KING JACK

US, 2015, 81 minutes, Colour.
Charlie Plummer, Corey Nichols, Christian Madsen, Danny Flaherty, Erin Davie.
Directed by Felix Thompson.

King Jack is a film about a young boy who is not liked, looked down on by his older brother, cared for by his mother. The action takes place during the summer holidays where he wanders about, bike riding, encountering bullies. He is also friendly with two girls who are caught up in the atmosphere of the older boys and their bullying.

Charlie Plummer, in an early role, is very effective as Jack and indicates further success in All the Money in the World and Lean on Pete.

Complications arise when his cousin, younger than he, is to be looked after while his mother is ill. Jack is unwilling but gradually the two bond, Jack at first unable to save the boy from the bullies, the boy then returning to rescue Jack when he is attacked.

A rather grim slice of life reminding audiences of the reality of bullying.

1. A slice of life? The focus on the young boy who was not liked, bullied? How true the experience?

2. The small town, homes, the summer and vacation, the outdoors around the town, indoors in apartments, parties? The musical score?

3. Charlie Plummer as Jack? A convincing performance? His age, experience? Jack and his father, carrying him, giving him the nickname? The end and Harriet making the paper crown for him and is wearing it on the bicycle? His relationship with his mother, her concern about him? His relationship with his older brother, the slinging off? Alone, on his bicycle, the text about photographing himself, the toilet, sending the photo, it being sent around, his embarrassment? His being pursued and bullied by Shane and his two friends? The brutality? His not being able to stand up for himself?

4. His parents, their characters, his brother, family life? The sister and her illness, the phone call, Ben coming to stay? Jack not wanting to look after him, then age 12, pudgy, awkward? Conversation and lack of conversation? They’re playing together, Ben and his skill at baseball and Jack and skilled? Bike riding? Shane and the slinging off at Ben and his boyfriend? The going to the house with the girls, the language, Truth or Dare, kissing, exposing, Ben exposing, Jack refusing, the issue of the kiss? Shane turning up, their having to escape?

5. The boys running away, their taking Ben, tying him up, the paint balls? Jack and his running away, hiding, challenging them, hurrying to find his brother? Tom turning up, the threats to Shane, the past experience of Tom’s violence, his bashing the television set? Rescuing Ben, Ben upset?

6. Jack, been caught by Shane, upstairs, the girl and the seduction scene, thinking it a joke? Jack and his shorts, the brutal bashing by Shane, everybody coming out, not intervening? Ben and his heading with the baseball? Jack, continually getting up, the final collapse?

7. Jack at home, the police, saying he fell off his bike, Tom with him, Ben and his support? The girls arriving, bringing his clothes home, the paper crown?

8. Jake and Ben, the girls, riding the bike – an eventful summer, the experience of brutality, people standing up for themselves? Creating bonds?