User reviews

In 1969 Pennsylvania, Jamie Schwartz (Alex Wolff) is in his Senior Year at Crampton Prep. The other boys hate him and the teachers are little better. He wants to do a play about Holden Caulfield adapting J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye. He likes a townie girl but another, Deedee Gorlin (Stefania LaVie Owen), likes him and his play. He runs away from the bullying and goes in search of the reclusive Salinger. Deedee volunteers to drive him.

There are some early extended flashbacks. Most of it is unnecessary except for showing a hatred of him from the start and the cause of his isolation. Jamie is a rather dislikeable awkward nerd while Deedee is adorable. He's clueless in an annoying way. It makes his obsession with the pretty girl very superficial. It's appealing to have his sole obsession be Salinger while avoiding the pretty girl trope. Deedee goes hard at Jamie. They could have played with possible homosexuality except for him falling over himself for the pretty girl. There are issues at play with this coming-of-age story. The relationship grows on me but I never really like Jamie. She's the better character and would have been a better protagonist. Chris Cooper does a nice turn in a small role although that exchange could have some more supportive words even if it comes from Deedee.

Many people will enjoy the crap out of this movie because of its angsty hero and the story of his perseverance in the face of a hostile world. The directional arc of this story is almost religious in its message of faith, of feeling chosen, of attempting to interpret the uninterpretable, and forcing yourself to push through the darkness. If that's what the movie had been about, it would have been an absolute masterpiece. Maybe I'm asking too much for a movie to be so aware of its message that its context and narrative go in that direction also.

Unfortunately, the movie is about the universal nature of the mythic Holden Caulfield character. The screenwriter has done exactly what Salinger told him not to do, to interpret the mythos and reduce it to a cheap psychoanalysis of what that character means. As a fan of the book myself, it's disheartening to see just how misinterpreted it becomes even in the most capable of hands.

Don't get me wrong, this movie is enjoyable in and of itself. The movie itself is great looking and moderately satisfying. Cooper is particularly enjoyable as the man himself, operating as both the wise man on the hill and the man behind the curtain. The filmmaker did a fine job with what he had to work with, which was a flawed script that comes to conclusions that don't quite fit together. The hero on a quest motif works extremely well here, but there were many missed opportunities on the journey to reach for more. The opening half-hour comes from a pretty dark and intense place, but that energy isn't sustained, as it instead veers into syrupy redemption rather than attempting to make any statements about where that darkness and intensity comes from. It's apparently enough just to state it exists, like the dragon that must either be slain or domesticated. I don't dislike this movie, but it's frustrating to see a fairly pat story applied to a very complex subject, and attempt to get away with it by shrugging about what it means. The story could very easily have been about what it means instead of simply the shrug.

At first, I thought the best thing about this indie was going to be its beautiful rustic scenery, as the film seemed to have so much awkward, even irritating, dialogue initially. However, I felt that the movie got increasingly better as it progressed, ending well and on an upbeat note.

Set in the mid to late 1960's, as the Vietnam War raged, Alex Wolff stars as Jamie, a student at Crompton Prep, in Pennsylvania. He's adapted a stage play from the classic novel "Catcher in the Rye" (one of my favorite books) by the acclaimed author J.D.Salinger. Being bullied and harassed at his school, Jamie decides to leave and travel to New Hampshire and attempt to locate and get the approval of the extremely reclusive writer.

Stephania LaVie Owen is excellent co-starring as Jamie's friend Deedee, who obviously likes Jamie quite a lot and offers to drive him on his quest. Thus, the two teens will embark on the road trip, with some adventures and discoveries waiting for them along the way.

The superb actor Chris Cooper is spot on as Salinger, as he seeks his privacy above all else in rustic New England. I read that the movie depicts the real life attempts of the film's writer and director James Sadwith, to find and talk to Salinger.

Overall, as mentioned, I found this indie to be awkward and initially filled with rough spots, but I thought it got progressively better, and ended well and on a high note, Thus, I would say it can be a fairly decent watch if you don't expect perfection.

In 1969 a persecuted prep school student in Pennsylvania (Alex Wolff) runs away to find the author of "Catcher in the Rye" in the hills of New Hampshire to get his permission to produce a play based on his classic novel. Stefania LaVie Owen is on hand as the girl from a nearby school whom he travels with while Chris Cooper plays the curmudgeonly recluse J.D. Salinger.

