News

The Dark Knight Rises and Looper star Joseph Gordon-Levitt is tattooed misanthrope Hesher, a loner who finds himself living in the garage of dysfunctional schoolkid T. J Forney (Devin Brochu), a youngster grieving after the death of his mother. Hesher takes him under his wing (sort of) only to betray him with the shopgirl who's taken Tj under her wing (Natalie Portman).

Craig (from Dark Eye Socket) here with this week's Take Three. Today: Piper Laurie

Take One: Hesher (2010)

Laurie has played the grandmother figure a few times in recent years (Hounddog, Eulogy, The Dead Girl), but she best conveyed matriarchal feeling last year in Hesher. The film uses the familiar narrative coupling of a loveable old person and unruly younger person connecting despite obvious differences. This time it's carried out with keen subtlety because the people involved are Laurie and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who make this arrangement work in a delightfully fresh way. Their friendship isn’t the main thrust of the narrative, but a key characterful diversion, and the genuinely heartfelt union elevates the film with tiny moments of tender affection.

Laurie's Grandma is there for her grandson (Devin Brochu) through the mourning of his mother and later when Gordon-Levitt’s stoner/drifter crashes the family home. Her open acceptance of...

Jenna Fischer searches for love in all the wrong places and Elizabeth Banks and Chris Pine are troubled siblings in two new trailers for two adult dramas you may not have heard of, but have been released this week for your viewing pleasure. They both look pretty good for those in the mood for more adult-oriented romantic comedy fare, which probably explains why neither one stars Kate Hudson or Katherine Heigl. “People Like Us” finds Chris Pine playing a man tasked with delivering $150,000 of his deceased father’s fortune to the sister he has never met. Elizabeth Banks plays the sister and Michelle Pfeiffer co-stars as the mother. Also starring Olivia Wilde, Jon Favreau, Mark Duplass, Jon Morgan Woodward, Devin Brochu, and Barbara Eve Harris. It opens June 29, 2012. Alex Kurtzman, who along with his buddy Roberto Orci, have written some of the biggest slambang big-budget Hollywood studio films of the...

Sure Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci have proven their geek mettle by writing the scripts for Transformers films, Mission: Impossible, the Star Trek reboot and mediocre Cowboys & Aliens. But they are also capable of taking on the drama genre, such as their newest movie People Like Us.

With a little help from Chris Pine and Jon Faverau (from Star Trek and Cowboys & Aliens respectively), Kurtzman is making his directorial debut with People Like Me, and unlike his previous works, the movie is not based on a novel, sequel, or reboot. If you can get past the sappy pop music, then the movie actually looks pretty good. For one thing, its something that we would never thought we would see from a guy like Kurtzman.

Check out the latest trailer from People Like Us from MovieFone:

People Like Us opens on June 29. It also features Olivia Wilde, Michelle Pfeiffer, Mark Duplass,...

Hesher

Reviewed by Duncan Bain

Stars: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Rainn Wilson, Natalie Portman, Devin Brochu, Piper Laurie | Written and Directed by Spencer Susser

The debut feature by Spencer Susser, and co-produced by Natalie Portman (who also stars). Hesher is one of those “everyone’s a bit disfunctional but some magic realism will make everything better” sorts of films that is typified by the likes of Little Miss Sunshine or Win Win.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (making a dangerous habit of just being excellent in every role he undertakes) stars as the titular Hesher. I must admit my own ignorance of that slang, but the Urban Dictionary helpfully describes a Hesher as a “Long haired, usually mulleted person who listens and rocks out to Metal or Thrash music. Generally seen wearing acid-washed jeans, leather motorcycle or denim jacket covered with band and skull patches. Will often have a Molester Moustache” . . a description which couldn’t be more accurate.

Another week, another Monday. So it’s time for the rundown of DVDs and Blu-rays hitting stores online and offline this week. It’s another packed week, with plenty of movies waiting to take you money, so let us breakdown the new releases and highlight what you should – and shouldn’t – be buying from today, February 13th 2012.

Pick Of The Week

Inkubus (DVD)

A gruesome beheading calls Detective Caretti (Joey Fatone) back to Woodhaven police station, where the skeleton crew find themselves in for a long and deadly night as the demon Inkubus (Robert Englund – A Nightmare on Elm Street, Freddie Vs Jason) returns. With a murderous legacy dating back to the middle-ages, Inkubus is bent on destroying the one man who almost captured him thirteen years ago, Detective Gil Diamante (William Forsythe – Halloween). Back to settle the score, Inkubus calmly walks into the station, holding the severed head, ready...

