Feel good movies are pretty rare these days - you mean it isn't a comic book movie, mainstream comedy, or Oscar contender? This movie is none of those things. It is just a simple story about a dad, a daughter, and a record store. You know the whole plot just by watching the trailer, honestly...but you should watch it anyway. Offerman and Clemons absolutely shine. They manage to make this story feel real without ever becoming cliche. If you are not smiling in the closing scenes, if you are not thinking back to your own farewells, well, something might be wrong with you. It will not give you chills. It is not groundbreaking. It has some plot gaps. But it is a feel good movie. And I felt good.
66 Reviews
I AM YOUR FATHER
js-661305 May 2020
For a movie that has a lot on the platter, "Hearts Beat Loud" traverses what foreshadows to be rough waters with a calm, realistic paddle. It has the squeaky clean, educational discovery flavour of the "ABC Afterschool Specials" of TV past, without veering towards any convenient conclusions. The movie just plays out, which as it turns out, is part of its refreshing charm.
"Hearts" works best when focusing on the father-daughter dynamic which is the film's core, keying on Nick Offerman's perfectly understated role facing a personal crossroads struggle. Inserting veteran, recognizable faces Ted Danson and Blythe Danner proves distracting, as is the stilted Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) cameo. Confusing decisions for a film that aches to be small. Smartly, these are but brief interruptions and melt quickly into the background. This is a father film. Period.
As Frank, the judgemental owner of a struggling vinyl record shop, and a single parent to an itchy yet whip ass smart teen, Offerman brings a calm yet burning restraint when faced with major life decisions. His usual poker face satire stance from a wonderful comedic career, being replaced with a surprisingly dramatic nuanced one.
The movie lingers a tad too long on some pieces (warning: there is plenty of music, plus plenty of nerdy music references), and leaves much unresolved, but that just might be the point of delivering this sweet slice of casual life. Hearts actually beat soft.
"Hearts" works best when focusing on the father-daughter dynamic which is the film's core, keying on Nick Offerman's perfectly understated role facing a personal crossroads struggle. Inserting veteran, recognizable faces Ted Danson and Blythe Danner proves distracting, as is the stilted Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) cameo. Confusing decisions for a film that aches to be small. Smartly, these are but brief interruptions and melt quickly into the background. This is a father film. Period.
As Frank, the judgemental owner of a struggling vinyl record shop, and a single parent to an itchy yet whip ass smart teen, Offerman brings a calm yet burning restraint when faced with major life decisions. His usual poker face satire stance from a wonderful comedic career, being replaced with a surprisingly dramatic nuanced one.
The movie lingers a tad too long on some pieces (warning: there is plenty of music, plus plenty of nerdy music references), and leaves much unresolved, but that just might be the point of delivering this sweet slice of casual life. Hearts actually beat soft.
- hipCRANK
Hearts Beat by Push
torrascotia30 June 2018
I managed to catch this at a screening at the Edinburgh Film Festival. It was one of those bookings I took a risk on and knew very little about it apart from the fact Nick Offerman was the lead.
Firstly this is a family focused feel good movie with a musical theme. If that doesn't sound like your thing then its not for you.
We have Nick Offerman looking like an angry old owl who is a widower and has a musically talented daughter, Sam played by Kiersey Clemons. Sam is preparing to leave for medical school and her father is featuring less in her life as a result. The father and daughter make music together for fun, hence the musical content of the movie. Sam has also just started a same sex relationship with an artist, so we have a three way love tug of war centring on whether the daughter will leave her new love and father behind, just when the family band have a possibility of commercial success. That is all you need to know without giving any spoilers.
What I did find interesting and authentic was the fact that they paid a fair bit of attention to the music making process, which as someone who is interested in this kind of thing is a bonus. We see them use MIDI keyboards, effects pedals on guitars and what also must be the first time Abelton Live and Push have been featured in a movie. Which is interesting in itself as the style of music played is not really the electronic kinds you would associate with Laptop driven music.
The weaknesses I found in the story were funnily enough around the use of the internet, the main character is savvy enough to record and supposedly master (we never see this process) then upload his music to Spotify, but hasn't cottoned on to the fact he could be selling his music stock online as well?
The music featured in the movie is basically Eno-esque indy pop by the family band with a bunch of other guitary indy type fodder. How much the music means to you will be down to your own tastes but music does feature heavily especially towards the finale.