"Coming through the Rye" (2015) is a coming-of-age drama based on a true story. Being set in an all-male boarding school with sequences involving a female school, you can't help but compare it with "Dead Poets Society" (1989). While it's not great like that movie, it's quite good. They're really not that similar in the first place because "Coming through the Rye" is just as much of a road movie as it is a historical boarding school flick.

Wolff is good as the likable & sympathetic protagonist while Stefania is a winsome cutie. The story takes off when the two team-up in the second act. Their honest relationship is the core of the tale with the boy's possible interactions with the author playing a secondary role.

Someone called the movie "phony" because Salinger's classic book looked "down upon those who refuse to accept life as anything other than miserable and unforgiving. Its sincerity is guided by distrust in others and it spits in the face of affection and benevolence." Gee, ya think that might be why Salinger is depicted as an antisocial curmudgeon in the movie? Besides, it can't be too phony if the events are based on a true story with 90% accuracy according to writer/director James Steven Sadwith.

The film runs 1 hour, 37 minutes and was shot in Orange County, Virginia. Speaking of which, the gorgeous Eastern locations are a huge plus.

GRADE: B

I admit to being thrown off by the rave reviews here, because I found this movie utterly dull and not at all moving or evocative. To the degree it may have touched on the coming-of-age experience, it did so because of cliche scenes and plot lines recycled from every movie you have seen about young people. The writing suffers from the fault of telling rather than showing; we hear all about Jamie's masterful writing and intelligence, yet see none of it for ourselves.

There is no clever, insightful, or witty dialogue, and viewers never truly see Jamie's personality because it is overwhelmed by his obsession with and kowtowing to Salinger in a way that is uncomfortable to the viewer. I couldn't connect or sympathize with the character, a problem compounded by actor Alex Wolff's performance falling flat. Lackluster music intensified the lethargy.

The central problem, I think, is the film's autobiographical conceit. The story here could be interesting if executed with panache: aspiring and troubled boy seeks out reclusive author, receives golden wisdom. But the film's relentless desire to project Jamie as a hero refuses the more interesting (and believable) denouement, a glorious letdown as a teenager comes to realizes his skills are no match for J.D. Salinger and he is not ready for the real world. Instead the film takes Jamie's skills for granted, even though, as he himself admits, all he has done is re-write a novel with some abridgments and added stage directions.

I am shocked not that the screenwriter/director, James Sadwith, actually thought as a teenager he would be the one to receive Salinger's permission to produce an adaptation, because ambitious teenagers think this way. They inflate their sense of self. What shocks me is that Sadwith never learned his lesson, never became more self-aware. He became convinced in retrospect that he really had produced something grand and the world needed to see his story on screen. The film is a sort of end-run around Salinger's interdiction, offering up Sadwith's own Holden Caulfieldesque journey as if it can compete with Salinger's hero; can prove the famous author made a mistake in rebuffing him; can appeal to great fans of the classic novel.

Ultimately, in attempting to take a place on the pedestal with Salinger, Sadwith trips on the man's coattails.

Spoiler alert! This movie was so exciting for me to watch. I am a longtime fan of JD Salinger and the only one in my high school English class who didn't write Holden Caulfield off as crazy. I have read other stories of journalists going on treks to locate the reclusive Salinger only to make it as far as his driveway or front door to be turned away. When the filmmaker said 99% of the dialogue between himself and Salinger was true, I couldn't believe a KID had made it through the fortress! I loved the parallels between the young director's life and Holden's portrayed in the movie. He plays Mercutio in a prep school play and the students cheer his death. "But everyone loves Mercutio" he bemoans. You may remember Mercutio was Holden's favorite character in Romeo and Juliet. The alienation he feels from the other kids also parallels Holden's feelings of isolation. I loved the addition of Dee Dee a freckled curly haired cute and wonderfully insightful and kind girl who has an obvious crush on Jamie, the young director. She has her own strong feelings about the book Catcher In The Rye, pointing out that Holden always wanted to save kids from making mistakes and dangerous fates. Perhaps that is even why in reality the famous writer met the young playwright head on and even though he discouraged his play of Catcher in the Rye did encourage his creative endeavors generally.

