This tension is what drives the film's later scenes, holding us closely and drawing out powerful themes about trust, helplessness and the need for affection. It's very strong stuff, but handled with astonishing sensitivity and never remotely vulgar or explicit. Howie's struggle is bad enough (and brilliantly played by the young Dano), but the surprise is how strongly we identify also with Big John and his conflicting desires. Cox plays the role dead on--it's a brave performance that never takes the cheap or easy route through a scene and shockingly refuses to vilify the character. It's not a perfect film; Howie's background is a bit too "perfect" in setting him up for the over-dramatic plot. But director-cowriter Cuesta has made one of those rare, unforgettable teen films, saying something important that hasn't been said a million times before. In avoiding typically simplistic moralising, he helps us see things from another perspective ... and really opens our eyes.