The Miseducation of Cameron Post (2018)

Directed by Desiree Akhavan. Starring Chloë Grace Moretz, Sasha Lane, Forrest Goodluck, Jennifer Ehle, John Gallagher Jr., Emily Skeggs, Owen Campbell, Melanie Ehrlich, Christopher Dylan White, Kerry Butler, Quinn Shephard.

Story of Moretz’ titular teen’s tenure at a gay conversion therapy center has poignancy and some telling details, but it eschews a probing and/or hard-hitting approach for softball sensitivity. No real surprises, either, as it demonstrates that the youths find more comfort with their fellow “disciples” than the oppressive, close-minded authoritarians, and that maybe—just maybe—this isn’t the way to treat confused adolescents. Several good performances hold the picture together when it meanders or hits the same notes too often, but the ending is a tough nut to crack since it manages to be tidy and open-ended, plus a little hard to swallow. Slapped with an NC-17 by the MPAA despite containing no graphic nudity, the producers released it without a rating instead. Premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.

63/100