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Charlie Bartlett one of the Overlooked Gems from the Top Half of '08

Wed, 9 Jul 2008 16:34:44 PDT

Cinematical has posted the top seven overlooked films from the first half of 2008. 'Charlie Bartlett' took top honors. Directed by Jon Poll, the film stars Robert Downey Jr. and Anton Yeltchin as a young teen who gains popularity by selling perscription drugs at school.

"...I'll clamber out on a limb and call Charlie Bartlett the most valuable movie for young teenagers this decade (despite its R rating)..."

Read the full article here.

Film tells story about prescription drug use

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:08:15 PDT

The Fresno Bee has posted an interview with 'Charlie Bartlett' director Jon Poll. The film has just been released on DVD. He talks about prescription drug use and abuse in schools, and discusses working with Robert Downey Jr.

"...One of the first things he said was, 'I know this film is about another character, and I am here to support that character. I know how I fit into the movie.' He was very brave about dealing with issues of his own and how they are reflected back through the film..."

Read the full review here.

The High School comedy comes to DVD

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:05:13 PDT

Crave Online has posted a 9/10 review of the 'Charlie Bartlett' DVD. The film was directed by Jon Poll, and stars Robert Downey Jr. and Anton Yelchin as Charlie, a teen kicked out of various schools who finds popularity by selling prescription drugs.

"...a teen comedy that took me by complete surprise earlier this year. With Anton Yelchin being fairly new to the scene, and Robert Downey Jr. just trying to make his comeback trail, it should be no shock that I had my few doubts. However every single one of them left as the story of an odd kid becomes Mr. Popularity unfolds. What really made this movie, was the acting, and the script..."

Read the full review here.

Charlie Bartlett DVD Review

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:39:32 PDT

Blog Critics Magazine has posted a review of the 'Charlie Bartlett' DVD. Directed by Jon Poll, the film stars Robert Downey Jr. and Anton Yelchin as Charlie, a teen kicked out of various schools who finds popularity by selling prescription drugs.

"...Downey is terrific as the principal who tries to be laid back and a 'go-with-the-flow' type of guy but is actually a ticking time-bomb waiting to go off..."

Read the full review here.

At the Movies : Charlie Bartlett

Wed, 4 Jun 2008 10:37:52 PDT

Digital Spy has given Charlie Bartlett a 5 star review. Starring Robert Downey Jr. and Anton Yeltchin as Charlie, a teenager at a new school that finds popularity by dishing out both advice and prescription pills.

"...Heartfelt laughs and engrossing dramatic conflict, magnificent performances all round and the effortless cool that other movies can only dream of. Make an effort to see this gem...."

Read the full review here.

‘Charlie Bartlett’ puts the fun in a teenage wasteland

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 14:38:38 PDT

The Summit Daily News has posted a review of 'Charlie Bartlett'. They make the obvious comparisons to 'Juno', as well as the book 'Teenage Wasteland'.

"Addressing important and timely issues while basically having as much fun as possible, “Charlie Bartlett,” is entirely worth seeing."

Read the full review here.

'Charlie' director fan of 'gritty, edgy' films

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:26:54 PST

The South Jersey Life has just posted an interview with 'Charlie Bartlett' director Jon Poll. He talks about what drew him to the script as well as why the film's release had been rescheduled so many times.

"I was very excited that I could get to make a film that was different than a lot of films -- not a straight ahead comedy, not a straight ahead drama,"

Read the full interview here.

"Charlie Bartlett earns 'A' for quirky humor

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:06:11 PST

St-Clair County Journal has posted a review of 'Charlie Bartlett'. Mat DeKinder calls Charlie an anti-hero along the lines of 'Juno' and 'Rushmore'.

"irector Jon Poll, who spent most of his career to this point as an editor, steers the movie away from preachiness, by allowing room for lots of fun and some pretty decent jokes at that."

Read the full review here.

'Charlie Bartlett': High School High

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 17:03:13 PST

Anton Yelchin stars unforgettably in a teen-movie mini-classic.

