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Parents' Guide to

Twelve

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Bleak, intense look at the high life of NYC's young elites.

Movie R 2010 117 minutes
Twelve Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

age 15+

Based on 2 parent reviews

age 16+

For people who have no lives!

Terrible, terrible film. All about drugs mainly, told in a very poor & worthless story. This film is aimed towards teens and I hate how it tries to pull them in, it'll have them thinking drugs are cool and everyone who wants to be "in" has to do them. A very bad influence on the younger generation. We need to lift people UP not drag them down with mind controlling substances! Definitely pass on this garbage.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
age 13+

This title has:

Too much sex
Great messages
Great role models

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (2 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

It's a powerful film, but it's peopled with so many characters that it's hard to keep track of all their issues and personal dramas, let alone care. TWELVE certainly has the right look for its subject mater -- and that's not a reference to the conspicuously consumed and chicer-than-chic outfits that its private school types are wearing (though it does get those right, too). Cinematography-wise, the film admirably melds grittiness and slickness with its blown-out white, inky black, and dark-jewel-toned images. Plot-wise, there's plenty to draw viewers in, too; grief -- Mike's over his mother's death, and most of the kids' over their parents' deep neglect -- suffuses everything.

But, oh, the heavy-handedness! It all begins with woeful voiceover narration delivered in (naturally) a gravelly voice -- courtesy of Kiefer Sutherland -- that tells viewers everything we need to know. So why should we bother to watch? The lines themselves are well-written, but they sound self conscious, essentially announcing, "This is edgy stuff." (The Nick McDonell novel on which it's based fares much better.) Crawford's White Mike is a darker role than his Nate in Gossip Girl, but given the movie's setting, it doesn't feel like he's stretching too much. Ultimately, Twelve feels like Gossip Girl Gone Wild.

Movie Details

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