The Greatest Hits

Greetings again from the darkness. If you are one for whom hearing a particular song, no matter how many times over however many years, brings back vivid memories of a person close to you or a memorable event, then you will likely relate to Harriet, the lead character in this film from writer-director Ned Benson (THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ELEANOR RIGBY, 2014). Additionally, if you have tragically lost someone special to you and find yourself cloaked in unshakeable grief, then you will also likely find common ground with Harriet.

Harriet (Lucy Boynton, so good in SING STREET, 2016) wears noise-cancelling headphones whenever she is in public. She is so concerned with controlling the songs she hears, that she now works in a library for the serenity that silence brings. These steps are for a good reason ... they protect her from instantaneously being transported back in time to a specific moment with her beloved boyfriend Max (David Corenswet, "Hollywood" mini-series, and he's the new Superman). For Harriet, these aren't merely flashbacks or memories - she is physically transported back in time when she hears a song. Rather than HOT TUB TIME MACHINE, she's living "Hi-Fidelity Time Machine". Her trip only lasts as long as the song is playing, yet she has no control. Once back in real time, she is viewed as having had a seizure. It's frightening stuff for her. However, instead of being concerned about her health, she is intent on finding the song that takes her back to the moment she can change the past and prevent the accident that cost Max his life.

Harriet's BFF Morris (Austin Crute, BOOKSMART, 2019), a local DJ, has been very supportive of her grief, but it's been two years since Max died, and Morris wants his friend to move on with life. Hope springs when Harriet meets David (a terrific Justin Min, "Beef") at a grief counseling group event. The two are understandable tentative around each other, yet it's obvious David is a good dude with the necessary patience to allow her to work through her grief. Harriet's case of déjà vu with David comes full circle, and adds a nice touch to the delicate situation they find themselves locked in.

Wanting to change the past is something we have all thought of at one time or another, yet the physical transformations that Harriet experiences feel like something beyond science fiction, and bordering on psychological torture. Filmmaker Benson has delivered a film that is simultaneously relatable, while also landing pretty far outside the box. There is a throwback feeling here, despite the characters feeling very much of this day. As you might expect, the soundtrack is quite varied with some deep cuts ... with Roxy Music being a key. Although there may not be any big surprises in how the story unfolds, the characters are so relatable, and it's so well acted, that we find ourselves pulling for each of them to have a happy ending.

Opens in theaters beginning April 5, 2024.

Lucy Boynton plays a VERY charming girl with a tragic past. One she can access with the help of a magical-and-music-driven form of time travel, where every song becomes a potential key to undoing her tragedy. A film about grief and permanent loss.

It's good, but not great.

The time-travel system is surprisingly well-defined and consistent, and it works because it is very simple. The posed question has weight, and becomes quite defining.

So what's wrong about it?

Well, the script shows its hand early, removing intrigue from the table, and becomes a question of "choice".

Then, and sadly for me, the core relationship doesn't work.. as I didn't get to like him at all, which makes it very difficult to understand why she would. The setup feels rushed, and every development feels forcefully special. It left me wanting more authenticity and less insistence.

Ultimately, the film is quite nice, in sentiment, creativity and execution. Everything works.. except for him. And it is a REAL shame, as I really wanted to like it!

As the movie states, "the most terrifying and amazing part of being a human being.. our capacity to move on". So, here I am, moving on.. But she is wonderful! Reason enough to watch. While tragic, she is ready for betterness and open minded. An excellent main character. Oh, and the music is also great! But a lack of a good core, and an ending I found particularly unsatisfying, keeps it from me loving it. Still, I enjoyed its potential and the great execution.

This film has taken a good idea already used in Press Play and made an awful film. I watched them promote this on The One Show who clearly didn't do any research as they said what a great unique idea! The music used which is supposed to be the greatest hits are bad in my opinion. It feels like you never care about the main female character as it always feels like the film starts half way through which means you never care about any of the characters or the relationship with the dead boyfriend which you know nothing about. Watch Press Play it's loads better I actually read a review that said the opposite which I clearly don't agree with.

Its a intresting concept of travling through time due to certain music but this film does not deliver if you like the concept please watch press play 2022 this has tried coping the same storyline near enough with a few differances.

And as always the only 10/10 is a new account probably family members again even the 9/10 seems a bit suspect been a member 6 years and only ever reviewed this film.

Worth a watch if bored

Young Harriet discovers that art imitates life when she discovers that certain songs can literally transport her back in time. But as she relives the past through the romantic memories of her old boyfriend, her time travel collides with a new romantic adventure in her present. And so, on her journey through the hypnotic connection between music and memory, Harriet wonders if, even if she could change the past, she should.

The other night my wife and I watched The Greatest Hits now streaming on Hulu. The movie stars Lucy Boynton and Justin H. Min and is written and directed by Ned Benson. The Greatest Hits follows Harriet (Boynton) as she tries to lead a normal life after the tragic death of her boyfriend. Getting over him proves to be more difficult than normal because every time Harriet hears a song that reminds her of him, she is sucked back in time until the song ends. As you can imagine, this affliction not only makes it difficult for her to get over him, but it also complicates her everyday life, including dating her new love interest David (Min).

This movie had all the makings of a cute rom com that really hits you in the feels. Unfortunately, it fell short of this goal. My overall rating for this movie is a 6.5/10 meaning that, although I did not think that this was a particularly bad movie, I also won't go as far as saying that it was good. This was a perfectly ok and forgettable movie that I will most likely never think about again after I finish writing this blog. To me, the movie did not do as good of a job of relaying the message that it wanted to convey. It seemed that it was showing us the pain of moving on and how hard it is to do that, but the execution was just lacking. The acting felt hallow and I found myself not being able to get immersed into the story. All in all, if you have something better to watch on your movie night, maybe skip The Greatest Hits.

Thanks for reading and please comment below your thoughts or if you have any suggestions on reviews you would like to see.