Review of Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015) by Tom K — 14 Jul 2015

Sharp, insightful and highly relatable, "Me & Earl & the Dying Girl" is a wonderful coming-of-age film that beautifully captures the feeling of being a high-school teenager. In fact, it may be the most accurate depiction of high-school life that I may have ever seen.

Many movies over the years such as "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" have shined a light on this subject, but "Me & Earl & the Dying Girl" tells the story from a unique perspective.

In a Summer season filled with movies only made to top the box-office, here's a film that dares to confront issues which are rarely ever explored in the realm of entertainment today. The issue in this case is Cancer, but for a film about Cancer this growing-up fable does a splendid job of balancing comedy and drama.

Enhanced by fantastic performances, intelligent direction, a sharp screenplay and a powerful message, it's without question one of the best films of the year. Though they may be newcomers to acting, the three leads each deliver star-making performances which deserve serious awards-recognition.

Thomas Mann and Olivia Cooke, in particular, are two hugely talented stars without whom the movie wouldn't be nearly as impactful. Aside from being about Cancer, this film is also a love letter to Cinema made by a director with a clear love for movies which shines through in every scene.

Despite dragging towards the end, and featuring a style that becomes more annoying than creative, "Me & Earl & the Dying Girl" is not to be missed. Although it's not a film that will appeal to everyone, if you've gone through high-school it will stick with you long after you've seen it.