The Education of Charlie Banks

This directing debut from Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst won the Made in NY Narrative Award at the Tribeca Film Festival but was a total box office disaster, grossing just fifteen thousand dollars against a five million dollar budget. Jesse Eisenberg plays Charlie Banks, who reports the neighborhood bully Mick (Jason Ritter) to the police after witnessing him savagely beat two athletes at a high school party. Three years later, as a college freshman, Charlie is thrown off balance when Mick shows up unannounced and starts courting Mary, the girl Charlie has feelings for. Durst said in his director's statement that he identified equally with both the bullied Charlie and the bullying Mick, having lived both lives. Critics were split, generally praising Jason Ritter's performance, with some comparing him to a young Ethan Hawke, while criticizing Eisenberg for repeating a familiar type and finding Durst's direction overly earnest and cautious in places. Who it's for: Anyone curious how a rock frontman's first stab at directing turned out, and fans tracking Sebastian Stan's early roles. Who it's not for: Not for viewers seeking real depth on class and bullying, since several critics found the film too safe and predictable.