Lovesong (2017)

I haven't seen any of So Young Kim's other movies, but I am going to make an effort. I understand the varied responses of others here, and make no excuses; it is different for me, and this love story really is a Lovesong, one played in the background over several years, which rises from piano to sforzando, and back to quietness. Remarkably acted and directed, Riley Keough and Jena Malone are just perfect in the depiction of their barely suppressed love for one another. The film both delighted and depressed me, but it has become one that I will buy to keep. I do agree with a review of Lovesong by Justin Chang in "Variety" on 25 Jan 2016: "There's a remarkable truthfulness to the film's acknowledgment that people often make enormous decisions rooted not in fear so much as uncertainty, even laziness, as well as a comfort with their lives as they've lived them until the present juncture." What is left unsaid is the consequences of those decisions, that we are left to look out the window and consider. Well done.

Two vapid and thin leads with barely a shred of an adult conversation between them. Natural visual and editorial style aside, over the few years this story takes place, there's nothing here that teenage friends wouldn't exchange in half a lunchtime. Young teens at that.The lead character whines about having to look after her own child while being in the privileged position of not having to work. Sarah could take up study or indeed get a job and put her shockingly fed daughter into daycare, where hopefully the child receives some decent parenting. And one wholesome meal. Rather than take any sort of ownership over her life, Sarah bleats and cries. Victim-hood mentality. Woe is me. The actors do a competent job. Rosanna Arquette shamefully wasted here too. It's really the fault of the director, writers and producers.Superficial, whiny, self-involved, navel gazing, entitled, immature characters, without any redeeming qualities other than they look good. Perhaps we should be thankful they didn't talk more as they had nothing worthwhile to say anyway. Too long, even at eighty minutes. Tedious.

'LOVESONG': Four and a Half Stars (Out of Five)A drama about two best friends that take an unplanned road trip together, along with one of the woman's toddler daughter. They then become romantically involved together, until one of them suddenly leaves. They then meet again, three years later, at the disappearing woman's wedding. It stars Jena Malone, Riley Keough, Brooklyn Decker, Amy Seimetz, and Jessie OK and Sky OK Gray. It was directed by So- yong Kim, and written by Kim and Bradley Rust Gray. The film had it's world premiere at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, and it's gotten mostly positive reviews from critics. I found it to be a very beautiful, and exceptionally well made, love story.Sarah (Keough) is an unhappily married mother of a three-year-old daughter named Jessie (Jessie OK Gray). As she feels like she's starting to have a mental breakdown, Sarah decides to call her best friend Mindy (Malone). Sarah, Mindy and Jessie then go on a road trip together. As Sarah and Mindy talk more and more, they become closer and closer (in a very intimate way). Then Sarah's husband calls. As the reality of the situation starts to set in, Mindy decides to suddenly leave. This leaves Sarah heartbroken. The two best friends meet again though, three years later at Mindy's wedding.The movie is beautifully shot and acted. The characters definitely seem like real people, and as a viewer you feel like you can really relate to their love and pain. I think the film is an outstanding indie love story. It's pretty subtle and short, and it might leave some viewers wanting more, but I think it's a nearly perfect film. It's a great examination of relationships, and how people react to them. Malone and Keough both give great performances in it, and I think So-yong Kim makes a very good impression as a talented filmmaker to watch out for.Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: https://youtu.be/WXRjz4hXVvs

Too many scenes use to show the emotional attachment between the two main characters, when all they really seem to do is make the movie longer so it can become a full length feature. Two good friends separated by life reconnect very intensely over a weekend and then three years later see there lives have change when one of them is getting married. I can relate to the second part of that synopsis, when Sarah reconnects with Mindy on her wedding day, after they have not seen each other in three years, you have to understand that no matter how close you two were you are no longer the center of Mindy's life, especially on her wedding day, and now Sarah has to connect with people in Mindy's life who seem closer and you do not know at all. I did enjoy this part. I also like the relationship between Sarah and her daughter Jessica. The interaction between Sarah and the child actresses who played Jessica at 3 and 6 was so real. An amazing combo of timing and acting that's hard to get with little children, it does not feel fake at all so that was real cool to see. But overall, I though the film could have done a better job expressing the plot points. Like I said earlier, I see a long short film being strength out to make a feature length film and it makes the movie dull to watching the two characters look deep into each others eyes for longer than two minutes more that one occasion to express their possible more than friendship love. Interesting story that could been better if the film was tighter.