Two high school boys, best friends, have everything going for them until Franky’s (Josh Wiggins) 16th birthday party during which an event occurs that will change them both forever. The film beautifully portrays the struggles of teens as they question not only their identity but their sexuality and how they perceive others. While the film is told from a teen’s perspective, we also see how the entire family handles the situation (Maria Bello, Kyle McLachlan), bringing a sense of honest reality to the film. Wiggins and Darren Mann (Ballas) are extraordinary as they both slowly and subtly allow you to understand their every thought, emotion, and action as well as reaction.
Elizabeth Chomko writes and directs this story of how Alzhiemer’s effects an entire family. As Bridget (Hillary Swank) travels from L.A. to Chicago to help with her mother’s (Blythe Danner) declining condition, the real conflicts within the family begin. Nick (Michael Shannon) has been the primary sibling to take care of both his mom and dad (Robert Forster), but Ruth’s symptoms have become more than he can handle. The film brings to light the emotional load a family endures with dementia with artistry and honesty.
FIRST MAN (not yet seen)
Damien Chazelle and Ryan Gosling are reunited in this recounting of Neil Armstrong’s life as he took his first steps on the moon. “First Man” was a hot ticket for opening night garnering high praise and indicating a possible slot in the Oscar nominations for Chazelle once again. (An interview with actor Skylar Bible (Richard F. Gordon) can be found at www.reelhonestreviews.com
FIRST MAN star Skylar Bible
GIANT LITTLE ONES
WHAT THEY HAD
The list this year truly goes on and on with “The Front Runner,” “The Hummingbird Project,” “Jeremiah Terminator LeRoy,” and “Viper Club.” Outstanding foreign films were well represented with Asghar Farhadi’s “Everybody Knows” starring Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem, the Irish economic and social impact film “Rosie,” and the psychological drama “Mouthpiece.”
For a full list of reviews and interviews, go to www.reelhonestreviews.com