10)Â Stuck in Love
Unfairly ignored upon its release, this quiet and unassuming family drama is packed with real feeling. A heartwarming and remarkably assured debut by writer/director Josh Boone, Stuck in Love was one of my most unexpected cinematic pleasures this past year.
Following a dysfunctional family of writers torn apart by divorce, Stuck in Love steers clear of genre tropes to tell a sweet, realistic story about human behavior, familial ties and the nature of creative writing. Boasting a stellar cast led by Greg Kinnear and Jennifer Connelly, Stuck in Love has more truth to it than any other romantic drama this year, and its honest nature is truly refreshing.
That’s not say that it aims low; conversely, Stuck in Love works diligently to bring together an ensemble cast in ways both organic and unconventional. With a hugely talented supporting cast including Lily Collins, Logan Lerman, Nat Wolff and Liana Liberato (all the best they’ve ever been), crafting a narrative that does justice to each character must have been extremely difficult. That it succeeds so completely is a testament to Boone’s overwhelming talent. Few directors had stronger debuts this year.
Stuck in Love is a beautiful, heartfelt gift to writers, but it should be seen by just about anyone who enjoys getting swept up in a genuine story.