Ah, the pain of the teenage years, especially when you're the scourge of your classmates. Coming through the Rye captures those times through such insightful, understanding eyes it seems a bit autobiographical; and sure enough, in the Q&A post screening at the Austin Film Festival, writer/director James Steven Sadwith acknowledged that he was the teenager with a passion for finding Salinger, and this film is based on his experience. Another interesting revelation during the session was that the film's star, Alex Wolff, related that his grandfather, father, and brother all passed the same copy of J. D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye onto sons and brother when they were 12-13 years old.

The film opens with Jamie (Wolff) having heart-to-heart talks about girls with his older brother Gerry, who has gotten involved in drugs, and is being sent to a treatment center. He thinks he might not go, though, and instead join the armed services (this is the late '60s and the Viet Nam war is ongoing.) Soon after, Jamie is sent to Crampton boarding school and eventually becomes a pariah who is bullied unmercifully.

Jamie decides he's had it when he is awakened and attacked in the middle of the night and his room is left in shambles. At that point he decides to run away. Where to? To find J. D. Salinger, his idol. He has so identified with Holden Caulfield in Catcher in the Rye, he has written a screenplay for a theater production. Upon being told that he must get permission from Salinger before it can be performed, and running up against all kinds of obstacles in the mail, he thinks the only way is to talk to Salinger in person. He has no car, so must hitchhike his way to Vermont where he's told Salinger lives.

The person who picks him up is actually his "townie" friend, Deedee (Owen), who is a motherly sort and worries about his safety. She gets permission from her parents to drive Jamie up to Vermont just for the weekend, hoping to convince him to return to Crampton after their search. I loved her reasoning when she appeals to her reasonable parents; they end up trusting her and giving her room to use her own judgment.

Well, people have been trying for years to find Salinger, who just wants to be left alone. During their search, Jamie and Deedee talk about all kinds of things, and she, who is wise beyond her years, offers comments meant to increase his self-awareness. The film then gets into more coming-of-age dynamics, and ends on valuable moments of truth.

Among all the films about/for teenagers, Sadwith's production is one of the most thoughtful and edifying. Problems are cogently presented, and the model of Deedee's friendship and support of Jamie is exemplary in tone and execution. The scenes of young love are touching and funny, beautiful and awkward. Above all, the script is sound in its cause/consequences connections. Eric Hurt's cinematography, especially the sequences outdoors, takes you right into the action and gives you the feeling of being in the film. Similarly the music by Greg LaFollette, Heath McNease, and Jay Nash enhances the story, with the lyrics elaborating on the action.

The actors cast for Coming through the Rye seems tailor made for the film. Alex Wolff epitomizes the cautious, brainy kind of kid who doesn't quite grasp why anyone would be against him, although he is sincere and thoughtful. It takes another kind-hearted person to gently bring him to acknowledge his weaknesses and deal openly with a major trauma. Stephania Owen is peppy as Deedee and portrays so well the girl/woman who can be such a valuable friend, but may not be the object of passion.

Finally, Chris Cooper, the accomplished actor who has not always received the recognition he deserves, is ideal in the role of Salinger, in his identification with a famous person who does not strive for the limelight. He can be gruff and dismissive, but is clearly attentive to what he sees and hears, and can shift his position in response to a logical or appealing plea—much like the character he plays in August: Osage County as patient and kind, but whose support has limits.

Above the norm for movies about teens.

Grade: A By Donna R. Copeland

This is a winner. Believable acting, tight script, fine camera work. I've not read the book... This film makes me want to. Best parts were when Jamie speaks directly to us, and when he spoke directly to me. Reminded me of things I've not even now have had sorted out concerning my own high school experience.

I saw this film last week and was totally enthralled! The actors, basically "unknown" other than Chris Cooper, were splendid. Virginia looked lovely with glorious fall scenes of winding roads. It/they drew me in and made me feel a part of his journey, and as I mentioned to my friend when it was over "I want to HUG that movie". To think this was actually experienced IN REAL LIFE by the author/director! Wow! I also was pleased that the obligatory romantic scenes were left to the viewer's imagination. Thank you for letting ME (and my imagination) have a part in your movie. So go feel the warmth and charm of a wonderful movie!

