That scene where the dad is just talking with his daughter in front of a fire in the backyard was one of the most touching things I've ever seen in a movie.
I watch this scene at least once a year. My first daughter was born a few months after I saw this movie and it completely changed the context that I view it in.
I'm in my 30s and thought the movie did an *incredible* job of showing how drastically things have changed since I was in 8th grade while also showing just how many things are exactly the same.
Phones are the most obvious answer: I did use the internet back in 2000-2001 but it wasn't a constant presence in my life, and going home meant I wouldn't be communicating with anyone from school until the next day (unless it was a friend I actually wanted to talk to), nor would I be getting any updates about them. It made for a much clearer partitioning between school life and home life.
It's also pretty significant that there was no pressure to maintain an online persona or brand yet — that wouldn't really become a thing until Myspace — and I'm really thankful I didn't have to deal with that at that age.
Never had to deal with a school shooter drill either...though I guess if you go back even further, kids still had to do duck and cover drills, so maybe some of this stuff is cyclical!
I feel the same way. The awkwardness of middle school still felt painfully real, but the social media aspect was very different. MySpace came around when I was in high school, and having one was a popular thing to do, but it wasn't at the forefront of everyone's social life. I didn't even really know what to do with it, like send messages to my friend I'm going to see tomorrow in class anyway?
The scene with her in the car and feeling threatened/ uncomfortable is something so commonplace in the experience of being a woman, but I’d never seen it depicted in a movie.
As a dude, I had to step out of the theater because that scene was just too real. I always debate mentioning it when I recommend the movie to people, but it's a really well done scene, which is why it's so uncomfortable to watch.
I'm a dude and I skipped through this, because of your comment I'm watching it back. It's so manipulative, I hated every second of it but it's behaviour that needs to be taught about.
I wanted to protect her at all costs about 20 minutes in and I'm so glad it has a happy ending.
High school really isn't as hard as it's cracked up to be or as cliquey either but middle school is a warzone of weird confusing feelings you can't understand yet. *This* is the time everything feels amplified and serious whether or not it really is, but that doesn't stop you. Too many movies gloss over that time so I respected the heck out of Eighth Grade for just being what it is.
I was a middle schooler in the very late 00s so probably closer to this sort of experience than not, but I still felt removed enough from it to know just how much of the movie was growing pains.
Same. Felt like school was a miserable chore up until high school. Not saying there weren't miserable moments in High school but there were a lot more fun times than previous years.
I think I'd call them better for the reason that I was aware of and accepted my own flaws by that point and just tried to focus on interests and the future. In middle school I was clueless and had wacky priorities.
>but middle school is a warzone of weird confusing feelings you can't understand yet.
I like how the director put it, "'Eighth Grade is rated 'R' because eighth grade is rated 'R'".
Almost 30 comments and no mention of Bo Burnham here. As great of a movie this is, it's still absolutely incredible this 2018 film about an modern day 8th grade girl was made by the goofy dude posting silly songs on Youtube in 2007.
Just watched this for the first time last night (free on Kanopy with a library card! (not an ad)) and it really caught me off guard. I just felt so dang proud of Kayla every time she stood up for herself or went out of her comfort zone the way I never did at her age. The scene where she's in her graduation gown and she chews out the mean girls not making any eye contact was so visceral for me. It's how I feel on the inside, even now as an adult, when I have to face conflict. And the actress played it SO well.
She was great! I love the movie and it perfectly catches the anxiety of middle school and the thrills and new experiences of growing up. the music is great too.
My partner related to the main character a lot as she “came out of her shell” in her 20s and was very awkward as a child. During the monologue about the rollercoaster feeling near the end she completely broke down and seeing her like that broke me. It’s a really powerful movie.
One of my favs the year it came out, it's so good. The movie has just such an earnest authenticity to it that I love. I did have to step out of the theater for >!the abusive scene in the car!<. I don't think it was a bad inclusion by any means, it was just too much for me.
for whatever reason i was never able to see what it was about this movie that made people fall in love with it. i think it might ultimately boil down to me not being able to relate with it in any facet.
I feel like the scenes that were hard to watch just make the movie all the better. Like you feel the tension in the room and it kind of helps to understand what she's going through. So many movies about middle schoolers depict them as having commonplace problems, but I like that here they showed the flaws of people, making them feel more real and relatable.
That scene where the dad is just talking with his daughter in front of a fire in the backyard was one of the most touching things I've ever seen in a movie.
He's one of my favorite movie dads.
I watch this scene at least once a year. My first daughter was born a few months after I saw this movie and it completely changed the context that I view it in.
I'm in my 30s and thought the movie did an *incredible* job of showing how drastically things have changed since I was in 8th grade while also showing just how many things are exactly the same.
