PIC of the Week – Eighth Grade
Article series by Ray Schillaci
Two wonderfully entertaining indies pop up this week. Dreamscape Media brings to light Louisiana Kreutz’s delightful story about a Quaker couple attempting a divorce in Quaker Oaths, a perfect set up for a road movie with many unexpected laughs. It’s sweet and heartwarming with a lighthearted and daft touch from the new writer and director. But, Bo Burnham’s incredibly bittersweet tale of the last week of an awkward eighth grade girl just edges that release out with a stellar performance by Elsie Fisher. Burnham, a single male with no kids, gets right to the heart of this little girl, and at the same time delivers powerful insight to the plight of being a single father.
Once again, Lionsgate Home Entertainment roars in with a dynamite Blu of another great indie movie. This time, one that deserves Oscar recognition. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, even be a bit unsettled, and you’ll get your heartbroken with Burnham’s take on the tribulations of this eighth grade girl. All the awkwardness, heartache, and the triumph of our character, Kayla Dade, realizing it doesn’t end with that dreaded grade with the snotty kids, bullies, and teachers who have no time to take on the personal plights of young ones.
In school, Kayla is shy, awkward and socially inept, but her video blog states otherwise. Kayla is the princess of advice on how to handle one’s self while traversing the landscape of middle school. Too bad she cannot follow her own advice. Burnham not only gets to the heart of Kayla, but also tackles the social media obsession. Of course, Burnham delivers a fine balance of both drama and comedy while delivering some of the most talked about moments in a film this year.
Not only is Elsie Fisher a phenom in the role of Kayla Dade, Josh Hamilton is wonderfully touching as the frustrated single father. The other kids who interact with Kayla are so very real in their roles and tend to be extremely funny. Not once does Burnham play down to his audience. He’s a whip smart writer/director who aims for our hearts as well as our minds.
This Lionsgate Blu visually is not a stand out for reference quality, but it’s not meant to be. This quiet little film excels in its great story, Burnham’s smart direction, and Elsie Fisher’s dynamic performance. Lionsgate gives us a 1080p picture that is well worth catching on Blu along with an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix. Extras include:
¥ Commentary track with Bo Burnham and Elsie Fisher
¥ 15 minute behind the scenes featurette
¥ Music video (let’s just say a bit unusual)
Best Price – $16.99 – Amazon and Walmart
