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Education of Charlie Banks, The
EMAILPRINTAnchor Bay Entertainment

Mixed or average reviews
Based on 9 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 4 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie >
Movie Info
Genre(s): Drama
Written by: Peter Elkoff
Directed by: Fred Durst
Release Date:
Theatrical: March 27, 2009
Running Time: 100 minutes, Color
Origin: USA
Summary
RATING: R for pervasive language, some violence, sexual content, and drug and alcohol use
Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Jason Ritter, Chris Marquette, Eva Amurri, Sebastian Stan, and Gloria Votsis
Charlie Bank's sheltered world at his Ivy League campus is shaken when Mick, an old acquaintance with a violent past, unexpectedly shows up at his dorm room. Intrigued by Charlie's privileged lifestyle, the charismatic Mick quickly wins over Charlie’s friends and his crush, Mary as he seamlessly integrates himself into Charlie’s life. Unnerved yet also in awe of Mick's easy charm, Charlie's unresolved feelings of jealousy, admiration and fear – as well as an unspoken secret between the two—threatens to come to a head with ruinous consequences. Set in the early '80's against the backdrop of Greenwich Village's rough and tumble playgrounds and an elite academic institution in Upstate New York, The Education of Charlie Banks is a stirring coming-of-age story about trusting your instincts, your friends and yourself. (Strong Heart Pictures)
Also On The Web: Internet Movie Database Official Studio Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
The Hollywood Reporter Michael Rechtshaffen
Although the impressively acted ensemble piece occasionally gets tripped up by Peter Elkoff's overtly literate script, it travels in some unexpected, thoughtful directions.
Read Full Review >Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman
Ritter, who's like the young Ethan Hawke on a bender of violence, is an actor to watch.
Read Full Review >Film Threat Scott Mendelson
A film that succeeds at being good without really succeeding in being worthwhile.
Read Full Review >The New York Times Jeannette Catsoulis
Probes class consciousness with rather more sensitivity than originality.
Read Full Review >The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Liam Lacey
What doesn't work so persuasively is Elkoff's script, particularly the overuse of voice-over.
Read Full Review >Los Angeles Times Robert Abele
Too often Durst's direction is overly earnest, heavy in long takes, atmosphere wise but scene foolish.
Read Full Review >Salon.com Stephanie Zacharek
There's enough sweetness, and enough just-under-the-surface intelligence, in The Education of Charlie Banks to suggest that Durst may have a future as a filmmaker.
Read Full Review >New York Daily News Joe Neumaier
Another nicely understated performance from Jesse Eisenberg anchors this shambling drama.
Read Full Review >Village Voice Vadim Rizov
Durst and Elkoff deliver a nuanced scenario of class assimilation and resentment, then flub the ending.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this movie is 7.0 (out of 10) based on 4 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Jay H gave it a6:
Good story, appealing performances from Jesse Eisenberg and Eva Amurri. It does lack focus sometimes but overall the film works.
Kathy S. gave it an8:
This is a thoughtful, sometimes witty, sometimes tense little movie with a slight sense of foreboding that kept me on the edge of my seat. I'd like to see a lot more from Jesse Eisenberg. I loved him in this and in "Adventureland." I hope he gets a lot of roles in different movies like this. Jason Ritter was a revelation.
Mitch S gave it a7:
This was a pretty decent little movie, but the incredible aspect of the film is Jason Ritter's performance as the absolutely brutal sociopath from the city who invades the little college town. When I saw his name in the opening credits, I never would have thought that he's play such a menacing role. That being said, the movie's true weakness was Jesse Eisenberg, who was difficult to watch for two hours with all of his eccentricities.
