AppleTVPlus – Page 2 – Credits Rolling

Ruby, (Emilia Jones) a seventeen year old girl who lives in Gloucester, Massachusetts is the only hearing member of a deaf family. All her life, she has gone above and beyond to help her mother Jackie (Marlee Matlin), her father Frank (Troy Kotsur) and her brother Leo (Daniel Durant). When her family’s fishing business finds itself in trouble, Ruby feels herself being pulled in two directions. She wants to be there for her family, but she just started singing in the school’s choir led by Bernardo Villalobos (Eugenio Derbez) who is aiding her to audition for Berklee College of Music.

All of the buzz surrounding CODA and the fact that it did so amazingly at the Sundance Film Festival is what made me want to watch it. I had a feeling that it would be something special. I just didn’t realize how much.

This was absolutely phenomenal. Based on a French movie called La Famille Belier, CODA had my heart breaking and mending simultaneously throughout. Ruby was such a relatable teen and yet I could never even begin to imagine how difficult it must have been for her to choose between her family and her dream. At the same time, I felt bad for her family who wanted to be treated as equals, but who were also scared to put themselves out there. The fact that actual deaf actors were casted in the roles of Ruby’s parents and brother made it all the better and more impressive. More films should take a cue from this one going forward.

I didn’t know what to expect going into CODA and it wound up completely blowing my mind. The storyline, the music – everything was perfectly executed. It’s a film that really makes you think and one that will definitely make you cry. I know I did.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

Having just completed a twelve year sentence in prison, Eddie Palmer (Justin Timberlake) returns home. Trying to put his life back together, the former football star needs to find a job and check in with his parole officer every two weeks.

What Palmer doesn’t bargain for is meeting a young boy name Sam (Ryder Allen). Sam often spends time with Palmer’s grandmother Vivian (June Squibb) when his drug addict mother Shelly (Juno Temple) skips town. At first, Palmer doesn’t know what to make of Sam – the boy is unlike others his age. He loves playing with dolls and wants to be a princess. As the two spend more time together, Palmer’s feelings change and he learns that caring for Sam is what he is meant to do. It’s just unfortunate that his past keeps getting in the way.

I wasn’t sure if I even wanted to watch this at first. The story didn’t initially appeal to me, but I am very glad that I gave it a chance. There were so many things that I liked about it!

Justin Timberlake as an ex-con was a little hard to believe at times. Overall I did enjoy his performance though I have to admit that I am still on the fence if I prefer him as an actor or a singer. All I know is he is lovely to look at. Ryder Allen, on the other hand, was a revelation. I could not get over how precious that little boy was. For his first ever role, he really knocked it out of the park.

Palmer is a story about second chances and starting over. It hit me in all the right feels and I highly recommend it.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