welcomed by his obese family. The boys' female friend Malee (Zoe Weizenbaum) tries to befriend an adult named Gus (Jeremy Renner), a grief-stricken patient of her therapist mother, Carla (Annabella Sciorra). Jacob's family falls apart after the death of his brother. But shortly after, his parents adopt a boy so Jacob won't feel alone. Meanwhile, Malee sees Gus as her "soul mate". She sneaks into his house one night to find him grieving. Afraid to confront him, Malee steals his gun and leaves.

Jacob frequently visits Jeff and Kenny, who are serving time in a juvenile hall. Jacob initially threatens them until one day Jeff commits suicide, and Jacob befriends Kenny. Meanwhile, Leonard's father decides to take his sisters to Florida instead of Leonard (who would usually go) as a form of punishment for Leonard dieting. Leonard decides to force his mother to lose weight by trapping her in the cellar. They both end up in the hospital after a gas leak in their home. Next, Jacob and Kenny plan an escape out of town. Malee visits Gus and removes her clothes in an attempt to seduce him. Instead, Gus calls Malee's mother to come and pick her up. The next day, Gus explains to therapist Carla about the last fire he ever fought (which involved killing an injured little girl, upon the girl's request), claiming that Malee wanted him to take her pain away, upon already knowing she had a crush on him. The night of escape for Jacob finally comes and he meets up with Kenny. Jacob insists on going through a construction site which he says is a secret route. Once there, Jacob points a gun at Kenny (the same one Malee had stolen from Gus) and tells him that he had it coming before shooting him dead. Jacob buries the body and leaves.

After the vengeance, Jacob now accepts his adopted brother. Malee begins visiting her estranged father, and Leonard's family finally starts eating healthy.

Cast

• Conor Donovan as Jacob Carges/Rudy Carges
• Jesse Camacho as Leonard Fisher
• Zoe Weizenbaum as Malee Chuang
• Jeremy Renner as Gus Maitland
• Annabella Sciorra as Carla Chuang
• Linus Roache as Jim Carges
• Jayne Atkinson as Ashley Carges
• Marcia DeBonis as Grace Fisher
• Tom McGowan as Patrick Fisher
• Kyle Donnelly as an extra
• Ethan Lowenthal as an extra

References

External links

• 12 and Holding Official Website
• Twelve and Holding at the Internet Movie Database
• 12 and Holding at Allmovie
• Twelve and Holding at Box Office Mojo
• Slant Magazine Film Review by Keith Uhlich
• Interview with the cast - Now Playing magazine
• 12 and Holding Review by Marcy Dermansky