By JASON GUYER
iRate
Every now and then, away from the popcorn smell and the often loudly talkative setting of a theater, from the comfort of my own couch I will sit down with an indie film and fall in love with it. “Hearts Beat Loud” is one of those films.
The movie is set in the hip Brooklyn neighborhood of Red Hook. It follows the story of a single dad, Frank, as he prepares for his daughter Sam to leave for college, all while being forced to close his vintage record store.
After the death of Sam’s mother, Frank continuously urged Sam to turn their weekly jam sessions as a way to stay connected with his daughter. During one of there last sessions before Sam leaves for college she decides to play a song she had been writing. As a failed professional musician and music lover, Frank seizes upon the musical talent of his daughter and urges her to form a band with him.
After posting they post the band’s song to Spotify, it becomes an indie hit, and Sam is faced with a decision, med school or start a band with her father. As father and daughter embark on the musical journey together they both learn life lessons from the music and from each other.
“Hearts Beat Loud” stars Nick Offerman as the father, Frank Fisher, and Kiersey Clemons as the daughter, Sam Fisher. Offerman gives by far his best performance in any film I have seen him in. Best known for his offbeat comedy than for his acting chops Offerman proves his can do more than just be funny. Offerman offers up a character with a common story and life aspiration, to be a musician, but he gives his character depth as a father. Instead of the character being an overly pushy father who tries to use or steal his daughter’s talent, Frank uses his daughter talent to teach her and even teach himself. Offerman’s Frank Fisher is a nuanced and imperfect character whose heart beats loud in the film.
Kiersey Clemons, an actress on the rise, is the soul of the story in “Heart Beats Loud.” The character of Sam Fisher gives voice to the music of “Heart Beats Loud” and that is all made possible by Clemons. Clemons plays the character of Sam with a quiet confidence, a person who seems like she might get lost in the background noise but who is only trying to find her voice. In “Heart Beats Loud,” when Sam Fisher finds her voice and Kiersey Clemons gives force to that voice, there is nothing more powerful in film.
Even in the original music made for the film, especially the title track “Hearts Beat Loud,” you can hear the reticent vulnerability of uncertainty of someone getting ready to fall in love. At its heart, “Hearts Beat Loud” is a love story and one that hits of chord and never misses a beat. “Hearts Beat Loud” is not your typical romantic love story though, “Hearts Beat Loud” is an all around love story.
Sam falls in love with her new girlfriend and Frank has trouble reconciling his own love of a friend. The love for music in “Hearts Beat Loud” is one of its best aspects and is how both characters convey emotion and ultimately deal with life. The best version of love in “Hearts Beat Loud” though is, the love between father and daughter.
“Hearts Beat Loud” is the story of a vulnerable point in both a parent and a child’s lives and an important one. Frank and Sam use music to talk to and relate to one another. Helping both accept Sam’s leaving for college.
In the end, just like Frank and Sam’s love of music, the familial love is something that never stops but changes and grows. This profound realization is one that Frank, Sam, and the viewer come to in the end. “Hearts Beat Loud” is a musically bright, emotionally deep, and a loving journey between father and daughter. One journey everyone must see. Just as the journey of love the singer takes in the original song sung by Kiersey Clemons says, “Hearts loud, we feel it in our blood and now our hearts beat loud.”
Take this films journey because Offerman, Clemons, the music, and this film will do just that, make your heart beat loud.
IRATE SCORE: 4/5
Jason Guyer is an avid moviegoer and works in the graphics department at the Eagle Times. For questions or comments he can be emailed at [email protected]
As your daily newspaper, we are committed to providing you with important local news coverage for Sullivan County and the surrounding areas.