2011, we barely knew you, and you're gone already. It's been another crazy year for me here at the site, which included a lot of traveling to movie sets, some of which I can't tell you about yet, and, of course, news, interviews, and screenings, not to mention the annual lunacy that is San Diego Comic-Con. While I haven't seen every movie out in 2011, some by choice (*cough* Green Lantern *cough*), and many others due to a sheer lack of time, I'm compiling a few year-end lists anyway.

I have always been a "bad news first" kind of guy, so first up are the Most Overrated Movies O The Year. Now, granted, most of these I did like, in some way, but I just didn't like them as much as, apparently, everyone else. These are in no particular order, so lets get cracking.

Most Overrated Movies of the Year

Hanna -...

While we had to endure the painful New Year's Eve (if Hollywood is a holiday party, somebody needs to take the keys from Garry Marshall), the willfully stupid Green Lantern, the inoffensively haphazard The Green Hornet and everything in between, 2011 was a pretty fun year for flicks.

Plenty of movies earned their keep with me while I was sitting in the theater seat without making my Top 10 for one reason or another. Popcorn flicks like X-Men: First Class, Captain America: The First Avenger and even Fast Five were fun (the first for its continuity-skewering, Silver Age throwback meets Bond vibe; the second for its straightforward storytelling and surprisingly non-ironic lead; the last for its charmingly lunkheaded spectacle) but ultimately forgettable.

Certain art house movies like Beginners and My Week with Marilyn were mostly good but a few marks from great (the first for its over reliance on twee artifice; the second for its dull-as-an-old-pocket-knife costar,...

Hey everyone! Some cool stuff came out this week!

Thor

The epic adventure “Thor” spans the Marvel Universe from present day Earth to the mystical realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is The Mighty Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. As a result, Thor is banished to Earth, where he is forced to live among humans. When the most dangerous villain of his world sends its darkest forces to invade Earth, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero.

Spartacus: Gods of the Arena

The House of Batiatus is on the rise, basking in the glow of its infamous champion Gannicus, whose skill with a sword is matched only by his thirst for wine and women. These are the times a young Batiatus has been waiting for. Poised to overthrow his father and take control; he'll freely betray...

Hitting movie theaters this weekend:

Drive – Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston

I Don’t Know How She Does It - Sarah Jessica Parker, Pierce Brosnan, Kelsey Grammer

Straw Dogs – James Marsden, Kate Bosworth, Alexander Skarsgård

Movie of the Week

Straw Dogs

The Stars: James Marsden, Kate Bosworth, Alexander Skarsgård

The Plot: L.A. screenwriter David Sumner (Marsden) relocates with his wife (Bosworth) to her hometown in the deep South. There, while tensions build between them, a brewing conflict with locals becomes a threat to them both.

The Buzz: No, this is not really Movie of the Week material, but hey, look at the competition. On one hand, you’ve got Ryan Gosling racing around in cars, <<yawn>> and on the other hand you’ve got the washed up Sarah Jessica Parker slapping a title on what all of her non-fans have been thinking for years — I’m not quite...

Chicago – Anyone who’s witnessed the wonderfully incoherent trailers for “Hesher” is bound to be curious about the film’s true nature. Why does Joseph Gordon-Levitt have a raised middle finger tattooed on his back and why is he jumping off a flaming diving board half-naked? Is this all part of a tongue-in-cheek stunt or do the filmmakers actually harbor serious intentions?

Turns out the answer is a bit of both. First-time feature director Spencer Susser is hell-bent on having his cake and blowing it up too. The film utilizes a series of cruel and obnoxious scenes to build what is intended to be a hilarious and heart-tugging quirk-fest. Gordon-Levitt may be one of the most gifted and appealing actors in modern film, but even his considerable charms can’t save the film’s irredeemable titular curiosity.

Blu-Ray Rating: 2.0/5.0

Of course, the actor deserves credit for consistently taking risks with his career,...

Hesher

(released September 13th, 2011)

Review:

Hesher is one of those films that perfectly straddles the line in-between being a very dark drama and a comedy at the same time. You find yourself being very depressed in moments of this film, but a scene or two later you’ll be laughing out loud.

The main character of the film is a young kid named T.J. (Devin Brochu) who has recently lost his mother in a car accident. Then comes along a guardian angel of sorts in the form of Hesher (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). Hesher moves into T.J.’s garage, with T.J.’s father (Rainn Wilson) in severe depression he doesn’t really do much to try and get him to leave. T.J. along the way also meets Nicole (Natalie Portman) who reminds him of his mother. Through the different situations that Hesher either pushes T.J. into himself or that T.