However as a feel good movie it definitely hits the mark and at no point during the movie did I feel a cringe or feel the story was becoming too sentimental, which is usually the case with these types of movies.
This is an easy to watch movie and a rare exploration of the father daughter dynamic within a mixed race family over a shared love of music.
Light as a feather charmer, lacking real oomph.
RMurray8478 January 2021
Frank Fisher runs an honest-to-goodness record store in relatively modern day Brooklyn, and it's about to go under. He's worried, mostly because his daughter Sam is about to go to UCLA for med school, and helping her pay for that is a top priority. He also has a mother with dementia who keeps wandering off and getting arrested. How will all this be resolved?
Well, this movie is really not all that interested in these things. Frank (Nick Offerman) also PLAYS music, and was once in a band with Sam's (Kiersey Clemons) mother. A mother killed a lot of years ago in a cycling accident. Sam also plays some music, and although she's very studious and very into being a doctor, she still indulges her father with occasional "jam sessions." One night, she brings a song she's started writing to one of these sessions. This results in the song "Hearts Beat Loud" to be recorded and Frank uploads it to Spotify, where is makes a modest splash. He's excited about forming a real band with his daughter and seeing what they can make of a musical partnership. She's interested in being a doctor and in spending time with her new girlfriend Rose (Sasha Lane). THIS conflict is the real meat of the story, and even that is truly overcome by the music.
Clemons and Offerman (who knew!) actually perform in this film, and the music they "create" (the songs were written by others) and play together is what makes the movie a charmer. First of all, Offerman is totally convincing as a slightly grump guy who loves music and loves his daughter, and when he gets to combine the two, his sheer delight is transporting. Offerman practically glows, and having enjoyed his flat, grumpy persona for so many years, seeing him expand on that is a joy. This movie is his show, really. Clemons is refreshingly unaffected in her performance, and it's great to see a father/daughter relationship that shows the pair fighting (at times) but not once feeling that the underlying love and commitment is at risk. But while Clemons is quite charming, in my opinion as a middle aged white male, Offerman's performance is the revelation. Others will feel differently...but I think either way would make the film fun. Just watching these two play together and create songs together is really quite lovely. The rest of the "drama" of the film is quite secondary, although the plot points DO need be resolved, and some are resolved more convincingly than others.
The stuff with Offerman's mom (Blythe Danner) really barely registers, except that we see it as yet another pressure on HIM. His relationship with his land lady (Toni Collette, always a welcome presence) waffles between romance and friendship, and will sweet, is not gripping. Offerman does have some nice scenes with his local bartender (Ted Danson...who enlivens almost every effort he's in these days). On the other side, Sam's relationship with Rose isn't terribly gripping either. They are facing the idea that Sam's move to the other coast will doom their relationship, but we have virtually no emotional investment in them as a couple.
SO, in the end, the joys of this movie are simple and light. Watching two charming performers enjoying playing music together and enjoying the TIME spent making music together. It's a delightful and heartening father/daughter relationship. I suppose if there are any revelations beyond "music can be transporting" would be the notion that "fathers and daughters can love each other with ease, despite any dramas that arise." It's nice to see played out and makes the whole film seem cozy. And I really, really enjoyed this lived-in performance from Offerman.
The "plot" and the resolutions of the various conflicts are secondary and never feel terribly important. Some are resolved in a satisfactory way and others are virtually forgotten. It matters because it makes this movie feel somewhat incomplete as a story. But I still recommend going on this journey with these two characters.
Well, this movie is really not all that interested in these things. Frank (Nick Offerman) also PLAYS music, and was once in a band with Sam's (Kiersey Clemons) mother. A mother killed a lot of years ago in a cycling accident. Sam also plays some music, and although she's very studious and very into being a doctor, she still indulges her father with occasional "jam sessions." One night, she brings a song she's started writing to one of these sessions. This results in the song "Hearts Beat Loud" to be recorded and Frank uploads it to Spotify, where is makes a modest splash. He's excited about forming a real band with his daughter and seeing what they can make of a musical partnership. She's interested in being a doctor and in spending time with her new girlfriend Rose (Sasha Lane). THIS conflict is the real meat of the story, and even that is truly overcome by the music.
