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.
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As Cool as I Am
Comedy · Drama · 2013
In a small American town, 16-year-old Lucy is left to largely raise herself, managing the household while her immature mother works and her father is away in Canada for months at a time. As her parents' emotional distance intensifies, Lucy explores her own sexuality with her childhood best friend, Kenny.
Movie details
As Cool as I Am
“How do you grow up when your parents haven't?”
2013 Comedy · Drama 1h 32m
Critical arithmetic
One number, for now.
Scores change. Arguments endure.
TMDB
5.9 / 10
Community rating
In a small American town, 16-year-old Lucy is left to largely raise herself, managing the household while her immature mother works and her father is away in Canada for months at a time. As her parents' emotional distance intensifies, Lucy explores her own sexuality with her childhood best friend, Kenny.
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 As Cool as I Am?
For the defence
The Sentimental Softie
“You came to feel something, and you will.”
Read their case For the prosecution
The Cool Ironist
“Feeling things is a little embarrassing.”
Read their objectionThe 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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Thirteen
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Where it lives
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Names above the title
The people responsible.
Cast & crew
Directed by
Max Mayer
Written by
Virginia Korus Spragg
Sarah Bolger
Lucy Diamond
Thomas Mann
Kenny Crauder
James Marsden
Chuck Diamond
Claire Danes
Lainee Diamond
Seth Adkins
Scott Booker
Jeremy Sisto
Guy Karlsburg
Anika Noni Rose
Frances
Court is in session
Put As Cool as I Am on trial.
Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.
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.