DVD Playhouse—September 2011

By Allen Gardner

In A Better World (Sony) Winner of last year’s Best Foreign Film Oscar, this Danish export looks at two fractured families and the effect that the adult world dysfunction has on their two sons, who form an immediate and potentially deadly bond. Director Susanne Bier delivers another powerful work that maintains its drive during the films’ first 2/3, then falters somewhat during the last act. Still, well-worth seeing, and beautifully made. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Deleted scenes; Commentary by Bier and editor Pernille Bech Christensen; Interview with Bier. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-hd 5.1 surround.

X-men First Class (20th Century Fox) “Origins” film set in the early 1960s, traces the beginnings of Magento and Professor X (played ably here by Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy), and how the once-close friends and colleagues became bitter enemies. First half is slam-bang entertainment at its stylish best,...

Writer-director Spencer Susser discusses his feature debut Hesher, assembling this terrific ensemble cast, securing Metallica's music, future projects, and more.

Like many filmmakers trying to break through in Hollywood, writer-director Spencer Susser began his career by making short films. Like many excellent filmmakers, those short films became long films, and Spencer Susser made his feature directorial debut with the fantastic indie Hesher, which hits the shelves on Blu-ray and DVD on September 13. Hesher is still one of my favorite movies of the year thus far, centering around a grieving, broken family (Rainn Wilson, Devin Brochu, Piper Laurie) whose lives are given a bizarre jolt when a mysterious long-haired rocker named Hesher (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) makes his way into their lives... and their garage. I recently had the chance to speak with director Spencer Susser (who co-wrote the script with Animal Kingdom writer-director David Mich&#244d) over the phone to discuss his directorial debut.

Lionsgate Home Entertainment:Loud music. Pornography. Burning stuff to the ground. These are a few of Hesher's favorite things. And they are what Hesher (Joseph Gordon Levitt) brings into the lives of Tj (Devin Brochu) and his father, Paul (Rainn Wilson) when he takes up residence in their garage uninvited. Grief-stricken by the loss of Tj's mother in a car accident, Paul can't muster the strength to evict the strange squatter, and soon the long-haired, tattooed Hesher becomes a fixture in the household. Like a force of nature, Hesher's anarchy shakes the family out of their grief and helps them embrace life once more.This one split critics right down the middle, and I can see why. Hesher is a very tonally unstable film. This is not...

For a film about an anarchist drifter and a broken family, Natalie Portman sure was able to have a surprising amount of fun.

Portman starred as a grocery clerk and love interest to Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the indie drama "Hesher," the story of a fire-setting, family crashing mystery man who plants himself in the home of a family mourning the loss of its matriarch. He certainly shakes things up -- for better or worse is up for debate -- but there aren't a ton of laughs to be had. In the final film, at least.

In some outtakes released for the film's upcoming DVD, Portman manages to have some fun with Devin Brochu, who plays young and impressionable Tj, around whom the drama often revolves.

Portman has flexed her comedy muscle before, most recently in the bomb spoof "Your Highness," but she played a self-serious role in that film. Here,...

Spencer Susser's intense indie drama Hesher features a fair amount of extreme angst -- embodied by the charismatic Joseph Gordon-Levitt, tattooed and grimy like you've never seen him before -- but plenty of fun was had behind the scenes, if Movieline's exclusive outtake reel is any indication. After the jump, watch a sweetly dorky Natalie Portman goof of between scenes with her young co-star Devin Brochu in a special feature from the forthcoming DVD/Blu-ray release.

We have an exclusive outtakes reel from the upcoming home video release Hesher, which hits store shelves on Blu-ray and DVD September 13. Click on the video below to watch Rainn Wilson and Devin Brochu reference other fictional characters in this great gag reel.

Click to watch Exclusive: Outtakes!

Loud music. Pornography. Burning s*%t to the ground. These are a few of Hesher's favorite things. And they are what Hesher (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) brings into the lives of Tj (Devin Brochu) and his father Paul (Rainn Wilson) when he takes up residence in the garage uninvited. Grief stricken by the loss of Tj's mother in a car accident, Paul can't muster the strength to evict the strange squatter and soon the long-haired, tattooed Hesher becomes a fixture in the household. Like a force of nature, Hesher's anarchy shakes the family out of their grief and helps them embrace life once more.

