Philip Seymour Hoffman

Brilliant from scene to scene, it’s an often-hilarious, almost-always electric rush of both ‘70s nostalgia and youthful charm, as its central characters navigate a collision course connection on their path to discovering the realest versions of themselves.

Where “Brokeback Mountain” remained sensitive of itself and its characters, “Joe Bell” wields a sledgehammer, sacrificing a nuanced, accurate portrayal of its real subjects in favor of an uncomplicated redemption arc. 

A former YouTube star himself, Burnham sought to tell a contemporary coming-of-age story that treats the internet with careful restraint.