Onah and Lee (who worked together on the script) clearly enjoy setting up the myriad twists and turns they throw at the audience, but it feels like it’s often at the expense of developing their characters — especially Luce, who is left more or less a cipher … She … She was an antagonist. Is This Star Student A Saint Or A Sociopath? He’s a model student, charming and polite to adults and peers, a talented athlete and has a bright future in front of him. Strange things begin to happen, and suddenly the pair begin to wonder whether Ms. Wilson is right in her assessment of Luce: Could they be living with a sociopath? A person like Luke P. drives ratings, but the producers know when their lead has a genuine connection with a contestant. For a lot longer than you might expect, Luce manages to entertain both possibilities. So much here is in the eye of the beholder. Luce (Kelvin Harrison Jr., center) is an athletic and popular star student in director Julius Onah's film, based on J.C. Lee's play. Yes, I am a sociopath. For an actor, the chance to participate in a film that stays in viewers’ minds after it ends is the ultimate dream. Meanwhile, Mom (Watts) is fierce in her defense of Luce, though even she is beginning to wonder. ‘Luce’: How Will Smith and Barack Obama Inspired Questions About Black Masculinity in Provocative Film. He's a success story, as the school principal never tires of saying. Possibly, but he cried real tears and showed genuine emotion several times in the film when no one was around to appreciate the effect. Depending on whom you listen to, whose judgment you decide to trust, Luce could be either a paragon of virtue, or a sociopath. But doesn't that make him as much a prisoner of their expectations as a classmate who's been labeled a loser and kicked out of school for having marijuana in his locker? Spencer's character sees Luce through a different lens than his parents do, a teacher's lens ... affirmative, yes, but she's worried about that paper, and she's even more worried about something she finds in his locker — which I won't spoil here. Depending on whom you listen to, whose judgment you decide to trust, Luce could be either a paragon of virtue, or a sociopath. Luce (Kelvin Harrison Jr., center) is an athletic and popular star student in director Julius Onah's film, based on J.C. Lee's play. Luce really is an exploration of these themes, providing no easy answers. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. A sociopath is someone who makes decisions for themselves and is unable to comprehend the impacts those decisions have on others. So Luce's adoptive mom (Naomi Watts) is blind-sided when one of his teachers (Octavia Spencer) calls her in for a conference about a paper he's written. Handsome, articulate, high achieving and popular with almost everyone. New Spring Cleaning Godzilla Art Prints ... And I hate hugs. A check-in shows that it's tough for people on both government and rebel sides. Luce's champions see a model student, a star athlete, a kid for whom stuff found in a locker should count as a minor infraction. Her approach to her students disrupted their lives. Luce (Kelvin Harrison Jr., center) is an athletic and popular star student in director Julius Onah's film, based on J.C. Lee's play. There's a reason why Brittany Hockley has been single for the past seven years, and it all boils down to the fact she once dated a 'sociopath'. We meet soon-to-be-class-valedictorian Luce (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) as he's addressing a high school assembly in Northern Virginia, saying all the right things about a rosy future. The assignment was to write in the voice of a historical figure — and Luce chose Frantz Fanon, a Pan-Africanist revolutionary who argued that violence is a necessary, cleansing force needed to free colonized people from their rulers. The assignment was to write in the voice of a historical figure — and Luce chose Frantz Fanon, a Pan-Africanist revolutionary who argued that violence is a necessary, cleansing force needed to free colonized people from their rulers. So much here is in the eye of the beholder. Luce (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) is the adopted son of two white parents, Peter Edgar (Tim Roth) and Amy Edgar (Naomi Watts). So much here is in the eye of the beholder. This week marks the 10th anniversary of the start of the unrest leading to the Syrian civil war. Is he a sociopath? So Luce's adoptive mom (Naomi Watts) is blind-sided when one of his teachers (Octavia Spencer) calls her in for a conference about a paper he's written. The assignment was to write in the voice of a historical figure — and Luce chose Frantz Fanon, a Pan-Africanist revolutionary who argued that violence is a necessary, cleansing force needed to free colonized people from their rulers. Spencer's character sees Luce through a different lens than his parents do, a teacher's lens ... affirmative, yes, but she's worried about that paper, and she's even more worried about something she finds in his locker — which I won't spoil here. So Luce is a young Black student, praised by all his teachers and in line to be class valedictorian. : 'Luce' ... Luce (Kelvin Harrison Jr., center) is an athletic and popular star student in director Julius Onah's film, based on J.C. Lee's play. So, starting from the beginning – Harriet hailed Luce as the second coming. For a lot longer than you might expect, Lucemanages to entertain both possibilities. So Luce's adoptive mom (Naomi Watts) is blind-sided when one of his teachers (Octavia Spencer) calls her in for a conference about a paper he's written. The assignment was to write in the voice of a historical figure — and Luce chose Frantz Fanon, a Pan-Africanist revolutionary who argued that violence is a necessary, cleansing force needed to free colonized people from their rulers. Depending on whom you listen to, whose judgment you decide to trust, Luce could be either a paragon of virtue, or a sociopath. 