Clemons and Offerman (who knew!) actually perform in this film, and the music they "create" (the songs were written by others) and play together is what makes the movie a charmer. First of all, Offerman is totally convincing as a slightly grump guy who loves music and loves his daughter, and when he gets to combine the two, his sheer delight is transporting. Offerman practically glows, and having enjoyed his flat, grumpy persona for so many years, seeing him expand on that is a joy. This movie is his show, really. Clemons is refreshingly unaffected in her performance, and it's great to see a father/daughter relationship that shows the pair fighting (at times) but not once feeling that the underlying love and commitment is at risk. But while Clemons is quite charming, in my opinion as a middle aged white male, Offerman's performance is the revelation. Others will feel differently...but I think either way would make the film fun. Just watching these two play together and create songs together is really quite lovely. The rest of the "drama" of the film is quite secondary, although the plot points DO need be resolved, and some are resolved more convincingly than others.
The stuff with Offerman's mom (Blythe Danner) really barely registers, except that we see it as yet another pressure on HIM. His relationship with his land lady (Toni Collette, always a welcome presence) waffles between romance and friendship, and will sweet, is not gripping. Offerman does have some nice scenes with his local bartender (Ted Danson...who enlivens almost every effort he's in these days). On the other side, Sam's relationship with Rose isn't terribly gripping either. They are facing the idea that Sam's move to the other coast will doom their relationship, but we have virtually no emotional investment in them as a couple.
SO, in the end, the joys of this movie are simple and light. Watching two charming performers enjoying playing music together and enjoying the TIME spent making music together. It's a delightful and heartening father/daughter relationship. I suppose if there are any revelations beyond "music can be transporting" would be the notion that "fathers and daughters can love each other with ease, despite any dramas that arise." It's nice to see played out and makes the whole film seem cozy. And I really, really enjoyed this lived-in performance from Offerman.
The "plot" and the resolutions of the various conflicts are secondary and never feel terribly important. Some are resolved in a satisfactory way and others are virtually forgotten. It matters because it makes this movie feel somewhat incomplete as a story. But I still recommend going on this journey with these two characters.
Amazing!
m19653 October 2018
What a beautiful movie! I watch a million movies, rarely get moved by one. Tonight I was moved. I take notice when that happens, and run right out here to IMDB.COM and write a review.
I think anybody and everybody can take away something from this movie. I'm an older musician, so especially loved the "band" theme of this movie - but please don't be scared away by thinking this is some kind of musician-only flick. It's not. It's much more. It's about tolerance, love, caring - being a friend - a father, a daughter, a friend - and everything in between.
I highly recommend this movie. What a GEM!
I think anybody and everybody can take away something from this movie. I'm an older musician, so especially loved the "band" theme of this movie - but please don't be scared away by thinking this is some kind of musician-only flick. It's not. It's much more. It's about tolerance, love, caring - being a friend - a father, a daughter, a friend - and everything in between.
I highly recommend this movie. What a GEM!
A music movie that doesn't get larger than life
Movie_Muse_Reviews29 January 2019
Music and film have always had a tender chemistry, and independent cinema has-as of the last decade at least-also had a strong interest in examining relationships through music (think "Once" and some of the films it inspired). In "Hearts Beat Loud," filmmaker Brett Haley widens that focus from romantic relationships to interfamily ones, in this case between a father and daughter.
The film's greatest strength is its depiction of the song creation process. Not the nuts and bolts, but the vulnerability of creation and sharing, and its precisely that act of emotional exposure that allows Frank (Nick Offerman) and Sam (Kiersey Clemons) to connect despite their inability to speak their emotions directly. The film feels most alive in its musical moments thanks to strong editing, and Haley and his co-writer Marc Basch succeed most at showing how music creation provides them each their own needed release as well as a shared catharsis.
Story-wise, Haley and Basch keep it simple. Sam is a majorly smart kid taking pre-med classes her summer before attending Stanford. Paying her tuition is a big piece of why single dad Frank is going to close his Red Hook-based record store. After Frank nudges her to jam with him, he posts their track to Spotify and it gets attention-much to Frank's delight and Sam's chagrin. Meanwhile, Sam's found her first love (Sasha Lane) and Frank is trying to figure out what's next, with some nudging from his landlady (Toni Collette).
All this to say, the conflict in the movie is mostly interpersonal. It's a lot of moments of connection and discovery (mostly through music). Not much happens in the way of surprises. Instead, Haley steers well wide of melodrama, creating a low-key, contemplative vibe. Consequently, the music scenes, featuring interesting, layered alternative pop music by Keegan DeWitt, feel like the movie's action sequences. All the music is also performed on set, and that kind of authenticity proves critical in a film this intimate.
