Life Inside Out

When I left the movie theater, I was greeted by co-stars Maggie Baird and her son (in the movie and life) Finneas O'Connell. I looked at Finneus like he was some kind of soul-mate and blurted out in amazement "You made a movie about me and my son!!" He just smiled and said "Everyone says that".

I was literally stunned when the movie ended and I realized the characters on the screen were not actually me, my son, and my husband. I am still not able to get it into my mind that I don't at east know these people very well.

Even my 14 year old son, who is usually a brutal critic said they got it right.

The movie made me cry often but not in an obvious manipulated way. I was captivated by how true the many powerful moments were. Nothing took me out of the depth of the moment until the film concluded.

By true, I mean that they have captured those private lonely feelings we go about our lives not sharing, not knowing how to share, and maybe not even seeing ourselves. Then we see them on the screen and our private sadness is shared. It's a feeling of connection and understanding.

It's as if you ate nothing but hyped-up McDonalds meals your whole life and never questioned that they were great, until one day when you actually tasted real food!

I hope there will be another film by this team, but wonder if anything could top this for what it is. It's not so much a story as a truth. It's real food, not formula.

This is an excellent film of a character finding a little bit about herself. Few films have a woman in her 40s as the lead. This film makes an engrossing trip into the daily life of one as she finds a part of herself she forgot about and in the process, discovers a side her son as well. Great acting, great directing, a seamlessly crafted work of art. A good family film that avoids clichés yet delivers contemporary America with a realism that is pleasant, mundane and totally familiar.

With scenes involving ScrapBooking and Open Mic performance events, LIFE INSIDE OUT hits hilariously and painfully close to everyone's contemporary suburban existence.

Satisfying is the first word that comes to mind to describe this film. The story works, the characters are believable, the acting is not forced, the cinematography is perfect, the sound track is pleasing. It's a feel-good family story in a not trite way. Seriously! Almost-empty-nest Mom is taking a creative risk in her life. Disaffected and insolent teen son bonds with mother over open-mic style music - and he teaches himself to play guitar via an unorthodox method. This movie is a classic example of show not tell - we are in the story as it unfolds in front of our eyes. It's definitely a keeper. 10 out of 10 in the way only an indie movie can be. Nothing showy, just solid storytelling and movie-making.

This sweet film is poignant and true. The script speaks to the heart of most of our families--flawed, struggling, yet enduring. Maggie Baird is illuminating as the mom of three sons, one of whom is a floundering 14 year old who is depressed, sullen, and withdrawn. As she rediscovers an old passion for guitar, singing and song writing, her son, played by her real life son, Phinneas, discovers he, too, is passionate about, and talented as a singer/songwriter. He begins to come out of his shell; he emerges as someone who feels he has value; and he sees and appreciates his mother in ways most 14 year old sons can't.

Through humor and simplicity of story telling, we become a part of this family. We feel their financial struggle. We love the long term marriage of the parents, still so committed, yet winding their way through these muddy middle years. We relate to the sibling relationships. We so deeply feel the anxiety and isolation of adolescence. And when perseverance and unrelenting mother love and support help them both to find their way, our hearts soar with their discoveries.

An incredibly beautiful story of a mother, a family, a couple, a misfit teen trying to find his way and the many variations by which love is expressed. This is a movie for even those who don't like this kind of movie. You will laugh and cry, wince at points with the characters as their individual challenges are exposed and you see them more as whole people not just the mask they show the world. This is destined to be a classic, a simple tale on the surface that runs so deep that you can see it a dozen times and still come away with something new.And thru out enjoy the music. The songs are amazing, the acting superb and the story line very realistic. I can't say enough good about it without adding the spoilers I'm trying to avoid. Go. See it. Carry it home in your heart.