LUV

The program for the 2012 Seattle International Film Festival selection states that this shy 13-year-old boy learns some harsh lessons. My main concern was: What did he really learn over the course of this violent, bloody day? (This film is not yet rated.) After discussing this with other audience members, we were unclear....

We watched:

• Michael Rainey Jr. ("Un Altro Mondo" for which he learned to speak Italian) is our hero, living with his grandmother and dazzled by his smooth-talking, fine-dressing, handsome ex-con uncle, who helps him ditch school for the day.
• Common ("New Year's Eve") is slick Uncle Vincent who refuses to work for anyone else, he wants to be his own boss. Since he got out of prison, he hasn't made many friends, so he takes his hero- worshiping little nephew along to "learn the ropes."
• Dennis Haysbert ("The Unit") is one of the brothers Uncle Vincent visits with his wide-eyed nephew in tow.
• Danny Glover ("Mysteria") is in charge of the deal that allegedly will make Uncle Vincent rich enough to start his own crab shack on the waterfront in Baltimore.
• Michael Kenneth Williams (Omar in "The Wire") is a Baltimore cop who is hot on the trail of Uncle Vincent and his nervous nephew.
• Lonette McKee ("Dream Street") is our little hero's grandmother. She knows her son is lying in his teeth even as she signs the papers for that second mortgage.

As this violent day draws to a close, our thirteen year old has learned how to wear a suit, shoot a gun and drive a car. I realize he's still a child, but when I considered his situation just before the final credits, I'm afraid he might have learned the wrong lessons.

If you see this one, please let me know what you think.