Debbie Whittam

Culkin was playing himself for the most part. Disruptive and random. No big stretch. Very little was said about the main idea of this film which was the loss of their grandmother. So much was implied but most of the movie and message was not there. Have been to Dachau and have despised what I've read about the holocaust and saw at the concentration camp. I liked Eisenberg's part and how hard it was for him to tolerate what he knew his cousin to be. A lot of overacting and attention getting. I can see that walking down the street. Sad.

The reason I've given this movie 5 stars is the poignancy of how all of the family members don't see what's happening with Billie as they control and manipulate her throughout. This story has played out almost exactly the same way with "The Carpenters". The brother sister musical duo that was basically controlled by the brother's demands for continued perfection and "hits" and it killed her. Some of the interviews she has given show clearly the tics and other outward symptoms of the price she is paying. The father and she seems powerless over the mother and son. I want to go in and give her perspective on she's ok with and without them.