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Director helps young actors excel in '12 and Holding'

Director Michael Cuesta burst on the film scene five years ago with L.I.E., a creepy little Long Island tale of a 15-year-old boy who gets caught in the web of an avuncular child molester. It was compelling enough to make his follow-up feature an event and despite a few far-fetched details, Cuesta does not disappoint with 12 and Holding.

IFC Films '12 and Holding' B The verdict: A tale of pre-teens trapped in crises, expertly directed by Cuesta. Director: Michael Cuesta Starring: Jeremy Renner, Linus Roache, Annabella Sciorra, Jayne Atkinson, Tom McGowan Run time: 94 minutes Release date: May 19, 2006 Rating: R for some violence and sexual content involving minors, and for language. Meet the director Is Michael Cuesta drawn to the dark side? On the web Official movie site View the trailer    Trailers require Quicktime Rate '12 and Holding'   Go see it   Make it a matinee   Wait to rent   Don't bother Voter Limit: Once per Hour View Poll Results

As the title implies, he sets his sights even younger with this study of pre-teens forced to deal with traumatic situations that follow a downward path. The screenplay by Anthony S. Cipriano has more than its share of melodrama, but the film is saved by the young actors, so uniformly adept that we might as well give Cuesta some of the credit for drawing the performances from them.

Conor Donovan excels in twin roles, as a youngster inadvertently killed when bullies torch the treehouse he falls asleep in one night and as his surviving, guilt-wracked brother, self-conscious over a birthmark that covers half of his face. A fatherless female friend (Zoe Weizenbaum) begins an inappropriate attraction to a considerably older construction worker and an obese kid (Jesse Camacho) begins a severe diet, encouraged by his gym coach but opposed by his slothful parents.

The film careens from crisis to crisis. Yet each time it threatens to spin out of control, Cuesta demonstrates a firm hand that keeps us leaning in with interest.