Creators: Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham
Starring: Stephen Graham, Ashley Walters and Owen Cooper
‘A Magnificent Mini-Series’
Bullying is a devastating problem that leaves teens grieving. Adolescence is a tumultuous time when teenagers face bullying impacting self-confidence. On a personal level, I find the painful struggle of bullying to be relatable. Recently, I became a victim of cyberbullying that affected by abilities to write effectively. I remember being bullied by a blogger that criticized my ability to write reviews causing disaster. A harsh film critic, he was a cruel blogger that got into a bad habit of insulting me in ways that were tragic. I felt humiliated being insulted online by a stranger which left me feeling emotionally devastated. When he told me my reviews were so bad I should commit suicide, my faith in writing died. As his insults became more demeaning, I began questioning whether my dream of being a famous film critic was worth pursuing. To cope with the challenges of cyberbullying, I sought help from a fellow blogger supporting my writing. A supportive school teacher, he always held strong views against bullying that he had seen cause his students to face issues. He summoned the courage to pen a message requesting the cyberbully to stop bothering me. I felt grateful towards a compassionate online friend that helped me overcome a situation which was stressful. However, the frightening aftermath of the bullying stayed with me forever. Following the cyberbullying incident, I lost my passion for writing. His vicious comments about the inadequacy of my writing affected me deeply. Taking the criticism towards heart, I began to question my passion for writing I considered an art. Years later, I am haunted by heartbreaking memories of a destructive bully impacting my ability to be a writer.
As someone haunted by cyberbullying in adolescence, I loved “Adolescence”. Released in 2024, Jack Thorne’s mini-series captured bullying. Packed with breathtaking production-design, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s a fantastic mini-series. At the centre of it all is an incredible performance by Stephen Graham, who portrays a conflicted father. Ultimately, what makes “Adolescence” a masterful mini-series is its message. It delivers a bold message about bullying which resonates with everyone. A mesmerizing mini-series about bullying, there are many reasons why “Adolescence” is worth seeing.
“Adolescence” tells the story of a troubled teenager that faces wrongful conviction impacting his self-confidence. Owen Cooper portrays Jamie Miller, a troubled teenager wrongfully accused of his classmate’s murder. Jamie is an emotional teenager haunted by memories of bullying. Assisted by his father Eddie (Stephen Graham), Jamie embarks upon a journey to prove innocence in a crime causing tragedy. As the odds are stacked against his favour, Jamie questions whether he will be able to prove his innocence of murder.
Jack Thorne is a newcomer to themes of bullying. Before he directed “Adolescence”, Thorne had never made a series about cyberbullying before. It was the filmmaker’s attempt capturing the lives of emotional teenagers that are affected by cyberbullying in adolescence but he succeeded. Using captivating cinematography, Thorne captures an emotional teenager embarking on dangerous journeys to overcome cyberbullying. Evoking John Hughes’ “The Breakfast Club”, Thorne effectively uses handheld camerawork to capture tensions that teenagers are facing. For instance, handheld camera elevates the arrest scene. During this tense scene, Jamie is arrested by police that invade his home for a crime he hasn’t committed causing mourning. It reminded me of my experience being humiliated by a cyberbully that insulted my writing leaving me emotionally affected. Handheld camera is a tricky technique. As Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” proved, handheld camera elevates classic horror blockbuster about frightening sharks. Nevertheless, it works well in this mini-series. Through stunning visuals, Thorne captures tensions bullied teens are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “Adolescence” is the production. From a technical perspective, it is one of the best mini-series ever made. Evoking Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight”, Thorne effectively uses the settings of police stations to create compelling interrogations. For instance, the police station setting elevates the confession scene. During this heartbreaking scene, Jamie confesses his traumatic past of bullying to a counsellor that’s understanding. One appreciates the settings of police stations capturing tensions that teenagers are facing. It reminded me of my traumatic experience reporting frightening cyberbullying to a friend that assisted me with overcoming a heartbreaking problem leaving me devastated. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. Aaron May’s music contributes towards the success of the show. It gives the miniseries a tense atmosphere capturing the heavy burden that bullied teenagers bear. Through gorgeous production-design, Thorne captures the lives of frightened bullied teens facing a decline.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Adolescence” is a mini-series that’s compelling. The show is beautifully written, and effectively uses silence to capture the tensions faced by teenagers in adolescence. Thorne’s screenwriting strength is his ability to capture tensions faced by teenagers in adolescence through silence. Evoking Stephen Chbosky’s “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”, Thorne effectively uses silence to capture adolescence. For instance, silence elevates the breakdown scene. During this heartbreaking scene, Jamie’s father has a breakdown being unable to move on after his son pleads guilty for murder. It reminded me of my inability to move on after being humiliated by a bully that left me permanently affected. Silence is a tricky technique to use in movies. John Krasinki’s “A Quiet Place” suggested that silence elevates horror movies about the apocalypse. Steven Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List” proved that silence elevates commemorated movies about the Holocaust. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this series. Through a spectacular screenplay, Thorne captures the lives of bullied teenagers experiencing a painful price to pay.
One appreciates astonishing performances.
Stephen Graham delivers one of the best performances of his career as Eddie. Graham first earned appreciation for playing gangsters. With “Adolescence”, however, he took on his most complex role. It isn’t easy to portray a conflicted father struggling to care for a son accused of murder, but Graham succeeded. This is the actor unlike you’ve ever seen him before: intense, charismatic and emotional in his most memorable role. With riveting expressions, he captures the angst, depression and grief of a father struggling to raise a disturbed son. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the most talented actors working today.
While the series is a stunning showcase for Graham, the supporting cast is also amazing and worthy of recognition. Owen Cooper is outstanding, capturing the temperamental nature of an emotional teenager that’s wrongfully accused of murder. Erin Doherty is excellent, capturing the frustration of a detective struggling to resolve a murder mystery. Finally, Christine Tremarco merits appreciation. As a concerned mother, she is heartbreaking.
Finally, “Adolescence” would earn everyone’s appreciation for capturing struggles faced by teenagers in adolescence. Unlike most mini-series, it tackles universal themes that everyone would relate to. It discusses profound themes including identity, marriage and trauma which would resonate with everyone. Despite its focus on the lives of troubled American teenagers, its commemorated themes would resonate with everyone. It delivers a profound message about wrongful conviction which would resonate with everyone. Therefore, “Adolescence” is one of those rare commemorated mini-series which everyone would definitely adore.
Fans of Stephen Graham will definitely appreciate “Adolescence” and so will movie-goers seeking educational entertainment. A captivating mini-series, it captures the hardships faced by teenagers that experience bullying.
A powerful portrait of bullying affecting teenagers accused of committing crimes in adolescence, it’s a riveting reminder that commemorated stories about bullying that shatters the self-confidence of teens are worth telling in movies that have the power to give youth which experience frightening bullying greater guidance.
As strong as Jamie’s desires to prove innocence in a crime that he hasn’t committed, it has motivated me to move on several years after being humiliated by a frightening cyberbully whose vicious insults left me feeling emotional devastated by treasuring my lifelong love for writing movie reviews that has thankfully never deteriorated.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 