The Education Of Charlie Banks
Encyclopedia
The Education of Charlie Banks is a 2007 drama film
directed by Limp Bizkit
frontman Fred Durst
and starring Jesse Eisenberg
, Jason Ritter
, Eva Amurri
, and Chris Marquette. It had its world premiere at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival
, where it won the Made in NY Narrative Award given to the best narrative film made in New York
.
Three years later, Charlie (Jesse Eisenberg
) and Danny (Chris Marquette) are college freshmen who are in for a surprise when Mick (Jason Ritter
) shows up for a visit. Does Mick know Charlie was the one who ratted him out? When Mick's stay stretches over the planned weekend, Mick and Charlie begin a game of cat and mouse. Nice one moment, threatening the next, Mick keeps Charlie guessing.
But Mick also begins a strange course of assimilation, donning borrowed cashmere, reading Charlie's books, auditing his classes, and even seeing the girl, Mary (Eva Amurri
), Charlie likes, making Charlie see that he could be all this and more. Soon Charlie begins to wonder if the intellectual caress of higher education can redeem even someone seemingly as far gone as Mick.
, where it won Best New York Narrative. It received a limited North American theatrical release
on March 27, 2009, before being released on DVD three months later on June 30, 2009.
, with the consensus "Unevenness and earnestness mire this otherwise sweet, surprising coming of age drama."
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
directed by Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit is an American rock band from Jacksonville, Florida. Formed in 1995, the group's lineup consists of Fred Durst , Wes Borland , Sam Rivers , John Otto and DJ Lethal . The band achieved mainstream success with their second studio album Significant Other, released in 1999...
frontman Fred Durst
Fred Durst
William Frederick "Fred" Durst is an American musician, director, producer and actor, well known as the frontman of the band Limp Bizkit.-Early life:...
and starring Jesse Eisenberg
Jesse Eisenberg
Jesse Adam Eisenberg is an American actor. He made his screen debut with the comedy-drama television series Get Real from 1999 to 2000...
, Jason Ritter
Jason Ritter
Jason Morgan Ritter is an American actor, son of the late actor John Ritter and actress Nancy Morgan. Ritter is probably best known for his role as Kevin Girardi in the television series Joan of Arcadia and as Sean Walker in the NBC series The Event.-Early life:Ritter was born in Los Angeles,...
, Eva Amurri
Eva Amurri
Eva Maria Livia Amurri is an American actress.- Early life :Amurri was born in New York City, New York, to Italian director Franco Amurri and American actress Susan Sarandon. Her grandfather was television writer Antonio Amurri, and her aunt is television writer Valentina Amurri...
, and Chris Marquette. It had its world premiere at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival
Tribeca Film Festival
The Tribeca Film Festival is a film festival founded in 2002 by Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro and Craig Hatkoff in a response to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the consequent loss of vitality in the TriBeCa neighborhood in Lower Manhattan.The mission of the festival...
, where it won the Made in NY Narrative Award given to the best narrative film made in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Plot
As a kid, Charlie Banks (Steven Hinkle) both admired and feared the charismatic and violent local bully Mick Leary (Miles Chandler); in high school, Charlie witnesses Mick beat up two jocks at a party, leaving the two victims nearly dead. Despite Mick being the buddy of his best friend, Danny (Cain Kerner), Charlie reports Mick to the police.Three years later, Charlie (Jesse Eisenberg
Jesse Eisenberg
Jesse Adam Eisenberg is an American actor. He made his screen debut with the comedy-drama television series Get Real from 1999 to 2000...
) and Danny (Chris Marquette) are college freshmen who are in for a surprise when Mick (Jason Ritter
Jason Ritter
Jason Morgan Ritter is an American actor, son of the late actor John Ritter and actress Nancy Morgan. Ritter is probably best known for his role as Kevin Girardi in the television series Joan of Arcadia and as Sean Walker in the NBC series The Event.-Early life:Ritter was born in Los Angeles,...
