Prodigy (film)

Prodigy is a 2016 coming-of-age psychological drama film written, produced and directed by Matthew Vaughn, who also directed the screenplay. It stars Maisie Williams as Melanie Norrington, a girl who suffers from a brutal stutter and is thus savagely bullied at school, but is proven to be quite brilliant in spite of herself. It co-stars Keira Knightley, Georgie Henley, David Tennant, Mark Strong, Judi Dench, Freddie Highmore, Benedict Cumberbatch, Toby Jones, Ciaran Hinds, Henry Caville, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Michelle Fairley, Julie Walters, Katie McGrath and Sarah Hyland. The film is dedicated to the memory of Peter Vaughan, who died on 6th December that same year.

Prodigy debuted on the 15th of December 2016 and was a box office success. It was met with overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics and universal acclaim from audience, many calling it one of the best films of 2016. It grossed $417, 243, 127 at the box office, becoming the third highest-grossing film of 2016. The majority of praise was aimed at the direction and Maisie Williams's performance, which won her an Academy Award for Best Actress, along with several other nominations. Henley, Tennant and Highmore's performances were also praised, as was the film's pacing and graphic depiction of difficulties faced by children in Melanie's situation.

Plot
After experiencing a ferocious nightmare, Melanie wakes up in the middle of the night screaming, and is comforted gently by her mother Susan. She says that the nightmare was about the day that her father had died - it is learned that Melanie's father had been killed in a car accident that she had unintentionally caused. The next morning, Melanie is drilled by Mrs. Stephanie Valeska, who is revealed to home-educate her over the weekends since her stutter constantly counters her education and her ability to process information. At school, Melanie is bullied by Amy Carlyle and her cronies, who constantly mock her stutter and for her not having a father. While giving a presentation in English, Melanie's stutter causes a humiliating breakdown, especially when the teacher pressures her to continue. She has lunch on her own, being a quintessential outcast, and she is haunted by distant voices of her last conversation with her abusive father. Melanie walks home because, if she took the bus, she would be in the same vehicle as Amy. On the way back, she meets with Jerome Kendrick, but she acts aloof around him because she's scared of having friends.

At a PTA meeting, Susan learns that her daughter has significant behavioural issues, influenced by her speech problems. This being nothing new to her, Susan defends Melanie fiercely, stating that it isn't Melanie's fault that her weaknesses are disrupting the class. This impresses several of the people present. Meanwhile, Melanie visits the local comic book shop run by Paul Kendrick, Jerome's uncle. She spends a great amount of time reading the X-Men comic books, and immersing herself by 10:30 in the evening, during which she is burying himself in The Dark Knight Returns. Stephanie comes and collects her, chiding her for staying up late. On the walk back, Melanie vents to Stephanie about what happened in English that day. Stephanie comforts the girl and assures her, using characters from the X-Men comics to prove her point, that being different doesn't mean anything in the long run.

Melanie speaks with her mother in bed and admits that she wants to see someone about elocution lessons, but Susan admits that they cannot afford them. The next day, Melanie is approached again by Jerome, and she becomes friendlier with him - the two of them bond considerably over their similar interests, especially their love for the band ELO (Melanie confesses that she once dreamed of driving off happy into the sunset to Mr. Blue Sky). Melanie gradually begins to warm up to him but, in the midst of their conversation, she backs off, and leaves him alone without an explanation. In mathematics, Melanie demonstrates an incredible calculative talent, doing mental maths for an extremely long sum and impressing Dr. Sewell - what is more impressive is that, the more assured she became in reciting the equation, the easier she spoke. However, Melanie retreats back into her shy mentality afterwards, and Sewell realises that she is mentally problematic, not just vocally challenged. On the way back from school, Susan meets her and admits that she's been dating someone and Melanie eagerly asks to meet him: it is revealed to be Mr. James Grey, the headmaster. Susan confesses that James asked her out first, and that he expressed some interest in helping her.

Jealous of the attention that Melanie begins to receive because of her intelligence, Amy places threatening drawings in Melanie's schoolbag, each one mimicking suicide and insanity. This catches Jerome's attention and he thinks that she drew them, and in response Melanie tears the pictures into shreds, screaming that they had nothing to do with her. A spiteful Amy cannot help but giggle from afar at seeing her prank unfold. At home, Melanie is approached by James, who tries to befriend her, but Melanie can't help but be unsure of being the prospective stepdaughter of the headteacher. He is shown to be unsure of the same thing. Susan watches the entire conversation nervously. One day, during a geography class, when the teacher leaves the room, Amy taunts Melanie for having the headmaster for a father, referring to her sarcastically as if she is royalty - this angers Melanie into standing up for herself, to which Amy kicks Melanie to the ground, leaving a serious bruise on her stomach. Later on, Stephanie notices this bruise and peruses about what happened, but Melanie stays silent.

