Alex Pettyfer has made a name for himself through movies such as "I am Number Four," "Magic Mike," "Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker" and "Endless Love." The projects have earned him attention and a paycheck, but never pressed him to show his true acting abilities.
With "Back Roads" he's found a project that gives him the opportunity to put on display just how good he can be as an actor. And if that wasn't enough, Pettyfer shows with the same production he can turn in a memorable performance while juggling the duties of a producer and director.
The film, based on the Oprah's Book Club selection and New York Times best-selling novel by Tawni O'Dell, follows Harley Altmyer, a young man who grappling with his life after his mother, Bonnie (Juliette Lewis), is sent to prison for killing his abusive father.
Harley gives up his dreams of college and works low-paying jobs to take care of his three younger sisters in rural Pennsylvania. The task is made even more difficult because each sister is dealing with her own demons, including the rebellious 16-year-old Amber (Nicola Peltz). The only solace Harley can find is with Callie Mercer (Jennifer Morrison), his older married neighbor.
His search for maternal guidance is necessary because his own mother is using the prison walls as a barrier between her and her son. The more he tries to get her to give him some guidance, the more antagonistic their relationship becomes.
Pettyfer does some of his best acting and directing in scenes with Lewis. She has a great talent for playing flawed characters and using foibles as both a weapon and shield. The battles she wages with Pettyfer build with such force and pain that the scenes become the entire project's tent poles.
Morrison's character of Callie doesn't have the emotional baggage Lewis uses, but she's just as strong playing a woman whose sympathy crosses the line sexually. The problem is Harley's not been exposed to this kind of empathy and misunderstands what is happening.
The other major clashes come when Harley and Amber collide. What's driving their conflict is the natural tension siblings have, but it is ramped up by issues bigger than both of them. Peltz plays Amber as a complex character whose hidden sides are slowly revealed throughout.
This was a big gamble for Pettyfer, who could have just coasted along in big budget films where actions often speak louder than the dialogue. His willingness to take a chance pays off.
"Back Roads" opens in selected theaters Thursday. It will be available through Digital HD and Video on Demand starting Friday.