Lionsgate has announced that the rock-and-roll dramatic comedy Hesher will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on September 13. The standard DVD will be priced at $28.98 Srp, while the Blu-ray will cost just a dollar more at $29.99 Srp. Take a look at the cover art and special features details for both titles below.

Loud music. Pornography. Burning s*%t to the ground. These are a few of Hesher's favorite things. And they are what Hesher (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) brings into the lives of Tj (Devin Brochu) and his father Paul (Rainn Wilson) when he takes up residence in the garage uninvited. Grief stricken by the loss of Tj's mother in a car accident, Paul can't muster the strength to evict the strange squatter and soon the long-haired, tattooed Hesher becomes a fixture in the household. Like a force of nature, Hesher's anarchy shakes the family out of their grief and...

I'll just start by saying that 'Hesher' is a great film. If you're in a rush just stop reading now and keep it on your list of movies-to-see. You won't regret it.

What stood out the most about the film was how the story and characters were awkward and funny without seeming like their sole purpose in life was to capitalize on quirky. It's evident that a lot of work went into creating the character of Hesher- either that or writer/director Spencer Susser has a pretty funny uncle out there somewhere.

The movie is about a young boy named T.J. (Devin Brochu) who is struggling to move on after his mothers passing. By the way that last bit wasn't really a spoiler but if you're sensitive about that kind of thing then take my advice from the first paragraph. Paul, T.J's father,  is played...

Here's a sneak peek at what's in theaters this Memorial Day weekend, including those unlucky party pals, Stu (Ed Helms), Phil (Bradley Cooper) and Allen (Zach Galifinakis) in "The Hangover Part II," and the animated sequel "Kung Fu Panda 2," with Angelina Jolie, Jack Black and Dustin Hoffman.

Update: Since opening Thursday, "The Hangover Part II" has taken in about $31.7 million.

In Theaters Now (May)'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' (May 20)

Who: Johnny Depp,...

Here's a sneak peek at the highly anticipated "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," in which Capt. Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) and crew search for the Fountain of Youth.

In Theaters Now (May)'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' (May 20)

Who: Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Geoffrey Rush, Ian McShane; directed by Rob Marshall What: Capt. Jack Sparrow and Barbossa embark on a quest to find the elusive Fountain of Youth, only...

Filed under: Moviefone Canada, The Rundown

Rainn Wilson can do so much more than just comedy. Want proof? The actor (best known for playing the militant nerd Dwight Schrute on 'The Office') is garnering buzz for his role as a pill-popping, emotionally unavailable father in 'Hesher.'

The film premiered at Sundance over a year ago, and is just now starting to creep into theaters across North America in limited release. It stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt ('Inception,' '(500) Days of Summer') as the titular character, a moody metalhead who befriends T.J. (Devin Brochu, 'Ghosts of Girlfriends Past'), a young boy being raised by his grieving father Paul (Wilson) following the death of his mother.

Hesher's questionable mentorship of T.J. sparks the concern of a local grocery clerk played by Natalie Portman, who steps in to shield the young boy from Hesher's negative influence.

We speak to Josph Gordon-Levitt about Spencer Susser's Hesher There's no doubt that Joseph Gordon-Levitt is one of the most interesting young actors working today. Sure, he got his start as a child actor on TV on Third Rock From the Sun, but he's since grown into a full-fledged star, splitting his time between big-budget films like "Inception" and "G.I. Joe" and beloved indies such as "Brick," "The Lookout," and "(500) Days of Summer." We've never seen him do anything quite like the title role in Spencer Susser's "Hesher," in which he plays a long-haired, nihilistic, porn-watching, violent prankster who moves, uninvited, into the house occupied by twelve-year-old Tj (Devin Brochu), his father (Rainn Wilson), and his grandmother (Piper Laurie), all of whom are powerless to stop him in the wake of Tj's mother's recent death. Tj is miserable and routinely bullied, but his family is unable to help,...

We speak to Josph Gordon-Levitt about Spencer Susser's Hesher There's no doubt that Joseph Gordon-Levitt is one of the most interesting young actors working today. Sure, he got his start as a child actor on TV on Third Rock From the Sun, but he's since grown into a full-fledged star, splitting his time between big-budget films like "Inception" and "G.I. Joe" and beloved indies such as "Brick," "The Lookout," and "(500) Days of Summer." We've never seen him do anything quite like the title role in Spencer Susser's "Hesher," in which he plays a long-haired, nihilistic, porn-watching, violent prankster who moves, uninvited, into the house occupied by twelve-year-old Tj (Devin Brochu), his father (Rainn Wilson), and his grandmother (Piper Laurie), all of whom are powerless to stop him in the wake of Tj's mother's recent death. Tj is miserable and routinely bullied, but his family is unable to help,...

