User reviews

I didn't know what to expect from this film, because I'd never heard of it and randomly picked it out for a Sunday evening flick.

The story is about an outcast, bullied high school girl in Small Town, USA (Oklahoma) who is so unhappy with her circumstances that she wishes she would disappear. Enter the pretty, cool girl from a bigger town who moves to the neighborhood and, from the start, sets out to help and liberate the bullied girl and help her find her way in life.

I won't give much away, but I wasn't expecting the turn the story took about 3/4 of the way in. I felt that although the "event" that occurred was hinted at, it all seemed to occur too late into the story. From this event forward, everything followed a predictable dive towards the ending like the movie couldn't get to the ending fast enough, so much so that several major story lines were left dangling on the prairie wind.

The acting is not bad at all, and the stifling atmosphere of small towns/small minds is well captured. But as much as the story was going somewhere most of the film, before taking a sudden turn and race, I wish it had either stuck to one main plot point or at least given the last 3rd of the film much more depth.

Overall, I'd give the film 6.5/10 stars and would recommend it being watched at least once.

To say too much about this movie would reveal some late story twists/reveals, but it really does a great job of capturing a time period and pulling you into the friendship between to seemingly opposite teenage girls (one confident and one shy/awkward). Not always an easy story to watch, as it shows the dark underbelly of a time period that we love to look at with such nostalgia and romanticism.

.... maybe that was the point? I wasn't sure how to rate this because I thought maybe that was point; to leave me thinking, wondering? If so, then maybe it deserves a 7 or 8, but it just felt/feels "wrong."

I feel like the writer messed up, because I wasn't thinking and wondering so much about the character's lives (although I did want a better look into those characters & their lives) as wondering why I was left feeling like I was given a synopsis, or outline of a story, rather than actually hearing and seeing a whole story.

Indeed, now, having said that, I think maybe a 5 would be a more appropriate rating, because I just hit the nail on the head--this film was like being given an outline to what could have been a great story. Funny, having written this I now understand why I was left wanting more, and I do not believe that was the writer's point. But I'll let my original rating stand because I don't usually write reviews and maybe that means something too.... or not.

The story is engaging because the central plot is slowly unfolded. There are clues along the way, but when it finally comes it really touches you. I feel sad for the women in the spotlight, as their hopes and dreams are quashed because they are not mainstream.

Iris Deerborne (Kara Hayward) is a mousy ostracized teenager in 60's rural Oklahoma. She has a troubled relationship with her mother (Jordana Spiro) and a crush on similarly ostracized boy Jeff Owings (Lucas Jade Zumann). She is harassed by the boys when new arrival Maggie Richmond (Liana Liberato) comes to her rescue.

There is a bit too much here. There are too many characters and each one has their own issue. I had assumed that this was based on a book since filmmakers often try to stuff everything from the book into the movie. This is not based on a book. The writer should simply streamline this world. Not everything has to be there. When Maggie does the big reveal, the whole movie threatens to tip over like a game of Jenga. When there is too much going on, a character like Hazel Atkins doesn't have enough time and space to set up properly. Initially, I was concerned about Tony Hale. It seems like a desperate move to go against type or maybe Tony is trying to expand his range. Either way, he doesn't easily fit the role. He does redeem his worth by the end with a more complicated character portrayal. More than anything, this is elevated by the younger cast especially the two female leads. Both are worthy to do bigger things in the future.

I must agree wholeheartedly with the two reviews "The Unclear and Bad Written Ending Destroyed It!" and "Unexpected Coming-of-Age Story," as it has the worst ending since the 2001 film "Rat Race."

What is it with writers these days? It's like they have a GREAT basis for a story, and then get writer's block right at the point when the Third Act is supposed to really have the audience on the edges of their seats, waiting for the Big Reveal. Sadly, there are no meaningful reveals, and lots of threads are left hanging and unanswered. And the final transformation of the girl in question seems rushed, unrealistic by any measure, and meaningless.

Who do I sue to get back the two hours of my life I wasted on this film? Sure, the first 75% was great, but the ending utterly ruined it. It's like getting some serious attention from a genuinely interesting woman for an hour and twenty-five minutes, and then she steps behind you, picks up a Louisville Slugger, and beats your brains out with it. Kinda ruins the whole experience, you feel me?

I think I will buy the DVD of this movie, if for no other reason than to watch the Bonus Content, which has Malin Akerman self-flagellating while screaming "I SHOULD HAVE NEVER LEFT BILLIONS...! I SHOULD HAVE NEVER LEFT BILLIONS...!" over and over again until she passes out.

Watched To The Stars a couple of weeks ago, when it first premiered on Prime, and was blown away. The details, the accuracy of the setting, the cast and their performances are very captivating. It takes me to the time when this all took place.

Please do yourself a favor and stop reading these reviews and WATCH IT. Don't spoil yourself a great experience. You're welcome!

Maybe one reason this movie resonates well with me is I was a teenager in the 1960s. My brother-in-law served in Korea. In the 1960s it was common in smaller communities for a beautician to have her shop in the living room or dining room, as my own aunt did. School dances in the gym were supervised by faculty walking around, making sure students didn't make out too aggressively.

This one is set and filmed in small-town Oklahoma. There is a quiet, smart girl that gets bullied a lot, along comes a cosmopolitan girl who knows how to handle herself, and the spoiled brat boys. Against the odds the two girls form a fast friendship.

Good movie, treats a number of subjects with sensitivity. The acting across the board is excellent. I found it on Amazon streaming movies.

You really don't need to know much more about this film aside from the brief blurb currently posted. A detailed synopsis will actually diminish the experience in my opinion. The film is a black and white production set in 1960s Oklahoma. The story is centrally about an unlikely relationship between two young women. That's as much as you need to know.

