Product Description

The Education of Charlie Banks, which marks the directorial debut of Limp Bizkit's front-man Fred Durst, is a riveting tale about college students learning to deal with life, love, and ultimately facing their fears. This coming-of-age drama spans from the playgrounds of Greenwich Village to the idyllic greens of Vassar College.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #35711 in DVD
• Brand: ANCHOR BAY ENT.
• Released on: 2009-06-30
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 100 minutes

Features

• EDUCATION OF CHARLIE BANKS, THE (DVD MOVIE)

Amazon.com
The nervous charisma of indie leading man Jesse Eisenberg (The Squid and the Whale, Adventureland) carries The Education of Charlie Banks, a story of doomed ambition, hopeless yearning, and lingering guilt. When teenaged Charlie Banks (Eisenberg) witnessed a handsome bully named Mick (Jason Ritter, Freddy Vs. Jason) beat up two other boys, he tells the police--but then, feeling like a rat, withdraws his testimony so that Mick gets released. A few years later, when Mick suddenly appears at Charlie’s dorm for a visit, Charlie lives in dread that his betrayal will be revealed. But as Mick successfully woos the girl Charlie’s in love with, Charlie and Mick grown enmeshed in mutual envy and reluctant admiration. The Education of Charlie Banks aspires to be a preppy version of The Great Gatsby (just to make that clear, the characters twice make references to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel), peppered with philosophical allusions to Hannah Arendt and Jacques Derrida. Unfortunately, despite Charlie and Mick’s backstory, these kids just don’t have enough of a past to seem driven or haunted--they just flounder like any other bunch of boozing, horny college students. Mick comes across as a junior-varsity Tom Ripley, more stalker than star-crossed. Still, it’s a surprisingly smooth-flowing movie from Fred Durst, the former lead singer of rap-metal band Limp Bizkit. Also featuring Eva Amurri (Saved!). --Bret Fetzer

Get to Know the Cast From The Education of Charlie Banks

Eva Amurri (Mary)

Jason Ritter (Mick)

Jesse Eisenberg (Charlie)

Stills from The Education of Charlie Banks  (Click for larger image)

Review
Durst effectively showcases in Ritter the anything's-possible elements roiling in Mick. --Robert Abele, LA Times

Review
Sincere performances...and clever writing. Mr. Durst keeps his eyes on details. --Jeannette Catsoulis, NYT

Customer Reviews

Average "coming of age" film
"What's the point of this movie?" Honestly, this was the one thought that kept going through my mind. I found it pointless, slow and a bit unfocused.

This is a "coming of age" movie that focuses on the relationship between Charlie Banks, a nerdy and sensitive kid, and Mick, a bully and friends with Danny, Charlie's roommate and childhood friend. Mick shows up one day at the university Charlie and Danny attend ad stays for about a month. Charlie and Mick's relationship is shown to evolve to a sort of friendship albeit always strained.

The story is told from Charlie's point of view, and I could have cared less. I would have preferred Mick's point of view, it would have been more interesting.

This movie is a social study, a character story and a setting study. Mick, a self-proclaimed blue collar character, experiences the differences in social status. The setting is just as much part of the story as the rest of the characters, as it is instrumental in bringing about changes to Mick showing him the possibilities of what could be.

The cinematography was superb but the direction was all over the place. The acting sometimes fell flat, especially for Eva Amurri. Frankly, I was more interested in Gloria Votsis' character (Nia) and would have preferred if she were more central to the story.

Although this is an interesting story with a lot of potential, it could have been better with a little more editing. The featurette is the only extra worth talking about as it explains the basis behind the movie and the motivations of the characters. The rest of the extras are the audio commentary and trailers. Overall, it was ok, and recommend you watch if you like books such as The Catcher in the Rye.

DVD case is an VIVA Eco-Box, which reduces the amount of packaging and impact on the environment.

Simply put - "nothing Special"
I received this DVD through Amazon's Vine program and have had it for a while before watching it. I'm not sure why I chose it but I do like - and review - "independent" cinema..

Well, I set aside time to watch it and really didn't grab my attention. It's another "coming of age" film and I thought the direction was sloppy and acting just "okay". There are lots of other reviews of the film here so I won't waste your time with a long review. It was a long movie and just didn't stand out in any way.

Steve Ramm
"Anything Phonographic"

Please Get Mick Into An Anger Management Class Before He Kills Someone!
Have you ever wondered what happened to your school's class bully? Watch "The Education of Charlie Banks" and you'll learn what may have happened to him. Meet streetwise, street tough Mick Leary (Jason Ritter of "Swimfan" "Freddy vs. Jason" and "The Wicker Man"); he is from the proverbial wrong side of the tracks. Mick has a following of friends who think he's real cool. As a child, he mercilessly beat up the other boys on the playground. Eventually he grows up to assault football jocks at preppy high school parties.

An adorable nerd, Charlie Banks (Jesse Eisenberg of Wes Craven`s "Cursed") is from a caring middle class family; he witnesses Mick nearly kill the two jocks. Charlie is willing to testify against him in court; however, he learns that his wealthy friend Danny idolizes Mick and he recounts his testimony. Years later, Danny and Charlie are rooming at an Ivy League university and Mick appears, needing a place to stay. He tries to assimilate with Danny's wealthy friends, managing to impress them and steal Charlie`s girlfriend Mary during the process.

"The Education of Charlie Banks" is a complex, psychological drama that unnerved me. Even when Mick and his newfound friends are having fun and enjoying life, I felt tense and nervous. I kept waiting for Mick to explode, revealing his true inner self. Eventually, his anger is unleashed and all of Danny's friends become targets of Mick's uncontrollable violence. The film abruptly turns from "coming of age" drama to psychological thriller that borders on horror. The ending is rather shocking when dark secrets are finally revealed.

The acting from all the leads is wonderful, the photography is beautiful, and Fred Durst's directorial debut is an excellent one. The viewer can't help but feel an emotional attachment to the various characters which Durst brings vividly to life in this unique film. Not only does Charlie receive an education, but the viewer will also - an education in honesty, forgiveness and acceptance. Most of all, the viewer will learn that one must control his/her anger if one is to keep their friends.

Once again, Anchor Bay Entertainment has released an exceptional DVD package. "The Education of Charlie Banks" is presented in its widescreen theatrical aspect ratio of 1.78:1. English subtitles have been provided. There are audio commentary and a "making of" featurette titled "Conversations Behind The Education of Charlie Banks" which consists of interesting interviews from the cast and crew.

Recently, Anchor Bay has released an entire series of emotionally packed dramas that are quite unique and highly recommended. Some of them are inspirational while others are provocative. Titles in this series include "The Visitor," "The Guitar," "Last Chance Harvey" and "Henry Poole Is Here."