Review: ‘Booksmart’ is Nostalgic and Smart

Katelyn
2 Min Read

All work and no play could eventually lead to a wild night for two high school seniors in Olivia Wilde’s (TRON: Legacy, House) feature directorial debut Booksmart, starring Beanie Feldstein (Lady Bird) and Kaitlyn Dever (Justified).

The film follows two academically-focused best friends on the eve of their high school graduation as they realize that maybe they should have allowed themselves time to play during all of their studying. Determined not to fall short to their peers, the friends set out to cram as much fun as possible into one night.

Where before many high school related films focused on either a male protagonist or the insane cliques that girls supposedly fall into, Booksmart gives viewers a glance into a friendship that survives everything from sexual identity to the unknown of growing up. Feldstein’s and Dever’s performances have you fully engaged as they stumble through a crazy ride that leaves the viewer exiting the theater laughing and reminiscing with friends.

Image Courtesy of AnnaPurna Pictures

With a script written by four women (Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins, Susanna Fogel, Katie Silberman) and produced by Gloria Sanchez Productions, who focuses on female voices in the industry, Booksmart is a female led film that aids in the continued steps to opening up more opportunities to women in the industry.

Check it out this weekend at a theater near you!

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By Katelyn
Katelyn is a Vancouver, Canada based (for now!) screenwriter, binge-watcher, and avid fanfiction reader (because sometimes we need better endings). She realized her love for all things professional entertainment after being thrown into her high school's theatre department as a sound designer, and it quickly grew from there. Now she spends her time manically writing new spec scripts that she hopes to one day bring to life. Besides writing, Katelyn spends her free time horseback riding, attending concerts, and watching everything from theatre to indie films. Some of her fandoms include: Lucifer, Black Mirror, Harry Potter, Marvel, Supernatural, Killing Eve, and The Magicians. You can find Katelyn on Twitter (@harbertkatelyn) and Instagram (@katelynharbert).
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