I never read The Catcher in the Rye and I didn't know how that would affect what I thought of this film. I found you don't have to read the book to enjoy this movie. I thoroughly enjoyed Coming Through the Rye. A great coming of age movie! This movie draws you in right from the very beginning and never lets you go! It's sneaky deep, after reflecting on the movie for a day or so, many thoughts came to me. This movie teaches us to Be Passionate and Courageous, it Encourages us to Take the Risk, To Enjoy the Journey, Reflect on the Process and Become Better because you took that Risk and Journey! Excellent Movie!!! 2 Thumbs Up!!!

Coming Through the Rye If J.D. Salinger's novel Catcher in the Rye was part of your coming of age, this movie will connect with you. James Sadwith, writer, director and producer of this film has recreated his actual personal true encounter with the legendary author which occurred in the 1960s when he was attending a private prep school on the east coast.

The story develops as we meet the main character, Jamie Schwartz (Alex Wolff) who is obsessed with Holden Caulfield, the hero of the Salinger novel. Schwartz decides that for his senior school project, he wants to produce and direct a play recreating the Salinger novel. He is told by the school faculty that he must obtain permission from J.D. Salinger ( Chris Cooper) himself who is known to be quite a recluse.

In a post-screening interview, Sadwith told how the story is 90% accurate and that he based the script on his tape recorded notes of his exact dialogue with local New Hampshire folks who with whom he spoke during his search to find the author. The protagonist, Jamie Schwartz, was played in a very nuanced and sensitive manner and actually had a physical appearance and mannerisms, which reminded us of a young Bob Dylan. Ms. Owen was very appealing as the teenage young woman who clearly is simpatico with Jamie. Their "road trip" shows the tenderness and awkwardness of a near first sexual encounter that many people of that generation may very well understand.

Just as it was rare for a novel to capture the imagination of a generation that perhaps endured for over 20 years, it is rare for a movie to recreate these feelings without adapting the specific novel itself for the film. There is also a segment in the film which puts the focus on "bullying" at school. in this case, it is at a private prep school in 1960s but it could be in any modern setting. We see here a strong response and support of the victim by the faculty which we hope would occur any time this happens.

Although a low budget film, this was very well done. The photography captured the atmosphere and the music matched the time and setting quite well. We have no doubt that this film will resonate with those who still have their treasured copy of Catcher in the Rye. It will be interesting to see how it will be received by the millennials, although we suspect that there is a universality in the story that will be able to connect across generations.(2016) Reproduced from FilmRap.net

I saw this recently at The Cleveland International Film Festival at the end of a week of seeing 13 really great films. Even though another film had caught my eye as being my favorite, this one immediately replaced it at the top of my list of the whole festival! I was completely mesmerized by it from the first moment it started to the last.

This is such a delightful movie. It is beautifully shot - lovely scenery, beautiful cinematography, soft and warm. I felt like I was there. It is really well acted by two new actors and some veteran ones who blended into a sweet story. A lovely story that almost everyone could relate to. The characters are so real, you feel like you know them.

I wanted to watch it again right then! It is so great, I wouldn't only see it again - I would own it! It needs to be in theaters so everyone can see it.

Every "Catcher" reader will tell you that you don't need to relate to Holden, don't need to agree with Holden, hell, you don't even need to like him—to know how honest and raw he is with his reader. The reader knows more than Holden does at times, in spite of the walking contradiction that he is. J.D. Salinger wrote "The Catcher" out of desperation. He wrote it trying to hold on to parts of himself that he hadn't even fed in years. And this is apparent upon a first read, seeing that Holden's values are so rooted in who he is—but then not a page later they are replaced entirely. This film was not comprised out of that same desperation, it was composed of admiration, of love for the words that helped to inspire and not just numb. This is a glass and hard plastic reverence to what was once a leather-bound vow; finding your own story, making something of yourself, and searching out your spot to stand and hold the fabric of the world together. This film radiates the feeling of knowing who you ought to be, thinking that's all you could ever be, and then before the credits have rolled crumpling up all the words that used to define you. This film may not be everything that you will hope it to be at times, but it certainly won't all be what you expect. And if that were it's only connection to The Catcher in the Rye, that would be enough to earn the title. But it also develops real characters, and real heartbreak, real headway, and real authentic cinematography. By the end of the film, you thank the director and his fearless cast for leaving the camera rolling long enough to make you itch. If you can manage your own discomfort in those raw moments, you will appreciate how they opted away from "seamless." If only to make a jagged representation of what will always be an honest story, with honest feeling—not written for one person—but for generations to know that they weren't the first to love or hate Holden Caulfield...or Jamie Schwartz for that matter. And they won't be the last.

