Fourth of July

Made my day better, great movie. The critics hate C. K. But this was a genuinely good movie. Joe list had an excellent performance. Will get it and watch it again in my home cinema.

I went into this expecting an average movie, but was honestly blown away. With so many overproduced, overacted and overperfected films these days, this one felt truly authentic. Louis CK's writing stands out throughout: Fourth of July delivers genuinely hilarious moments seemingly at every turn. As a master of comedy, Louis understands better than most that great comedy comes from great pain. The film does an exceptional job of exploring the blurred line between surface level "okayness" (aided by humor, beer, and raunchy jokes) and the deeper emotions that we all suppress. By exploring this blurred space, the audience experiences laughter and sadness almost simultaneously. I believe this is the greatest form of comedy, and a reflection of life itself: wanting to cry from pain, but also laughing at the absurdity of it all and ultimately telling yourself the same thing this movie tells you: it's gonna be okay.

Joe List stars as Jeff, three years sober and potentially on the cusp of fatherhood. Jeff fears that he lacks the potential to be a good parent due to his own dysfunctional childhood. To overcome his anxiety at its source, he plans to confront his family of acerbic Bostonians regarding the perceived shortcomings of his own upbringing while at their annual family lakeside gathering in Maine.

First and foremost, the film is hilarious. The sold out crowd at tonight's world premiere at the Beacon Theatre in Manhattan was laughing from start to finish. Joe List is great, Robert Kelly steals every scene he's in, and Tara Pacheco provided some excellent subtle humor as the neutral observer. Nick Di Paolo and Louis do not disappoint either.

The cowriting of Joe List and Louis CK seemed to shine through in an introspective and cathartic way from both ends of the spectrum of fatherhood. On one side, trepidation regarding what may be, and on the other end, regret for what has been and can never be undone (portrayed phenomenally through the father character by Robert Walsh).

The casting was fantastic from top to bottom. My only small qualm with the film is that the exposition in the first act was a bit heavy handed. Not really distracting though.

See this movie in theatres if you have the opportunity, it was a great experience to be able to laugh with a crowd of strangers again.

Thoughtful, believable study of a sensitive individual, now in adulthood, attempting to reconcile his resentments towards his parents and family while simultaneously being accepting of their (and his) faults and foibles. Exceptionally well-performed, realistically written, and directed with unerring good judgement. If you're looking for a comedy, beware, while there are a handful of smiles, this is a drama in the best sense of the word.

Very fine writing, acting, funny. They don't make movies like this anymore. Even the minor characters all have importance, and all do a good job. Lots of subtle humor, and it has a good independent spirit. I didn't see CK's first movie, and wish I had seen it first for chronological context and to see the evolution, but I'm looking forward to seeing that now, too.