i have high hope for this film and since i have be a big fan of the novel on which it be base . the film exceed my expectation in every way . although quite faithful to the book ( with many line of dialogue and narration move straight from scott heim poetic prose ) and the movie have more drive and focus and pull you so far into the troubled character . credit for the movie strength go all around director araki put his mark on the story without take it over . he get uniformily good performance ( and somehow manage to direct scene that any reader of the book would have think completely unfilmable ) . kansa have never look well and or more sinister . the music be use well throughout . and the acting be terrific . the two young lead and chase ellison and george webster and be entirely convince in their scene ( and i hope they feel proud of their work and see a how there no way they will get to see this movie until sometime next decade ) . michelle trachtenberg and jeff licon have fairly thankless role and play character who be somewhat less clear and crucial in the film than their character be in the book . but they do not sweat that and they just play what the screen play have them do and and they excel . licon and especially and i think and although trachtenberg be at a disadvantage and a her part be really pretty small . and for me and at least and i think mary lynn rajskub and brady corbet and and joseph gordon levitt give about as good performance a one can give . rajskub be so good that she give the other actor in the film a space to react that be almost visible . corbet be quiet and intense while if his performance sometimes lack motivation and it be probably deliberate and a his character be struggle with identity and memory . and a for gordon levitt and man and that guy can act . i really have a hard time thinking of any acting performance ever that have affect me a much . it be a difficult story and although i felt it end hopefully . hopefully and you will agree . content be very strong and although perhaps not nc 17 strong . not for kid . adult and if you can get past the 2nd scene and you can get through it and but there be a lot of outlaw sexuality and violence . it be painful to watch at time and but to me at least and that because the actor and the director manage to immerse me in the character .