Memoria

This is kind of the perfect movie for an art student. It has all the emotions of Palo Alto, but it's extremely stylized in a way that brings a different look to the same old "teenage sadness." Some of these shots are completely unforgettable. The main story also feels like a messed up slice of life that Franco is oddly very good at writing. Though he didn't write the screenplay, his characters and stories are memorable and it feels like I'm seeing stories from "California Childhood" come to life. Very beautiful film.

This movie is absolutely "cinematic" it's a day in the life type of movie shot in a way that feels almost like a Hollywood daytime tv movie in one, from the aspect ratio to the grain it feels like you're watching a 90's skater movie, if you like day in the life loose story 90's skater vibes like the movie kids, or mid90's then you will love Memoria, the lighting the dialogue the colors and the acting is all amazing and its movies like this that bring that A24 films feeling. From teenagers smoking and skating to violence and just simple boring chill sesh' this movie has it all!!!! Amazing! Enjoy.

Seems a bit like a student film, I know James Franco is in it but he's held film-classes and stuff so it's not unreasonable to think that he was asked to appear in a couple scenes by his students.

Now that's not necessarily a bad thing, and initially it shows some promise but it doesn't amount to a whole much

It does feel rather realistic though, the characters do talk and act like a lot of youths do and act like morons for no particular reasons half the time just like many youths do. The ending was extremely out of the blue though.

And there isn't a whole lot of material to connect with, the plot despite it's realistic nature isn't deeply constructed enough and they could have made one of the characters a bit more likable perhaps where as with this none really are.

But it's still not enough for me to write off the directors and writers completely for the future with this being their debut full length feature film, I think their best work is to come though, everyone have to start somewhere and it's not absolutely terrible by any means.

I just saw the poster for this and realised it's actually based on James Franco's memoir book Palo Alto stories, just like 'Palo Alto (2013)' was so if that's what draws you to want to watch this I'd suggest watching that instead cause that's far better and a more complete piece of work.

I don't understand the 7 of 10 rating as of my watching this film. It starts seemingly stupid and continues being stupid. Quit watching after five minutes.

I found this to be a deeply affecting film. It's not fun by any means, but the dialogue felt really on-point in its realism and it did a great job of really making us understand just how the lead character felt. The whole mundane existence that he felt he was living, I've seen many films try to accomplish it but I think this one greatly succeeded. It puts everything into perspective as to why these awful things happen and why these people, who are many times just like the rest of us, are on the brink of committing acts that could ruin the rest of their lives. Really god acting as well, really well-written and directed. I definitely recommend this film to anyone wiling to endure some hard-to-watch realism.