Our take: "45365"

(Credit: Courtesy of the Denver Film Festival)

Honest portrayals of American life are a rarity in the movie biz. Most films that attempt to show the drama and truth in the day-to-day life of an average American completely over glamorize it. "45365" is not one of those films.

Documentary filmmakers Bill and Turner Ross set out to show the moviegoing world just exactly what living in rural America means. There are no fancy cars or Botox injections. There are drug deals, court dates, heartbreak and disfunctional families. The Ross brothers follow several everyday people in the town of Sidney, Ohio; and what they find is as real as it gets. A mother and son struggle with drug use, a young girl goes through her first big break-up and the police show they really are there to protect Sidney's people. In fact, one of the most touching scenes in the film is of an officer offering to help out a suspect in his backseat.

For those of you who have never been to a county fair or a Wal-Mart and seen what real blue collar Americans are like — it's time to catch a glimpse.

This film is quite the wake-up call to all Americans. We admit it's not the most entertaining documentary at the festival, and it lacks a strong plot line. However, it is by far one of the most compelling on screen examples of true life. And did we mention it has been shortlisted for an Academy Award?