 It is Durst's film directing debut.As a kid, Charlie Banks (Jesse Eisenberg) both admired and feared the charismatic and violent local tough Mick Leary (Jason Ritter); in high school, Charlie witnesses Mick beat up two jocks at a party, leaving the two victims near death.Despite Mick being the buddy of his best friend, Danny (Chris Marquette), Charlie reports Mick to the police.