Matthew Evans

Nothing less than an instant, perennial coming-of-age classic for the generation and the millions that’ll follow it. This and Eighth Grade are exactly the kind of movies Hollywood needs much more of.

Until I went into this movie, I never thought that Emma Thompson would make me laugh as much as I did. Her and Mindy Kaling are by far one of the year's best on-screen duos and that's pretty much saying a lot. The satire and references to The Tonight Show and celebrities like Jimmy Fallon, Steve Martin, Emma Stone, and Anne Hathaway were nothing less than uproarious and clever, and they clearly weren't there just for show. Also the scenes where they're filming Tonight (Emma Thompson's talk show in the film, not to be confused with The Tonight Show) were very well written and well acted, and they're just one of the examples of how one successful show host or any other well-admired leader of any kind can ultimately reach a demise (depending on how often they continue to use their potential to a good advantage). Late Night's one of this year's bigger releases from Sundance, and it definitely deserved the treatment. It may be an offbeat indie comedy, but it's destined to entertain even a good handful or two of mainstream audiences. Highly recommended especially for fans of comedy and/or talk shows.

Me personally, this was a fascinating and very riveting movie. I believe what flustered mainstream audiences with this one is that it's strictly a character piece as opposed to a standard story. Also it's one of those movies that mainly appeals to genre fans like me. The film clearly has its own tweaks and measures here and there. The cinematography may seem unusual, but if you look at it from a greater standpoint, it feels as if the film wants you to put yourself in the shoes of a secret visitor in the life of Julie and conduct an in-depth examination of her condition. The result is an exhilarating and interactive look at the battle of the human condition from two sides - life in a relationship versus life outside of a relationship. I relate to Julie in some several ways - we both want to become beloved filmmakers whose films are based off our own experiences but from a greater point of view, and we both are nervous as to what will become of our futures, but we motivate ourselves to move past the bad times and pursue for more good times that will eventually become our favorite memories. Her relationship with Anthony was splendidly executed, and it very much did so the way Gloria Bell delivered the ups and downs of having one. It was very emotional too at some parts; some things that happen to Anthony you really won't see coming until you've seen it happen in the film. It may not exactly equal Eighth Grade, Lady Bird, Boyhood, or other coming-of-age classics, but as underrated as it may be, The Souvenir is nonetheless a very worthy entry in A24's lineup. Go into this movie with an open mind and allow it to help you aspire and learn something on how to find the right people to depend on. 39 to 40 percent of Google users liking this movie? Almost as low as The Emoji Movie's score. Trust me, stuff like The Souvenir is mountains and oceans better than that garbage. Also give it up for The Souvenir Part II being A24's first sequel! :) That'll be something special for sure.