We speak to Josph Gordon-Levitt about Spencer Susser's Hesher There's no doubt that Joseph Gordon-Levitt is one of the most interesting young actors working today. Sure, he got his start as a child actor on TV on Third Rock From the Sun, but he's since grown into a full-fledged star, splitting his time between big-budget films like "Inception" and "G.I. Joe" and beloved indies such as "Brick," "The Lookout," and "(500) Days of Summer." We've never seen him do anything quite like the title role in Spencer Susser's "Hesher," in which he plays a long-haired, nihilistic, porn-watching, violent prankster who moves, uninvited, into the house occupied by twelve-year-old Tj (Devin Brochu), his father (Rainn Wilson), and his grandmother (Piper Laurie), all of whom are powerless to stop him in the wake of Tj's mother's recent death. Tj is miserable and routinely bullied, but his family is unable to help,...

Devin Brochu is a super-talented youngster. If you’ve seen Hesher, you’d realize that immediately due to his dealing with such a dramatically difficult role, which can easily test your emotions. I was pleasantly surprised with the fact that he teased and toyed around with Rainn Wilson, who plays his onscreen father in the Spencer Susser film. Wilson, known mostly for his comedic skills, pulls off a strong dramatic performance as a father struggling to pick himself up after the death of his wife, and thus, neglecting his only child. Read our review of Hesher and, under the interview, check out videos and images from the movie.

Devin Brochu is a super-talented youngster. If you’ve seen Hesher, you’d realize that immediately due to his dealing with such a dramatically difficult role, which can easily test your emotions. I was pleasantly surprised with the fact that he teased and toyed around with Rainn Wilson, who plays his onscreen father in the Spencer Susser film. Wilson, known mostly for his comedic skills, pulls off a strong dramatic performance as a father struggling to pick himself up after the death of his wife, and thus, neglecting his only child. Read our review of Hesher and, under the interview, check out videos and images from the movie.

Devin Brochu is a super-talented youngster. If you’ve seen Hesher, you’d realize that immediately due to his dealing with such a dramatically difficult role, which can easily test your emotions. I was pleasantly surprised with the fact that he teased and toyed around with Rainn Wilson, who plays his onscreen father in the Spencer Susser film. Wilson, known mostly for his comedic skills, pulls off a strong dramatic performance as a father struggling to pick himself up after the death of his wife, and thus, neglecting his only child. Read our review of Hesher and, under the interview, check out videos and images from the movie.

Title: Hesher Director: Spencer Susser Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Natalie Portman, Rainn Wilson, Piper Laurie, Devin Brochu, John Carroll Lynch As the film industry has contracted, and the burden of financing shifted away from companies and more onto creative individuals themselves, American independent films of the past 10 years or so, whatever their genre, have been typically characterized by a certain eagerness to please. This isn’t entirely surprising. Like any other occupational venture in tougher economic times, there’s an element of self-preservation involved. Emergent filmmakers have a desire to keep working, and so they craft stories, consciously or subconsciously, that often play to the whetted appetites of a particular audience or demographic....

Here's a sneak peek at what's opening in theaters May 13, including the laugh-fest comedy "Bridesmaids," starring Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph, the vampire action flick "Priest," and the quirky dramedy "Everything Must Go," starring Will Ferrell.

Click here for the complete 2011 Summer Movie Guide!

In Theaters Now (May)'Bridesmaids' (May 13)

Who: Kristen Wiig, Rose Byrne, Maya Rudolph, Melissa McCarthy, Ellie Kemper, Wendi McLendon-Covey; directed by Paul Feig What: A comedy centered on two...

Remember the days before Inception and 500 Days of Summer — back when Joseph Gordon-Levitt was a cute, floppy-haired kid on 3rd Rock From the Sun? Turns out his famously long locks weren’t just an innocent fashion choice. “I grew my hair long so I could headbang,” says Gordon-Levitt. “It ended up being the hairstyle of my character , but I grew it long so I could headbang to bands like Metallica.”

The metal supergroup was also an inspiration for Gordon-Levitt’s latest role in Hesher, an indie drama about a bullied youngster (Devin Brochu) who gets unexpected mentoring from a rock-loving...

"Hesher" is what you get when you take a sappy after-school special and hang a big pair of balls off of it. Those balls belong to Joseph Gordon-Levitt for bringing this fearless metalhead hero Hesher to the screen in all his shirtless, tattooed glory.

