CODA (Apple TV+)

What a crowd-pleaser and all round feel-good film! Possibly the best feel-good movie of the year. 

CODA, Child of Deaf Adults, was utterly familiar with absolutely predictable beats and well-trod tropes, but writer/director Sian Heder and her terrific cast nailed every single emotional blow, dramatic turn and comedic relief. Every. Single. Time. 

This was a coming-of-age story, an overcoming adversity story, a belonging to a community story, a story about family and its bond, and a story about self-discovery. I really do hope that this film stays in the award conversation this season as everybody ought to watch it. There were feels. There were tears. There were laughter between the tears. 

Heder's screenplay broke no new grounds nor did she attempt to redesign the wheel. Instead, she just made a damn fine wheel. The whole film was telegraphed from start to the end, but that never stopped it from being riveting, engaging and highly entertaining. Seriously, you could tell what the next scene was going to be or predict the steps it will take to get to the anticipated conclusion. However, and I cannot emphasise it enough, the journey was fantastic. Emotions were given over - on a platter - to be manipulated. And all because the cast was ace!

The film moved along at a clipped pace but we always had time to know the characters especially the central family. Lead actress, Emilia Jones, was a discovery and she will definitely one to keep an eye out of. She is reminiscent of a young Jessie Buckley in Wild Rose (another utterly underrated film). 

The rest of the family were played by deaf actors and they all had such wonderfully expressive and emotive faces that words were not necessary to convey their feelings.

Oscar winner Marlee Maitlin was a hoot as was her onscreen husband played by Troy Kotsur. Their relationship together was hilarious but it was their parental relationship with Jones that were the most touching. Lastly, we had the older brother played by Daniel Durant who had less to do but really struck it home with his emotional scenes.

Standout supporting actors included the abrasive but heart-of-gold music teacher as played by Eugenio Derbez; the supportive best friend, played by Amy Forsyth, who was also part of the family and there to provide the one-line zingers; and of course the romantic love interest (a grown up Ferdia Walsh-Peelo of Sing Street fame) who in a surprise and refreshing turn was only thinly sketched out - this was not his story.

CODA was such a great film to watch. It would have played so well with a full, proper theatrical release. I would watch it again in a heartbeat. It already got a few acting nominations in this years Gotham Awards, the first of the Award season. Let's hope it stays strong in the conversation!