Norman

Run Time: 97min

Florida Film Festival Screening:
April 15 at 1:30pm at Enzian (Director in attendance)
Director: Jonathan Segal
Dropps:7.5/10

The high school experience has different connotations for everyone. For some it was the best time of their lives – being prom queen, winning the big game, and making lifelong friendships. For others, it is just a stepping stone of traditional awkwardness that everyone must go through to become a functioning human being. Then there are the ones that truly have a hard time and would really rather not be a part of it at all.

In the film Norman, we follow a high school senior that is not so well adjusted in the school atmosphere. He has thoughts of suicide, his only friend, James, makes him feel like a burden, he has lost his mother, resulting in his new role running the family home. One day when Norman’s world is crashing down, James and Norman get into an argument on the way to school. To just get James to shut up, Norman lies and tells his friend that he is dying. Unfortunately news gets spread about his “condition” around school and he must go along with the situation. Will he be able to keep up the charade with all the pressure that he is under? Can he continue to lie to the new girl in his life that actually seems to be interested in him?

The film stars Dan Byrd in the title role of Norman. He is best known for his role in the television show Cougar Town playing Courtney Cox’s son and appeared in last year’s Easy A. With some of the other roles that he has portrayed in the past, it is obvious that he is suited for the awkward and sarcastic character of Norman, but luckily he also has some emotional range that hasn’t been on display in his previous work.

There are some heavy-hitters in the supporting cast, including Adam Goldberg (A Beautiful Mind, Saving Private Ryan), who was cast as Norman’s teacher, and Richard Jenkins as Norman’s father. Usually Goldberg is cast as an outright sarcastic character, just like Byrd, but in Norman he is also a mentor and guiding hand. His sincerity in wanting the character to actually succeed, along with get out of his comfort zone, reminds you of that one favorite teacher that got on your nerves but you still respected.
Richard Jenkins is fantastic as Norman’s father. His mix of high and low moments really translates the condition that he many people have to deal with on a daily basis. Also, the times that Jenkins is able to revel in joy even when his character is in pain, helps the audience see that there is always something you can find to be happy about, no matter what the circumstance.

With the excellent performances in this well-written story, Norman is a film that is easy to like. Even though there is pain and sadness, you are able to see glimpses of the human condition in a nearly raw form. This is a film that you should check out in theaters, or on DVD if it doesn’t reach the theaters in your area.
-Ashlyn Williams