Detachment

4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (80 customer reviews)
A Tribeca Film. Adrien Brody (in his most acclaimed performance since THE PIANIST), Marcia Gay Harden & Christina Hendricks star in this award-winning drama about teachers and students in a troubled high school. From the director of AMERICAN HISTORY X.
  • Starring: Adrien Brody, Marcia Gay Harden
  • Directed by: Tony Kaye
  • Runtime: 1 hour 38 minutes
  • Release year: 2012
  • Studio: Tribeca Film
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Product Details
Synopsis: A Tribeca Film. Adrien Brody (in his most acclaimed performance since THE PIANIST), Marcia Gay Harden & Christina Hendricks star in this award-winning drama about teachers and students in a troubled high school. From the director of AMERICAN HISTORY X.
Starring: Adrien Brody, Marcia Gay Harden
Directed by: Tony Kaye
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 1 hour 38 minutes
Captions and Subtitles: English Details
Release year: 2012
Studio: Tribeca Film
ASIN: B007CGLRWA (Rental) and B009ZQHQ84 (Purchase)
Rights & Requirements
Rental rights: 3 day viewing period Details
Purchase rights: Stream instantly and download to 2 locations. Details
Format: Amazon Instant Video (streaming online video and digital download)

Other Formats and Versions


Theatrical Release Information
  • US Theatrical Release Date: March 16, 2012
  • Production Company: Paper Street Films, Appian Way, Kingsgate Films
  • Filming Locations: Mineola High School - 10 Armstrong Road, Garden City Park, Long Island, New York, USA | New York, USA | Parkway Hospital - 113th St, Forest Hills, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

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Customer Reviews

There is no support system for teachers or students. city slicker  |  14 reviewers made a similar statement
I found this movie to be very interesting and thought-provoking. K. Wolf  |  11 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Controversial director Tony Kaye certainly doesn't play it safe. Notorious for "American History X," Kaye has proven himself both outspoken and challenging as a filmmaker (and as a person). Despite that film's positive reception by both audiences and critics (as well as its Oscar nominated leading performance by Edward Norton), Kaye publicly disavowed the movie after it was recut against his wishes. So it's no surprise that "Detachment," from a screenplay by Carl Lund, is like a brisk slap to the face. A bleak and depressing portrait of the American educational system, the film is unrelentingly dark. In its world view, it certainly has a refreshing candor and truth. At times, though, the stylized nature of the movie can detract from its essence. It is surely meant to provoke, which it does, but it also has the tendency to straddle the line of pushing over-the-top when a bit of restraint might have balanced the action. Still, though, it's hard to fault someone willing to make a bold statement in these days of formulaic filmmaking. "Detachment" has a lot to recommend it, but it presents a hyperreality that may not appeal to every viewer.

Adrien Brody plays a substitute teacher who embarks on a one month assignment at a struggling public high school. The students are alternately disaffected, disconnected, and/or outright confrontational. The film has a multi-media quality (with occasional voice over, animation sequences, and kinetic editing) that helps to establish a rather unsettling mood. Brody has weathered a difficult childhood, glimpsed in quick cuts, and is able to understand the silent cries for approval and recognition from the student body and his fellow staff. While he is supposed to be detached, it is this very calm that actually makes him stand out as a survivor and a positive role model. The longer he stays, the more influence he exerts (however inadvertently). It's an interesting idea, one that works in a very tangible way. "Detachment" makes no bones in creating high school as a modern hell. Whether Marcia Gay Harden is writhing on the floor of her office, Tim Blake Nelson is imagining that he is invisible, or Christina Hendricks is being assaulted--these moments have a visceral impact even as they might not always have real world believability. "Detachment," in my estimation, is a well constructed but overwrought parable about the decay and hopelessness inherent in our schools.

