neumu [ cinematronic ]




	The Battle Of Shaker Heights
	Efram Potelle and Kyle Rankin Shia LaBeouf, Amy Smart, Elden Henson, Shiri Appleby, Billy Kay, Kathleen Quinlan, William Sadler, Anson Mount, Ray Wise 2003		"The Battle of Shaker Heights" is the second feature to emerge from the reality TV series/screenwriting contest "Project: Greenlight," produced by actors Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Aided by its seasoned cast, the film has a patina of professionalism like last year's "Greenlight" winner, the minor "Stolen Summer." But the script for "... Shaker Heights," a coming-of-age story written by Erica Beeney, feels unfinished or incomplete. It's a pastiche of character notes and incidents that feel familiar without being clearly drawn. Kelly (Shia Labeouf) is a clever, alienated high-school kid with an obsession for military memorabilia and battle reenactments. His home life depresses him: Mom (Kathleen Quinlan) is a struggling artist; Dad (William Sadler) is a recovering addict; money is tight. Intensifying his troubles, Kelly is being bullied at school. His outlook brightens when he's befriended by fellow reenactment enthusiast Bart (Elden Henson) and meets Bart's well-to-do family. Bart's fetching, engaged older sister Tabby (Amy Smart) inspires Kelly's ardor, though sweet classmate Sarah (Shiri Appleby) is the better choice for a girlfriend. The cloudy circumstances and motivations beget typical tribulations.