GurlyIamBeach Instant Favorite.

ShangLuda Admirable film.

Fatma Suarez The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Deanna There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

Barry Phew. Remembering Crudup in Almost famous thought this was worth a shot. Started slow then the death of his son and then his reaction over 2 years was hard to grasp. But the hidden truth about his son and his music took hold. The music itself was what made this movie incredible and I'm in my late 60's. Why was he playing his sons music with his newly found disturbed young musician without explaining that his son was the writer. The late explanation took me by surprise and maybe many others. A tormenting tale left me in tears but then I'm a sad emotional soul. The torment and distress that the young today have to deal with is well told and apart from the expected glib moments a film well worth watching. I will have to wait sometime before I could watch again but so grateful I did.

tiailds The synopsis for this got me interested. The music helped as well."Was it interesting?" The characters were well thought out. My biggest problem is with the "twist" or "reveal" at the 2/3 mark. Pretty much ruined the rest of the movie for me. I just didn't buy it at all.1.5 out of 3."Was it memorable?" The music was rather good. The cinematography, especially in the montages, was amazing. The ending felt a little flat.2 out of 3."Was it enjoyable?" Until the reveal, it was a good sit. Afterward, I was just waiting for it to end.1.5 out of 3.Starting with 1 (because it's a secret to everyone), 1 + 1.5 + 2 + 1.5 = 6 I can't say it was a waste of time, but probably will never watch again. Was Lawrence Fishburne really necessary? I understand William H Macy.

hamish-25851 A perfect example of its type. This film achieves everything it sets out to do.It's important to point out that this is a small film. It's about relatively ordinary people living ordinary lives. Music scenes mostly happen in a tiny bar in front of a tiny audience, and that's fine, because that local intimacy is what drives the movie.Billy Crudup is front and center in almost every scene. Great singing, good acting, and nearly perfect as a man trapped in a father's worst nightmare. The key to his performance here is the empathy he creates with the audience: he is very far from a perfect, or even particularly likable human being, but you feel for the guy in every scene. No matter what he's doing - he pretty much is the neighbor from hell - his pain shows through.The supporting cast turn in solid work. Anton Yelchin pulls off something of a character transformation in the movie, albeit quietly. Felicity Huffman is calmly competent as ever, and Lawrence Fishburne is a welcome surprise, bringing with him a much needed leavening of humour.Macy's direction is utterly competent. Low-key yet assured, deceptively simple, it's movie storytelling at its best. Macy lets the story unfold in its own way and in its own time. This is a rare skill, to say the least: events never feel forced, scenes never seem to jump, and everything plays true. It's direction that the audience never notices, because it never puts a foot wrong.The surprise star here, though, is the writing. Macy, Casey Twenter, and Jeff Robinson are credited, and between them they manage to spin quite the tale. It might be small, it might be local, but it twists and turns right up until the last scene. Like the direction, the writing never puts a foot wrong.The music is fantastic. Definitely a film for music buffs. It's very much in the vein of Once and Begin Again, where the melody and rhythm carry the song. If it can sound great with a voice and a guitar, then it can sound even better with a band.Overall, a great little film for grown-ups, and thoroughly recommended.

randymcbeast I curled up with this movie on a warm Sunday afternoon and enjoyed every minute of it. It caught me by surprise as I really didn't know what it was about. I just knew that William H. Macy directed and wrote part of it so that was good enough to give it a watch. Had I known that Selena Gomez was in it I might of bailed, but luckily she was just in for a few annoying minutes.As for Mr. Macy, this is just one more reason to be a fan given his accomplishments over the years. He's absolutely killing it in Shameless but it's just been one great achievement after another. Well done sir! The story is excellent, the music and the direction around it was very well done, and the acting is superb. Led by Billy Crudup, the cast includes some heavyweights like Laurence Fishburne and a bunch of other very likable and believable actors that help tell this interesting story.