Don’t run from the confusion, the tumult, and the insecurity of Eighth Grade, because all reports are that it’s a highlight of the year.
No one’s pretending that jumping into the life of an eighth grade girl will be fun; we all have our memories of that awkward age, but it is a fresh perspective for the big screen, particularly since this film is looking at an average, everyday kid. You see, Kayla (Elsie Fisher) is mostly concerned with finding her place, something she never managed to do in middle school, and is now staring down a ‘fresh start’ in high school. She’s still needs to get through the last few days of eighth grade, though, which will likely prove to be no small feat.
The film has earned rave reviews out of its festival run, surprising everyone given the unconventional subject matter and the fresh talent involved. Fisher is a relatively unknown face, having done voice work in the Despicable Me series and a handful of small roles in front of the camera. She was just about the same age as her character when filming, and this appears to be a situation where she carries each and every scene. A tall task for such a young performer, but one she apparently pulled off splendidly.
Writer/director Bo Burnham brings even less experience to the table since his primary career as a comedian hasn’t left him a ton of time to work on films. He’s dipped his toes into several mediums, though, and if his debut is as outstanding as people are saying, studios might be fighting to keep him in the industry.
Whether everyone involved is able to parlay this into long-lasting careers remains to be seen, but they are all earning some feathers in their caps.
Eighth Grade is directed by Bo Burnham and stars Elsie Fisher, Josh Hamilton, and Emily Robinson. It will be released in the US on July 13th, 2018. Further release dates are not currently known.
Have you been hearing good things about Eighth Grade? Let us know in the comments!
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