Movie Review: Hesher

Hesher 

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Rainn Wilson, Natalie Portman, Devin Brochu, Piper Laurie, John Carroll Lynch, Audrey Wasilewski, Brendan Hill 

Director: Spencer Susser 

The Last Picture Company, CatchPlay, Nu Image, Corner Store, Handsome Charlie films, American Work,  USA, 2010.

T.J. (Devin Brochu) is a young boy who has lost his mother in an accident. He lives with his depressed father Paul (Rainn Wilson) and grandmother Madeleine (Piper Laurie) whose health is not good. One day he meets long-haired guy named Hesher (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who has self-made tattoos. 

T.J.'s and his whole family are depressed

(In Urbandictionary.com one definition of hesher is:
"Hesher can be generally described as a grungy, long-haired person with a "still stuck in the '80s" image. Usually seen wearing leather motorcycle or denim jacket full of band patches, torn acid-washed jeans and an '80s rock t-shirt. Likes to listen to some heavy metal tunes while riding an old school van. Characterized by an outlaw attitude, probably drinks alcohol and smokes weed. Similar in appearance to a thrasher.") 

So true to the definition, Hesher has a rusty van and he lives in empty buildings. Because T.J.'s stumbling into his dwelling attracts the attention of police, Hesher is forced to escape. T.J. is bullied at school by Dustin (Brendan Hill) whose father is an used car dealer. Hesher does not directly help T.J. but he vandalizes Dustin's car. Dustin beats T.J. but T.J. is saved by grocery store cashier Nicole (Natalie Portman).

Nicole does not like being called "Lady"

Then T.J. notices that Hesher has moved in his house and threatens to hurt his family if T.J. does no co-operate. Hesher is vulgar and profane (his parables often involve some weird sex acts) but T.J.'s family tolerates him. Hesher also likes to burn things so he burns down Dustin's car. T.J. has a little crush with Nicole, but that does not go so well. Despite Hesher's anarchistic behaviour he has a soft side and in his own style he helps T.J.'s family to recover from the sorrow of losing loved ones. 

T.J. and his father have a new house-guest

Hesher is not content with TV channel selection

In the movie Hesher acts as the implementer of T.J.'s hidden desires, but T.J. must also learn to control the impulses not to go to far. The movie is an unconventional and darkly funny story about overcoming loss and grief. The excellent heavy metal soundtrack has songs by Metallica and Motörhead.

Let's burn Dustin's car!

Hesher joking

Rating: Good