Whether it's Offerman preforming a song that's not as musically tight or the authentic breaks in Clemons' voice in which you can tell she's belting out the words as best she can, most films don't expose themselves or their performers musically in this way, but there aren't the same expectations of performance that you have with a movie-musical. We also get sequences that play like music videos, such as when Frank picks up the guitar out of pure need to make music, which is cut with Sam taking a big risk for the first time. It's a beautiful weaving together of two different responses to the same emotional stimulus, reminding us that music is about something deeper.
"Hearts Beat Loud" will give viewers more of a mellow musical buzz than a rush of music-driven emotion, but in the movie musical's typical tightrope walk between authenticity and clichéd whimsy, so often filmmakers fall to the larger-than-life side, and "Hearts Beat Loud" is a nice counterbalance.
~Steven C
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The film's greatest strength is its depiction of the song creation process. Not the nuts and bolts, but the vulnerability of creation and sharing, and its precisely that act of emotional exposure that allows Frank (Nick Offerman) and Sam (Kiersey Clemons) to connect despite their inability to speak their emotions directly. The film feels most alive in its musical moments thanks to strong editing, and Haley and his co-writer Marc Basch succeed most at showing how music creation provides them each their own needed release as well as a shared catharsis.
Story-wise, Haley and Basch keep it simple. Sam is a majorly smart kid taking pre-med classes her summer before attending Stanford. Paying her tuition is a big piece of why single dad Frank is going to close his Red Hook-based record store. After Frank nudges her to jam with him, he posts their track to Spotify and it gets attention-much to Frank's delight and Sam's chagrin. Meanwhile, Sam's found her first love (Sasha Lane) and Frank is trying to figure out what's next, with some nudging from his landlady (Toni Collette).
All this to say, the conflict in the movie is mostly interpersonal. It's a lot of moments of connection and discovery (mostly through music). Not much happens in the way of surprises. Instead, Haley steers well wide of melodrama, creating a low-key, contemplative vibe. Consequently, the music scenes, featuring interesting, layered alternative pop music by Keegan DeWitt, feel like the movie's action sequences. All the music is also performed on set, and that kind of authenticity proves critical in a film this intimate.
Whether it's Offerman preforming a song that's not as musically tight or the authentic breaks in Clemons' voice in which you can tell she's belting out the words as best she can, most films don't expose themselves or their performers musically in this way, but there aren't the same expectations of performance that you have with a movie-musical. We also get sequences that play like music videos, such as when Frank picks up the guitar out of pure need to make music, which is cut with Sam taking a big risk for the first time. It's a beautiful weaving together of two different responses to the same emotional stimulus, reminding us that music is about something deeper.
"Hearts Beat Loud" will give viewers more of a mellow musical buzz than a rush of music-driven emotion, but in the movie musical's typical tightrope walk between authenticity and clichéd whimsy, so often filmmakers fall to the larger-than-life side, and "Hearts Beat Loud" is a nice counterbalance.
~Steven C
Thanks for reading! Visit Movie Muse Reviews for more
A pleasant film about how to write and record a song!
peeedeee-9428127 June 2018
At least, that's what it felt like the movie was about, that we were learning about how songs are written and fleshed out. Seriously, it was a pleasant film, with great MUSICAL performances from Kiersey Clemons and Nick Offerman. They had good acting too, but I feel the story and the directing was not very focused. The whole grandma-has-dementia angle could have been dropped completely. There were missed opportunities for drama, or that 'Oscar moment', like when Sam tells her father Frank that she had just learned to ride a bike and that's why she was late coming home. You'd think there would be a huge emotional outburst based on how biking had changed the family, but nope, it just kind of came and went.
The movie has a great musical scene in the shop towards the end, but then kind of fizzles and it tried to find a good way to end. It should have ended sooner.
I think in better hands, this movie would have been even better. It just felt like it didn't know what it wanted to be, trying to introduce too many ideas that weren't needed, and the pacing was not consistent.
Still worth a watch if you like watching nice musical performances.
An Effortlessly Delightful movie
Runsterbraze25 November 2018
The quintessential indie movie for music lovers! This movie doesn't abide by a particular storyline and flows just as seamlessly as good music does. The music essentially acts as an aureole for the movie, silently yet gracefully elevating it. Additionally the music is brought to life by the dulcet voices of the leads.
