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 Booksmart (2019)
Booksmart (2019)
2019 | Comedy
"Superbad" For A New Generation
Booksmart is a 2019 coming-of-age comedy directed by Olivia Wilde from a screenplay by Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins, Susanna Fogel, and Katie Silberman. It was produced by Annapurna Pictures and Gloria Sanchez Productions and distributed by United Artists Releasing. The movie stars Jessica Williams, Will Forte, Lisa Kudrow, and Jason Sudeikis.


Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) and Molly (Beanie Feldstein) are high school seniors and best friends. Molly confronts some of her peers when she overhears them making fun of her in the bathroom and tells them how she got into a good school. They, however, reveal that despite partying, they too got into good colleges. Angered, Molly tells Amy that they should have enjoyed their time in high school more and convinces her to go to an end-of-year party. Determined to make up for lost time, they decide to cram four years of fun into one night.


This movie was hilariously funny and full of funny relatable characters. It reminded me a lot of Superbad, but a female version. The main characters had awesome chemistry and you wind up liking them right away and the situations they find themselves in border on the absurd. This film definitely delivers on the laughs but it also makes some solid points about friendship and acceptance. It's full of femininity being that both the main characters, the director, and writers were all women, but I'm sure anyone would think this film is humorous. Olivia Wilde did an amazing job in her directorial debut.
  
Low Tide (2019)
Low Tide (2019)
2019 | Drama, Thriller
Solid Movie Despite Some Slow Spots
A friendship breaks in half when the trio discover prized gold during a routine break-in.

Acting: 9

Beginning: 8
The beginning is harrowing as we are immediately thrown into the consequences of the friends’ actions. As they make their escape through their sleepy town, I was intrigued by what was to come. I have seen better starts, but I was definitely impressed here.

Characters: 10

Cinematography/Visuals: 10
Director Kevin McMullin captures the vibe of a small town perfectly. As two of the characters ride a ferris wheel above the heights of a carnival, bright colors pop through the dull fog coming off the ocean. Shots like this and many more set the scene perfectly for the story.

Conflict: 10

Entertainment Value: 8

Memorability: 7
While the movie isn’t chocked full of historic moments, there are enough high points in Low Tide to leave a lasting impact. I enjoyed the thrill ride I was taken on as I didn’t really have any idea how things would end up. The story is one I enjoyed and has a solid replay value.

Pace: 7

Plot: 8

Resolution: 5

Overall: 82
Despite its slow moments in spots, Low Tide has a number of high points that drive the overall excitement of the story. I didn’t know what to expect when I started the movie but was ultimately impressed by how well it was put together. I definitely recommend giving this one a watch on Amazon Prime.
  
The Ambassador of Nowhere Texas
The Ambassador of Nowhere Texas
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
6 Things I Enjoyed from The Ambassador of Texas:

1. I LOVED how Kimberly Willis Holt developed her characters from the beginning to the end. They were easy to like and relate to.
2. The dialogue between Rylee and Joe was engaging, believable, and conveyed a wonderful sense of small-town closeness.
3. Both the subject matter (9/11) and the memories associated with it were written in a way that was factual, yet, still reveling the topsy-turvy emotions that go along with losing someone you love in such a tragic way.
4. Kimberly Willis Holt did a good job explaining the timeline for the characters while still giving me a richer understanding of what it might have been like to lose someone during 9/11
5. I appreciated how Kimberly Willis Holt interwove themes of forgiveness, overcoming grief, being true to yourself, and perseverance.
6. I will close out with my favorite quote from the book:
“But true Friendship never fades, no matter what happens”.

Overall, this was an enjoyable, engaging, and enlightening story that any age would like. I do think it started a little slow, but after reading a bit I was thoroughly engrossed in the story. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars, for the characters, how 9/11 was conveyed, and for giving me a richer understanding of that time period.

*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.