Pacionsbo Absolutely Fantastic

Micah Lloyd Excellent characters with emotional depth. My wife, daughter and granddaughter all enjoyed it...and me, too! Very good movie! You won't be disappointed.

Clarissa Mora The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

Darin One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

jeremy3 Growing up part of my childhood in a small town, this movie struck very hard. The outcast kid, who was considered abnormal and hyperactive. The teachers just consider him a nuisance. The main difference between my upbringing and his was that this was a much poorer neck of the woods. Having been to the Carbondale area once, I was struck how poor the region is. This is a very depressed area, and lives are very rough. It is the America that people don't want to show in Hollywood.The other main difference is that Stevie had roots. He was a salt of the earth American. His family had been there for generations, and that helped him survive. From here it gets to a much more complicated and controversial area - pedophilia. Stevie is accused of molesting a little girl. It is almost certain that he is guilty. However, like many disturbed individuals, he is a real charmer. You have a hard time disliking him for his spirit and uniqueness.However, in the end, the charm fades. He is an adult in a child's body. Hopelessly ruined by a family that didn't raise him properly, he is now an anti-social wreck. Prison is the only option for him. I guess the main thing that struck me was his mother. She was finding religion, but it was obvious that she had no conscience or regret about the alleged neglect and child abuse that Stevie was the victim of. She is not that likable, because she seems to see herself as a victim. She uses religion to cover up her role in creating what Stevie had become in an adult.Still, there is a very positive side to this. Despite all the horror of being labelled a sex offender, the town does not universally react in a mobbish way. Some people are very angry and alienated by him. Still, another simple young man, who has hard time finding work, befriends him and goes fishing with him. It is heartening to see that not all people are judgemental. Particularly saintly, is the woman who ran the youth home that he was staying at. She is a really caring soul.

webmaster-1476 ****** WARNING: POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD ******** The story of Stevie. An out-of-control kid who's own mother won't tell him who his real father is. He's a kid from a religious conservative family living in a trailer that was shown "tough love" or no love at all during his childhood. He was put up for adoption and that's when his big brother came into his life. The happiest year. Ten years later the big brother is a film maker come to find out what happened to Stevie.This is where the movie begins. In my humble opinion Stevie turned into a red neck petty criminal with a heart of gold. He tries to act tough but as the details of his life are revealed a picture of a loveless existence is revealed. It makes me think what Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh might have become without money. He's funny at times but the things he says are so extreme that they keep getting him in trouble. I feel for him but the comments about hurting people push me away.Excellent movie but sad. I wish I knew where he was today or what happened to him after going to jail.

kwilson-37 This film does not offer easy answers to the problem that is Stevie. It is a scarry sobering look at how on every level, the system and people that should have looked out for this young man failed. It is not a comfortable story and it does not have a happy ending. The people in this mans life should feel guilty for deserting him. But, when should we begin to hold Stephen accountable for his actions and the crime he committed. When does it stop being everyone elses fault. This is an invaluable DVD to add to anyones collection. No longer will you be able to label criminals as animals without thinking first, about what lead to their actions.

legg848 I have not seen this film from the very beginning but caught it pretty near the top. My first gut reaction is that Stevie is a manipulative opportunist with serious problems. The film was very long, editing about forty minutes would have been prudent. I found it difficult to even feel empathy for Stevie but truly warmed to his sister and brother-in-law. One of the highlights of this film was the interview with his two buddies from the "brotherhood." All that was missing were the white sheets. All I could think of was "I hope these people don't vote." If Stevie were someone you could even feel sorry for, like Tanya, it I would give this film a higher ranking. The subject matter was interesting, it provoked emotions in me, and I guess I may be a little judgmental. My bad. Still hope they don't vote.