Twelve and Holding

R

2005

1 hr. 34 min.

Drama

List

73%

78 Reviews

Tomatometer

79%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Of identical twin brothers Jacob (Conor Donovan) and Rudy, the latter is the more outgoing, serving as de facto leader of their group of friends. The brothers ignite the ire of some local bullies, who come to take revenge, and Rudy dies. Jacob, his parents, friends and the community must find a way to deal with their grief.

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Critics Consensus

This shocking pre-teen drama manages, through realistic performances and a sense of empathy, to avoid exploitation and instead deliver something honest and haunting.

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Laurie S

Hold on. Two little psychopaths chucked petrol bombs into a tree house killing a kid who burned to death and the police didn't get involved! You've got to be kidding me. The evidence was all there. Sorry, but I loathe films that aren't realistic.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

11/07/23

Full Review

StephenPaul C

The greatest 01 hour: and 34 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/26/23

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Audience Member

What an odd movie. While I've long maintained the unpopular opinion that the first episode of Dexter is the only good one, and mostly for Cuesta's beautifully weird direction, his style is still a little too rooted in the TeeVee aesthetic to be truly great. But there is a weird, beguiling rhythm to this movie that had me pretty firmly in its grip, up until some silly third-act plot turns that turned the story from a down-to-earth character study to more of a grand tragedy, which just didn't work for me. But it's still pretty good.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Hardly a top tier entry in the "fucked up coming of age" genre, but an entry all the same, and that's not nothing. The stories start off entwined, but gradually have less and less to do with each other as the film progresses, and one of these three stories, about a boy who eats salad now, feels completely at odds with the rest of the movie. That said, Jeremy Renner does a fantastic job in supporting role, and ups and downs of the tale overall are intriguing enough to merit a recommendation.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Well-done dramedy with excellent performances from the young cast.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This movie was spectacular yet very haunting. It's crazy to think that one event can cause people to grow up so quickly. After a group of young teens witness a friend of theirs being burned to death in a treehouse fire by the local bullies, it changes something in each of them. Unlike most movies made today, this one felt so realistic. I could literally see people acting like they did after the fire. It was kinda unsettling at times. I don't want to go into big details about the movie because I'd hate to spoil anything, but this is one movie surely not to be missed!!! *I love these indie type films. It allows directors to go in any direction they choose, however they are not for everyone and I can understand that.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

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Michael Cuesta

Director

Conor Donovan

Jacob

Jesse Camacho

Leonard Fisher

Annabella Sciorra

Carla Chuang

Zoe Weizenbaum

Malee Chuang

Linus Roache

Jim Carges

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Sam Toy

Empire Magazine

The kids help get the film past its messy, low-budget look, aided by a strong ensemble of familiar adult faces.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 30, 2006

Full Review

Stella Papamichael

BBC.com

It doesn't sound like a barrel of laughs, but [director Michael] Cuesta finds wry humour in tragic situations while at the same time thickening the air with quiet foreboding.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 14, 2006

Full Review

David Jenkins

Time Out

... a film that never quite equals the sum of its many intriguing parts.

Nov 9, 2006

Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

An astonishing, if not flawless, sophomore effort from director Michael Cuesta.

Rated: 3.5/4.0

Sep 24, 2020

Full Review

Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

One of the most exceptional, down to Earth portrayals of childhood and adolescence in the face of tragedy I've ever seen...

Rated: 3.5/4

Sep 19, 2007

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...generally succeeds in spite of its various deficiencies.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 16, 2007

Full Review

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Synopsis

Of identical twin brothers Jacob (Conor Donovan) and Rudy, the latter is the more outgoing, serving as de facto leader of their group of friends. The brothers ignite the ire of some local bullies, who come to take revenge, and Rudy dies. Jacob, his parents, friends and the community must find a way to deal with their grief.

Director: Michael Cuesta
Screenwriter: Michael Cuesta, Anthony S. Cipriano
Rating: R (Some Violence|Sexual Content Involving Minor|Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Rerelease Date (Theaters): May 19, 2006
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 12, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $95.7K
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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