) shows up for a visit. Does Mick know Charlie was the one who ratted him out? When Mick's stay stretches over the planned weekend, Mick and Charlie begin a game of cat and mouse. Nice one moment, threatening the next, Mick keeps Charlie guessing.
But Mick also begins a strange course of assimilation, donning borrowed cashmere, reading Charlie's books, auditing his classes, and even seeing the girl, Mary (Eva Amurri
Eva Amurri
Eva Maria Livia Amurri is an American actress.- Early life :Amurri was born in New York City, New York, to Italian director Franco Amurri and American actress Susan Sarandon. Her grandfather was television writer Antonio Amurri, and her aunt is television writer Valentina Amurri...
), Charlie likes, making Charlie see that he could be all this and more. Soon Charlie begins to wonder if the intellectual caress of higher education can redeem even someone seemingly as far gone as Mick.
Cast
- Jesse EisenbergJesse EisenbergJesse Adam Eisenberg is an American actor. He made his screen debut with the comedy-drama television series Get Real from 1999 to 2000...
as Charlie Banks - Jason RitterJason RitterJason Morgan Ritter is an American actor, son of the late actor John Ritter and actress Nancy Morgan. Ritter is probably best known for his role as Kevin Girardi in the television series Joan of Arcadia and as Sean Walker in the NBC series The Event.-Early life:Ritter was born in Los Angeles,...
as Mick Leary - Eva AmurriEva AmurriEva Maria Livia Amurri is an American actress.- Early life :Amurri was born in New York City, New York, to Italian director Franco Amurri and American actress Susan Sarandon. Her grandfather was television writer Antonio Amurri, and her aunt is television writer Valentina Amurri...
as Mary - Chris Marquette as Danny
- Sebastian StanSebastian StanSebastian Stan is a Romanian-born American actor. He is best known for playing Prince Jack Benjamin on the television drama Kings and Carter Baizen on Gossip Girl.-Early life:...
as Leo - Gloria Votsis as Nia
- Dennis BoutsikarisDennis BoutsikarisDennis Boutsikaris is an American two-time Obie-Award winning character actor. He is a Broadway Actor and frequent television guest star and leading man in made-for-TV movies...
as Mr. Banks - Charles ParnellCharles Parnell (actor)Charles Parnell is an American actor best known for being the second actor to portray Police Chief Derek Frye on All My Children. Parnell took over the role previously played by actor William Christian. He joined the cast of the show on September 8, 2005, and made his final appearance on September...
as Assistant District Attorney Worsheck - Josh RichmanJosh RichmanJosh Richman is an American actor, writer, producer and director. He is best known for his work with Guns N' Roses.- Career :His first acting job was a minor role in the science fiction television show V: The Series....
as Professor Gersten - Steven Hinkle as Young Charlie Banks
- Miles Chandler as Young Mick Leary
- Cain Kerner as Young Danny
- Sam DalySam DalySam Daly is an American actor. He is the son of actor Tim Daly and actress Amy Van Nostrand. His aunt is actress Tyne Daly. He is a 2006 graduate of Middlebury College, where he captained the basketball team his senior year.-Feature films:-Television:-References:...
as Owen
Release
The film premiered at the 2007 Tribeca Film FestivalTribeca Film Festival
The Tribeca Film Festival is a film festival founded in 2002 by Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro and Craig Hatkoff in a response to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the consequent loss of vitality in the TriBeCa neighborhood in Lower Manhattan.The mission of the festival...
, where it won Best New York Narrative. It received a limited North American theatrical release
Limited release
Limited release is a term in the American motion picture industry for a motion picture that is playing in a select few theaters across the country ....
on March 27, 2009, before being released on DVD three months later on June 30, 2009.
Reception
The Education of Charlie Banks holds a 48% 'Fresh' rating on review aggregate website Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
, with the consensus "Unevenness and earnestness mire this otherwise sweet, surprising coming of age drama."