15+ Words On Bathroom Walls Reviews – Maybe The YA Book Was Better?

Words On Bathroom Walls ⭐️½

I didn’t read the YA novel for Words On Bathroom Walls, but it must have been better.

That’s not a radical statement as most books are better than the movie adaptations. It’s often the run time that has to trim too much of the book that ruins the adaptation.

When dealing with Adam’s mental illness and the hallucinations manifesting themselves as three different characters, I think they were left too much on the cutting room floor.

Words on Bathroom Walls gives the audience a lot to think about by approaching mental illness from the perspective of a boy who has it. There is one scene in particular, when Adam is sitting on a bus and notices that there is a homeless man with similar symptoms in the back. The man is having a much harder time of it than Adam, but to Adam the man is a grim reminder of what is at stake and where he could be without support and treatment. 

‘Words on Bathroom Walls’: Must-see movie of 2020

… you’ve been warned, SPOILERS ahead …

Was left wanting to learn more about the three hallucination characters

Interestingly enough the article quoted above told me more about Adam’s three hallucination characters than the movie. I was curious and interested in them, but the film just catches them in brief snippets and it’s too short to involve them that much in the plot. It felt to me like so much more could have been done with them that they just ended up reminding viewers that they weren’t being used effectively.

Yes, the title matters

The very first thing to draw people in is the title. This title is about as nondescript as possible. Words on bathroom walls? Is that vandalism? Is it a poem? A secret message? Why didn’t they add some sort of verb to the title to spice it up. Unhinged, the recent Russell Crowe movie is an awesome title. Tenet? Don’t know what it is, but it makes you curious. The Personal Diary of David Copperfield? We know what we’re getting. But this title is weak.

Reviews by Others

What do others think of Words On Bathroom Walls?

Recommended

1. Carla Renata: ” With gorgeously sensitive and graphic direction from Thor Freudenthal and creative visualization cinematography from Michael Goi, “
2. David Ferguson / Movie Reviews From The Dark: “I watched this film back-to-back with another teen-drama-romance new release entitled CHEMICAL HEARTS, and it’s extremely rare to find two such thought-provoking films centered on a pair of high school students … but quite a treat (although I believe all 4 actors are long past high school age).”
3. Dyl’s Movie Stuff (8/10): “…is a heartbreaking, real look at mental illness that also features a fun, lighthearted cast of characters.”
4. Everyone’s A Critic with Audrey Easterling: “This is the best film I’ve seen in a while. I cannot wait to read the book (it gets here tomorrow). This film depicts mental illness in a way I haven’t seen before.”
5. Ferdosi Abdi / Screen Queens: “…is a sensitive and raw depiction of a young man’s battle to find control in his life. The film highlights the importance and effectiveness of honesty, supporting each other, patience, and most importantly, not hiding away from unfortunate circumstances. It is deftly handled from all involved and makes for an emotional movie experience.”
6. Humanizing The Vacuum: “…is often overwrought but retains a core of honesty thanks to the central performance of Charlie Plummer “
7. Jumpcut Online / Rudo Christine Gwaze: “…is enjoyable, but often uses cliches and ignores a few of the plots it introduces. However, it can be forgiven as it provides an assuring message of hope that we should all want to hear.”
8. Kathy Kaiser: “…is one of those films that should be viewed by everyone over the age of 13, as it brings to light the many layers that those with Schizophrenia must face ~ and in a totally relatable way ~ giving everyone who views it a better understanding of how life crushing mental illness can be.  Now, I’m sure there are those out there that are going to view this film, and decide that it just  “sugar coats”  the true pain and frustration that those with mental illness must face, but I was happy to see that we are bringing the struggles of mental illness to the forefront,”
9. Logan Coleman (9.75/10): ” I am hopeful the film will be nominated for an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for this year’s awards season. Hopeful that both Andy García and Walton Goggins will be nominated for the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for this year’s awards season. This film does have ties to religion but not in a overbearing way and the message is uplifting towards the end of the film”
10. Pavel Klein / writepavelwrite: “Suffering from my own demons, major depressive disorder among them, there was a note of dark familiarity to what I was seeing, but it was nice to see that familiarity couched within such a positive framework, often funny, always sweet, but never trivializing mental illness. If you’re wondering why a movie like this is important, look at the stigma attached to schizophrenia. It’s so strong even I made sure to clarify that my mental illness was not that one”
11. Rebecca Chamaa / The Mighty: “I’m giving “Words on Bathroom Walls” five stars or two thumbs up for managing to avoid stereotypes, creating a hopeful representation of schizophrenia and an excellent coming of age story.”
12. Screen Zealots (4/5): “While the film gets a little corny towards the finale, the end result is a heartfelt message that kindness, love, and familial support can help a person live with instead of suffer from mental illness.”
13. Zach’s Zany Movie Reviews: “The film is a little out of his league for director Thor Freudenthal, as he has only directed kids movies like Percy Jackson 2 and Hotel For Dogs in his career, but maybe this is a stepping stone to get it out typecast. The film is shot well, and he is clearly an actor’s director, getting fantastic performances out of everyone. I enjoyed reading the words on this wall, I only wish there were more words that I hadn’t seen before and more serious words at that.”

