Thumbsucker

Thumbsucker (2005) is a bizarre film about addiction. Actually, it is an fairly uplifting film about addiction. It might seem like an odd thing to say, but it was very well done and I smiled when the credits rolled. Lou Taylor Pucci as Justin Cobb was very good in a role that actually required quite a bit from him.

When the movie starts, Justin is a introverted young man, who sucks his thumb when put into tense situations he can't deal with. It is an addiction in many ways and no matter how much he wants to change, he can not. After a hypnotism makes him unable to suck his thumb, he is quickly introduced to Ritalin. Quickly Justin becomes some one else entirely. He is an attentive and gifted debater. He can convince almost anyone of anything. Justin finally thinks he is happy. He has changed who he is.

Eventually someone bests him in an argument. He gives up Ritalin because he doesn't like who he has changed into. The next addiction is marijuana and then sex. Each ending with its own realization that nothing he does to change himself will be satisfying. By the final scene when he wakes sucking his thumb again, one feels he has found himself. Sure he may be addicted to something, but everyone is, and his can't actually harm anyone.

The other really remarkable performance of note is Vincent D'Onofrio as Justin's father. A hulking former football player who doesn't understand his son. He can't talk to his son; he can't talk to his wife. He has a surprising revelation near the end of the movie that made me rethink his whole character. It was very well done. Vince Vaughn and Tilda Swinton acted well but they weren't as interesting.

I only had one lasting issue with the film. Justin lies to get into college and just goes. Although I rooted for Justin throughout his troubles, I found that point hard to get past. I expected him not to go to the college he cheated to get into, but he does. There was no karmic justice. In the end I had to let it go, because, when I thought about it, people lie every day and never deal with the consequences.