The unmentioned gem

This movie is great in many ways. Of course the lead acting especially and the writing also. I think the unmentioned gem was the character of the daughter.

She is fantastic in her small role as the wise-beyond-her-years kid. And her character is plotted perfectly in preferring to stay with her wise-ass, aggressive stepdad than go off with her drugged up, slacker mother and father.

A similar stepdad relationship is explored in Blue Valentine though with very different conclusions.