Nick Offerman once again does an exceptional job as the mellow, supporting dad. The troubles of his character are very well sketched and his stance on issues is easy to understand. Offerman, with his rock-hard face carries each scene with a melody. His daughter, played by Kiersey Clemons gives a hell of a performance as well.
The movie essentially conveys the beauty of music and how influential it can be in our everyday lives. It shows how for some people music is literally the way of life. With its powerful lyrics we see the deep meaning that songs bear. In this motion picture the effect of music manifests itself in the act of strengthening the bond between the father and daughter.
Throughout the movie there is no sense of a bigger picture, or purpose and that is where the beauty lies. It is strikingly similar to real life with a lot of small talk that makes the characters more relatable. This is a very well-constructed movie with wonderful music bound to captivate audiences of all ages. And for those who have never been touched by music get ready for your heart to beat loud to the rhythm of the film
Nick Offerman once again does an exceptional job as the mellow, supporting dad. The troubles of his character are very well sketched and his stance on issues is easy to understand. Offerman, with his rock-hard face carries each scene with a melody. His daughter, played by Kiersey Clemons gives a hell of a performance as well.
The movie essentially conveys the beauty of music and how influential it can be in our everyday lives. It shows how for some people music is literally the way of life. With its powerful lyrics we see the deep meaning that songs bear. In this motion picture the effect of music manifests itself in the act of strengthening the bond between the father and daughter.
Throughout the movie there is no sense of a bigger picture, or purpose and that is where the beauty lies. It is strikingly similar to real life with a lot of small talk that makes the characters more relatable. This is a very well-constructed movie with wonderful music bound to captivate audiences of all ages. And for those who have never been touched by music get ready for your heart to beat loud to the rhythm of the film
Low budget indie drama with addictive music
akcenat15 September 2018
Film, that is shot through medium close ups mostly, tells the story of a Frank - widowed father (aging hipster) and Sam - gay (medical student) daughter who bond during the summer before she leaves for college by starting a band together. Movie manages to toe the line between sweet and cheesy well, while moments that reveal pieces of the past are subtle, yet striking. "Hearts Beat Loud" in general is a heartwarming and charming film, but it will surely leave some wishing for a bit more because itself feels a bit modest. Still, there is some kind of a sweetness to this pleasant little indie. The supporting cast are somewhat lacking and shallow. Ted Danson seems to exist only to give Frank someone to talk to. Toni Collette fares a little better as landlady though comes and goes from the plot without leaving any real impact, while Frank's mother doesn't really add anything. As a whole, "Hearts Beat Loud" does have some charm, innocence and addictive soundtrack, but not much else. 6-/10 (just because of a soundtrack)
Simply beautiful
annali-160-89753913 September 2018
Not as good as I thought it was going to be in the beginning
jmc47692 July 2018
This is a fluffy, feel-good movie about a midlife-crisis dad and his college-bound daughter who bond while recording three songs together over the summer after her high school graduation. The movie unfortunately wasn't as good as I thought it was going to be in the beginning. About 30 minutes of the running time is taken up with the two of them recording and performing their music, which leaves only about an hour of skimpy drama. The movie's biggest asset is character development, which kept me interested up to a point. But it drags in the middle due to a weak storyline and ends with a thud. None of the various subplots are adequately resolved, and some are completely abandoned.
The filmmakers seem to be trying to recreate the charm of independent musical movies like Once. But it doesn't quite work. The acting is good but not great. As dad and daughter, Nick Offerman and Kiersey Clemons are appealing but not charismatic. The songs are catchy but forgettable. Not a bad way to spend an hour and a half though...as long as your expectations aren't too high.
The filmmakers seem to be trying to recreate the charm of independent musical movies like Once. But it doesn't quite work. The acting is good but not great. As dad and daughter, Nick Offerman and Kiersey Clemons are appealing but not charismatic. The songs are catchy but forgettable. Not a bad way to spend an hour and a half though...as long as your expectations aren't too high.
wonderful
rbrt_gilchrist18 September 2018
This is one of those little indie gems that just sneaks up on you and smacks you right in between the eyes. You must do yourself a favour and check it out. Kiersey Clemons is a Star. And Nick Offerman is just... real, for lack of a better word.
A very simple song playing that gives you so much.
subxerogravity12 June 2018
Good music, cute story, and it gets the heart sapping.
It was all about actors showing range of emotion. Nick Offerman was really good at that and so was his connection to Kiersey Clemons, who plays his daughter, who had good connection with Sasha Lane who played her girlfriend.
