Film Review: Class Rank at Newport Beach Film Festival

I’m a self-confessed Hollywood blockbuster film fan (see proof here, and here).

I love the special effects and incredible sets that can only be achieved with an enormous budget.

But as much as I adore the big budget flicks, some of my favourite films are actually indie comedies. And yet somehow I don’t quite know how to discover a great independent film, short of someone literally telling me that I’ll love it.

And then I had a revelation, in the form of an invitation to the Newport Beach Film Festival.

You might also like my guide to Newport Beach on The Travel Hack.

Film festivals! Now that’s the kind of place where I can find movies that might have a small budget, and could be lesser-known, but that will completely steal my heart.

Newport Beach Film Festival just wrapped its 18th year, and it’s now known as one of the best of its kind in the USA. It’s located in the Orange County city of Newport Beach in California, which is famous for its stunning waterways dotted with pristine white yachts and glamorous homes. Stars live here, holiday here, and grace the red carpet here each year for the film festival.

Think Cannes, but with flip flops mixed in with the stilettos, and burgers served alongside fancy cocktails. That’s my kind of festival, quite frankly.

On the second night of Newport Beach Film Festival, I was invited to watch Class Rank, an independent film that was being premiered at the gorgeous Lido Theatre.

Class Rank was directed by Eric Stoltz, who’s perhaps better known as an actor (you may have seen him in Pulp Fiction, Jerry Maguire and The Butterfly Effect, to name just a few) but who’s making a name for himself as a talented director, with a number of big projects to his name. The script for Class Rank was written by Ben August, known for his award-winning film, Remember.

And as for the stars, if you haven’t already heard of Olivia Holt or Skyler Gisondo, keep your eyes peeled for them, as they’ll no doubt both enjoy very bright futures.

I walked into the world premiere of Class Rank with absolutely no expectations. And I walked out with a smile on my face and a rekindled desire to watch more indie comedies like this one. Recommendations (or invitations to other film festivals!) are definitely welcome.

Class Rank Review

A movie about high schoolers trying to join a small town school board doesn’t sound that gripping, I know. But from the opening scene, it was clear that Class Rank was something special.

Somehow finding the perfect alchemy of quirky, sweet and uplifting, this comedy will make you laugh out loud while also cringing at the charmingly awkward characters.

The story follows Bernard Flannigan, a school outsider who fights passionately for his many convictions, and Veronica Krauss, whose utter determination to get into Harvard dominates her life and her hobbies. These teenagers, each self-centred enough not to notice the other’s awkwardness, are brought together by a shared purpose.

That is, the election of a new school board member. More specifically, the election of Bernard – or Bernie, as he’s rebranded by Veronika – to usurp a long-standing member who’s up for re-election.

I don’t know whether it was the genius writing, the great acting or the perfect comic timing that made this film shine, but I’d say it was a healthy combination of all three. I laughed more than I have in any recent big-budget film, and for days after watching it I was still giggling about specific moments I’d loved.

In a Q&A session with the writer, director, producers and lead actors after the screening had ended (to thunderous applause), we learned that the entire movie was filmed in just 18 days, and that real students were used as extras to keep the budget down.

They couldn’t confirm any distribution deals during the Q&A, so no word on whether it’ll be hitting cinemas in the UK any time soon, but I’ll be sure to let you know if it is, because you absolutely have to see it if you can.

And in the meantime, check out some of my other favourite indie comedies, to fill the Class Rank void:

• Lars and the Real Girl (ladies, it stars Ryan Gosling, in case you need convincing!)
• 500 Days of Summer
• Sunshine Cleaning
• Butter
• Bottle Shock

I’d love to hear your favourites – let me know what I should watch next!