Review of Eighth Grade (2018) by Coolman1026 — 14 Aug 2018

A movie every teenager needs to see.

Bo Burnham in his silver screen debut amazed me, astonished me, humored me. "Eighth Grade" is contained with moments that most will relate to, or if you are the counter-parts to Kayla–including the "popular & stuck-up types", the "raging hormone boys", the "nice guy", and others– maybe those are some characters that will cause regret inside of you due to their certain characteristics that you may have shared with them. However, without the surrounding characters the movie wouldn't have its remarkable charm and realism. The shot selection in this film was some of the best that I have seen so far this year. Burnham's wit, anxiety, and humor leaked onto the film through his use of the camera. Two scenes in particular in where the shots used perfected the scene. In the swimming pool scene where we dolly out from a close up to an extreme wide of the entire pool where Kayla is at the top of the frame awaiting the solid wall of terror. Each second of sheer horror for Kayla is amplified by the booming trumpets, and as we witness what Kayla witnesses in a short, yet powerful moment of what she has to encounter. The other scene is the truth or dare game. The uneasiness and worrisome nature of this scene is strongly felt. The decision to keep Kayla in the foreground was key and the lighting to keep Riley in the dark gave him an aura of maliciousness. While watching this scene I was getting worried for what was going to happen to Kayla as each piece of dialogue was further going down a path of "please don't let it get worse". This was the first A24 film that I have watched, I have watched Lady Bird recently, which is also a fantastic film. A24 seems to know the perfect formula for coming-of-age movies, the authenticity of its writing. In both films it felt like I have been in some of those situations that were presented in both films. But sticking to Eighth Grade the writing was authentic, genuine, real. Alongside with the oscar-worthy performances from Elsie Fisher and Josh Hamilton. Highlights for me, these three sequences that are unforgettable. First, is the banana sequence, I can not remember the last time I have laughed in a movie theater so much. The absolute insanity that is the moment to moment revelations for Kayla and her futile attempts to "practice" as soon as her dad shows up to end charade. Second, the burning of the time capsule. Some of the best acting in the entire movie is in this scene, but not only that but the weight that the "burning of all hopes and dreams" symbolizes. Speaking on behalf of other kids where they may have felt the same way. At the bottom of the bottomless pit. And finally the third, the ending sequence starting from the graduation and ending at the ending. The culmination of all of the advice videos that were made throughout the movie to get Kayla to gather the courage to set Kennedy and her friend straight, Kayla making a new time capsule and video for her future self. The movie didn't end with a "happily ever after" ending which was great, because in real life that never happens and in real life we encounter things that we regret, don't want to do, and things we need to do. Eighth Grade is the best film of the year so far and I hope it stays that way until January 1st of next year, unless mid90's or Boy Erased top it.