It was all about actors showing range of emotion. Nick Offerman was really good at that and so was his connection to Kiersey Clemons, who plays his daughter, who had good connection with Sasha Lane who played her girlfriend.
And the Point Is
cockezville28 June 2018
This movie had a terrific cast and the daughter/ father relationship just seemed unreal. It was a sweet enough movie but the whole musical presence was too much. And those songs were pretty lame. The Ted Danson, Toni Collette, and Blythe Danner characters had such meat, but they were left to rot. Major editing and writing flaws. Nick Offerman was engaging
Charming picture
maclock7 August 2018
While films like Heats Beat Loud don't really speak to me in any meaningful way, I don't mind them if they're well done. Hearts Beat Loud is one of those films. I found it watchable and charming enough, but do note that it's quite possible that at least part of the story might offend religious and/or bigoted types. Recommended.
Enjoyably Bland
hocko-4581412 December 2018
The cast and music of the film are wonderful but the story is empty and never really takes you anywhere, it sets up countless moments only to let them slip through its proverbial hands. The relationship between Offerman and Colletes characters is so weirdly rushed that it leaves you confused when the drama suddenly ensuses and just as suddenly resolves it's self. The musical performances from the two leads boosts the enjoyment factor way up but there's only so many times you can get enjoyment from the same song. The entire subplot feels like a complete time pad when the time could have been used to build real dramatical moments within the film. Overall it was a pleasurable watch but not one I'd be in a rush to repeat.
Feel-good stuff
alexqueens30 October 2019
This has 'nice movie' written all over it.
And there's nothing wrong with that if that's what you're looking for.
Initially put this on as background noise, but it wasn't too long before I was paying attention and then 100% invested in its story.
Nick Offerman is a far cry from his Park & Rec. days and all the better for it. And Ted Danson's little role didn't hurt either.
The music, although very good, wasn't my bag. And Kiersey Clemons playing a late teen just didn't appeal to me.
Initially put this on as background noise, but it wasn't too long before I was paying attention and then 100% invested in its story.
Nick Offerman is a far cry from his Park & Rec. days and all the better for it. And Ted Danson's little role didn't hurt either.
The music, although very good, wasn't my bag. And Kiersey Clemons playing a late teen just didn't appeal to me.
destination nowhere
Rob-O-Cop15 September 2018
While this movie could have gone in many directions and investigated interesting ideas it served up a family restaurant meal and left the audience half full, but also half empty.
I liked a lot of the set up, and the promise of the many directions it could have taken, Offerman's character getting a shot at something he missed on his first time round, the daughter's chance to give something back to her father, the option to do something you love, the transition of focus from the dad's generation of music focus to the modern day diversified focus, or any number of other interesting themes to investigate, yet it essentially ended up going nowhere.
Offerman's grumpy, dry witted, defiant smoking, bearded old American hipster was like a cliche of himself, amusing for a very short periods and then just annoying. He could have been so much more. The daughter did well when creating and performing music, she was really convincing and had a great honest performance delivery, but a little less so in her interactions with anyone else. I didn't really get much of a feeling for who she was from anything other scenes. The lesbian daughter thing felt contrived for cool points rather than a natural part of the movie, and it tried so hard to make it so.
Ted Danson's character had many possibilities and his screen time was quality time well spent, but again, he had no direction, just a handful of good situations that lead nowhere.
I enjoyed the music creation parts, but it was destination nowhere apart from that
Simple, yet elegant
nwalter-68-75762929 September 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I saw the trailer on a YouTube thumbnail, watched it and was quickly captivated. I couldn't wait for it to become available for rent.
Nick Offerman was very good, his character a little typical though. A dad who lost his wife, is about to lose his record store and his daughter to the other coast. The willingness for him to move on and let his life change was an endearing theme, regardless of the schmaltz.
Kiersey Clemons was brilliant. A willing participant in her dad's desperate attempt to hold on tight, her performance expressed the devotion to her father, but with a spirit of freedom.
The music was beautiful and definitely made its way as the focal-point of the movie, and I think it's a solid win.
Great movie all around.
Nick Offerman was very good, his character a little typical though. A dad who lost his wife, is about to lose his record store and his daughter to the other coast. The willingness for him to move on and let his life change was an endearing theme, regardless of the schmaltz.
Kiersey Clemons was brilliant. A willing participant in her dad's desperate attempt to hold on tight, her performance expressed the devotion to her father, but with a spirit of freedom.