Not Recommended

1. Chris / filmmixtape (Grade: C-): “Despite the significance of its subject, the alternatingly flat and gauche execution of Words on Bathroom Walls keeps it firmly in the realm of forgettable teen cinema rather than the essential.”
2. Dewey Singleton / Dewey’s Movies: “…resembles a Lifetime original film filled with obvious melodramatic plot points. However, there are moments in the film where Russell and Plummer’s talent shine through the mess. The two leads are perhaps the biggest selling points of the film. Beyond that, there’s no real reason to go see this in theaters.”
3. King’s Movie Reviews (6.5/10): “…it’s good to see movies touching on this subject. The acting is good and the movie is heart felt, however I was expecting a little more. I felt that it was dragged out and lagged in some parts. It’s not a bad movie, just a little disappointing.”
4. Smash and Nasty Go To The Movies: “…while cute, this movie isn’t something to clamber over yourself to see in a theater in this still uncertain world”

Linked above and wondering what would be cool to do next? Commenting once in awhile is always good (I like reader and other blogger interaction). If you have the trackback/pingback come to your site then just approve it because after people read your review then they can come here and follow links and read someone else’s review. What comes around goes around and sharing is the ultimate “thank you!” on the internet.

Did we miss your review? Use the comments and share your movie-related/review blog. I like following movie-related blogs and pull quoting from my reading list as well as other new blogs shared, liked and discovered.

Happy movie watching!

Words On Bathroom Walls ⭐️½

Words On Bathroom Walls ⭐️½
NO SPOILERS Movie Review
Watched in theater Saturday August 22, 2020
Regal 16 Cinemas – Lacey, Washington
#28 new movie seen in theaters in 2020

Introducing Adam Petrazelli (Charlie Plummer), a schizophrenic teen student and our struggling protagonist. He’s been kicked out of high school for a meltdown caused by his medical condition, embarrassed and humiliated, his mother puts him in a religious school and on new medication that’s supposed to keep Adam’s condition in check.

Adam dreams to become a chef, but the new meds he’s taking are having conflicting side effects for his career choice. He meets the valedictorian Maya (Taylor Russell), who helps tutor him and a budding friendship ensues. Maya has a few secrets of her own that she tries to conceal.

Firstly, it was nice to see schizophrenia addressed in a movie. The subject matter, a person who sees people that aren’t there and voices seems more fit for a horror movie than a drama, but there is potential to tell an engrossing story about a character with a mental illness. Unfortunately, the way the story unfolds, particularly the first third of the movie is very dry. I mean like paint is chipping dry.

The voice inside Adam’s head? My goodness, it’s like Darth Vader with his helmet submerged in water. It’s not spooky or scary or dramatic, it’s annoying. Every time that voice came on, I wanted to poke my eye out with the straw in my soda. Then there are the people that appear for Adam … we never really understand what they are doing. One guy carries a bat and seems poised to use it for violence or hit a baseball. A woman character vision is more caring, perhaps to show Adam’s softer inner side? I don’t know. It just seemed like whenever Adam had a schizophrenic episode, the film became something else. It was very jarring and disjointed.

