Singing in My Sleep

Singing in my Sleep is a wonderful indie film for music lovers everywhere. It's a story focused on characters that feel real, wrapped in a blanket made out of genuinely great music! I laughed, I teared up, I jammed along, and I had an amazing time watching this film. Highly recommend to anyone and everyone!

First off, this is no Coyote Ugly. The music is so-so (nothing catchy), the singing about the same, and the story basically a rehash of a roadie musician engaging with a few too many roadies and forgetting his daughter (his new marriage and child are never explained). Take a quick nap and you'll find that you didn't miss anything. But for a college-type, low budget film, this is tolerable and likely perfect for the TikTok crowd but not for the older adult looking for a film with a bit more substance. We watched because of the 4.5-star rating, before realizing that only 4 people had reviewed it (perhaps the producer and his daughter were two of those). Take this movie with a grain of salt, or perhaps a saltshaker full...

This film was so likable because the characters were believable. Anytime actors can bring to life a story that makes the audience feel like they resonate with the characters or know someone just like the characters, you know you are watching artists that put their souls on the screen for all to see. I especially loved Malen Akerman and Jacob Bond's performances. As a parent, watching Malen Akerman struggle with her flaws while also deeply loving and wanting the best for her daughter, I danced in the kitchen with her and felt her joy. And Jacob Bond was such a breath of fresh air in the character of a friend who always wanted more but respected boundaries. Watch this film.

... writer/Director Nick Wilson's film about a charismatic young girl with "daddy issues" is that it is completely unpretentious for a low-budget indie. That is, many films of this kind try to be what they are not, and in the process inflict self-harm. Singing In My Sleep never once makes this error, and is all the better for it. The best thing that can be said about the performance of Jessica Belkin is that occasionally -- but not always -- it brings to mind the early work of Angelina Jolie -- when she starred in films that inevitably seemed less compelling than she was. The irony being that Belkin, to move her career forward, is competing not with strangers, but with herself. It will be tricky to overcome her TikTok persona as a hot bikini model, but with time and effort she might just pull it off. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

The acting in the film, especially Jacob Bond as the sweet love interest, were so natural that I was able to settle into the film to enjoy it. We don't often get young, male characters who give us kindness as male friends. I really appreciated the storyline of a young man who loves the female lead but doesn't take advantage of her vulnerability. And the actor was able to deliver a character both compelling and beautiful. I'll be watching for his next film. The lead has a pretty voice that carried the songs. Malen Ackerman is also incredible as the flawed but devoted mother. I'll be buying this one to watch over and over.