Stealing my heart and guaranteed to steal yours is SO B. IT. Directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal and written by Garry Williams based Sarah Weeks’ 2004 New York Times best selling children’s novel, SO B. IT mandates three boxes of tissues. As if the mere fact that Patrick Murguia is the film’s cinematographer isn’t enough of a reason to see SO B. IT, just take one look at Talitha Bateman who stars as Heidi, and you will be swept up in her charm and talent. “Hart of Dixie” of “The 5th Wave” fans will recognize Bateman, but for most moviegoers this will be your first chance to see one of the most talented young actresses of the next generation as Bateman carries the weight of this film on her very capable shoulders.
SO B. IT is the story of Heidi, a young girl with a psychic gift, or “just lucky” as she calls it. She lives with her severely autistic mother and her “other mother” Bernadette aka Bernie who suffers from a severe case of agoraphobia.
Arriving on Bernie’s doorstep 13 years earlier, with Heidi’s mother not able to communicate more than 22 words, and with no identification to give Bernie any clue from where this mother and newborn infant came, the three became a family. Bernie has home schooled Heidi over the years and the three have been beyond happy. But the day comes when Heidi starts asking questions after discovering an undeveloped roll of film tucked away in a box. Once the film is developed, she sees her mother in the pictures along with other individuals and clues as to her background. But the biggest clue comes from her mother who adds word 23 to her vocabulary on seeing the pictures – “soof”. With Bernie unable to leave the house, it falls on Heidi to set off on her own for the adventure of a lifetime to find out just who she is and more importantly, what or who is “soof.”
Co-starring Alfre Woodard as Bernie and with a supporting cast of Cloris Leachman, John Heard, an outstanding Jessica Collins as Heidi’s mother, and character actor Dash Mihok who delivers a strong supporting performance as a local deputy named Roy who helps Heidi in her quest, director Stephen Gyllenhaal has crafted a winning family film for all ages.
Key to the resonance of the film is Williams’ script which artfully shifts POV for the screen adaptation, but smartly retains much of the dialogue itself found in Sarah Weeks’ novel. Fans of the book will be elated with the adaptation while newcomers to the world of Heidi will be equally joyous and undoubtedly head for the nearest bookstore (or Kindle) to pick up a copy of the book.
In addition to Murguia’s beautiful cinematography, kudos to editor Suzanne Spangler who not only establishes perfect emotional pacing, but creates some mirroring sequences that bring the third act home. Not to be overlooked is Maya Sigel’s fanciful production design which embraces the lived in warmth of Bernie and the magical childlike wonder of Heidi’s autistic mother, all of which is showcased by Murguia to its greatest emotional and visual effect. The icing on the cake is Nick Urata’s scoring which while anticipatory at times buttressing Heidi’s uncertainties, always has a slightly whimsical undertone of light.
Love, laughter, light and luck all converge in the magic of SO B. IT.
Directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal
Written by Garry Williams based on Sarah Weeks novel
Cast: Talitha Bateman, Alfre Woodard, Cloris Leachman, John Heard, Jessica Collins, Dash Mihok
Los Angeles Film Festival review – June 1, 2016