There's a reason first-time director Spencer Susser titled his movie "Hesher" and not "Tj." Every time Gordon-Levitt is on screen, the film positively comes alive.

Sure, Hesher is violent and depraved. He sniffs glue, farts on command, and sets convertibles and diving boards on fire. But he also possesses a monk's cool and a samurai's sense of honor, that is, if monks and samurai occasionally swig Pabst Blue Ribbon and then vomit at a funeral.

Devin Brochu’s performance as Tj, the central character (a 13-year-old kid grieving his dead mother), is pretty underwhelming compared to the aloof force of nature that is Gordon-Levitt. Piper Laurie...

Rating: 1.0/5.0

Chicago – “Hesher” ends with a middle finger and I shot one right back to the screen. Rarely has a film so completely misunderstood the grieving process and played faux tough in an attempt to be edgy instead of heartfelt. Like a knock-off of Chuck Palahniuk produced by people raised only on Sundance films, “Hesher” is a mess.

It hurts me to say so. Stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Natalie Portman deserve mention in any conversation of the best actors of their generation and I generally love what they do. There was no bigger champion of “Black Swan” than this critic and Jgl has been underrated for years, giving great performances in “Brick,” “The Lookout,” “(500) Days of Summer,” and more. Co-stars Rainn Wilson and Piper Laurie are also commonly effective.

Read Brian Tallerico’s full review of “Hesher” in our reviews section.

There’s nothing effective about “Hesher” unless the effect...

Two wide release movies coming out this weekend, sure to please almost everyone looking for some entertainment.

Bridemaids has been described as "The Hangover for women", although the cast insists men will equally enjoy this hilarious movie.  Priest will probably attract a wide range of people -- some interested in the thriller aspect, some in the action, and other just going for the vampire craze.

Thor has received great reviews since hitting theaters last weekend, so it is expected to stay at the top for the second week in a row with about $30 million, despite the new releases.  

Bridesmaids should come in second place with a very high female audiences, predicted to hit the $20 million mark in ticket sales.

Priest should come in third, attracting young guys who have already seen the other action movies out in theaters right now, but don't expect it to do amazingly considering what it's...

Hesher is a strangely forgettable film, made even more strange since its final shot is of graffiti that reads "Hesher Was Here." That's not a spoiler - Hesher leaves an impression everywhere he goes whether he's going to return or not. As played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, he's a nihilist who breaks into people's houses to trash their backyard without reason yet abides by a moral code all his own, making it especially difficult for the 13-year-old Tj (Devin Brochu) to consider him a friend or foe.

For the sake of his father (Rainn Wilson) and his grandmother (Piper Laurie), Tj calls him a friend, though no member of the Forney family really knows why Hesher starts sleeping on their couch for days on end. Tj can only suspect it has something to do with accidentally stumbling into the stringy-haired drifter days earlier while trying to escape a schoolyard bully, and...

There isn’t much originality in a film like Hesher. It thinks it’s original, showcasing a cast of “quirky” characters but it’s pretty much a cut-and-paste, formulaic indie film. It’s “Little Miss Sunshine” without the specifics and it –- and the audience –- suffers for it.

Produced by co-star — and recent Oscar-winner — Natalie Portman, Hesher is about a young boy named Tj (played by the precociously grating Devin Brochu), who is mourning the loss his mother to a (weirdly-staged) car accident, and is obsessed with keeping the vehicle, much to the chagrin of his depressed dad, Paul (Rainn Wilson). Now, how do we know that Paul is depressed? He has a beard.

Tj and the bearded-ly depressed Paul live with his old grandmother (Piper Laurie) is an unassuming home in an unassuming suburban Southern California neighborhood (or at least it looks like Southern California). Grandma is sweet...

Grief is an ugly, raw, complicated, and necessary emotion.  I've never been a big fan of the Kübler-Ross Model (also known as the Five Stages of Grief) because it seems like something constructed more to comfort those dealing with the grief-stricken rather than an honest explanation of the griever's emotions.  It says "What stage are you at because you're kind of bumming the rest of us out."  Hesher gives a giant middle finger to a pat, easily digestible notion of grief and instead throws the viewer into the violent, angry emotions that arise when grieving over the loss of a loved one.  Unfortunately, it never goes much deeper than that and the thematic simplicity keeps Joseph Gordon-Levitt from giving an honest performance because he's stuck playing a contrived one-dimensional character who merely serves to illustrate a point.  Then the film, which at least had the consistency to hammer home its single theme,...

