Reviews

If you thus assume if there are scenes when Buddy tries to woo the prettiest girl in class, his grandparents dispense advice while playfully chiding each other, his parents argue about money and Buddy tries to process the local pastor's scary sermon, you'd be right.

The film was written by Kenneth Branagh, and is a semi-autobiographical film, since he had to grow up in the same situation as Buddy.

(A second viewing might reveal whether the film references are a little over-egged - I felt at times the film was a bit too soundtrack-heavy, but that's really the only criticism I have.)

Caitriona Balfe and Jamie Dorman are impressively conflicted as Buddy's parents and an unrecognizable Judi Dench offers an Oscar-worthy turn as Buddy's grandmother, but it is young Jude Hill who commands the screen and carries the film as young Buddy, a performance that should earn him an Oscar nomi...