source: 5-25-77

After 8 year old Pat Johnson watches the film 2001: A Space Odyssey in the theater, he becomes obsessed with filmmaking. As a teen, he (John Francis Daley) has been making movies with his friends and family in his backyard in small town Illinois. With help from his mother (Colleen Camp), he sets off to meet his hero in Hollywood. This movie is too long. It should not be longer than two hours. It's really noticeable in the third act where all I want is for him to get to the theater. At least, Bill points out that he could have walked there by then and that's a good save. Linda becomes way too complicated and I would cut down on Tony. This movie needs to trim at every opportunity. Second, Bill's constant complaining is too annoying. It's frustrating and robs his later declaration of all its power. Finally, John Francis Daley is well into his 30's. It's time that he graduates from Freaks and Geeks. Mostly, this could be better but it still some good ideas.

If seen a ton of low/no budget films over the years, and this one fell into all of the typical tropes you see time and time again. Honestly, it would've worked better as a short, because Johnson's story isn't altogether that incredibly interesting, outside of his handful of days being shown around the sets of 'Close Encounters Of The Third Mind' and 'Star Wars'. These moments, for me, we're the highlights to the film, all the rest was just weak teen coming-of-age bluster that's been done better and to greater effect in other films/stories. Johnson's anecdotal experience of have the pure luck of being at the right place at the right time, really doesn't amount to anything more than just a, "cool story, bro." moment. Given the title is laser-focused at the release of 'Star Wars', but the protagonist doesn't even get to see the film on THAT DATE not only lessens the impact of the title being relevant, it just further aggravates the audience. There's a point in the film where the protagonist is confused as to whether or not the film is even playing in his own town, but later is taken to the film at the same theater that was somehow mistakenly showing a Chuck Norris film instead. As other reviews have deftly pointed out, I feel like the whole film suffered from endless tinkering. Ironically something everyone gives George Lucas tons of grief for. I would recommend this film as a "how not to" endlessly overanalyze your pet project. Make sure you really have a worthy story to tell, also, make sure you have any ending that is impactful. Something I feel 'The Fabelmans' fell short on too...

There is so much raw honest and beautiful passion in this movie. Patrick Read Johnson and John Francis Daley together perfectly capture and express the exuding love of a teenage nerd. This movie made me want to make movies the same way that the matrix made me want to be able to walk on walls. I don't know how to explain it but I feel like 5-27-22 has made me rethink what a movie can do/be on a small budget. 5-27-22 is simply brilliant and on the "must watch list" for sure. I can't wait for Patrick Read Johnson's next work and if it takes 16 years to get another movies this good it will certainly be worth the wait!

Quentin Tarantino said, "If you truly love cinema with all your heart and with enough passion, you can't help but make a good movie." I kept thinking of this quote while smiling through this charming cheapie. The acting is iffy, the special effects are wonderfully podunk, and the script needed some major editing, but still... I loved it. The creator, whose adolescence this is based on, started filming this in 2004 and it took him nearly 20 years to get it released. Where "The Fabelmans" (in my opinion) failed terribly at capturing the spirit of filmmaking and the root of why it obsesses the obsessed, "5-25-77" nails it. It's films like this we should be championing and rewarding with our time.

This was great self reflection. An incredibly self reflective movie. Kudos to it's writer, director, and subject, all being the same person. It reminded of my own dreams, some faded, some approaching. Love had, love lost. The story telling style was unique and...odd? But fun at the same time. I'll probably never watch this again, but I'll never watch shawshank or shindler's again. The best friend might have been my favorite. One part pal, one part plot driver, one part angelic sage... If the character was real, I hope that PRJ found a way to rekindle that friendship. Great date night film for sure.

I've been waiting for this movie ever since I watched the trailer on dial-up internet in 2006. This movie did not meet my expectations. Rather, it was something else entirely. What are expectations really but just the joy of imagining a perfect film. I have played the whole picture in my mind not knowing the true story, but what I watched was a pleasant surprise to my faulty imagination. The flaws are there, but this film will put a smile on your face. I truly enjoyed it thoroughly! Was it what I wanted? No. But maybe I didn't know what I wanted, and it delivered. Well done Patrick Read Johnson.

Right, well I have to admit that I was definitely harboring some hopes and expectations for this 2022 comedy drama from writer and director Patrick Read Johnson as I sat down to watch it. And now 132 minutes later, I sit here with an overwhelming sense of 'was that really it?' and of having somewhat squandered 132 minutes of my life on something that most certainly didn't live up to what I was expecting, not even by a longshot. "5-25-77" seemed like such an interesting movie, especially for a life-long fantasy and "Star Wars" fan such as myself. And there were definitely things to identify with here in the main character of Pat Johnson. However, the script's storyline and narrative just somewhat fell short of providing me with much entertainment. The acting performances in "5-25-77" were quite good. Sure, the movie was watchable, but this is by no means a movie that impressed me. Nor is it a movie that I will ever return to watch a second time. My rating of of "5-25-77" lands on a four out of ten stars.

Finally, the long wait is over. Just as it is listed at the first place easily in the list of the longest-running productions in the world with its production time (18 years!), it is also ranked the first place in my list of the best films of this year . If you like 2001 A Space Odyssey , Star Wars movies and If you are in love with Alan Parsons Project , 10cc , Ambrosia music , this movie is just for you. Definitely watch, rent, purchase, add to your archive. Plus, the songs were carefully selected for the scenes and integrated perfectly into the movie. We were crying while smiling for well over two hours. An immortal classic.

If you did not grow up in the 70s and 80s YOU WILL NOT GET THIS FILM. It will not make sense to you but I recommend watching it for just a glimpse of how great it was. It was a time when we actually had dreams, imaginations and ambition compared to today's kids who live a miserable self absorbed existence. I recall we all wanted to be filmmakers and this reminds me of short films with our super 8 cameras. Getting on our parent's nerves yet they still support the antics because our antics kept us mostly out of the house being kids. I enjoyed how the director made the film as if he was still 17 using whatever he had available to use as the set and/or special effects which told me this was a passion project made for our generation. Nuances of the 70s like wood paneling in the house and when the gas cap was behind the rear license plates.