Royston Tan seems more interested in directing a 97-minute music video than a story with weight and depth.
Overview
Fast, frenetic, and furious best describe the story of five teenage boys all but abandoned by the system, estranged from any parents, and discarded by life in general. They build a world of there own in which gangs, drugs, fighting, body piercing, self-harm, and even suicide are considered commonplace. The film highlights their harrowing place in time and this small world; where brotherhood is valued above all else. Impressively acted by actual street kids, the movie highlights a gritty side of modern-day Singaporean life.
Director and cast
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
So predictable it could almost be a parody of the genre -- though that would require a sense of humor above and beyond the self-reflexive comedy on display here.
Royston Tan's feature film debut follows five young residents of a public housing project in Singapore.
15 isn't easy to sit through, but there are ample rewards.
The directionless lives on display all too easily translate into a directionless film.
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