She manages to befriend a transferred sixth former named Judy, who helps her realise her genius by giving her a multitude of equations and unexpected mathematical problems, each of which Melanie brushes aside easily. Judy then reveals that she knows how Melanie is treated and that she is trying to get the other sixth formers to object to Amy's behaviour, but Melanie objects to the idea because she doesn't want to start a schoolwide showdown because of her feud with Amy. However, when Stephanie peruses even further when it is just the two of them in the house and Susan is on a date with James, Melanie tearfully admits that she is being bullied. She breaks down and Stephanie comforts her, but Melanie is inconsolable and cries herself to sleep. She meets Jerome and admits that she was stupid to push him away. She says she wants to be his girlfriend. The entire conversation is witnessed by Amy, who confronts James about it later on. When Susan learns about Melanie's confession, she publicly demands a campaign against bullying in the school, to which a large number of parents concur. However, it is quelled by James, who doesn't want to have a riot in his school that could worsen Melanie's situation. This tremors his relationship with Susan, who violently argues with him on their next date, but eventually they both reach common ground in that they want what is best for Melanie, who seems convinced she's alone.

Dr. Sewell speaks privately with Melanie and states the potential that she possesses. Melanie admits that she didn't know she was clever, and that she was scared of appearing so because it would attract uncomfortable attention for her. Sewell tells her that to be clever is something terrific, but what matters is wielding intelligence the right way - and being confident because of it. He points out that James himself went through a bad spell as an alcoholic but pulled through because being a teacher gave him responsibility. This has a backward effect on Melanie considering that her previous father was an alcoholic as well - she confesses that, when she was younger and her father was driving her to school after recovering from a hangover, they fell out and she threw a tantrum, causing the car to crash and kill her father. Dr. Sewell reports this to James, stating that the stutter is also a consequence of savage personal guilt. In PE, Melanie and Amy are pitted against each other on either teams and Melanie defeats Amy by striking her in the face. Enraged, Amy attacks her again, but Jerome thwarts her and threatens to film the attack and send it to the police. To exercise the control he has on Amy, Jerome tells Joe, the head of PE, about Amy's bullying of Melanie to some extent, resulting in Joe prompting his teachers to inflict serious punishment on Amy and her lackeys.

On the weekend, Susan takes Melanie to ComicCon, where they get an autograph from James Earl Jones and participate in the talks with X-Men stars Patrick Stewart, James Marsden, Kevin Bacon and Anna Paquin. Melanie enjoys herself massively and thanks her mother, who admits that they ought to have a fun weekend once in a while. That night, they order pizza and watch an episode of The Graham Norton Show, where Samuel L. Jackson speaks unexpectedly out to Melanie, voicing the injustice of her situation - this shocks Melanie to learn that more people than she ever expected cared about her. The next day, she takes Melanie to the cinema to see Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and the two of them get a McDonald's afterwards. Melanie states that she has begun to talk about her father more, having confessed about it to Dr. Sewell, to which Susan applauds her. Susan confesses that she thought that Melanie's father would be the one for her when they first met, but as he descended into alcoholism the only thing keeping Susan from ending the relationship was having to care for Melanie - later, when she met James and learned that he used to be an alcoholic, she saw him as a better incarnation, and he has turned out to be a better investment on her part. Melanie begins to understand her mother's situation.

Jerome is chided by his father, the head of the police department, for withholding information about Amy, but Jerome fights back with the knowledge that Howard always had an ambiguous opinion of girls like Melanie, and Howard confesses to this. He admits that he supports Jerome but implores him to be careful. Later that night, Amy and her friends gather and Amy dictates that they have to silence Melanie before she becomes a prominent issue for them - she suggests attacking Melanie and making it look like a mugging that will put them into hospital. They follow Melanie home wearing balaclavas and chase her through the park. Susan calls the police and follows Amy's gang. The chase goes into the forest, where several of Amy's friends are lost. Melanie lures one of them into a dead end where she loses her way.

