Review: Our Song

Our Song takes place in the sweltering heat of the end of summer in New York. Three friends are preparing to continue with school next year, when they learn that their school is closing down due to asbestos.
Our Song is an insightful, fresh breath of cinematic air. It is a window into african-american/hispanic youth culture in New York without sensationalizing or dramatizing it at all.
A natural flow takes you into the movie and shows you the detail of these three girls' lives. Nothing seems fake or contrived, everything is just real.
The performances follow suit. Each one is beautifully crafted, and the ensemble works splendidly, especially for a low budget, mostly teenage cast. Kerry Washington is the standout as Lanisha. She is so wonderful, and you can't even tell that she's trying. Also strong are Anna Simpson and Melissa Martinez as her best friends.
If you want to see a fast paced, uber-hip hollywood film, go see Ocean's 11. If you want to really become engulfed in a naturalistic film, seek out Our Song, one of the best movies of the year.