George Washington (2000)

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Directed by David Gordon Green.

Starring Candace Evanofski, Donald Holden, Paul Schneider.

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David Gordon directs this bleak drama about a gang of rural teens going astray. The title character is 13-year-old boy who lives in an impoverished corner of North Carolina. While wandering around with his rag-tag band of mates, one boy gets inadvertently killed. Fearing parental retribution, the gang hides the body. Later, matters comes to a head when guilt and anxiety starts to take its toll. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide

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Reviews and discussions

Tokin' of affection
by usesoap in usesoap Blog

liked it.

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"A friend with weed is a friend indeed. That is the lesson to be extracted from the latest comedy off the Judd Apatow assembly line, “Pineapple Express.” While it may get anti-marijuana advocates abuzz with consternation, it's a sweet little trip until a dramatic shift to violence quite literally calls the cops to this feel-good party. “Express” is laced with guffaws and gunplay, and while not as startlingly schizophrenic as this summer's “Hancock,” it still feels as though its personalities are squished together in such a forced fashion, it threatens to disrupt the good vibes it garners through much of the film. And, like all of Apartow's blockbuster comedies before it (“Knocked Up,” Superbad,” “The 40-Year-Old Virgin”), it overstays its welcome by at least 30 minutes. Imagine, if you will, an entire film devoted to the ganja-clouded escapades of Brad Pitt's Floyd, the moviewestoner he portrayed in Tony Scott's &ldqu ... " [More]

George Washington (2000, USA, D ...
by CinemaRian in CinemaRian Blog

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"No, it's not a biopic of the president. George Washington is a slice of life film about a bunch of pre-teen kids growing up in the South. It's hard to describe this film, since it's not really about story, or even ideas or a theme. It's about mood, and tone, and location, and atmosphere. It's very good. Most of the chracters are black but it's not really a movie about race, although that stands in the background of every scene. Whites and blacks in co-exist in the community and are friends (possibly because they both have something in common: they are all poor), but race is always there, in the background. A movie like this says more about race relations in America than most of films that are obstensibly about that subject. The movie drops in on the lives of its characters during a summer. The kids are too young to work, so they have a lot time to think and talk. The tone of the movie is lazy and slow paced, just as their days must be. Well, except for George (Donald Hold ... " [More]

George Washington on Reel 13
by jjgittes in jjgittes Blog

liked it.

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"Even though GEORGE WASHINGTON lacks the star power of the Reel 13 Indies of late (IMAGINARY HEROES, SUNSHINE STATE), it’s still a high profile independent film. It’s legendary in the industry as the first film from indie auteur David Gordon Green. It also already has its own Criterion Collection Edition on DVD, so Channel 13 can hardly claim to have made a discovery here. As disappointing as it is that Reel 13 has gone away from bringing us films that are new to us (though not that many of them were very good), you have to acknowledge that at the very least, we get an independent film that is wonderfully cinematic and well-crafted. David Gordon Green has a pretty simple formula – not a great deal of extraneous camera movement, realistic characters and scenes that are lyrically cut together with beautifully photographed landscapes. There is a certain poetry to his work that is all his own – a style that he worked to even greater impact with his follow-up film ... " [More]

George Washington (2000) David ...
by kristen in kristen Blog

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"This movie stirred up memories of childhood the way that the lime tea and madelines stirred Marcel in Marcel Prousts novel Swanns Way. I recalled things that I had not thought about in years. Childhood memories raced back. The conversations between the kids were conversations that I observed among my own friends. This script is dead on. It captures a universal quality of childhood. Most were at least exposed to conversations like these. George Washington is unique in that it shows the tragic and bitter elements in life but does not fall to despair. It has a message of hope that most art films tend to ignore, because the dark side of life is more interesting. This is a positive movie for the most part, and is so in a beautiful and inspiring way. Not all of the kids find this hope, but some dare to dream and are actually heroic. The film pays attention to all aspects of life, all the ups and downs of childhood, in such a refreshing way. It is made in love, and that shines out even in ... " [More]

"Snow Angels" Director David Go ...
by thefilmpanelnotetaker in thefilmpanelnotetaker Blog

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"Here's something I will be unable to attend, but definitely wanted to let you all know about. Tonight, indieWIRE presents a discussion with filmmaker David Gordon Green (George Washington, All the Real Girls, Undertow and the upcoming Pineapple Express) whose latest feature film Snow Angels opens in limited theatrical release on Friday. Along with Green, one of the film’s young stars, Olivia Thirlby (Juno) will also participate in the Q&A moderated by indieWIRE Editor-in-chief Eugene Hernandez.Last year, I saw Snow Angels at BAM, where Green and Thirlby were also accompanied by another of the film’s principal performers, Sam Rockwell (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind).Tonight's discussion at the Apple Store begins at 7pm. This is a free event and no RSVP is required, but I suggest an early arrival as seating is limited and first come, first serve. More details here. Originally posted on:The Film Panel Notetaker - Miss a panel discussion? Don't worry! We took notes for you. " [More]

