Short Term 12 (2013)

Let me say this right off the bat: this is one of my favorite films of 2013. I don’t remember it ever being in theaters, and am not even sure how I heard about it. But I’m happy it found its way into my Netflix queue. It’s smartly written, well acted, emotionally touching, and well worth your 96 minutes. 

The movie’s about a group of 20-somethings, who work at a center for “underprivileged kids.” They’re caretakers who are less than nurses, and definitely not therapists, but certainly more than orderlies. They describe their role as being “the people who are there to create a safe place for the residents.” They not only keep the peace and enforce the rules (“no swearing”), but also try to show residents a little kindness in the process.

Short Term opens with a scene outside the facility (called “Short Term 12”) one morning, where a small group of current staff members are welcoming a new recruit (played by Rami Malek; Ain’t Them Bodies Saints, The Master, Oldboy) to the fold. John Gallagher Jr (known mostly for his TV work, like HBO’s the Newsroom, but also Woody Allen’s Larry David-vehicle Whatever Works) plays Mason, a facility veteran who’s as patient and understanding with the teens as he is compassionate.

As he’s telling the group a charming but embarrassing story, one of the center’s clients runs screaming from the building. The staff has to get him before he reaches the front gates; if he gets off the grounds, they can’t legally intervene.

Mason lives with Grace, the manager of the caretakers. She’s played by the appealing Brie Larson (the Spectacular Now, Don Jon, 21 Jump Street). Grace goes far-and-beyond for the kids, treating them with respect, tenderness and empathy. She feels deeply for them. This isn’t just a job for her.

Mason and Grace are clearly fond of one another, but at the same time the relationship is struggling. Grace is emotionally isolated for unknown reasons, creating distance between them. As much as Mason wants her to open up, she just can’t. 

The residents are an assortment of variously troubled, but generally sweet kids: Sammy (Alex Calloway) is the kid who ran out at the beginning. He’s passive, and enjoys playing with his sisters dolls, but otherwise seems a fairly normal teenager. Marcus (Lakeith Lee Stanfield) is a brooding African-American teenager, who’s about to turn 18. He’s struggling with the fact that when he does, he inevitably has to leave the safety and stability of the center. Luis (Kevin Hernandez) likes to sleep late, and torment Marcus by talking trash on the whiffle ball field.

One day a new resident is admitted, a young teenage girl named Jayden (Kaitlyn Dever). She’s the daughter of a friend of the center’s head therapist, who’s promised to take good care of her. Withdrawn and angry, Jayden’s hiding something from her past. Grace takes a special interest in the girl, trying to break through her defenses, with little luck.

Larsen is unusually good here. Her commanding performance as Grace is multi-layered and charismatic. Every time she's on screen, Grace is the one we’re watching. Gallagher, too, is especially skilled. He’s so kind and decent, in fact, that we’re rooting for things to work out between him and Grace.

Newcomer writer/director Destin Cretton fills Short Term 12 with sensitivity and pathos. He takes what could’ve felt like an after-school special and makes it feel unique. The film’s characters feel like real people, not caricatures or archetypes. Their actions are neither predictable or clichéd. Neither do they behave in ways merely meant to further the plot.

There’s nothing overly flashy about Short Term 12. It’s just winsome.