From a technical perspective, the depth of field was above average even for a studio production. As an independent film, the photography earns extra points. The production was shot on location so we can't talk about set design. However, the costumes and staging were pretty spectacular too.

I was a little disappointed to learn the film was dual-chromatic. Meaning the producers and director essentially shot both in color and non-color before deciding which cut to release. The film wasn't exclusively crafted as a black and white film. On the upside though, the director obviously took care enough to ensure everything contrasted well in black and white from the beginning. The contrast is very well done and obviously extensively planned.

The best part of the film is probably the performances though. Kara Hayward steals the show in my opinion. However, there is such a long list of supporting roles it's hard to say which one is best. Liana Liberato deserves a mention as an essential co-star but the list really doesn't end there. If I had to level any criticism, I'd say the male performances didn't really keep up.

The difference probably relates more to writing than how the actors were portrayed but the difference is noticeable. All the male characters, with maybe one exception, are decidedly two dimensional. The female characters, whether by acting or writing, display a lot more depth and interest for the viewer. The distinction was obviously intentional. However, there is a problem.

Without giving anything away, the sheer volume of depth almost overwhelms the film at some points. I feel as though there were too many interesting plot lines to explore. The film might have accomplished more with less. Instead, I encountered some odd cropped scenes where you're left wondering where some of the ideas came or went.

Not exactly continuity glitches. More like questions left hanging. I won't tell you the details. Suffices to say though, the climax of the film ends up feeling a bit rushed and most of the sub-plots leave the film feeling inconclusive. One loose end was certainly intentional. However, I'm talking about the film as a whole.

Go watch and enjoy. The film is a lot more successful than not. If you have the time, you should ask yourself where the title came from. That's one of those explained loose ends.

This movie makes some very odd choices but by far the oddest choice is the choice of the lead character and actress. It is baffling that Liana Liberato's character isn't the focal point of the movie. It is the far more interesting character with the far more interesting story and played by the far better actress.

I don't wanna be mean to Kara Hayward but she is just miscast. The way she plays her role feels so unreal. Slouching your shoulders, lowering your head and looking shy is not enough tell us your pain and fear. Doing the old cliche of just wearing thick dark glasses won't help either. Her character is flat anyway and we mostly get her misery by watching good actors interact with her like her mother played by Jordana Spiro who is exceptionally good as well as Shea Whigham even though his part is tiny and Adelaide Clemens who is also great doing so much with so little.

Long story short this movie could have been absolutely great with a focus on the right character. The first half is hard to watch and when it finally get's to Liberato's side of the story everything clicks until near the end when we get stuck with Hayward again. Missed opportunity.

The acting was extremely well done, the plot - while not necessarily action driven - is done very well and the character development is fantastic.

It's extremely boring and No progress in the story. Just need take couple of coffee to make You stay awake when watching.

I didn't know what to expect from this movie that I randomly chose on Amazon. Beautiful story about Iris, a small town girl stifled and controlled by her unhappy, unfulfilled mom, and by the petty and narrow minded townsfolk. Then a newcomer, Maggie, arrives, turning Iris' world into something completely unexpected, and welcomed.

Loved the film, the setting, the costumes, the acting. So many great actors in this film. I recommend it.

Boring movie about nothing.

Turned of after 2,/3 ,of movie and I don't have intentions to look more.

I'm glad I didn't read reviews and just watched the movie. The movie at its core spoke to me about women empowerment. Sometimes, some people feel downtrodden and caught up in a web of lies created out of the fakeness of society. We subconsciously believe more in the wrong outlook of others towards us instead of standing for the ourself (as depicted by character of Iris). It was amazing how Iris breaks free out of false beliefs that used to bind her & becomes so strong. Loved watching this movie. Absolutely loved all the actors. Especially the two who played Iris & Maggie. It's a beautiful movie.

It's best movie ever i watch it in my life i wish there be part 2 of that amazing movie

I watched this movie primarily because of past performances by the leads Kara Hayward in Moonrise Kingdom and Liane Liberto in several films. I was immediately struck by the way it seemed to cover much of the same terrain as Peter Bogdovich's The Last Picture Show, but with the focus on girls. The same sense of the emptiness of small town life, the desperation felt by some residents both old and young, intolerance and ignorance by the locals of what and who they don't understand. I wouldn't claim its the equal of The Last Picture Show, one of the greatest of American movies, but it's interesting to see a different take on the same milieu and themes .Not a perfect film but one which makes crystal clear why so many people leave rural America, never to return.

It was a great screenplay. Not sure about ending. It didn't say or give indication what had happened to Maggie. I was also wondering if anyone knew what was the kind of car Maggie was driving?

Because its always difficult to jump into a moving automobile without coming out with a few scrapes and bruises and bumps, but boy was I wrong, completely wrong! (By this I mean going into the life of characters and sort of interrupting the natural flow of the organic thing they have going! But once a few of those bruises healed up a bit I was able to groove with the thing and I saw were I would of made giant mistakes that perhaps would of rushed something here whose natural organic process deserves well THIS WRITERS TOUCH! This was a a masterpiece I need to say! I take back everything I thought in those first five and now that I look back I might of changed maybe a few lines with those Cowfrs but that's it! The rest pretty much dead on and on a scale that I could of never touched! This person has some nice reach and above all and beyond, has a very delicate touch that intuits her characters trajectories in a way that gives supreme shape and form to the writing while creating a raging storm beneath the rippling tumultuous undercurrent that effectively burst forth in gushing universal themes that pluck at the heartstrings! Thank-you very much for this , I would love to see more from this writer way more! Great job!