Plot vs. Prestige - ‘Paranoid P ...
by SpoutBlog in SpoutBlog on spout.com

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"What if this movie were not directed by acclaimed filmmaker Gus Van Sant? What if it had not been honored with a special prize at last year’s Cannes Film Festival? What if it had not been an official selection of the Toronto and New York Film Festivals? What if it wasn’t nominated for three (Independent) Spirit Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Producer? What if Manohla Dargis didn’t consider it, “one of the most moving and delicately felt films of Gus Van Sant’s career”? Would Paranoid Park still seem that appealing? Not to me, but then I’ve seen enough films involving teens covering up an intentional or accidental murder. And that’s despite having enjoyed most of them, including Mean Creek, Bully, George Washington and even (though much, much less so) I Know What You Did Last Summer. Honestly, if this new domestic trailer for Paranoid Park didn’t mention all its prestigious claims, I probably wouldn’t be that compelled to see it. In fact, even if it simply me ... " [More]

What are your favorite Mumbleco ...
by csprague in Mumblecore

liked it.

"Just from looking at the Mumblecore map, I would have to say that I enjoyed Great World of Sound quite a bit. It was torn down and transparent, which I felt added to the overall realism and humor of the film. I also liked George Washington for a lot of the same reasons. When I watched it, I wouldn't have labeled it "mumblecore", but when I think more about it, the filmmaking reflects a lot of the same characteristics. Its interesting seeing how all of these films and directors are related. I would never have drawn the connection between HomestarRunner and George Washington:)So, what are your favorites? " [More]

George Washington Flashes Black ...
by dibot in dibot Blog

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"Ocean's 13 is the third in director Steven Soderbergh ("The Good German")'s heist series. It's better than the second film, but doesn't quite have the magic of the first. Everyone is very charming and handsome. But mostly I was only kind of interested in the story. However, Casey Affleck ("The Last Kiss")'s story line with the worker revolution was priceless. George Washington is the first movie from writer/director David Gordon Green ("Snow Angels"). The film is set in a rural Southern town populated with interesting people. The story focuses on a group of kids and a tragic accident. Voice over plays throughout the film and some of it is insightful. Some of it just weird. A couple of times I was surprised at what was happening. But some lines and scenes have stuck in my head all week. And that's a good thing. "I wish there were 200 of me." Flashdance was just different than I expected. I thought it was going to be entirely fluffy, but it was much more serious than I had antici ... " [More]

George Washington - The first f ...
by analogzombie in analogzombie Blog

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"With the recent release of David Gordon Green’s third feature film; Undertow, I revisited his first masterpiece of tone; George Washington, in an attempt to uncover the secret passion of this wunderkind. At first viewing George Washington may seem to be nothing more than a recent film school graduate’s pretentious debut. While it cannot be disputed that the film certainly languishes in the realm of pomposity at times (especially during the 6 minute pre-credit sequence) there is more going on here than simple experiments in emotion capturing. The film revolves around the exploits of a group of impoverished, southern kids over one summer. Anyone hailing from the South’s medium sized cities, as I do, will instantly recognize the decaying cityscapes presented in the film. This downtown, burned out palette is utilized by Green to create a sort of ethereal, unworldly realm for his characters to inhabit. It is this realm that is undeniably the star of the fil ... " [More]

Sundance Institute at BAM - &qu ...
by thefilmpanelnotetaker in thefilmpanelnotetaker Blog

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"Sundance Institute at BAM - "Snow Angels" Saturday, June 2, 2007At the Sundance Institute at BAM, David Gordon Green, director of George Washington, All the Real Girls and Undertow, screened his latest feature, Snow Angels, that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. Green adapted Snow Angels from the novel by Stewart O'Nan. Together with cast members Sam Rockwell (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind) and Olivia Thirlby (United 93), Green addressed the audience during a Q&A after the screening. My knowledge of Snow Angels stems from my days attending SUNY Brockport about 10 years ago, where I took a class called The Writers Craft. If my memory serves me correct, it was actually O' Nan's The Speed Queen that I had to read for the class, and O'Nan came to do a reading at The Writers Forum . However, I read Snow Angels anyway on my own.After watching the movie Snow Angels at BAM, I recall at least one major difference, that being that there seemed t ... " [More]

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Review by All Movie Guide

All Movie Guide

liked it.

A bold, ambitious first feature by David Gordon Green, this fiercely independent effort chronicles young slum life in a more experimental vein than most modern movies. Recalling the work of filmmakers as diverse as Terrence Malick and Harmony Korine in its unconventional tactics, the film eventually wears out its welcome, especially after its crucial turning point is revealed. However, it retains significant dignity throughout, and Green's surprising grasp of visual storytelling is highly in evidence here. The film was created using non-professional actors (a device that is terrific in theory, but its execution is suspect), and filmed using natural light, which gives it a rich, documentary-like feel. Unlike the recent Dogma 95 movement, however, its roots in conventional filmmaking techniques are strongly apparent, as its evocative Cinemascope 35mm implementation indicates. An easier picture to admire than to genuinely "like," George Washington nonetheless stands out amidst a sea of impersonal, crudely made independent films. ~ Jason Clark, All Movie Guide

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