Twelve and Holding

2006

Twelve and Holding

Critics Consensus

This shocking pre-teen drama manages, through realistic performances and a sense of empathy, to avoid exploitation and instead deliver something honest and haunting.

73%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 77

79%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 19,712
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Movie Info

A trio of troubled suburbanites attempts to come to grips with the personal issues that surface following the tragic death of one of their own in this introspective adolescent drama from L.I.E. screenwriter/director (Michael Cuesta). In the months following the death of Jacob's (Conor Donovan) likeable, athletic twin brother, Rudy (also Donovan), Jacob and friends Malee (Zoe Weizenbaum) and Leonard (Jesse Camacho) struggle to make sense of the unfortunate youth's fiery demise at the hands of local bullies. As Jacob quickly loses himself to revenge fantasies and sets into motion a series of destructive plans designed to destroy the kids responsible for his brother's death, Malee focuses her attention on a dejected patient of her psychotherapist mother, and obese Leonard struggles about weight and health issues with his equally obese mother.
  • Rating:
    R (for some violence and sexual content involving minors, and for language)
  • Genre:
    Drama
  • Directed By:
    Michael Cuesta
  • Written By:
    Anthony Cipriano
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    IFC Films

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Cast

Conor Donovan
as Jacob Carges/Rudy Carges
Jesse Camacho
as Leonard Fisher
Zoe Weizenbaum
as Malee Chuang
Linus Roache
as Jim Carges
Annabella Sciorra
as Carla Chuang
Jeremy Renner
as Gus Maitland
Jayne Atkinson
as Ashley Carges
Tom McGowan
as Patrick Fisher
Marcia DeBonis
as Grace Fisher
Michael Fuchs
as Kenny
Adam LeFevre
as Gabe Artunion
Mark Linn-Baker
as Mr. Farmer
Bruce Altman
as Coach Gilmore
Martin Campetta
as Jeff
Joseph Foster
as Keith Gardner
Tony Roberts
as Doctor
Marcella Lowery
as Nurse
Jodie Markell
as Teacher
Bianca Ryan
as Singing Girl
Jessica Sorto
as Sara Fisher
Julia Ryan
as Funeral Guest No. 1
Terry Urdang
as Funeral Guest No. 2
Robertson Carricat
as Priest
Michael Siravo
as Guitar Guy
Emilio Cuesta
as Kid in Red
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Critic Reviews for Twelve and Holding

All Critics (77) | Top Critics (31) | Fresh (56) | Rotten (21)

View All Critic Reviews (77)

Audience Reviews for Twelve and Holding

  • Apr 19, 2015
    Hardly a top tier entry in the "fucked up coming of age" genre, but an entry all the same, and that's not nothing. The stories start off entwined, but gradually have less and less to do with each other as the film progresses, and one of these three stories, about a boy who eats salad now, feels completely at odds with the rest of the movie. That said, Jeremy Renner does a fantastic job in supporting role, and ups and downs of the tale overall are intriguing enough to merit a recommendation.
    Gimly M Super Reviewer
  • Jul 08, 2012
    Rudy: Our birthday comes once a year and you ask for a hockey mask. You don't even play.  "Do You Know Who Your Kids Are?" Twelve and Holding reminds me a lot of another Indie movie named George Washington. Both are great films about children's loss of innocence surrounding a death of their friend. In Twelve and Holding, we meet four friends. Two of which are twin brothers named Jacob and Rudy. The other two are Malee and Leonard. Some bullies of the four friends go to burn down their tree house, unaware that they are in it. Rudy dies, and the three other children are left, no longer really children, but not adults either.Twelve and Holding is a sad and hypnotic film. It's also extremely engrossing and compelling. The performances by all the young children are solid, and Jeremy Renner is as good here, as he's ever been.  The movie isn't as hard to watch as you would think, and if I described some of the actions of the kids after the death of their friend, it would make you think it would be even harder to watch. The writer and director of Twelve and Holding make the movie a lot easier to watch. They don't go over the top in creating situations that are unrealistic or unwatchable. A few times I thought they were going to take it to far, but they restrained and made the movie all the better because of that restraint.  Twelve and Holding probably isn't going to be a movie you fall in love with. The story is too devastating to make it a movie that you want to watch again and again. What it is though, is a good Indie drama about kids that are supposed to be kids, but can't. Situations in life dictate change, and for these kids that change came on earlier than it should have.  I highly suggest giving Twelve and Holding a look. It's a relatively unknown work that deserves to be seen. It's a shame that movies like Twelve and Holding get pushed aside and aren't seen as frequently as movies that don't even deserve to be made. I've heard this compared to Stand By Me, and it's a fairly accurate comparison. I still think it's more like George Washington, but very few people have seen that one. 
    Melvin W Super Reviewer
  • Sep 05, 2010
    Great Indie drama. Very heartfelt, feel good kind of movie.
    Cynthia S Super Reviewer
  • Mar 17, 2010
    I'm generally not found of films with kids at the center of them, but 12 and Holding is really good. It tackles some really big issues without ever coming off preachy or overbearing. The young actors to a great job (as do the adults). I aspecially liked the storyline around Jeremy Renner's character and the young girl who falls so very hard for him.
    FanGirl B Super Reviewer
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