Hesher

Directed by: Spencer Susser

Cast: Devin Brochu, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Natalie Portman, Rainn Wilson

Running Time: 1 hr 40 mins

Rating: R

Release Date: May 13, 2011 (Chicago)

Plot: While suffering a great loss, a young boy (Brochu) and his grieving father (Wilson) are given an unexpected visit by an impulsively destructive individual (Gordon-Levitt) who does whatever the hell he wants to.

Who’S It For?: Anyone with both the patience (or taste) for 80′s Metallica and art house filmmaking.

Expectations: What is there to expect with a movie like Hesher? Is an image of that guy from 500 Days of Summer now with long hair and a pyro problem not enough to get you on board? It was all I needed.

Scorecard (0-10)

Actors:

Devin Brochu as Tj: The young actor provides a unique performance as a young boy being pulled by both grief and impending maturity, as he is put into some bizarre interactions of unflinching debauchery.

Director: Spencer Susser Writer: Spencer Susser, David Michôd, Brian Charles Frank Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Devin Brochu, Rainn Wilson, Brendan Hill T.J.'s (Devin Brochu) mother (Monica Staggs) died a couple months ago in a car wreck (to the tune of "Teenager in Love" playing on the radio). T.J.'s father, Paul (Rainn Wilson), deals with the tragedy by popping enough pills to maintain a near-catatonic level of numbness making him totally oblivious to the world around him. T.J.'s elderly grandma (Piper Laurie) does what she can to help run the household; but for all intents and purposes, T.J. is raising his own damn 13-year-old self. Enter Hesher (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a metalhead who resides in an ominous black van and does whatever the hell he pleases. Hesher is the definition of rebellion and anarchy, and a mother's worst nightmare. Hesher habitually guzzles Pabst Blue Ribbon and...

In Hesher, Natalie Portman plays a sad-sack in mom-jeans whose greatest ambition is to secure 20 hours a week at the grocery store where she toils vacant-eyed and numb for 15 hours a week. That pathetic goal remains forever outside her grasp, however, so she asks Devin Brochu, a sad little boy she has befriended, what’s wrong with her. Is she not attractive enough to score five more hours a week? Is her personality somehow lacking? Beautiful movie stars often play forgettable-looking losers, but Hesher loudly broadcasts its contempt for verisimilitude in ways that go far beyond casting one ...

When tragedy strikes the family of 13-year-old Tj (Devin Brochu), his father (Rainn Wilson) retreats into severe depression and the kid is left alone in an unforgiving world with no way to rebuild. Enter Hesher (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a chain-smoking, foul-mouthed heavy metal nihilist who shows up out of the blue and soon, along with Nicole (Natalie Portman), a girl who works at the grocery store, becomes the only person that Tj can count on. ComingSoon.net spoke exclusively with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Rainn Wilson and writer/director Spencer Susser about the unusual take on a very personal story and how the best way to achieve realistic characters is to aim for bigger-than-life. Hesher hits theaters this Friday, May 13th.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is Hesher, a strange longhaired rocker who has decided to take up residency in an unfamiliar family's garage. Spencer Susser directs this wicked new dramatic comedy, which also stars Natalie Portman, Rainn Wilson, and Piper Laurie. Ryan J. Downey recently caught up with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, as well as Spencer Susser and Rainn Wilson, for a provocative look behind-the-scenes at Hesher. To watch our exclusive interviews, click on the clips below.

Click to watch Exclusive: Joseph Gordon-Levitt Interview!

Click to watch Exclusive: Rainn Wilson Interview!

Click to watch Exclusive: Spencer Susser Interview!

Hesher was released May 13th, 2011 and stars Natalie Portman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Rainn Wilson, John Carroll Lynch, Piper Laurie, Devin Brochu, Frank Collison, Audrey Wasilewski. The film is directed by Spencer Susser.

Check out this new featurette for the upcoming indie drama Hesher.  The movie opens up in theaters this Friday, May 13 and stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the title character.

Hesher is a loner who's a little rough around the edges.  He hates the world, until he meets Tj (Devin Brochu).  Hesher squats in Tj and his father, Paul (Rainn Wilson) garage and ends up helping the two deal with loss in a very unconventional way.

Hesher also stars Natalie Portman and Piper Laurie.

Check out the featurette below and look for it in limited release out in theaters this Friday.

Hesher Featurette...

