August Keller
Genuinely touching yet fundamentally formulaic, audiences should prepare for familiar rhythms and swelling emotions in Hearts Beat Loud. While the script and direction of this film may be forgettable, the sincere efforts of the cast (anchored primarily by Nick Offerman) form an environment of realistic music creation & family tensions. Meanwhile, the songs produced in Hearts Beat Loud are highly memorable and fitting as the soundtrack for the story at hand. All this helps to elevate an otherwise routine film and give it distinct qualities.
Because Hearts Beat Loud succeeds in creating believable music development while conveying significant emotions through that same music, it is firmly an above-average film. However, because Hearts Beat Loud also falls into many tired plot points and lacks any distinct directorial vision, it is also acutely flawed. In the end, this is a film that audiences may want to like more than they actually do. Hearts Beat Loud is a nice piece to jam with but lacks the pop to be a real classic.
Writing: 5/10
Direction: 5/10
Cinematography: 7/10
Acting: 8/10
Editing: 6/10
Sound: 6/10
Score/Soundtrack: 9/10
Production Design: 7/10
Casting: 9/10
Effects: 5/10
Overall Score: 6.7/10
TFG - The Film Guys 