But it's like, being yourself is, like, not changing yourself to impress someone else.
I know I am a bit late to the party, but Bo Burnham was my favorite discovery of 2018. I caught this movie pretty early in the summer on the back of its critical acclaim and for most of the year it was my favorite film. It led me into Burnham's standup and viral videos and what I found was new, fearless, hilarious, and downright brilliant.
Eighth Grade is about the trials and tribulations of Kayla, an introverted (but not really) awkward teen who is on the verge of that most strange of transitions from innocence to high school. It is note-for-note perfect in its translation of the reality of this stage while still maintaining the artfulness of the cinematic craft. This would be a daunting task for an experienced filmmaker, but this is Burnham's first film as both writer and director. If you take into account his obvious maleness and his private school, two parent upbringing, it is astounding that this 28-year-old artistic phenom pulled this off. It is a downright shame that Eighth Grade, its young star (Elsie Fisher), and its first time director won't be getting their just accolades on Oscar night. Once again, the Spirit awards get it right while mainstream Hollywood is stuck awarding mediocre biopics...
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