Maybe that’s the filmmaker’s way of showing how disruptive and debilitating schizophrenia is like for those it inflicts? I did feel for Adam during these episodes, but at the same time these episodes poorly fit the film the way they were portrayed. Maybe if it had started out in some sort of treatment facility and there was some exploration of these characters in Adam’s head they would have fit the narrative better.

Instead, these characters were intrusive to the story of friendship and acceptance between Adam and Maya. How they both overcame their personal situations? There is also a boyfriend of the mother, a cardboard antagonist we’ve seen before in other movies. Would have been better to have two loving family characters. The mother being pregnant is another subplot that subtracts more than adds. We’re supposed to feel that Adam’s mom is trading him out for a “normal” child, I think, but that plot thread is unnecessary and distracting.

After the first third which threatened to put us both to sleep, the movie became more interesting, particularly the interplay between Adam and Maya. They are very likable characters and we want something to build between them.

This is one of those movies that has characters and a story with potential but doesn’t execute in a very entertaining and interesting way. The acting is decent, the sounds (other than the annoying voice) and camera work is OK, it’s just how the scenes are compiled and unfold for the audience that are not very exciting. At times when I should have been more interested in Adam beating his medical condition with meds or through sheer willpower, I was more engaged by Maya’s struggles and conflicts. I don’t think that was the desired goal of the film.

Our first recorded video failed to record, so here was just left the theater attempt #2 (I’d give this 1.5 stars too!)

It’s refreshing to see stories about mental illness and how to cope and overcome, but this could have been done in a more compelling, dramatic and entertaining way. I’m not suggesting it had to go the horror route, but it would have been more exciting if the visions and characters had some sort of tie-in to what was actually happening to Adam. Even if that’s not the way the illness works, a little bit of creative embellishment would have helped.

Neither Kara or I enjoyed or were entertained by this movie and, therefore, do not recommend.

Rating (out of 5 stars): ⭐️½

Opening 8-21-2020 in Theaters: Unhinged, Words On Bathroom Walls, Tulsa, Cut Throat City

Movies coming to Regal Cinemas theaters in Olympia, Washington August 21, 2020

*4* new movies in theaters this coming weekend, yay!

It’s sooooo good to have movies showing up in theaters again this coming weekend, albeit, we have to drive like 30 miles out of the area, because all theaters in our county are not open yet. Oh well, that’s not too far away.

It’s an IMAX theater, too, although it doesn’t appear any of the new movies will be in IMAX format. I was thinking maybe Unhinged might be, but it doesn’t appear that way. For those lucky enough to have 4DX theater reopening nearby, it says it is available in that format. I haven’t seen an IMAX movie in quite some time, not even one I think since this blog started very close to a year ago, so excited about those possibilities again soon.

It’s been roughly five months since we last were able to do this (see: Opening 3-12-2020 in Theaters: Bloodshot, The Hunt, I Still Believe), but the schedule is every Wednesday we feature movies opening wide (mostly, some are LIMITED releases) in theaters.

This is week #34 of 2020 (8/21-8/23/2020).

Yeah, it’s late in the day to make this post and in some places it’s already Thursday, but technically we’re getting in under the wire.

Unhinged
[FIRST LOOK]

Russell Crowe road raging? Yeah, sign me up to watch this. Looking most forward to seeing this of the four new movies in theaters this weekend. If we don’t see anything else (unlikely), we’ll at least be watching this. And we’ll have a just left the theater video review as well. Will this movie be any good? That I don’t know. Russell Crowe movies, the few I’ve seen, have been hit and miss, but anticipation for this one is high for multiple reasons (among first new movies to watch in reopened theaters, story, etc)

Anticipation: 7/10

Words on Bathroom Walls

A reader — and forgive me which one of you it was so I could name and link (I’ve been burning the midnight oil at my regular day job lately) — mentioned really looking forward to this movie. Any time one of you kind folks mentions a movie with excitement that instantly increases my anticipation.

Anticipation: 5/10

Tulsa

Another movie that wasn’t on my radar at all hits the NOW SHOWING list at Regal starting August 21. Father and daughter movie with some elements of tragedyfrom the sounds of the trailer. Uh Oh, this could be a tearjerker. I Still Believe was the most recent movie I’ve seen that’s had this kind of impact on me. I like the background song playing in the trailer, no idea who that’s by.

