Dark-comedic film starring Emile Hirsch (Tim), Sigourney Weaver (Sandy) and Jeff Daniels (Ben). Directed by Dan Harris, it was released in 2004.
Depicts the troubled, suburban Travis family, who are dealing with the effects of a suicide. They deal with their grief in differing ways (most of which involve various substances), and have to confront a number of hidden truths.
This film contains examples of:
- Alcohol-Induced Idiocy: Much of the film consists of this. The main alcoholic character is Ben, but various other characters engage in the bottle.
- Ambiguously Gay: Tim and Kyle seem to have more of a thing for each other than their respective female love interests. Tim notably breaks up with his girlfriend during the movie, and doesn't display much interest in her in general (although this may be in part due to the grief that he is going through). The stand out scene, for this theory, is the kiss that takes place between them after a troubled New Year's Eve.
- Awful Truth: There are several of them that are revealed to both the audience and to certain characters as the film progresses.
- Big Brother Bully: Tim is physically bullied by his older and taller brother.
- Broken Ace: The film's opening minutes essentially describe Matt Travis as being this trope to a tee. He's a highly successful swimmer who is said to be on the brink of the Olympics, but he can't handle the pressures of fame.
- Butt-Monkey: Not only is Tim the victim of physical abuse by his own brother, over the course of the film he is involved in a car accident, punched by a school bully and even punched by an elderly veteran.
- Descent into Addiction: Several characters use drugs as a way of dealing with their problems.
- Domestic Abuse: Matt Travis is revealed to have abused his younger brother.
- Drowning My Sorrows: Alcohol is used as a tool by a number of characters, mostly to deal with the grief caused by Matt's suicide.
- Embarrassing Nickname: A character at a Christmas party is introduced as "Lester the Molester".
- Heterosexual Life-Partners: Tim and Kyle are this, and it is later revealed that they are more.
- Jerkass: Ben Travis is cold towards both his surviving son and his wife.
- New Year's Kiss: Tim and Kyle most notably have one.
- Parental Favoritism: Of the three Travis children, the late Matt is by far the most regarded by Ben. On the other hand, Tim appears to be Sandy's favourite.
- Rousing Speech: The student who gives a speech at the graduation ceremony talks about how she hates high school and hopes everyone rots in hell. This gets a positive reaction.
- Senior Year Struggles: Quite inevitable, given that it takes place during Tim's last year of high school and in the aftermath of discovering his brother's dead body.
- Shout-Out: Many elements of the film are quite clearly inspired by the 1980 Best Picture Oscar winner Ordinary People. The death of a talented, handsome elder child provides the main points of conflict, the surviving male child goes through a variety of troubles, as do the parents.
- Starts with a Suicide: Matt Travis is found dead by his brother a few minutes into the film.
- Stunned Silence: After finding Matt's dead body, Tim is understandably lost for words and in a state of shock.
- Surprise Incest: Tim and Kyle sleep together after a drug-induced New Year's Eve. They are later revealed to be half-brothers.
- The Talk: The subject of masturbation briefly enters a conversation between Tim and Sandy. It gets quickly brushed aside, in no small part given that it's in reference to the recently deceased Matt.
