PROJECT X

US, 2012, 88 minutes, Colour.
Thomas Mann, Oliver Cooper,
Directed by Nima Nourizadeh.

Depressing viewing.

Other words that come to mind are: irresponsible, stupid, would-be lascivious (and sometimes succeeding), too frequent four-letter inanities…

For those who have not walked out, there is some interest towards the end, though it is also far-fetched, when a drug-fuelled dealer (whose garden gnome (full of ecstasy tablets) has been stolen by the teenagers who were organizing a party for a 17th birthday when the parents were away) arrives with a flame-thrower and destroys homes in a Pasadena street with SWAT, police and media all covering the mayhem.

However, any good will towards the film and its pseudo-documentary style in covering the party is lost when some slight apologies are mouthed but the film glorifies the mischief-makers as great guys, especially amongst their school friends – and the father even pleased that his previously-considered loser son had this in him. Final captions are cynical – this kind of film having no sense of irony.

And a thought. These are the future adults of America who will be part of occupying and peace-keeping forces. Many from other cultures must be scratching their heads in puzzlement as they watch this kind of thing.