91.5 Chapel Hill 88.9 Manteo 90.9 Rocky Mount Seeing Hannah handling her frustration in real time instead of in a confessional was a necessary scene to convince her to figure out the relationship on her own. Depending on whom you listen to, whose judgment you decide to trust, Luce could be either a paragon of virtue, or a sociopath. The tough sanctions that former president Trump slapped on Iran are still in place and President Biden has a few options to use them to bring Iran back to the nuclear deal. So Luce's adoptive mom (Naomi Watts) is blind-sided when one of his teachers (Octavia Spencer) calls her in for a conference about a paper he's written. Harrison is fascinating as Luce, his eyes often registering very different emotions than his other features. He is clearly practiced and comfortable in the spotlight, popular with students and with teachers, despite a wrenching childhood in war-torn Eritrea before he was adopted and brought to the U.S. And he's matched by Watts and Tim Roth as his differently supportive adoptive parents, and Spencer as the teacher consumed by doubt ... until she's not. NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with sportswriter Christine Brennan of USA Today about the NCAA COVID-19 rules. Was Luce a sociopath? Luka Rocco Magnotta pleaded not criminally responsible by reason of mental illness at the start of his trial last week. featured. There certainly is a lot to dig through as Luce works through his issues as a top student who might want more of a normal life or at least less pressure. In a way, Luce feels like it could be an alternative timeline Onah has written for himself, ... as a squeaky clean Obama-type role model or a secreted sociopath with dark intentions and a slick but false pleasant veneer. How do colleges confront extremism in their midst? That is the troublesome question raised in 'Luce,' a thoughtful, well-acted new play by J C Lee" - Charles Isherwood, New York Times There are simply too many plot holes or loose ends here. This is a true statement.) Copyright 2021 NPR. Is This Star Student A Saint Or A Sociopath? Photo by Jon Pack - NEON We meet soon-to-be-class-valedictorian Luce (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) as he's addressing a high school assembly in Northern Virginia, saying all the right things about a rosy future. So much here is in the eye of the beholder. For a lot longer than you might expect, Luce manages to entertain both possibilities. ... How is it the teacher is the only person that picks up the fact that Luce is a head to toe sociopath and does something about it? : 'Luce' ... Share Tweet Email. : 'Luce' ... Luce (Kelvin Harrison Jr., center) is an athletic and popular star student in director Julius Onah's film, based on J.C. Lee's play. This is the way a sociopath would react to that news. Watt's character, knowing her son as a gentle soul, reads the paper and sees that he has followed the assignment. Is This Star Student A Saint Or A Sociopath? Depending on whom you listen to, whose judgment you decide to trust, Luce could be either a paragon of virtue, or a sociopath. He is clearly practiced and … Yet many people would call Magnotta's acts … So much here is in the eye of the beholder. It is certainly at that point that Luke goes from arguing self-defense to become a mass murdering sociopath. Why does he target Ms. Wilson? So much here is in the eye of the beholder. We meet soon-to-be-class-valedictorian Luce (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) as he's addressing a high school assembly in Northern Virginia, saying all the right Depending on whom you listen to, whose judgment you decide to trust, Luce could be either a paragon of virtue, or a sociopath. At one point, he seems to threaten Ms. Wilson, but he does it in a way so that no recounting of the incident can convey the full nature of the threat. With mechanical precision and relentlessness, he gets down to fucking with the enemy. Director Julius Onah and screenwriter J.C. Lee, on whose play the film is based, are focused on big themes even as they deal with the specifics at hand — themes of racism, privilege, progressive ideals, the tendency to see what we want to see. He's a success story, as the school principal never tires of saying. He is clearly practiced and comfortable in the spotlight, popular with students and with teachers, despite a wrenching childhood in war-torn Eritrea before he was adopted and brought to the U.S. Peter Daszak of the investigative team sent to Wuhan says the farms were probably where the coronavirus first jumped from bats to another animal before infecting humans. Committee on Inclusion Diversity Equity Accountability, WUNC Public Radio, LLC Board of Directors, Critics Say Chauvin Defense 'Weaponized' Stigma For Black Americans With Addiction, A Look At Little Village, The Chicago Community Where Police Shot Adam Toledo, Biden Administration Expected To Reverse Trump's Ban On Funding Fetal Tissue