Becks

A film with a huge heart. I cried several times ... reinvention is never easy, and anyone can relate to the things these characters struggle with as they reevaluate their lives and experience their authentic selves for the first time.

Becks follows the story of an up and coming musician who suffers a tough break after catching her girlfriend cheating on her, and eventually ends up moving back home to live with her mother. I think what really cemented in my love for this movie is how this film portrays love. I liked that this film highlighted what real genuine love looks like, while also maintaining the realities of a complicated romance. I think what I liked most about this film though is the writing. Throughout this movie there were so many hilarious one liners, I honestly couldn't even keep track of how many times I physically laughed out loud at the dialogue of the characters, especially the banter that takes place between Becks and her old friend Dave! The writers of this film definitely knocked it out of the part when it came to raunchy yet subtle bits of humor in this film.

If you're in search of a genuine feeling (not kitschy or exploitative) LGBTQ+ movie, Becks really hits the mark. Poor Becks moves across the country for her girlfriend, only to find her in bed with another woman. Down on her luck and broken-hearted, she moves back in with her devout Catholic mom, and the tension is felt immediately (though subtle at first). She's disapproving but loving, and tries to encourage Becks where she can. The casting is great, with Tony award winner and Grammy-nominated Lena Hall as Becks, supported by Christine Lahti (Blacklist) and Mena Suvari (American Beauty), amongst others. With interesting pacing, from quick tidbits packed with information to slow building scenes ripe with expectancy, as well as note-worthy lighting effects that highlight important scenes/cues, Becks rounds out its attributes. Already boasting the US Fiction Award from the Los Angeles Film Festival and the Emerging Director Award from the St. Louis International Film Festival, Becks is racking in recognition from fans of all kinds. Oh, and did I mention the killer original soundtrack? "Lesbian folk rock" maximizes the authenticity and charisma of the film, breathing in life even when no on-screen words are uttered. This is a must-see for all fans of indie cinema.

One of the best LGBT movies of the year, Becks jumps right into the action with a montage of the titular Becks moving across the country to be with her girlfriend, only to walk in on her with another woman. Devastated and broke, she is forced to move back in with her Catholic mother in St. Louis. The pacing can be a bit messy at times, and it's not an uplifting story, but it's a heartfelt movie with some jaw-dropping performances, particularly from Lena Hall. The dialogue is realistically witty and the musical interludes are beautiful, reminiscent of Eddie Vedder's work on Into the Wild but woven into the story seamlessly. This is a movie that will resonate with anyone who's felt the pain of hitting rock bottom.

Based on real life Allysa Robbins, a lesbian NYC folk singer. The lead actor here has every bit as good a voice as well and the acoustic take on Robbins original songs is easier to listen to. Christine Lahti is good as the unapproving Mom and the story just seems like "a week in the life". The ending isn't as good as we expected but it tells the story. Overall, a nice little movie for a rainy afternoon