Kurt Loder has written a review of 'Charlie Bartlett' for MTV. He priases the performances in the film, especially that of Anton Yeltchin as Charlie.

"Yelchin carries off every scene with fresh, vibrant energy — it's hard to imagine anyone else inhabiting this role so inventively."

Read the full review.

Behind the Scenes of "Charlie Bartlett"

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 17:18:18 PST

About.com has posted a transcript from the 'Charlie Bartlett' Los Angeles press conference. Anton Yelchin, Jon Poll, and producer Jay Roach were in attendance.

Poll discusses casting Robert Downey Jr. in the film.

"The first thing I said. ‘Do you realize that 20 years ago this would have been you?’ And he just laughed and said, ‘Yes, very much.’”

Anton talks about working with Robert.

"With Robert I would sit and watch him in such utter amazement because his range, and his understanding of the freedom he has as an actor, is so eye opening to the amount of things you can do and just the freedom you have within the confines of the story and the scene.”

Read the full transcript here.

Anton Yelchin Is Charlie Bartlett

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 17:11:11 PST

MovieWeb has just posted an interview with 'Charlie Bartlett ' star Anton Yelchin. He discusses what it was like working with Robert Downey Jr. and Fame.

"One of the most interesting relationships in the film is between Charlie and Principle Gardner. Both of them have to grow up in their own way. Gardner has to learn how to be more of an adult, and Charlie has to learn how to be less of an adult. But they balance each other out. Through each other, they see what they need."

Read the full interview here.

R-rated teen movie: How does that make you feel?

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:58:13 PST

The Independent Student Newspaper of Boston College has posted an interview with 'Charlie Bartlett' director Jon Poll. After years working as an editor, he discusses how he came to direct and what made him choose the script.

"I liked Charlie Bartlett in the fact that despite it's a film about high school popularity, it's about someone who needs to listen to [Charlie] and is busy listening to other people."

Read the full interview here.

Meet Hollywood’s latest young star, before he goes to rehab

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:28:25 PST

The Wave Magazine recently interviewed 'Charlie Bartlett' star Anton Yelchin. They discuss his character in the film, his Russian heritage and high school.

"To me, school in general is such an unhealthy place. Every teenager is this incredible hormonal explosion, then they put a thousand of them in one place. It is like putting hot air in a balloon."

Read the full interview here.

'Charlie Bartlett' opens Feb. 22nd

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 10:18:13 PST

Charlie Bartlett opening February 22nd, 2008

SIDNEY KIMMEL ENTERTAINMENT’S CHARLIE BARTLETT starring Anton Yelchin, Hope Davis, Kat Dennings and Robert Downey Jr. The film is scheduled to open nationwide on Friday, February 22, 2008.

Among the classic high-school rebels of American movies, there have been truants, delinquents, pranksters and con artists – but there has never been anyone quite like Charlie Bartlett. An optimist, a truth-teller and a fearless schemer, when Charlie slyly positions himself as his new school’s resident “psychiatrist,” dishing out both honest advice and powerful prescriptions, he has no idea the ways in which he will transform his classmates, the school principal and the potential of his own life.

This is the premise of the provocative, Prozac-era comedy, CHARLIE BARTLETT, in which a wealthy teenager’s foray into bathroom-stall psychiatry becomes a smart, funny and touching one-man battle against the loneliness, angst and hypocrisy of the modern world.

Anton Yelchin (“Alpha Dog”) stars as Charlie Bartlett, who has been kicked out of every private school he ever attended. And now that he’s moved on to public school, he’s simply getting pummeled. But when Charlie discovers that the kids who surround him – the outcast and the popular alike – are secretly in desperate need, his entrepreneurial spirit takes over. Hanging up his shingle in the Boys’ restroom, Charlie becomes an underground, not to mention under-aged, shrink who listens to the private confessions of his schoolmates, and makes the imprudent decision to hand out the pills he’s proffered from his own psychiatric sessions. Meanwhile, at home, Charlie keeps charming his way out of an inevitable confrontation with his adoring but utterly overwhelmed mother Marilyn (Hope Davis.)