Research, Here's What 'All Things Considered' Sounds Like — In Blackbird Song, As Michigan Virus Cases Surge, State Would Rather Add Vaccinations Than Restrictions, WHO Points To Wildlife Farms In Southern China As Likely Source Of Pandemic, 'Why Are We Playing College Basketball Right Now? featured. Miss Wilson (Octavia Spencer) thinks the school valedictorian Luce (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) might be a sociopath. When she finds illegal fireworks in his locker, she becomes even more convinced that there might be a sociopath beneath the smarts and charm and decides to tell his … Luce is a smart young man, very shrewd, with a practiced mode of self-presentation. Watt's character, knowing her son as a gentle soul, reads the paper and sees that he has followed the assignment. Acting is nonetheless … You're never quite sure if Luce is a cunning sociopath, a radical ideologue, a misunderstood genius, a kindhearted kid or some combination of all four. Harrison is fascinating as Luce, his eyes often registering very different emotions than his other features. And he's matched by Watts and Tim Roth as his differently supportive adoptive parents, and Spencer as the teacher consumed by doubt ... until she's not. She points out that the women's team is playing in Texas, which has no mask mandate. In the Q&A, Julius Onah references the multitudes of identity and talked about the “full spectrum of humanity”. No, R2-D2 is the only sane man in the whole goat rope. Still, maybe we’re supposed to forgive her because Rory is such a talented writer. Luce's plot to take down his teacher was extremely clever, but we know from the start that Luce is an extremely bright and gifted young man. Bob Mondello, who jokes that he was a jinx at the beginning of his critical career — hired to write for every small paper that ever folded in Washington, just as it was about to collapse — saw that jinx broken in 1984 when he came to NPR. Genius has its privileges, right? He’s in a war, he knows it, and he doesn’t fuck around with feelings. In a bold choice, the movie at least entertains the idea that Luce may be a sociopath, contrasting the high-wattage charm he shows in public with the rehearsal of that persona in private. "Star student, sociopath or a little of each? But doesn't that make him as much a prisoner of their expectations as a classmate who's been labeled a loser and kicked out of school for having marijuana in his locker? The 32 year old man who admitted to killing, dismembering and sending body parts of student Jun Lin by mail, including one package addressed to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, has already been treated for paranoid schizophrenia in the past.. But one of his teachers is worried that he is involved in some illegal activity and gets his parents involved. You may also find yourself laughing uncomfortably during certain scenes to break the tension, then questioning whether … Oscars 2013: The 85th Annual Academy Awards. hide caption. 91.1 Welcome 91.9 Fayetteville 90.5 Buxton. Jon Pack/NEON All jokes aside, it does put the entire film trilogy into a slightly new perspective. Luce succeeds by allowing Harrison to play both sides without really ever giving into the temptation to define the character by the lingering questions and doubts of his parents, peers, and … Luce Movie Controversy Unpacked and Explained - because there are so many murky layers to Luce as to make it nearly incomprehensible. “This isn’t the boy I know,” says Amy, and we begin to wonder whether Luce is a star student or a sociopath – or maybe a bit of both. Luce's champions see a model student, a star athlete, a kid for whom stuff found in a locker should count as a minor infraction. Photo by Jon Pack - NEON We meet soon-to-be-class-valedictorian Luce (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) as he's addressing a high school assembly in Northern Virginia, saying all the right things about a rosy future. ... which is the perfect recipe for a sociopath. Luce teeters on a knife's edge between manipulative psychological thriller and trenchant commentary on racial relations in contemporary society. He is clearly practiced and … We meet soon-to-be-class-valedictorian Luce (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) as he's addressing a high school assembly in Northern Virginia, saying all the right things about a rosy future. ‘Luce’ Review: Psyching Out an Enigma Adapted from a stage play, Julius Onah’s new film finds mystery and possibly malice in a high school’s model black student. Depending on whom you listen to, whose judgment you decide to trust, Luce could be either a paragon of virtue, or a sociopath. Luce, (pronounced like loose), outstandingly played by Kelvin Harrison Jr., is a superstar in his school. Director Julius Onah and screenwriter J.C. Lee, on whose play the film is based, are focused on big themes even as they deal with the specifics at hand — themes of racism, privilege, progressive ideals, the tendency to see what we want to see. ': NCAA And COVID-19, Biden Has Options To Leverage Trump's Sanctions On Iran, On The 10th Anniversary Of The Syrian War, Hardship Persists On Both Sides, UCLA Student Charged In Capitol Riot Took Inspiration From Online Extremist. A college student charged in the U.S. Capitol riot was known on campus for his far-right views, which were nurtured by an online extremist. (Bit of a claustrophobe when it comes to closeness to other humans.