There Goes Somebody's Miracle...

You know, I'm praying for it.

  • Reviews
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Just This
  • About

Explore

  • All Reviews
  • Movies
  • Books
  • @ Third Coast Review
  • Film Work

Connect

Movies · July 21, 2018

Review: Eighth Grade

This is a crosspost, also shared at Third Coast Review.

When I was in eighth grade (many moons ago), the internet barely existed, let alone social media. The idea of everyone having their own handheld computer that connected them to each other and the world sounded like something out of an episode of Star Trek. The closest thing we had to instant messaging was notes folded up and passed between classes.

A lot has changed since then, as middle schoolers of 2018 are more tech savvy by the time they’re thirteen than most folks a generation or two older than them could ever hope to be. Smartphones are ubiquitous, for better or worse; social media is a tool of global connection, and anybody can be “YouTube famous.” It seems the very experience of middle school, that last year before setting off for the hallowed halls of high school, has fundamentally changed.

Or has it?

Writer/director Bo Burnham’s feature film debut Eighth Grade may be as contemporary as a Snapchat-filtered selfie, making it a wildly timely and fun watch, but it’s also a deeply thoughtful observation on the universal truths of the agony, ecstasy and everything in between of growing up.

Elsie Fisher (the voice of Agnes in the Despicable Me films) is Kayla, heading into eighth grade as a newly-minted teenager, a jumble of emotions, hormones and energy she hasn’t quite gotten the hang of. She lives with her dad, Mark (Josh Hamilton), and posts sweet, often inspirational video confessionals online in an effort to both express herself and find a following, a tribe. She knows how she’s supposed to be in the world around her, exuding a natural confidence and grace that seems to come so easily to some. But like a fawn fumbling around on the ice her first winter, Kayla is instead all knees and elbows, clumsy and awkward and temperamental. You know, a teenager.

That’s not to say Kayla is one to be pitied; far from it. She is to be cheered. Eighth Grade doesn’t rely on a singular, climactic event on which it builds a narrative; there’s no big school dance Burnham’s leading up to, no major revelation we’re waiting for over the course of the film. Instead, we’re there to watch Kayla try. We’re simply along for the journey as this strong, smart, exceptional young woman takes the reins on her own life for the very first time, learning to navigate maturing friendships, romances, responsibilities and consequences.

And what a journey it is.

We’ve all been there, of course. We’ve all been too shy about how we look in a bathing suit to really enjoy the pool party; too scared of rejection to say hello to the person we’re crushing on; too embarrassed about our singing voice to give the audition our all. We’ve all been there, and to some degree, we all fight those battles every day of our lives, long after our school days end.

The victory of Eighth Grade, then—even if you strip away the of-the-moment social media and tech references—is in how it reminds us each to just keep going. To brush ourselves off and try again. To swim anyways, to say hello anyways, to sing anyways. This is who Kayla is, and this is why, as we watch her put herself out there in moments that are excruciatingly accurate in their teenage tension, we know she’ll be OK in the end.

And so will we.

Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr

Posted By: Lisa Trifone · In: Movies

So Far, So Good: Best Films of 2018
Review: En el Séptimo Día

You’ll Also Love

2021 [in film]
Review: Eric Rohmer’s Tales of the Four Seasons
Review: Some Kind of Heaven

Get on the List

About Photo
Hello! I'm Lisa, and this is—or rather I am—Somebody's Miracle. Explore everything I'm watcing, reading and baking, all my far-flung adventures and ones closer to home. Thanks for reading.

Connect

Get on the List

Subscribe for the latest posts, musings and updates directly in your inbox.

Categories

  • Reviews
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Just This
  • About

Search

From the Archives

May 2025
S M T W T F S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
« Jul    

lisabeesa

Two years ago today, I was coming off what - until Two years ago today, I was coming off what - until that point - was the biggest adventure of my life. I bought a home. I turned 40. I spent a month in Paris. I’d hit a new career milestone. Life was every bit what I imagined it could be. 

Then I walked into a first date with a guy I met on the internet and very quickly realized my (our!) best adventure had just begun. 

Two years of getting my goat (and delighting in it), because you love to see me laugh. Two years of not just making dinners but plating them, too, because you know I like a pretty plate. Two years of grand gestures not because you’re big on gestures, but because I am.

I thought I had it all figured out, and I think I would’ve been fine if you’d never walked into my life. But good grief am I glad you did. ❤️
🎄 Holiday Playlist! 🎄 It's my favorite trad 🎄 Holiday Playlist! 🎄

It's my favorite tradition (of so many!) of the season: my annual holiday playlist. Twenty-four songs. Two hours of tunes.

Sabrina Carpenter and The Kinks. My Morning Jacket and Kacey Musgraves. Ben Folds and Bette Midler and Bad Religion. 

You can listen on Spotify at the link in my bio!

Happy, happy holidays to you and yours. Wishing you a joyful season!
I’d watch Pablo Larrain’s version of paint dry I’d watch Pablo Larrain’s version of paint drying, but thankfully his latest biopic of a famous, troubled woman (after JACKIE and SPENCER) is a far more engaging fever dream of passing time and missed opportunities.

MARIA, featuring a performance by Angelina Jolie that vibrates with vulnerability, is not perfect but it is fascinating. 

Now in theaters; on Netflix next month. Full review at the link!
My phone yelled at me this morning that I was out My phone yelled at me this morning that I was out of storage space, so over a couple cups of coffee I went back through this year’s photos and videos to purge what I don’t need on my device. 

Stumbled on this snap Brian took of me over dinner back in…June?…and honestly, I just love it. I love the way he sees me and I love the way I look when I see him. ❤️

Take care of each other. That’s all.
Eight years ago this week, @justin.f.brady and I w Eight years ago this week, @justin.f.brady and I went to see @waitressmusical on Broadway, and after the show we were treated to full band karaoke with die-hard fans. 

At the end of the show tunes lovefest, @sarabareilles—who wrote the show’s music and was hosting the karaoke—took to the mic to perform Brave, and it was more cathartic than I think any of us realized in the moment. 

It was the night before the 2016 election and none of us were (looking back now) as worried as we should have been. I had early voted, the wind seemed to be at @hillaryclinton’s back and we were ready for history to be made. 

I’ve thought about (and talked about) that moment a lot in the years since - it’s a great story! But especially today, as we’re on the eve of another monumental Election Day, I am imploring anyone reading this who may still be unsure or may not yet have a plan to be brave and vote for the person who is NOT a convicted criminal, serial sexual assaulter, con-man and dictator-in-waiting. @kamalaharris is the only way forward.

We can get back to debating policy in four years. For now, please vote for humanity, for democracy, for decency and for sanity. I wanna see you be brave.
Signs of life! 👋 I feel like I’ve been in a Signs of life! 👋 

I feel like I’ve been in a fog the last week or so, and it’s going to last at least through Tuesday…but I’m here, I promise!

Got to catch @musictheaterworks’ LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (with the lovely @yersha_la_la_la for company!) and it was delightful. Great production with just a hint of that community theater patina, a bit rough around the edges. (Is it just me or is that S in “Florist” totally upside down?!)

Full review coming soon at @thirdcoastreview!
This one gets a spot on the grid! Congrats to Drew This one gets a spot on the grid! Congrats to Drew and Jean on a beautiful wedding day and the start of an exciting new chapter. (But really, thanks for such a great reason to wear my new favorite dress! 😉)
I absolutely love this time of year. 🍂🍁 I absolutely love this time of year. 🍂🍁
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Disclosure

Copyright © 2025 There Goes Somebody's Miracle... · Theme by 17th Avenue