The Education of Charlie Banks

The Education of Charlie Banks is a 2007 drama film directed by Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst, produced by Straight Up Film's Marisa Polvino and starring Jesse Eisenberg, Jason Ritter, Eva Amurri, Gloria Votsis, 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 City. It is Durst's directorial debut.

Plot

As a kid, Charlie Banks (Jesse Eisenberg) both admired and feared the charismatic and violent local tough Mick Leary (Jason Ritter); in high school, Charlie witnesses Mick beat up two jocks at a party, leaving the two victims near death. Despite Mick being the buddy of his best friend, Danny (Chris Marquette), Charlie reports Mick to the police.

Three years later, Charlie and Danny are college freshmen who are in for a surprise when Mick shows up for a visit. Though claiming to be visiting for the weekend, Mick moves into the two friends' dorm and begins borrowing their clothing, attending their classes, reading their books, and flirting with a woman (Eva Amurri) that Charlie has a crush on. Charlie begins to wonder if his friend has changed or if he is plotting a fiendish revenge against Charlie for turning him in to the police.

Cast

• Jesse Eisenberg as Charlie Banks
• Jason Ritter as Mick Leary
• Eva Amurri as Mary
• Gloria Votsis as Nia
• Chris Marquette as Danny
• Sebastian Stan as Leo
• Dennis Boutsikaris as Mr. Banks
• Charles Parnell as Assistant District Attorney Worsheck
• Josh Richman as Professor Gersten
• Steven Hinkle as Young Charlie Banks
• Miles Chandler as Young Mick Leary
• Cain Kerner as Young Danny
• Sam Daly as Owen

Release

The film premiered at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival, where it won Best New York Narrative.^[1] It received a limited release in North America on March 27, 2009, before being released on DVD three months later on June 30, 2009.^[2]

Reception

The Education of Charlie Banks holds a 45% 'Rotten' rating on review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus "Unevenness and earnestness mire this otherwise sweet, surprising coming of age drama."^[3]

References

External links

• The Education of Charlie Banks at the Internet Movie Database
• The Education of Charlie Banks at AllMovie
• The Education of Charlie Banks at Box Office Mojo
• The Education of Charlie Banks at Rotten Tomatoes