Though she eludes most of the gang, Amy perseveres and, when her prey crosses to a busy road to get back home, attacks Melanie, shoving her in front of a moving van. Susan intervenes, pushing Melanie out of the way and getting hit herself. Horrified, Melanie flies into a terrifying rage and rounds on Amy. The two of them grapple across the road, until Melanie's fury overpowers a terrified Amy, who thus far hasn't seen such ferocity from her rival. Melanie straddles Amy and pounds her repeatedly with her fists, screaming with tearful rage. Jerome hears the sound of the fight and runs out, pulling a thrashing Melanie away from a barely-conscious Amy. The police arrive to find Jerome cradling a sobbing Melanie, next to a bloodied Amy and an injured Susan. The next day, James visits Melanie at her mother's bedside, and learns that Susan suffered concussion, internal bleeding and a broken knee: she is severely injured, but will recover. Amy, morbidly bruised by her fight with Melanie, crosses the two of them, but silently leaves the hospital with her father.

Amy's father Samuel Carlyle is revealed to actually be her uncle and adoptive father, and is extremely withdrawn towards her. The PTA is outraged by the news of the fight between the two girls, and many are demanding that Amy is arrested or at least expelled - if she is expelled, her attack on Melanie will prevent her from going to university and damage her future possible careers. Melanie, despondent despite the news that her mother will recover, hides in the comic book shop, and Stephanie visits her, bringing her food and trying to comfort her. Jerome insists that she be left alone for a while. Surprisingly, Amy visits Melanie, her injuries preventing her from attacking, let alone surpassing Melanie if another altercation came between them. Melanie orders her to keep her distance, and Amy remains on the other side of the room. She admits that her parents bullied her, and once her mother killed her drunken father when he attacked her, causing her to be imprisoned for manslaughter. She apologises, sobbing, for everything she's done and said to Melanie, who slowly forgives her, but demands some time to herself. When she is alone again, Melanie finds that she isn't crying, since she has finally found common ground with her mortal enemy.

A massive campaign commences against Amy, discrediting her foster father and anyone who even tries to defend her. Amy tries to admit that she has reconciled with Melanie but she is violently repelled under the belief that she is turning coward. Melanie intervenes and abruptly announces that they have settled their scores. Handicapped at several point by her stutter, Melanie delivers a climactic speech to state that Amy suffered herself and that, while this didn't excuse her actions, it made Melanie understand that it wasn't completely out of spite that Amy harassed and bullied her - the latter was Melanie's original perception for Amy's actions. Both Amy, Stephanie, Jerome and a recovering Susan witness the speech and Susan sheds a tear with pride for her daughter. Melanie is cheered uproariously by the PTA crowd and it is televised across the country, with several celebrities applauding her bravery and decency.

Two years later, Melanie passes her exams with flying colours, succeeding to get a place at the University of Edinburgh, as has Jerome. Susan, Stephanie, Amy, James and even Paul Kendrick gather to see them off and Jerome kisses Melanie. Melanie individually delivers heartfelt thanks to each of the people present for being in her life, though there is an awkward episode between her and Amy. She embraces her mother and James, stating she's accepted him as her new father. Having passed her driving exam, Melanie invites Jerome into her new car, where she places an ELO CD inside the player and they drive off into the sunset singing along to Mr. Blue Sky, just as they had fantasised about doing so long ago.