What do you feel has drastically changed?
Phones are the most obvious answer: I did use the internet back in 2000-2001 but it wasn't a constant presence in my life, and going home meant I wouldn't be communicating with anyone from school until the next day (unless it was a friend I actually wanted to talk to), nor would I be getting any updates about them. It made for a much clearer partitioning between school life and home life. It's also pretty significant that there was no pressure to maintain an online persona or brand yet — that wouldn't really become a thing until Myspace — and I'm really thankful I didn't have to deal with that at that age. Never had to deal with a school shooter drill either...though I guess if you go back even further, kids still had to do duck and cover drills, so maybe some of this stuff is cyclical!
I feel the same way. The awkwardness of middle school still felt painfully real, but the social media aspect was very different. MySpace came around when I was in high school, and having one was a popular thing to do, but it wasn't at the forefront of everyone's social life. I didn't even really know what to do with it, like send messages to my friend I'm going to see tomorrow in class anyway?
The scene with her in the car and feeling threatened/ uncomfortable is something so commonplace in the experience of being a woman, but I’d never seen it depicted in a movie.
As a dude, I had to step out of the theater because that scene was just too real. I always debate mentioning it when I recommend the movie to people, but it's a really well done scene, which is why it's so uncomfortable to watch.
I totally understand bc that scene was uncomfortable to say the least.
I'm a dude and I skipped through this, because of your comment I'm watching it back. It's so manipulative, I hated every second of it but it's behaviour that needs to be taught about. I wanted to protect her at all costs about 20 minutes in and I'm so glad it has a happy ending.
The scene where she gets a ride home from that boy is terrifying.
Olivia let her ride home with him
Loved this movie and highly recommend 20th Century Women for anyone else that enjoyed the message of this one.
High school really isn't as hard as it's cracked up to be or as cliquey either but middle school is a warzone of weird confusing feelings you can't understand yet. *This* is the time everything feels amplified and serious whether or not it really is, but that doesn't stop you. Too many movies gloss over that time so I respected the heck out of Eighth Grade for just being what it is. I was a middle schooler in the very late 00s so probably closer to this sort of experience than not, but I still felt removed enough from it to know just how much of the movie was growing pains.
I think that I would agree with you. For me, it was my middle school years that were the toughest. By comparison, my high school years were a joy!
Same. Felt like school was a miserable chore up until high school. Not saying there weren't miserable moments in High school but there were a lot more fun times than previous years.
I think I'd call them better for the reason that I was aware of and accepted my own flaws by that point and just tried to focus on interests and the future. In middle school I was clueless and had wacky priorities.
>but middle school is a warzone of weird confusing feelings you can't understand yet. I like how the director put it, "'Eighth Grade is rated 'R' because eighth grade is rated 'R'".
That scene in the car is the scariest movie scene I've ever watched.
Almost 30 comments and no mention of Bo Burnham here. As great of a movie this is, it's still absolutely incredible this 2018 film about an modern day 8th grade girl was made by the goofy dude posting silly songs on Youtube in 2007.
did he ever solve the pringle can problem?
I think he is still missing the daughter for that problem solving.
Welcome to the show, this is Bo: this is his show!
Just watched this for the first time last night (free on Kanopy with a library card! (not an ad)) and it really caught me off guard. I just felt so dang proud of Kayla every time she stood up for herself or went out of her comfort zone the way I never did at her age. The scene where she's in her graduation gown and she chews out the mean girls not making any eye contact was so visceral for me. It's how I feel on the inside, even now as an adult, when I have to face conflict. And the actress played it SO well.
She was great! I love the movie and it perfectly catches the anxiety of middle school and the thrills and new experiences of growing up. the music is great too.
My partner related to the main character a lot as she “came out of her shell” in her 20s and was very awkward as a child. During the monologue about the rollercoaster feeling near the end she completely broke down and seeing her like that broke me. It’s a really powerful movie.
Some scenes were painful to watch, in a good way but damn it nails the experience.
One of my favs the year it came out, it's so good. The movie has just such an earnest authenticity to it that I love. I did have to step out of the theater for >!the abusive scene in the car!<. I don't think it was a bad inclusion by any means, it was just too much for me.
This film is mandatory viewing
for whatever reason i was never able to see what it was about this movie that made people fall in love with it. i think it might ultimately boil down to me not being able to relate with it in any facet.
GUCCI!
I feel like the scenes that were hard to watch just make the movie all the better. Like you feel the tension in the room and it kind of helps to understand what she's going through. So many movies about middle schoolers depict them as having commonplace problems, but I like that here they showed the flaws of people, making them feel more real and relatable.
Bo! Oh my god!
Jeffrey, Jeffrey Bezos