Royal stoner Sir Ben Kingsley rules in ‘The Wackness’ – 3 stars ***

By W. H. Bourne

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 6/27/08 – “The spirit and themes of Notorious B.I.G. were my biggest creative influence for the movie,” says writer-director Jonathan Levine. Levine sets the film in New York in 1994 saying, “I suppose I was at my own crossroads in ‘94, for I latched onto this music and never let go.”

Music is a driving force of ‘The Wackness’. Levine says, “Rap music, like New York itself, was at a very different place in ’94. For me, that’s what is so interesting about setting the movie 13 short years ago – assessing those similarities and differences. When we take stock of this recent past, we have a more fully-realized understanding of the present. Or, as Ghostface Killa put it back in the day, ‘if you forget where you come from, you never gonna make it where you’re going.’ That sentence encapsulates a lot of what making this movie meant to me.”

The soundtrack for “The Wackness” will definitely take you back in time. Levine says, “For me, hip hop was at its best in ‘94: at its most creative and most authentic.” Great selections include Nas’ ‘The World is Yours’, R. Kelly’s ‘Bump and Grind’, and Wu-Tang Clan’s ‘Tearz’. It also includes Grammy award winning single ‘Summertime’ by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. Levine says, “Before Will Smith was the biggest movie star in the world, he was The Fresh Prince. I remember the video for this song debuting on NBC after an episode of ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.’ The sample, and Smith’s laid-back rhyming style, perfectly capture that lazy summer feeling that serves as the backdrop for Luke and Stephanie’s relationship.”

Nickelodeon fans of ‘The Amanda Show’ or ‘Drake and Josh’ will be surprised by Josh Peck’s range and performance in ‘The Wackness’. Peck nails Luke Shapiro, a depressed drug dealer who graduates high school with suicide as his only plans for the future. He trades drugs for therapy with shrink Dr. Jeffrey Squires and falls in love with Squires’ stepdaughter, Stephanie.

“I had a crystal-clear image of who Stephanie was to me in my life. You know, they say acting isn’t therapy, but it can be a great way to get through shit,” says Peck. “I came into the movie a bit heartbroken from stuff that went down in my own life.” Peck says, “By the end of the movie, I had a much better perspective on my life through Luke’s eyes. It was great to be able to bring out these emotions every day and for me to be able to put them to use, instead of welling up from some sappy John Mayer song on the radio. It was a great luxury I was afforded. I think Luke is just pretty damn cool. I definitely was proud to play this kid, and to be in his skin.”

Audiences will easily recognize Olivia Thirlby, last seen as Ellen Page’s best friend in ‘Juno’, who plays the captivating Stephanie Squires in ‘The Wackness’. Levine says, “Originally when I wrote the script, Stephanie was like the ‘F**k You’ to every girl who dumped me when I was at that age. The character was definitely a lot less appealing on the page. But Olivia injected the character with such humanity.”

Academy award winner Sir Ben Kingsley is the crown jewel of ‘The Wackness’. His portrayal as psychiatrist stoner Dr. Jeffrey Squires is a unique addition to his collection of stellar character performances ranging from Gandhi to Otto Frank. Levine says this about Kingsley, “He’s just an amazing actor. He gave this distinctly ballsy performance, a strange concoction.”

‘X-men 3′ star Famke Janssen, ‘Weeds’actress Mary’Kate Olsen, and rapper Method Man round out the supporting cast. Levine is engrossed in the music of ‘The Wackness’. The soundtrack features ‘The What’, “a track from Notorious B.I.G.’s ’94 debut album, ‘Ready to Die.’ It features a duet with Wu-Tang Clan member Method Man, who is seen in the film (playing Percy, Luke’s Rastafarian drug supplier) in the scene over which this song plays.”

Levine’s attention to detail regarding the scoring is incredible. Unfortunately, the film falls short in inconsistencies with the cinematography, lighting, and editing. Choices that may have been stylistic are down right annoying including an outdoor shower scene that’s painful to the eyes. Peck’s performance would have been so much more enjoyable if we could have seen his eyes or his facial expressions. But Kingsley and the incredible cast carry this dark comedy making audiences forgiving of these technical issues. It’s not surprising that with such a great script and fantastic performances that ‘the Wackness’ was nominated for the Grand Jury Award and won Audience Choice Award at Sundance this year. “Funny and moving, ‘The Wackness’ is an offbeat tale of two lost souls stumbling towards maturity.”

‘The Wackness’
Running Time: 1 hr. 10 min.
Release Date: July 3rd, 2008 (USA)
Rated R for pervasive drug use, language and some sexuality
Distributors: Sony Pictures Classics