Watch Four

Four is a coming-of-age drama from 2012 that portrays the struggles of four teenagers on the cusp of adulthood. Directed by Joshua Sanchez and based on the off-Broadway play by Christopher Shinn, Four tells the story of these four teenagers over the course of a single summer day, exploring themes of race, sexuality, and identity in a heartfelt and poignant way.

The story is set in a small New York City suburb, where we meet our four protagonists - June (Aja Naomi King), Joe (E.J. Bonilla), Dexter (Emory Cohen), and Abigayle (Kathryn Meisle). On the surface, they seem like typical American teenagers, hanging out, playing basketball, and dreaming of a brighter future. However, as the day wears on, we see that each of them is struggling with something deeper.

June, a mixed-race girl, is torn between her black father's side of the family and her white mother's side. She is proud of her heritage but also aware of the discrimination she faces from both sides. Joe, a Puerto Rican high school senior, is dealing with the pressure of his pending college applications and the fear of leaving his family and friends behind. Dexter, a closeted gay kid, is trying to navigate his feelings of attraction towards Joe and the fear of being ostracized by his friends and family. Abigayle, the mother of a young child, is struggling to keep her family together, dealing with the infidelity of her husband and the pressure of being a single mom.

As the day progresses, we learn more about each of their stories, their hopes and fears, and how they interact with each other. The movie is shot with a muted color palette, emphasizing the mundane nature of their suburban surroundings, while the occasional flash of bright colors highlights the emotional turmoil each character is experiencing. The use of still and silent shots accentuates the quiet desperation these teens feel as they try to make sense of the world around them.

One of the standout performances comes from Aja Naomi King as June. Her portrayal of a girl struggling to find her place in the world is both nuanced and heart-wrenching. E.J. Bonilla also gives an engaging performance as Joe, conveying the pressure and the excitement of young adulthood with aplomb. Emory Cohen is particularly convincing as Dexter, reflecting the inner turmoil that comes with being gay in a small suburb.

Four is a movie about connections - how we form them, how we lose them and how they define who we are. It's an exploration of the challenges we face as we try to navigate the complex landscape of adolescence and the agonizing journey of self-discovery that follows. The movie is thematically rich and emotionally charged, even though the action is somewhat slow-paced.

While the movie is generally thoughtful and insightful, some might find the pacing to be a bit slow, and the themes to be somewhat overbearing. The movie doesn't shy away from difficult topics, such as racism and homophobia, and some viewers may find the unvarnished manner in which they are portrayed to be too confronting.

Overall, Four is a poignant, well-crafted and thought-provoking movie that explores some of the challenges faced by teenagers entering adulthood. It's a movie that reminds us of the transformative power of friendship and the potential for growth and change that we all possess. It's a movie that asks us to look deep within ourselves, to question our assumptions about the world, and to realize that the connections we make with each other may well be the most important thing we can do.

Four is a 2013 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 16 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.9.