It seems that every year another fresh crop of filmmakers make their debut movies, and a high proportion are coming-of-age stories. A sadly low percentage, however, are any good, which is why this week brings us significant reason to rejoice: First-time filmmaker Kelly Fremon Craig brings us the adorable, sprightly “The Edge Of Seventeen.” In many ways this year’s “The Diary Of A Teenage Girl” in being both the debut of an exciting new female filmmaker and a funny, fresh, newly insightful take on the teen-movie genre, ‘Seventeen’ perhaps does not reinvent the wheel in the way that Marielle Heller‘s film did, but it’s such a bouncy picture, centered around such a tremendously relatable turn from Hailee Steinfeld, that to disparage it as a result would be a little like critiquing a puppy.

Continue reading The 50 Best Teen Movies Of All Time at The Playlist.

The grand irony is that it’s Canada Day and we’re writing a 4th of July feature, not to mention that two key Playlisters are Canucks (for shame, you hosers). And yes, we lament that one of us (Rodrigo!) wasn’t able to write a 10,000-word appreciation essay of “Strange Brew,” but such is the complex paradox that is The Playlist. And there’s always next year, eh?

As we approach July 4th weekend, it’s time for the usual: BBQs; beer; fireworks; American flags; blind patriotism; and perhaps, in some corners of the country, some kind of desperate hope that Donald Trump doesn’t destroy this country that many of us have called their adopted home.

Continue reading 11 Of The Best Movies To Watch On The Fourth Of July at The Playlist.