Dorathen Better Late Then Never

Siflutter It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

Hattie I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

Philippa All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Gabriela Dipico (gabidopico) Urban Hymn is the best coming of age movie I have seen in a while! The movie shows the struggles faced by a troubled teen trying to better her future. In the beginning of the film there is not much hope for foster child Jamie, until a new case worker comes along and changes everything. The case worker is played by Shirley Henderson, who also plays Moaning Myrtle. Once Kate, the case worker, gets involved with Jamie's life there are noticeable differences in her behavior. Kate introduces Jamie to a music group and ends up changing her life. My favorite part of this film was when Jamie finally stands up to her friend Leanne, who would continuously draw Jamie it to making very bad decisions. I felt that even though Leanne was a negative influence on Jamie, that she wasn't a bad person, just never learned any better. I think that this film shows the truth of what living in a foster home would be like, also the impact that social workers have on their foster children. Foster children are sometimes given up on, but Urban Hymn shows that a little support and motive great things will happen. I recommend this movie to anyone looking for a feel-good film.

elizabethalexander-08284 With cheesy teenage films coming out in the main stream I found it incredibly refreshing to get the opportunity to see the authentic and honest independent drama "Urban Hymn". This raw movie is about a troubled teen (Letitia Wright) who gets mentored by altruistic social worker (Shirley Henderson) who persuades her to take her talents of singing and performance and seek a healthy and successful life with it. This impactful movie opened my eyes to the importance of helping someone in need and the dangers of being around toxic and manipulative people. I genuinely feel that this coming-of-age film has so many valuable lessons revolving around never giving up, following your own passion, and accepting help from those open to giving it. I enjoyed seeing how Jamie and Kate (Shirley Henderson) friendship become stronger over time and I think it was incredibly meaningful that Jamie uses Kate's life advice and lessons to help her live the life she is entitled to even after Kate is gone. Another meaningful scene was when Jamie's (Letitia Wright) reckless friends barge in to Jamie's chorus group and make fun of the class, and Jamie tells them to leave and stands up for herself and the other chorus singers. It shows how much character development she has gone through and made me so excited to see her character transform in such a positive way. I loved every minute of this heart-wrenching and I highly recommend you taking the time to watch this!

Monica Summer Urban Hymn is as uplifting as it is breathtaking. Every second of this film is drenched with emotion, which can be attributed to the phenomenal acting of Shirley Henderson and Letitia Wright. Both women play their parts with infinite grace and realism, and breathe so much life into Kate and Jamie. Kate Linton is a social worker who dedicates her time to helping Jamie Harrison, a seemingly lost cause about to age out of a group home. Kate sees Jamie's potential and refuses to give up on her, even when Jamie gives up on herself. Ignoring the doubts of her husband and coworkers, Kate convinces Jamie to join a community choir. This small act of compassion helps Jamie blossom into a brilliant singer and gives her a way out from her tumultuous life. Music is tied in so elegantly with the plot of the film, and the scenes in which Jamie performs never feel awkward or out of place. Every character in this film has so much dimension, which makes them equally lovable and relatable. We see both the good and the bad of Jamie, yet we are able to relate with her tough life and questionable decisions. I have yet to see a film that inspires me as much as Urban Hymn has. From film buffs to music lovers, anyone can find some aspect of this masterpiece to relate to.

David Trotter Urban Hymn is an emotional, uplifting coming of age story about a young orphan named Jamie Harrison, portrayed by Letitia Wright, who has a passion for music. The director Michael Caton-Jones uses the gritty, realistic setting of life in impoverished London to drag the viewer into the realities of violence, drugs, and crime that the characters face. The expert use of this setting immerses the viewer and makes them seriously reflect on the methods the characters use to cope with the obstacles they face. Kate, a professor turned social worker, turns to her job to deal with the murder of her teenage son at the hands of troubled youths, just like the ones she works with. Jamie struggles to choose between her love for singing and the tempting life of crime and fun lead by her closest friend, Leanne. All the while, Leanne herself deals with the repercussions of her lifestyle and the distance that is growing between her and Jamie. Even if you haven't personally dealt with the problems that these characters face, their situations are authentic and relatable. The story deals with a myriad of themes from parenthood and friendship to abandonment and redemption, and still manages to balance them all into a cohesive narrative. No character is written without their faults, resulting in a very human story. For those of you like me who enjoy true-to-life characters and settings coupled with great stories, you will love Urban Hymn.