Then, Charlie Bartlett makes his big mistake: falling in love with the beautiful and bold daughter (Kat Dennings) of the school’s increasingly disenchanted Principal (Robert Downey, Jr.), who is hot on his trail. As Charlie Bartlett’s world and fledgling psychiatric practice unravel, he begins to discover there’s a whole lot more to making a difference than handing out pills.

CHARLIE BARTLETT marks the directorial debut of Jon Poll – a world-class film editor with deep comic roots who has collaborated with Jay Roach on both the blockbuster “Meet the Parents” and “Austin Powers” series, among others – and the screen debut of writer Gustin Nash.

The producers are David Permut, Barron Kidd, Jay Roach and Sidney Kimmel. The executive producers are William Horberg, Jennifer Perini, Trish Hofmann and Bruce Toll. Steve Longi and Gustin Nash co-produced.

SIDNEY KIMMEL ENTERTAINMENT presents CHARLIE BARTLETT, starring Anton Yelchin, Hope Davis, Kat Dennings and Robert Downey Jr. The film will be distributed by MGM on Friday, February 22, 2008 nationwide and is Rated R for language, drug content and brief nudity. The running time is 97 minutes.

Mr. Popularity: Charlie Bartlett

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:03:58 PST

Gayle Edmunds has reviewed 'Charlie Bartlett' for City Press. Calling the film a 'teen comedy with depth' Gayle gave the film four stars.

"What makes this such an interesting film, unlike so many other teen flicks, is that it explores how children are often forced to take on adult roles and how adults often abdicate their responsibilities."

Read the full review here.

'Problem Pasture' votes CHARLIE BARTLETT for school president!

Sat, 9 Feb 2008 21:00:00 PST

An early review of Charlie Bartlett has been posted on Ain't it Cool News. Reviewer Problem Pasture says Anton Yelchin channels 'Ferris Bueller' and sings praises for the rest of the cast, finally saying that the film is a 'diamond in the rough this Valentine's season.'

Click here for the full review.

Charlie Bartlett to screen at the Boulder Internation Film Festival

Fri, 8 Feb 2008 17:41:36 PST

DailyCamera.com has written a piece about the Boulder International Film Festival. They're calling 'Charlie Bartlett' this generation's "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." Director John Poll will be in attendance the February 16th screening.

Read the full article here.

See the full film schedule, and buy tickets.

Charlie Bartlett receives five star review

Fri, 8 Feb 2008 17:25:47 PST

Lara de Matos has written a great review for 'Charlie Bartlett' at Tonight.co.az . She says that the film will be the breakthrough role for lead actor Anton Yelchin.

"Faced with the mammoth responsibility of carrying the whole flick on his skinny shoulders, the young actor does so with a deep sense of regard for his fellow cast, and without allowing his natural ability to play on comedic nuances to detract from the significance of the issues at hand."

Read the full review here.

Bottom Line: One of the best teen comedies in ages.

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 07:10:58 PDT

The Hollywood Reporter has posted a glowing review of 'Charlie Bartlett'. Kirk Honeycutt is especially impressed with Anton Yelchin's performance.

"Yelchin delivers one of those performances that pop eyes. He is old and wise and yet a kid. He is in constant motion but never out of focus. He hits every comic beat without sacrificing any of the seriousness of the issues and character dilemmas strewn throughout the story. He carries the movie on his shoulders yet shares every scene with fellow actors superbly. It's a breakthrough role."

Read the full review here.

'Charlie Bartlett' reviewed in Variety

Mon, 7 May 2007 07:03:52 PDT

Calling the Film 'sweetly subversive', Variety has posted a very positive review of 'Charlie Bartlett'.

"Pic makes a strong case for a solid writer-director split, since Nash's sententious-leaning script, passing through the anarchic energy of Poll's direction, creates precisely balanced anomalies -- like Charlie himself, and those lovely, multilayered exchanges between Downey and Yelchin."

Read the full review here.