Written and directed by Chandler Levack, Mile Finish Kicks tells the story of Grace Pine (Barbie Ferreira), a 24-year-old music critic whose profession takes an abrupt flip when she leaves her publication to spend the summer season in Montreal and, hopefully, write a ebook about Alanis Morissette’s “Jagged Little Capsule”. The movie is a quiet, heartfelt, and, at instances, meandering exploration of Grace’s journey. It feels very very similar to a coming-of-age story set in opposition to the backdrop of an indie music scene that’s as a lot a personality within the movie.
Mile Finish Kicks Treats Barbie Ferreira’s Grace With Nuance
At instances humorous and touching, Levack crafts a narrative and character that’s immediately relatable. With Ferreira on the forefront, the movie performs like a meditative but messy story concerning the rising pains of younger maturity. The actress is completely solid. As Grace, Ferreira shines in moments the place she should show her character’s awkward wit and opinionated nature whereas underscoring her insecurity in standing up for herself. Grace is an imperfect character who very a lot stands in her personal manner. It makes you wish to shake your head at her and hug her on the similar time.
Grace is a good protagonist and there’s a lot baked into her story that’s price investing in.
Relating to girls characters, there’s an inclination to romanticize or sanitize them as an alternative of portraying them as full-fledged human beings who don’t all the time do or say the “proper” issues. Levack’s script permits Grace to breathe as a personality; her frustration with not feeling heard — irrespective of the state of affairs — is balanced together with her struggles to be pal, to have a relationship that isn’t plagued with points, and her development as a author. She typically stands in her personal manner, and that can resonate with anybody who’s ever felt down on their prospects or did not consider in themselves.
Barbie Ferreira Is Glorious As Grace
And I can’t say sufficient good issues about Ferreira’s layered efficiency. She has plenty of vary and is immensely expressive, making the character a standout. Devon Bostick, as a member of the band Grace is masking, is especially nice, as is Juliette Gariépy as Grace’s DJ roommate. Jay Baruchel’s position is small, however he makes probably the most of it. Stanley Simons, the band’s lead singer, underscores the issues fame can do to an individual.
Whereas the story is mostly well-paced and intriguing all through, it does meander a bit because it settles into Grace’s new rhythm in Montreal. It turns into nearly painful to look at her profession and life take a downward flip for some time earlier than issues change. There’s much less Alanis Morissette than the movie implies, and it’s extra of her affect that evokes Grace. But Grace’s ambitions don’t combine effectively together with her fixed self-doubt, which is well-portrayed, if a bit repetitive.
Mile Finish Kicks premiered on the 2025 Toronto Worldwide Movie Pageant.
In the end, Mile Finish Kicks is a journey towards self-confidence and proudly owning what you’re good at and what holds you again. Grace is a good protagonist and, although the romance aspect of her life may have been performed up a tad extra, there’s a lot baked into her story that’s price investing in. Crammed with heartfelt moments and hardships amidst Grace’s rising younger maturity pains, Levack’s movie performs like a brand new music album that’s acquainted but thrilling.