Best movie of this year hands down!

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

"Mean Creek" is a film I feel is half entertaining and half devastaing and depressing. The young actors do a great job at playing the characters they were associated with. Josh Peck's character wasn't too likable at times, but he was able to give a good performance for the film. As well as Rory Culkin for the movie's protagonist. Great pacing, story, acting. It is low budget, but it is worth a watch!

"Mean Creek" is at times so riveting, tense and portentous that you forget you're watching a movie; it feels like you're watching the filming of real events as they're unfolding before your eyes. This is all the more impressive considering that this was the feature-length directing and writing debut of Jacob Aaron Estes, and that he is working almost exclusively with child and teen actors: they are all terrific, but Josh Peck is the revelation. If you only know him from Nickelodeon's "Drake and Josh", boy you're in for a surprise! The locations are magnificent, and may inspire you to take a creek trip some weekend. My only reservation has to do with the abrupt ending; I would have liked to see the story continue. *** out of 4.

George's character was really unbelievable and annoying. At the end when he dies you don't feel bad for him at all. The character of Sam and his girlfriend do a decent job, but everyone else struggles with the dramatic scenery(ESPECIALLY CLYDE). the major problem with the flick is the situations. The kids take it too far with the cussing and sexual orientation. There's one scene where they are playing truth or dare, and Marty is dared to show them his penis, and George makes a crack about Sam and his girlfriends all bothered in bed. To inappropriate seriously. The way George talked sickened me. He also called the girl a C***. Too far.

Familiar but still Engaging Story of Teen Trouble. The Acting Ensemble is Peerless and the Style of the Movie is Low-Key and Hauntingly Attractive. The Interaction among the Group is Authentic and never Strained. The Dialog is Sharp and Intelligent.But there are Two Major Flaws that keep this from being Absolutely Compelling. First the Bully Character is not Developed enough Initially to Solidify the Central Theme. Second, the Third Act Demonstrates a Weak Resolution that Raises too many Questions and that Intrudes and Separates the Audience from the Film.The Group's Behavior up to that point was Well Thought Out and Spot On. However, as Things Unfold, it seems to go Astray in an Ending that is neither Quite Believable or Satisfying. There is much to Praise in the Director's First Film, but adapting the Premise of some Very Fine Movies, that are so Similar that Comparisons are Inevitable, there must be some sort of Hook to set it apart and in that, this Film Fails to Deliver.