Film review: Hearts Beat Loud
With its laidback soundtrack and gentle, no-frills plot about an unlikely songwriting duo, Hearts Beat Loud is easy on the eyes, ears and brain.
One-time musician Frank Fisher (Nick Offerman) is about to give up the record store heâs been running for 17 years. On top of that, his daughter Sam (Kiersey Clemons), who heâs been raising on his own since her mother died, is on the point of leaving home to study medicine at UCLA, and his mother (Blythe Danner) is in the early stages of dementia.
No wonder Frankâs a little crotchety.
But one thing that always makes Frank smile is jamming with Sam. To cheer him up, Sam takes time out of studying to write and record a song with him.
In a fit of exuberance, Frank uploads the song to Spotify and waddyaknow, it becomes a huge hit! Blown away by the success, Frank tries to persuade Sam to forget about college and stay at home recording music with him instead. She isnât the sort of teen to be sidelined but her burgeoning relationship with Rose (Sasha Lane) makes staying at home a tempting prospect.
You might like
The more cynical might argue that slotting a same-sex relationship into this mild-mannered script is tokenism, but director Brett Haleyâs low-key, honest presentation of two young people in the first flush of love is as sweet and delightful as the rest of the film. Their shared gender is incidental to the plot; isnât flagged as an âissueâ and thereâs something very refreshing in that.
But itâs the acting that really raises the bar here. Offerman and Clemons are excellent in their roles, Offerman playing the slightly crabby Frank with just the right level of whimsy while Clemonsâ Sam is the perfect mix of teenage strop and charm. They are ably supported by screen stalwarts Toni Collette (as Frankâs landlady and potential lover) and Ted Danson (as an affable bar owner).
Haley said he wanted to âmake a film that makes people feel good and reminds (them) of the simple goodness in the worldâ. Itâs a modest ambition and one that this modest film achieves. Hearts Beat Loud isnât going to rock any worlds but itâs sure to warm a few hearts.
Want to see more stories from InDaily SA in your Google search results?
- Click here to set InDaily SA as a preferred source.
- Tick the box next to "InDaily SA". That's it.
Free to share
This article may be shared online or in print under a Creative Commons licence