Cast

 * Maisie Williams as Melanie Norrington, an extremely intelligent and sweet-hearted but temperamental girl who suffers from an agonising stutter. Melanie is brilliant, but as a result of the scrutiny that comes from her stutter, she is underconfident, extremely nervous and terrified of forming relationships with other people. For the part, Williams worked with several elocution instructors in order to realistically depict a stutter in the film. She was approached especially for the role by the director.
 * Keira Knightley as Susan Norrington, Melanie's devoted mother who struggles to provide for her and to care for her after her husband dies in a catastrophic car accident that Melanie accidentally caused. Susan visibly tries a multitude of things in order to support the two of them, even if that means finding somebody else - indeed, this includes commencing a relationship with the headmaster of her school in order to provide Melanie with a stabler father figure than his alcoholic predecessor.
 * Georgie Henley as Amelia "Amy" Carlyle, a classmate of Melanie's and the primary antagonist of the film. She is a vicious, diabolical bully on the outside who constantly torments Melanie for her insecurities, often in extreme quantities for the purpose of her own amusement. She is intelligent and talented herself but focuses more on tormenting people like Melanie. It is later revealed that Amy herself suffered bullying at home from both of her parents, until they killed each other in a drunken brawl when she was eleven years old.
 * David Tennant as Mr. James Grey, the headmaster at Melanie's school, and the eventual partner that Susan begins dating to support the family better. As her partner, he tries to befriend Melanie but their relationship goes off to a rocky start because Melanie cannot accept him in comparison to the father she believes that she has killed. James is revealed to have been an alcoholic when he was younger, but put it aside so that he wouldn't risk losing his job as a teacher at the school he would eventually become headteacher at. He is friendly and compassionate, but struggles with the prospect of being stepfather to one of his own pupils.
 * Judi Dench as Mrs. Stephanie Valeska, the elderly neighbour of Melanie and Susan who eventually moves in in order to help support Susan and help home-educate Melanie with her stutter. Calm, extremely patient and wise, she easily gets on with Melanie because she comes across as genuinely patient and helpful for her. When Melanie is bullied, Stephanie is the very first person to find out about it and see through each of Melanie's deceptions and excuses.
 * Mark Strong as Dr. Sewell, Melanie's maths teacher, who argues repeatedly with James about what should be done about Melanie - he worries that her stutter is not only affecting her performance at school, but is also marring her psychologically, having had a sister with similar problems to her. He is impressed by her intelligence and realises the potential that she possesses.
 * Freddie Highmore as Jerome Kendrick, a classmate of Melanie's who tries to befriend her, though she brutally rebuffs him for fear of developing any relationships. Jerome is extremely compassionate to a fault and objects to the concept of bullying, which puts him at dangerous odds with Amy, who used to be his girlfriend until her vicious personality ended the relationship.
 * Benedict Cumberbatch as Mr. Samuel Carlyle, Amy's authoritative and disciplined stepfather father who is unaware of her extreme personality traits: he was withdrawn and aloof to her, causing her to be vicious and ungrateful - this drove his wife into breakdown, and she argued with him. The argument led to a divorce with Amy's mother, who later suffered a heart attack and died. Because of this, Samuel distances himself from Amy because she is the ultimate product of the relationship that his work ended. This is one of the driving forces to Amy's volatile personality, and Melanie suffers for it.
 * Toby Jones as Howard Kendrick, Jerome's father and a police officer in the local department. He has mixed opinions about Melanie, having heard one bad thing after another about any source but his son, even though he cares about him. Howard is a part of the campaign against discrimination that commences in the school after a vicious incident between Melanie and Amy.
 * Ciaran Hinds as Paul Kendrick, Jerome's uncle and Howard's older brother who owns a comic book shop near Melanie's house. He allows Melanie to hide in the comic book shop when she is upset, considering that the girl is his best customer, but he also has something of a respect for Melanie.
 * Henry Caville as Joe, a PE teacher with whom Jerome confides in information about Amy's activities. He is somewhat ruthless and he has Miss Fowler put the girls to a severe punishment after he hears about the incident between Melanie and Amy. Despite this, he is a good man and decent enough to only give Jerome's information to the right people.
 * Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Mark Green, a friend of Samuel's who also works in the local police under Howard Kendrick and investigates the car accident in which Melanie's father was killed.
 * Michelle Fairley as Miss Steinfeld, one of the members of the PTA who protests against Melanie's disruptive presence in the school
 * Katie McGrath as Jeanine, Judy's mother
 * Sarah Hyland as Judy, a sixth former who befriends Melanie

Cameos

 * Samuel L. Jackson as himself
 * Graham Norton as himself
 * Patrick Stewart as himself
 * James Marsden as himself
 * Anna Paquin as herself
 * Kevin Bacon as himself
 * James Earl Jones as himself
 * Stan Lee as himself
 * Chloe Grace Moretz as herself
 * Kathy Bates as herself
 * Jack Nicholson as himself

Soundtrack

 * 1) Town Called Malice - The Jam
 * 2) Candle in the Wind - Elton John
 * 3) The Recluse - Plan B
 * 4) Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head - BJ Thomas
 * 5) Thriller - Michael Jackson
 * 6) As the World Falls Down - David Bowie
 * 7) He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother - Neil Diamond
 * 8) Hurt - Johnny Cash
 * 9) Brave - Sara Bareilles
 * 10) Another Day in Paradise - Phil Collins
 * 11) Terrible Love - Birdy
 * 12) Night Changes - One Direction
 * 13) I Am, I Said - Neil Diamond
 * 14) Mr. Blue Sky - ELO

Trivia

 * The film is 137 minutes long
 * 15 Certificate for violence, brief sexual content, strong language throughout, thematic elements and disturbing imagery
 * The film is dedicated to the memory of Peter Vaughan, who died on 6th December that same year.