Product Details

• Actors: Jesse Eisenberg, Jason Ritter
• Directors: Fred Durst
• Number of discs: 1
• Studio: Anchor Bay
• Run Time: 100 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0021L8UIK
• For more information about "The Education of Charlie Banks [Blu-ray]" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The nervous charisma of indie leading man Jesse Eisenberg (The Squid and the Whale, Adventureland) carries The Education of Charlie Banks, a story of doomed ambition, hopeless yearning, and lingering guilt. When teenaged Charlie Banks (Eisenberg) witnessed a handsome bully named Mick (Jason Ritter, Freddy Vs. Jason) beat up two other boys, he tells the police--but then, feeling like a rat, withdraws his testimony so that Mick gets released. A few years later, when Mick suddenly appears at Charlie’s dorm for a visit, Charlie lives in dread that his betrayal will be revealed. But as Mick successfully woos the girl Charlie’s in love with, Charlie and Mick grown enmeshed in mutual envy and reluctant admiration. The Education of Charlie Banks aspires to be a preppy version of The Great Gatsby (just to make that clear, the characters twice make references to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel), peppered with philosophical allusions to Hannah Arendt and Jacques Derrida. Unfortunately, despite Charlie and Mick’s backstory, these kids just don’t have enough of a past to seem driven or haunted--they just flounder like any other bunch of boozing, horny college students. Mick comes across as a junior-varsity Tom Ripley, more stalker than star-crossed. Still, it’s a surprisingly smooth-flowing movie from Fred Durst, the former lead singer of rap-metal band Limp Bizkit. Also featuring Eva Amurri (Saved!). --Bret Fetzer

Get to Know the Cast From The Education of Charlie Banks

Eva Amurri (Mary)

Jason Ritter (Mick)

Jesse Eisenberg (Charlie)

Stills from The Education of Charlie Banks  (Click for larger image)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More Exposure After Facebook, February 24, 2011

By 

James Hiller (Beaverton, OR) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Education of Charlie Banks (DVD)

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The star of the Education of Charlie Banks is Jesse Eisenberg, now an Oscar nominated actor for another movie you might have heard about: The Social Network (Two-Disc Collector's Edition). This probably is a good thing, because Jesse's new found popularity are going to be bringing in fans to this lesser known film, and one that I quite enjoyed, "The Education of Charlie Banks".

Easy to classify under "Coming of Age" movie, this flick tells the tale of Charlie, who is haunted from an event in his past that comes back to haunt him college. Mick, played in a very nuanced way by Jason Ritter, is the source of this tension, and the two become allies, of a sort, despite the incident. Toss in Eva Amurri (one of my favorite reasons that I love Saved!, and you have an interesting, tense, and although sometimes unfocused, story.

The Education of Charlie Banks was an interesting story, told by first time director Fred Durst. I hope he continues to make movies, for there is much potential in his directing.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Character Study Centered Around The Wrong Character, July 21, 2009

By 

K. Harris "Film aficionado" (Albuquerque, NM) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Education of Charlie Banks (DVD)

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While some may be skeptical of Fred Durst's directorial debut, he shows some promise. Competent, yet distant, most of my reservations about recommending "Charlie Banks" have to do with the film's plotting and characterizations. The primary story revolves around two roommates at an Ivy League college and what happens when an old "friend" with a checkered and violent past shows up for an indefinite stay. A good set-up that lacks a bit of pay-off.

A well made film, "The Education of Charlie Banks" is a movie I wanted to admire. However, something kept me at arm's length--I never really connected emotionally in a way that would have made my viewing experience more compelling. I think, perhaps, I never fully embraced Charlie Banks (Jesse Eisenberg) as the narrator or centerpiece of the film. His "education" or development just wasn't that intriguing and my lack of concern for him created somewhat of a void in the center of the film. Eisenberg was terrific in "The Squid and the Whale" and "Roger Dodger," his character just seems a little undercooked here.

Ironically, the strangest bit of casting was the most effective. Jason Ritter, as bad boy Mick, seems a little soft and gentle to be the reprobate he is supposed to be in this film. But Ritter commands the screen. The story really works better as "The Education of Mick." As Mick infiltrates the university and strives to fit in, the story is on solid ground. I was fascinated by this aspect and think Ritter brilliantly brought balance to Mick's conflicted emotions about this alien world he doesn't belong to. With a different focus--I think this might have made an extraordinary film! But, as is, most of the film left me ambivalent. Easy enough to watch, but not much to remember. About 3 1/2 stars from me--mostly for Ritter. KGHarris, 07/09

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Review, June 23, 2009

By 

A Regular Joe (A Regular City, MI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Education of Charlie Banks (DVD)

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Movie - 2.5/4

A coming of age movie in which an innocent young man, Charlie, witnesses a brutal criminal, Mick, savagely beat two jocks at a party. While he at first goes to the cops and rats Mick out, he ends reversing course and the charges are dropped.

Years later Mick and Charlie meet again when he unexpectedly shows up at Charlie's Ivy League college where Mick interjects himself into his life. Mick remains an unwanted presence taking the girl Charlie likes and sleeping with her repeatedly. Mick is just as brutally violent as before and it will ultimately have consequences as Charlie learns why Mick is there in the first place.

This is not a family movie of any sorts and teaches us that you can be depraved and get away with it. Rated R, 1.78:1 widescreen. English and Spanish subtitles.

Audio - 3/4 - The soundtrack is well done and never overwhelming. Underwhelming at times though and the music leaves something to be desired.

Video - 3/4 - For DVD it is clean throughout with some noticeable grain. The image is flat and the colors are not as vibrant as they could be.

Supplements - 1/4 - a commentary track and a behind the scenes look.

Over all - 2.5/4 - I enjoyed watching the film, but would probably never buy it. This is a strong "B" movie and a good start for Fred Durst. I was never 'shocked' by the language, sex, violence, or drug use, while all those elements were there. If you like this type of movie, rent before purchasing.