A terrible film bro gets his own winning, biting coming-of-age without sacrificing how off-putting he is. Our I Like Movies review:
. Unclogged from the gnarliest pre-Letterboxd outcast-to-film-bro pipeline comes the delightfully unpleasant Lawrence , a high school cinephile who is repertory theater B.O. personified. Writer/director Chandler Levack finds uncommon honesty in this Canadian video store employee and those he chafes against, even if the coming-of-age story eventually falls into some of the more palatable pitfalls its strident star would rail against.
Lawrence is a mewling movie snob, of the kind now so parodied to death that handsome TikTok stars with perfect teeth use them as stock characters. But Levack imbueswith a dignified unlikability—a confidently written and performed character who’s a little jerk to his single mom and an emotional leech draining his manager at Sequels, Alana . It’s realistic, unflattering and too true to life to be anything but personal.
And sure, a self-obsessed, high-and-mighty slacker inflicting himself upon the world around him isn’t new territory. It’s also not inherently fun to watch. But thoughbuilds itself on a familiar friction, its ornaments make it go down smooth. Lawrence’s obsession with Paul Thomas Anderson, Stanley Kubrick and Todd Solondz is a stereotype, but not a false one and not one that leans on simple observations of male myopia.
Once you leave the multiplex, the dissatisfaction hits like sunlight. The film’s pulled-taut characters walk around wearing armor made of irony, each waiting for someone or something to hit the release valve and let their panic attack or furious monologue escape. When Lawrence finally breaks down, or when Alana steals the movie with a long late-night revelation, or when Matt snaps at the little shit he’s been hanging around with, you exhale—finally. But in these moments,wavers.
But he’d love the rest of the movie he lives in. Levack’s filmmaking, her sense of place and her placement of sensory details , build out a time capsule, plated with nostalgia and tarnished by hindsight. It doesn’t have a romantic view of high school, or even a romantic view of the movies , but it does have a romanticism about its fringe-dwellers.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
30 Best Thriller Movies and Suspense Movies to Watch NowRandee Dawn (she/her) is an entertainment journalist and author based in Brooklyn. In addition to writing for TODAY.com, Variety and The Los Angeles Times, her debut novel, Tune in Tomorrow, about a reality TV show run by mythic creatures, published in 2022. She's also the co-author of The Law & Order: SVU Unofficial Companion.
Read more »
How 'A Serbian Film' Became One of the Most Banned Horror Movies EverRiley Presnell is a Features Writer for Collider. Her specialties are Horror and Reality TV. She&039;s had an obsession with horror, specifically slashers and meta-horror, since she can remember and her comfort movie is the 1996 Scream. Her other favorites include Bride Of Chucky, Evil Dead (2013), and Nightmare On Elm Street II.
Read more »
This French Film Was the Inspiration For One of Robin Williams’ Best MoviesWhen Chris isn’t working on a new article or exploring the best nature spots near him, he&039;s creating TikTok edits. He can&039;t help it, the obsession to go through reels got to him. His edits can be just for fun or get a little weird. Rainy movie scenes set to Spanish indie pop. Mission: Impossible crossover with Halloween.
Read more »
Chicago Southland International Film Festival features 33 moviesGovernors State University presents the sixth annual Chicago Southland International Film Festival April 4-6 in University Park.
Read more »
Chattanooga Film Festival 2024 First Wave of Movies RevealedThe Chattanooga Film Festival 2024 has revealed the first wave of feature programming for the event held at the historic Road House.
Read more »
Tribeca Film Fest to Screen Movies Featuring Jenna Ortega, Lily Gladstone, and Jelly RollTribeca Film Festival will screen movies featuring Jenna Ortega, Lily Gladstone, and Jelly Roll this year.
Read more »