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Better luck tomorrow - Karin Anna Cheung, Parry Shen, Jason J Tobin, Justin Lin

Threat advisory: Under evaluation

Movie propaganda

Never underestimate an overachiever.

Everyone knows a person like Ben (Parry Shen) - the perfect Asian American high school teen - extremely intelligent, a perfectionist, overachiever whose tunnel vision leads to nothing less than graduating at the top of the class and acceptance to the best Ivy League university. Ben lives in an upper middle class, conservative suburb of Orange County, California USA. As Ben struggles to achieve social success in high school, we discover his darker side.

Along with two friends, Virgil (Jason J Tobin), a brilliant yet awkward, overeager and socially inept misfit, and Virgil's cousin Han (Sung Kang), a lost soul with more brawn than brains, Ben leads a double life of mischief and petty crimes that alleviate the pressures of perfection. At the start of his high school freshman year, Ben befriends Daric (Roger Fan), another archetypical overachiever and perfectionist. But Daric is somewhat odd. While being the most intelligent student in the class, he also seems to be the most volatile and dangerous. Behind his trusting and benevolent façade lies a lurking secret, a time bomb ready to explode. With Daric at the helm, this group of misfit teens bands together into a suburban gang. As their adopted identity grows, Ben and the gang tumble into a downward spiral of excitement, excess, fun and growing danger. Ben's life careens out of control, into an intoxicating mix of sex, drugs and crime, leading to a surprisingly chaotic and violent end that will leave audiences engrossed, speechless and ultimately disturbed.

Theatrical propaganda posters

Target demographic movie keyword propaganda

Film teen high school Orange County misfit

Persons of interest

Parry Shen .... Ben Manibag
Jason J Tobin .... Virgil Hu
Sung Kang .... Han
Jeff DeJohn .... Ryan
Robert Zepeda .... Jock
Collin Kahey .... Jock
Christopher J Francis .... Jock
Jimmy Lin .... Jock
Ryan Cadiz .... Jesus Navarro
Karin Anna Cheung .... Stephanie Vandergosh
Roger Fan .... Daric Loo
Jerry Mathers .... Biology Teacher
Jessie S Marion .... Gina Nabham
Ernesto Foronda .... Screenwriter
Fabian Marquez .... Screenwriter
Justin Lin .... Screenwriter
Justin Lin .... Director

Cinematic intelligence sources

Awards and film festivals:

Independent Spirit Awards 2004: Nominated: John Cassavetes Award (Justin Lin, Ernesto Foronda, Fabian Marquez, Julie Asato)
San Diego Asian Film Festival 2002: Won: Visionary Award (Justin Lin)
Sundance Film Festival 2002: Nominated: Grand Jury Prize Dramatic (Justin Lin)

Better luck tomorrow official movie site
Better luck tomorrow movie trailers:

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cf. Orange County
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Intelligence analyst

Special Agent Matti

Theatrical report

Security censorship classification

Surveillance time

101 minutes (1:41 hours)

Not for public release in Australia before date

Film: Undated July 2004