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Beginning with the funding of a dead body, co-writer/director Justin Lin has brought quite an amazing picture to the screen. It’s the story of Ben, an overachieving teenager from Orange County, California. He’s extremely intelligent, but is weighed down by the pressures of his parents wanting him to attend an Ivy League school. To “relieve” the pressure, he gets involved in petty crimes with his friends. As a handful of teenagers, they become more than a group. It’s more like a gang. Now Ben’s life is out of control. He’s into drugs, and committing more than just petty crimes.
I cherished the realism that this film brought. The dialogue is right on the money for this age group. I have a hard time believing teen films when no one has anything remotely plausible to say. But bringing in those speaking lines, and combining it with talented young actors, the story now becomes believable. What the movie is showing is that Ben’s character is being pressured by his parents. Okay, that’s fine, but where’s the parents. The film lacks their presence. I felt that these kids are getting screwed up because they have to authority over them.
“Better Luck Tomorrow” looks to be an average film. But Justin Lin has urgency to the camera and to the storytelling. It’s almost to the point of rushed, but he keeps it well paced. This is told in a disturbing style, not holding back, always letting us see what we don’t want to see. I find that very bold for a young director like this.
Although the film is stylish, it can’t be compared to Tarantino’s work (as some are doing) because it’s nothing like a Tarantino film. It’s stylish, yes, but it’s always skillful. And this is only the second film by Lin. I hope this guy has about 20 more films under his belt.
Fast paced, well acted, and directed even better, “Better Luck Tomorrow” is shocking and gripping, and yet always telling a story. It never loses sight of what it’s trying to do. And I find that admirable. *** ½