With writer/director Spencer Susser’s Hesher getting released this weekend, I recently got to sit down with the cast and Susser to talk about the film. Before going any further, if you haven’t seen the trailer, I suggest checking it out here. While the summer is filled with huge explosions and movies that cost hundreds of millions of dollars, I promise you…none of them feature a main character as crazy as Hesher. Playing the lead is Joseph Gordon-Levitt and it’s an awesome performance. The film also stars Rainn Wilson, Natalie Portman, and Devin Brochu. While I already posted my video interviews with Susser and Gordon-Levitt, I've got one more and it's with Rainn Wilson. During the interview we talked about the positive response to Super, what attracted him to Hesher, what was it like on set, and we also talked about what's the last video game he's played,...

Hesher

Reviewed by John Esther

(from the 2010 Sundance Film Festival)

Directed by: Spencer Susser

Written by: Spencer Susser and David Michôd

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Natalie Portman, Rainn Wilson and Piper Laurie

Poor 13-year-old Tj (Devin Brochu). His mother (Monica Staggs) recently died in a car crash, dad Paul (Rainn Wilson) responds to the tragedy with futile numbness and a bully named Dustin (Brendan Hill) habitually harasses the boy at school. What is a grieving boy prone to accidents to do? Enter Hesher (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a young man who lives in a van.

Hesher is hardly the ideal helper. He drinks, smokes and does whatever the hell he wants. A walking menace who stabs his food while eating, climbs up telephone poles in his underwear and blows up things, Hesher (a term meaning someone into heavy metal) moves into the house with Tj, dad and grandma (Piper Laurie) and immediately becomes...

Hesher

Reviewed by John Esther

(from the 2010 Sundance Film Festival)

Directed by: Spencer Susser

Written by: Spencer Susser and David Michôd

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Natalie Portman, Rainn Wilson and Piper Laurie

Poor 13-year-old Tj (Devin Brochu). His mother (Monica Staggs) recently died in a car crash, dad Paul (Rainn Wilson) responds to the tragedy with futile numbness and a bully named Dustin (Brendan Hill) habitually harasses the boy at school. What is a grieving boy prone to accidents to do? Enter Hesher (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a young man who lives in a van.

Hesher is hardly the ideal helper. He drinks, smokes and does whatever the hell he wants. A walking menace who stabs his food while eating, climbs up telephone poles in his underwear and blows up things, Hesher (a term meaning someone into heavy metal) moves into the house with Tj, dad and grandma (Piper Laurie) and immediately becomes...

With writer/director Spencer Susser's Hesher getting released this weekend, I recently got to speak with the filmmaker about directing his first feature after spending the last decade directing shorts. Before going any further, if you haven't seen the trailer, I suggest watching it here. While the summer is filled with huge explosions and movies that cost hundreds of millions of dollars, I promise you…none of them feature a main character as crazy as Hesher. Playing the lead is Joseph Gordon-Levitt and it's an awesome performance. The film also stars Rainn Wilson, Natalie Portman, and Devin Brochu. Definitely recommended. During the interview, Susser and I talked about the challenges of getting his film made, how did he land Metallica and why did he want their music, the editing process, casting the movie, and reveals he's writing his short film, I Love Sarah Jane, as a feature. Hit the jump to watch.

Hesher is hardcore. That's for sure, but I was still intrigued by Spencer Susser's film, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Devin Brochu, Natalie Portman and Rainn Wilson. Also in the cast of the drama which opens May 13th is veteran Piper Laurie who starred alongside Paul Newman in The Hustler, as well as Audrey Wasilewski and Lyle Kanouse. The Wrekin Hill Entertainment release is produced by Natalie Portman's Handsomecharlie Films, as well as The Last Picture Company, CatchPlay, Corner Store Entertainment and Filmula, in association with Dro Entertainment. Loud music. Pornography. Burning stuff to the ground. These are a few of Hesher's favorite things. And they are what Hesher (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) brings into the lives of 13-year-old Tj (Devin Brochu)...

Hesher is hardcore. That's for sure, but I was still intrigued by Spencer Susser's film, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Devin Brochu, Natalie Portman and Rainn Wilson. Also in the cast of the drama which opens May 13th is veteran Piper Laurie who starred alongside Paul Newman in The Hustler, as well as Audrey Wasilewski and Lyle Kanouse. The Wrekin Hill Entertainment release is produced by Natalie Portman's Handsomecharlie Films, as well as The Last Picture Company, CatchPlay, Corner Store Entertainment and Filmula, in association with Dro Entertainment. Loud music. Pornography. Burning stuff to the ground. These are a few of Hesher's favorite things. And they are what Hesher (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) brings into the lives of 13-year-old Tj (Devin Brochu)...