Blu-ray Review: Don’t Miss Remarkable Honesty of ‘Short Term 12’

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“Short Term 12” is a special film. If through some true miracle, Brie Larson’s name is announced on Oscar nominations morning, that sound you hear is me screaming in childish glee. She certainly deserves it for this daring, honest piece of work, one that dares to suggest that there are numerous ways to stop the emotional bleeding. It could be rap, it could be art, it could be taking a bat to a car, or it could be love. Destin Cretton won the Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Most Promising Filmmaker and it was one of this year’s winners of which I was most proud we were recognizing. This is a special movie.

Rating: 5.0/5.0

The Blu-ray is nicely loaded with special features, most interestingly including the 21-minute short that was originally expanded into the full-length. The cast is different (except for the GREAT Keith Stanfield) and the lead is entirely different (played by Brad William Henke) but a lot of the focus is similar and some of the plot beats even remain. It’s incredibly interesting to see how this well-drawn sketch becomes the full painting of the feature.

And make no mistake, “Short Term 12” is a work of art. Destin Cretton finds truth in small beats, also drawing underrated performances from his entire cast. Larson has received most of the praise and I get that but Stanfield and Kaitlyn Dever couldn’t be better here. “Short Term 12” is one of those rare movies that makes me more interested in what EVERYONE involved will do next. Can’t wait.

(Note: I’m sticking with the format of Blu-ray cover as the image in these reviews but this will NOT be topped for the WORST Blu-ray cover of the year. It does not represent the film, making it look more like a feel-good, straight-to-video rom-com. Watch the movie but don’t look at this too long. Especially not after you see it.)

Short Term 12 was released on Blu-ray and DVD on January 14, 2014
Photo credit: Cinedigm

Synopsis:
Short Term 12 is told through the eyes of Grace (Brie Larson, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, 21 Jump Street), a twenty-something supervisor at a group home for troubled teens. She’s passionate, tough and in love with her boyfriend and co-worker, Mason (John Gallagher Jr., The Newsroom). But Grace’s difficult past, fierce independence - and the arrival of a distraught new girl at the facility - create complications that push Grace and Mason to the brink. In this unique love story the couple comes to embrace a surprising future together, discovering truth and humor in unexpected places.

Special Features:
o Deleted Scenes
o Behind The Scenes Featurette
o Making The Music Featurette
o Cast And Crew Screening Featuring The Shivers
o Short Term 12: The Original Short Film
o Trailers
o Teasers
o Outreach Partners

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com [email protected]