Coast

As in the review title I felt this film had elements of those classic films with a contemporary spin. Several reviews claimed it doesn't get into new territory and that's simply not true. Yes, 'Coast' hits on many universal 'coming of age' themes growing up in a small, dead-end town, where there's a lot of pressure to stay put and not follow one's dreams, but this movie is much more complicated and nuanced than that, particularly with the side stories outside the main characters. For starters, it's not your typical 'California' town we always see in Hollywood, but a rural farming community with a large immigrant population. The 2nd Generation Issei Japanese girl trying to grapple with being treated like an exotic Panda bear was something I've never seen before, as was the Latina trying to balance the obligations of her family vs natural teenage rebeliousness and the hard truth that sometimes we're not as good as our dreams...no, there's some pretty good new ground to get into here. Last, I really enjoyed the soundtrack and some of the sly references, including the Smiths and Husker Du. In a world of ever formulaic movies, this one is worth taking time to watch, absorb, and enjoy.

The movie's plot was intriguing, but the way it played out was a bit far fetched. Too much happened in a short period of time, and some of the situations were made to be far more serious than they actually were. There was a lot of teen angst and melodrama, which will probably resonate better with younger viewers, but it was somewhat cringeworthy to watch as an adult. The acting performances weren't great, but that's understandable given it was an indie with a fairly inexperienced young cast. However, that also made it somewhat appealing in a strange way. Overall, it was a fairly wholesome movie. The soundtrack was excellent, and even though it was mostly 80s alternative and punk music, it would probably be enjoyable for any audience. The filming locations were probably the best part, as they capture some of the beauty of California's Central Coast while also portraying the agricultural areas that are an important part of America's breadbasket and provide much needed jobs to local residents and migrant workers.