Brody is a primary selling point here. The other names in the cast (which also includes Blythe Danner, William Peterson, Lucy Liu, Bryan Cranston, and James Caan) all have showy moments, but this is largely Brody's show. He is both hard-edged and surprisingly likable, his unflappability has enormous appeal. I didn't love a subplot involving a young girl from the streets (it creates a scenario that, if challenged, would have ended any potential career in education), but it is effective in creating a fully rounded persona. I know some might proclaim "Detachment" a modern masterpiece. I'm not quite there, however, although it is definitely an experience I'd recommend to serious minded film lovers. The film is, perhaps, too arty and stylized for its own good. Sometimes power can be achieved through simplicity as well. Not a perfect film, but surely a memorable one. You don't want to believe this is where we've ended up, but "Detachment" strikes very close to home. KGHarris, 9/12.
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19 of 23 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Finally , a teacher drama that tells it like it is April 1, 2012
Format:Amazon Instant Video
I related to this wonderful film as a 38 year teacher. I watched it twice on on demand, tried to VCR it the second time, but it didn't come out that well. I can't wait until the DVD is released. While the sub plot involving the teenage prostitute is a bit too much, the classroom scenes are haunting and frightfully real, particularly when it is the first day. The faculty burnout scenes are beautifully scripted as a consequence of students bad treatment of teachers. Those not in the profession who villify teachers constantly should see this film and maybe have a degree of sympathy for us.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Adrian Brody's best yet March 19, 2012
Format:Amazon Instant Video|Amazon Verified Purchase
To begin: the first third of the movie is out of synch which almost had me turn it off and ask for my money back. But I stuck with it, although it should be fixed, and am I ever glad I did.

This is a beautiful, and also a heartbreaking film. Adrian Brody has the most soulful eyes and is superb in this film.

The story is not very new, but it's approach is different.

I felt a lot of empathy for each character.

It is not for the faint of heart, for it has quite a few very difficult situations presented.

But it's not exploitative at all.

Rather it is tender. Yes, tender. And you feel for these people as if they were you and yours.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars Ranting against education and the the system
Kaye the director of American History X complains about everything- especially the public education system and the dying hopes to save it. Read more
Published 8 days ago by Amit Talpade
3.0 out of 5 stars Detachment movie review
Pretty good story line, although it bordered on a unacceptable relationship it never crossed the line. As it came to an ending the struggles revealed themselves. Read more
Published 8 days ago by darlene jordanclark
1.0 out of 5 stars DIdn't finish it
We didn't finish the movie. After 5-10 minutes that movie just wasn't going anywhere. What we did see was sort of a downer, so we went on to another movie.
Published 21 days ago by R. Paluszak
2.0 out of 5 stars Depressing
I bought this because it was filmed at my middle and high school. It was painful to watch and was very depressing. Don't waste your time.
Published 27 days ago by belajoe
4.0 out of 5 stars Now this is why I liked Adrien Brody...
Some actors seem to squander their talent to point where you wonder if what made them so great was a complete and total fluke; like the just lucked into one of those `right place... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Andrew Ellington
3.0 out of 5 stars Small movie, but interesting story
Held my interest, unusual story about a disenchanted teacher. Adrien Brody did a good acting job and so did the younger female lead. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Dsinned
3.0 out of 5 stars strong cast of tens
Look, Adrien Brody is going to give you a great acting performance no matter what he's in. That's a given. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Brian Maitland
5.0 out of 5 stars Gotta see this
Everybody should see this movie...It's incredibly moving. I got so emotionally involved and in the thick of it, really quick. It just grabbed me INTO the story. Gotta see it! Read more
Published 1 month ago by Crystal Swick
5.0 out of 5 stars Detachment is worth watching
I am a struggling student and also an aspiring teacher. This movie was so moving that at one point "I cried. Read more
Published 1 month ago by T. Winans
5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful and Empowering
Moving film that borders between documentary and entertainment. Fresh insight into what many inner-city teachers might face on a daily basis: student abuse, lack of appreciation... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Matpr
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