Anticipation: 4/10

Cut Throat City

A post Katrina movie in New Orleans. Another movie I literally have not seen or heard anything about until seeing movie times starting August 21. I haven’t seen anything set in the post-Katrina area in awhile, so that alone moves up my curiosity. The trailer makes is done pretty well, too.

Anticipation: 5/10

When or if this weekend will be movie day?

We have our grandchildren coming over on Friday during the day, and none of the four new movies listed above are age appropriate for age 5 and 3 children so, unfortunately, we won’t be hitting the theater on August 21 unless it’s the latest showing after the kids go to their dad’s. Kara works on Saturday and I’m off, so maybe I sneak away for a Saturday matinee of one of these at least, that could be my return. Do kind of want to wait for her to be able to go at the same time, so could wait as well. Could go either way.

Maybe there are some classic kids movies showing? Covering that below, the titles might vary in your particular theaters in the United States.

What else is showing at Regal Cinemas that’s not new?

In no particular order, here are the other movies listed as “classics” in the closest Regal theater located near us:

1. Black Panther – this is on Disney+ and we still haven’t seen this one. Will be a good one to check out in the theater, so looking forward to this
2. Jaws – saw this in the theater before and loved it. Definitely want to see this again if there is time! We’re gonna need a bigger boat, alright.
3. Bloodshot ⭐️⭐️½  – one of the last couple movies we saw in March in the theater. Do not think we’ll rewatch this again. Vin Diesel is in it. You can click the title for our review.
4. Deadpool – saw this in the theater, not a fan. Sacrilege, I know, because Deadpool is supposed to be a hilarious character. Just found his constant sardonic wit a bit tiresome after awhile. It’s a good movie and I’d recommend others check it out, just wasn’t my favorite superhero. This all adds up to likely little interest in rewatching in theaters for us.
5. Inception (IMAX) – I would like to see this in IMAX format. Christopher Nolan. Great lead-in to next weekend’s Tenet release (or rather September 4). It’s also showing as $5 ticket price too … that’s pretty sweet for IMAX. Usually we only pay the upcharge as Regal Unlimited members, which I think is around that price, but hey, for those paying full ticket price, this is a pretty sweet deal
6. Sonic The Hedgehog ⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Liked this movie, but doubtful I’ll be rewatching in the theater. This might be the closest of all the offerings we might be able to bring our grandchildren too, so maybe (?)
7. Star Wars; The Empire Strikes Back ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ – our grandchildren aren’t into Star Wars that much, but this would be one I’d love to rewatch in the theaters. This might be my first movie back. Love this movie! This will bring back many memories.
8. Star Wars: The Force Awakens ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – J.J Abrams led reboot was by far the best of the Disney Star Wars trilogy for me, but lukewarm interest in watching this again on the big screen.
9. The Goonies – OMG, I haven’t seen The Goonies in ages. This is another fun, entertaining movie. Could absolutely be something we rewatch while it’s in theaters again.
10. Unforgiven – Rated R Clint Eastwood. Another $5 classic movie available. Didn’t see this one in theaters when it came out, so this one is on our radar as well. Clint Eastwood has been one of those go-to actors in movies throughout the years.

Counting the four new movies that makes 14 movies available to watch in theaters this coming weekend. We won’t be watching them all, but certainly some of them, with the four new ones toward the top of the list.

As previously mentioned, we’re going to miss out tomorrow on the August 20 AMC is back for 15 cent reopening day (see: List of AMC theaters reopening for 15 cent movie day on August 20 – Any reopening near you?). Just aren’t any AMC theaters opening close enough to us. I’m bummed, too, because would have liked to have seen a movie in a theater tomorrow. Oh well, I can wait a couple more days.

Do you have movies in theaters in your area?

Please let us know in the comments if you have any theaters reopened this weekend and, if so, you have plans to see anything? If you’re waiting to see what other reports are of the movie theater reopening experience, it’s all good, we’ll have that covered at least what our experience was like, but will enjoy reading what others think.