Trust_ - 2010

Millennium Films, Nu Image Films, Dark Harbor Stories

Directed by David Schwimmer

Cast:

• Will – Clive Owen
• Lynn – Catherine Keener
• Annie – Liana Liberato
• Doug Tate – Jason Clarke
• Gail Friedman – Viola Davis
• Charlie / Graham Weston – Chris Henry Coffey
• Peter – Spencer Curnutt
• Katie – Aislinn DeButch
• Al Hart – Noah Emmerich

Story: A cautionary tale that exposes the reasons for parents to educate their children on the dangers of online relationships. Annie, an innocent fifteen year old with a good family and loving parents, is deceived into thinking she is chatting with a boy her own age. After they have been chatting a while, he tells her he is actually in college. They continue their online relationship until she reveals her parents will be out of town for a weekend, then he asks for a meeting at the local mall where she lives, telling her he will be in town. When she finally meets Charlie, he is much older, but her inexperience allows her to be sucked into his lies and his pretended feelings for her. He convinces her to get into his car, takes her to a motel, and connives her into surrendering her virginity. She is so ashamed she fell for this deception she denies it is rape. The incident comes to light because a friend saw her in the mall with the man and reported it to the school, who called the police. Annie's father is lost in his emotions, and instead of confessing his shame at not knowing what was happening, is focusing on the man instead of his daughter.

Review: I would hope every student in every elementary school in the country would be required to watch this exceptional film. David Schwimmer proves himself as capable behind the camera as in front of it in this story of the internet and what can happen when more information that is prudent is revealed. Clive Owen gives a powerful performance as the father who discovers too late his daughter is the victim of an internet predator. Catherine Keener is equally as powerful as the mother who is trying to keep her family together. Liana Liberato assures us with this performance she will be rising on to many more films. The tone of the film, the tempo, even the photography is beyond reproach and why this wasn't nominated for content alone is beyond me. This is a dark and totally believable film, and the context and content are fitting for this electronic world we live in. Parent or child, you need to see this film if you are an internet user. Rated R for language, sexual situations and innuendo, and some violence, this film will hit you to your core and scare the hell out of you, especially if you are the parent of a teenage girl. Collectible for the family, and loan it to the school for their use.