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The Art of Getting By

The Art of Getting By

Drama · Romance · 2011

George, a lonely and fatalistic teen who's made it all the way to his senior year without ever having done a real day of work, is befriended by Sally, a popular but complicated girl who recognizes in him a kindred spirit.

Movie details

The Art of Getting By

“The toughest lesson is love.”

2011 Drama · Romance 1h 23m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.6 / 10

Community rating

George, a lonely and fatalistic teen who's made it all the way to his senior year without ever having done a real day of work, is befriended by Sally, a popular but complicated girl who recognizes in him a kindred spirit.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Art of Getting By?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Gavin Wiesen

Written by

Gavin Wiesen

Freddie Highmore

Freddie Highmore

George Zinavoy

Emma Roberts

Emma Roberts

Sally Howe

Michael Angarano

Michael Angarano

Dustin

Elizabeth Reaser

Elizabeth Reaser

Charlotte Howe

Alicia Silverstone

Alicia Silverstone

Ms. Herman

Sasha Spielberg

Sasha Spielberg

Zoe

Marcus Carl Franklin

Marcus Carl Franklin

Will

Court is in session

Put The Art of Getting By on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Sentimental Softie

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Cool Ironist

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.