This was my overall favourite (non-horror) film from the Phoenix Film Festival, hands down. It was just so well done! I can't even find a bad thing to say about it. A truly perfect film!

This is a coming of age story at it's core, but it's also the (mostly) true story of the writer/director's quest to meet the notoriously private JD Salinger.

I had the opportunity to hear the director discuss this film and his respect for Salinger was obvious. He also stated that the conversations with Salinger were actually verbatim because he wrote them down immediately, and then used these notes to write the film. So you're truly getting a bit of insight into the real Salinger with this film.

The movie is so much more than that, though. In my opinion, this is truly an Oscar worthy film.

First of all I have to say that I am an aspie someone with Asperger's Syndrome and I cried through this movie which is almost impossible for someone with Asperger's Syndrome because we don't really cry this movie hit all the marks it is a PG-13 so I definitely would not recommend it for anybody under 13 there are some inappropriate themes and suggested ideas definitely worth a watch with your teenagers though

The title character Jamie was incredible Alex Wolff and stefena Owen incredible actors and actresses in my opinion and Chris Cooper as JD Salinger another incredible actor this movie hits all the marks it is definitely a tearjerker and it is worth seeing take it from this IMDb reviewer who has been a member for 20 years I have more reviews up here than I care to remember take it from me definitely go to your local library or see if you can find it in your streaming services definitely worth the effort take care and God bless.

A wonderful movie, masterfully written, superbly acted, beautifully filmed. A poignant, touching story without becoming ponderous or treacly. Perfectly captures adolescence. We had the good fortune to meet the filmmaker at a festival and can relate that the sincerity of the piece reflects his true nature.

I drove from VT to Boston to see this beautiful movie at the BIFF more than a week ago and have not been able to stop thinking about it since. One of the best coming of age movies I have ever seen and I can't wait to see it again. The acting is phenomenal, the scenery and attention to detail are perfect...sometimes this type of story can come off as forced or too scripted, but I found myself totally engrossed from beginning to end and leaving the theater wishing for more...and also as if I had been right there with Jamie and DeeDee. I hope this extraordinary film gets picked up and becomes available for everyone to see very soon!

If you love stories, connections, warmth and humor - this movie is for you. it is engaging, funny, poignant and beautiful!I

I enjoyed the characters, the scenery, the story, the actors. There are funny moments, poignant moments, suspenseful moments and squirmy moments.

The movie maker is a resident of my town and was there with Chris Cooper for us to ask questions to. They love the movie and the audience of all ages loved the movie. Some of the music is by Jay Nash a local singer/writer. Some of the investors are also local. This is a local product without any kitsch. if you are a person who believes in supporting local and not the mega companies this move if for you.

It is heart warming to see their dedication and love for their product.

I saw this film at the Sedona Film Festival in February, 2016 and hope it receives a theatrical release, as I would love to see it again and believe it deserves a wide audience. It is a superb story, based on real events in director James Sadwith's life, beautifully shot and told. The acting is excellent, from the awkwardly appealing Alex Wolff as the young protagonist, who identifies so strongly with Catcher in the Rye's Holden Caulfield, that he writes an unauthorized theatrical version, casting himself in the lead role, to seasoned veteran Chris Cooper, as the legendarily aloof author. The New England countryside is gloriously depicted and utilized as a backdrop for this highly original tale, starting in a traditional boarding school and ultimately a road trip along country lanes, as Jamie and a townie girlfriend (well played by Stephania Owen) take off in search of JD Salinger.

My wife and I just saw "Coming Through the Rye at the Cleveland International Film Festival, and LOVED the movie. It was our favorite of the 20+ movies we saw this past week, and was the first film festival movie that I have ever returned to see for a second time. We felt that it highly deserved the award as the best American-made film in this large festival.

We were taken by the realism of the young man's excitement for Salinger's writing, and his passion for meeting the author in person. The settings, the actors, and the music were exceptional, and we can only hope it gains distribution soon. We will go again, and recommend it to others, as soon as it becomes available.