Hearts Beat Loud
This is a sweet gem; a spirited and infectious music drama that has me repeatedly listening to the songs after watching the film.
Frank Fisher (Nick Offerman) has been running his record shop for an impressive 17 years but with money worries and his daughter Sam (Kiersey Clemons) heading off to college, Frank wants a shot of being in a popular band. He persuades Sam to lay down a track which could lead them to spend more quality time together.
Obviously with a movie within this genre you'd expect the songs to stand strong and the plot to vaguely prop up the background but even though Brett Haley and Marc Basch's screenplay is a simple and very familiar narrative, it beats loud with a warmness and a gentle feeding of humour to prevent the movie from going into complete sentimental overdrive.
The combination of story and music in ’Hearts Beat Loud’ works exceptionally well, in the fact it had me utterly invested in the developing relationships shown on screen. The original songs throughout this film are beautifully written and I'll be shocked if one or two weren't up for an Oscar next year.
There's a marvellous feel-good quality bursting from this film, seeing the Fishers perform their ditties are great, admittedly three of them are shown in a vinyl store make-shift gig but that simplicity works wonders. The title track is excellent and the first time you hear it come together is pure joy, honestly tthroughout every song I was tapping my feet, bopping my head and had a goofy smile on my face.
Nick Offerman excels as the wishful dad with a past coated in musical knowledge. Offerman clearly knows how to play the comedic side of things from Parks and Rec but here he also brings to life a character facing a time of change and he acts this frustrating sense of loss and growing pain with a wonderful subtlety. Kiersey Clemons is amazing too, her vocals and talent are undeniably strong and she showcases the softer, emotionally charged side of the story with ease.
A couple of scenes; with a grandmother or Frank hanging out with Toni Collette's Leslie are hit and miss but they do nothing to take away from what a charming, soulful delight this movie is. It's a positive little indie film that I want to see again, stat.
8/10
