JACK

US, 2004, 104 minutes, Colour.
Stockard Channing, Ron Silver, Anton Yelchin, Erich Anderson, Brent Spiner, Wendy Crewson.
Directed by Lee Rose.

Jack is a telemovie about a fifteen-year-old and his struggles with his coming of age as well as his parents’ separation.

Stockyard Channing is strong as the mother. Ron Silver has a complex role as the father who has separated and has acknowledged his homosexuality and has moved in with a partner. Anton Yelchin (Alpha Dog, Charlie Bartlett) is convincing as the young Jack who is supportive of his mother, shocked by his father and wants to hate him. However, he idealises the family of his best friend and discovers tensions within that relationship. In the end, he has to rely on his father and get to know him and understand him better.

The film was written for the screen by A.M. Holmes who wrote the original novel, and directed by Lee Rose who is a writer, producer and director.

1.The social and family issues, developed for a television audience?

2.The American town, homes, school, bowling alleys, restaurants? Audiences identifying with the realism?

3.The strong cast, the focus on Jack, Anton Yelchin’s performance, handling crises?

4.Jack and his story, his age, his father leaving, living with his mother, the puzzle about his father? At school? His infatuation with the girl? Max his best friend? His idealising of Max’s family? The meals with his father, his voice-over and comments, awkwardness? His father telling the story about his relationship? Jack’s reaction? Dislike, hatred and revulsion?

5.Jack’s reaction about sexuality, homosexuality, the stigma, the graffiti on his locker, his fears, men in relationships, imagination, hatred?

6.Anne and her life, her marriage to Paul, the quarrels, the break-up? Paul’s leaving? Her coping? Helping her son, not wanting to take sides? Finally exhausted?

7.Paul and his situation, the past, his search when he was young, his love for Anne and marrying her, their continued friendship? His family? Unhappiness, leaving, Bob as his partner, sharing, coming for the furniture, Anne’s reaction, the meals with Jack? Acknowledging Jack’s being upset? Trying to deal with it?

8.The Burka family, nice, the demanding father, the passive mother, their going away, the violence, leaving, Max’s passive reaction, Jack and his shock, helping the mother, the visits to the house, Anne helping her? The comparisons of life between the two boys? The effect on Jack and their discussions?

9.The girl, her father being gay, his partner, the bowls alley, Jack and his failure, kissing the girl, the discussion? The clash at school? Paul and his bribing Jack to come to meetings because the girl was there?

10.The crisis with the Burka family, his mother being out, phoning his father, discovering a love for his father, understanding, dealing with the situation?

11.Contemporary problems: family, divorce, sexuality, homosexuality, partnerships? A story for audiences to identify with as well as clarify their attitudes and emotions?