The music was beautiful and definitely made its way as the focal-point of the movie, and I think it's a solid win.
Great movie all around.
Unrealistic brief rock star fantasy
chong_an8 June 2018
A man manages to survive for 17 years by owning a vinyl record store in a small town in the NYC area. Previous to this, he had a band, and was a rock star wannabe. As his daughter is about to move across the country to UCLA, he coaxes her into their weekly jam session, records one of her songs, surreptitiously uploads it to a social media platform, and finds it becomes an internet hit.
So now his rock star dream revives, as he tries to talk his daughter into deferring UCLA to become a band with him. A factor in his favor is that his daughter would also be leaving her girlfriend in going to UCLA.
This was the closing gala at the Inside Out LGBT film festival. The father-daughter relationship dominated, while the lesbian relationship was incidental. So it makes a good gala film, as it is straight-friendly. But I am not convinced - maybe if the father was selling CDs, not vinyl records, he could have lasted until today.
So now his rock star dream revives, as he tries to talk his daughter into deferring UCLA to become a band with him. A factor in his favor is that his daughter would also be leaving her girlfriend in going to UCLA.
This was the closing gala at the Inside Out LGBT film festival. The father-daughter relationship dominated, while the lesbian relationship was incidental. So it makes a good gala film, as it is straight-friendly. But I am not convinced - maybe if the father was selling CDs, not vinyl records, he could have lasted until today.
LOVED IT
rhysmcc-466086 June 2018
I was sucked right into "small town" Red Hook and all the gritty characters from scene 1. The father daughter dynamic was snappy and real. The lead characters grab you by the heart in quiet touching ways until you are mowed down by their casual jam session songs. I cared about the father. I cared about the daughter. She sings with such sincere passion she brought tears to my eyes. They both did. I want to see this film again!
Better than all of the avengers movies
allsoul200225 April 2019
Complete Harmony
john-3623223 September 2018
Superb performances from Nick Offerman and Kiersy Clemons lead this well written and tuneful story.
The music is very good and not turgidly sentimental - the lead performances are supported brilliantly by Toni Collette and Ted Danson, neither of whom out-flanks the two lead protagonists.
The movie is happy, whimsical and deeply funny - a story of love and leaving of ending and beginning, watch it!
The music is very good and not turgidly sentimental - the lead performances are supported brilliantly by Toni Collette and Ted Danson, neither of whom out-flanks the two lead protagonists.
The movie is happy, whimsical and deeply funny - a story of love and leaving of ending and beginning, watch it!
nice and sweet
SnoopyStyle2 October 2018
Frank Fisher (Nick Offerman) owns a failing record shop in the hipster Brooklyn neighborhood of Red Hook. He's a single dad to Sam (Kiersey Clemons) who is set to go off to medical school while spending time with her girlfriend Rose. Frank intends to close the shop despite his landlady Leslie (Toni Collette) not raising his rent. He's also caring for his mother (Blythe Danner) who suffers from sporadic dementia. He's a former musician who often plays with Sam. One time, he uploads one of their songs onto Spotify and it starts to gain some interest.
It's a sweet, slow, gentle indie about a father daughter relationship. It doesn't have the dramatic heft to give it intensity. This is not a terribly dangerous story. The father daughter relationship is never threatened or in doubt. Offerman is nice if somewhat dad. The revelation is Clemons who has a great look and an intriguing charisma. These characters are so nice that it's impossible for them to hate other. The sweetness is great but the slowness does hold it back. This reminds me of Once but that movie has real tension.
It's a sweet, slow, gentle indie about a father daughter relationship. It doesn't have the dramatic heft to give it intensity. This is not a terribly dangerous story. The father daughter relationship is never threatened or in doubt. Offerman is nice if somewhat dad. The revelation is Clemons who has a great look and an intriguing charisma. These characters are so nice that it's impossible for them to hate other. The sweetness is great but the slowness does hold it back. This reminds me of Once but that movie has real tension.
Laaaaame
josephbeverlin26 June 2018
A movie that is so painfully dull and uninteresting it made me want to wrap myself in barbed wire and drink a whiskey glass full of drano. There are definitely worse movies out there, at least every shot in this is in focus, but it was so painfully on the nose with all its phony sentimentality that I wanted to die. At one point I rolled my eyes so far into the back of my head that I saw a different dimension and my nose began to bleed. Anyways whatever. I seem to be the only one who didn't like this so I'll shut up.
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