If I Stay (4 Stars)

I'm sad to see how badly this film has been reviewed. The problem is that today's film critics don't know how to look at a film in the context of what it's trying to achieve. They place "If I Stay" next to Oscar winning films like "Titanic" and say it's not as good. That's not a fair comparison. If "If I Stay" had been intended to be like "Titanic" there would have been a big ship crashing into an iceberg.

"If I Stay" has a different story to tell. It's a love story against the background of existential questions about the meaning of life and death. It doesn't give any answers, at least not directly, but it will make the viewer sit and think. The main character in this film is a teenager, but it's not just a film for teenagers. The questions are equally relevant for people of any age.

Mia Hall, aged 18, is involved in a car crash with her family. Her mother dies immediately. Her father dies in hospital. Her brother seems to be only lightly hurt, but he dies of a brain haemorrhage two weeks later. Mia herself is in a coma. She's caught in a limbo between life and death. We see her as a spirit walking the corridors of the hospital watching the tragedy unfolding around her.

While she watches she thinks back about her life, especially the last two years. She grew up in a loving family in Portland, Oregon. Her father used to be the drummer in a punk band called Nasty Bruises, but he gave up his music to be able to spend more time with his family. Both her parents were big rock and punk fans, but Mia was different. She played cello and had a passion for classical music.

When she was 16 her life turned around. She fell in love with the guitarist in a rock band, Willamette Stone. That's the band's name. The guitarist was Adam Wilde. She went to the concerts and learnt to love the music, but she couldn't relate to the rock fans. To her they were like aliens from another planet. Adam was Mia's first and only love.

Things didn't run smoothly. They were from two different worlds. They broke up and got back together more than once. At the time of the accident they were apart, because Adam couldn't accept that Mia was going to study at Juilliard in New York, the other side of the country. Mia loved Adam and she loved music. How could she make a choice?

But now she has a more difficult choice. As she's told by a nurse in the hospital, it's up to her whether she lives or dies. Does she want to wake up and return to the world without a family? Should she just give up and die? Can she take a risk on Adam returning to her?

This is a deeply moving film. No other young actress could played the role as well as Chloe Grace Moretz. She can express a greater depth of emotions than any other girl her age. (She was 16 when this film was made). You can enjoy the emotions in the film. You can smile at the family life of the loving rockers. You can shed a tear when you see Mia's heartbreak. You don't need a big ship to enjoy a film

Adam's band is so successful that he's noticed by the local press, who praise him greatly.

Willamette Stone, fronted by upcoming star Adam Wilde, is taking the Portland indie scene by storm. The band has been playing some of Portland's best venues, and a tour is being planned. Sources say the band will open for an as yet undisclosed act that should put them on the road to stardom. We shall be watching with great expectations as Wilde and the band gain more performing experience. 

"I am excited beyond words", said Adam, his enthusiasm infectious. There is also a rumour that if all goes well and as planned a new tour will be in the works.

Adam went to high school in Portland, where he honed his skills in many smaller venues, eventually playing some of Portland's bigger venues. His work ethic and dedication are obvious the day we interviewed him as band members came and went talking about the new songs they are preparing.

Look for this young man to break out with a debut album soon, and while he is still in Portland it may be your best chance to see him up close.

That's high praise indeed. It's just a shame that the author ran out of words to write and repeated the text four times in the article. Click on the screenshot above to enlarge the picture if you don't believe me. That's sloppy.

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