42) DARE

Director: Adam Salky
Stars: Emmy Rossum, Zach Gilford, Ashley Springer, Ana Gasteyer, Alan Cumming, Chris Riggi
Year: 2009
Rating: R

Based on a short film (which is included on the DVD), Dare is - if nothing else - proof that Zach Gilford is a genuine talent far beyond his role as Matt on "Friday Night Lights". The indie feel of the film gives it exactly the right spark ... as Emmy Rossum plays high school senior Alexa Walker, a beautiful and talented girl determined to pursue an acting career. Alexa navigates the waters of school with her shy/sensitive/geeky long-term best friend Ben (Ashley Springer) - and you couldn't find a closer set of friends, that is until Alexa is forced into an acting scene with class jock Johnny (Gilford), who has no interest in acting and less in Alexa. As Alexa finds herself prodded to take risks and be more daring in life in order to improve her acting, she finds herself warming up to Johnny ... who, in turn finds himself drawn into both Alexa and Ben's world, where the friendship and relationships between all three becomes ... well, a bit complicated.

All three principals are believable and good in their roles, but it's really Gilford's Johnny Drake who holds it all together, and Gilford is up for the challenge. Nothing new or groundbreaking here, and those without an open mind to stories about like teenagers exploring their sexuality or questioning who they are may wish to look elsewhere, but Dare has a grittiness and sense of reality that worked for me on-screen. **** - Reel Awesome