Short film review: Think Lovely Thoughts

wow. just. wow.

I can’t tell you when I last felt so affected by a film. A short film at that.

This film is the poster child for “less is more.” In less than 12 minutes, this pendulum takes you from insight to insanity, back to reality and into the depths of madness.

Written and directed by Stephen Snavely, Think Lovely Thoughts stars Roy Williams, Jr. as John Stevens, a wonderful father and a tormented soul; he is a dichotomy of sorts. His real-life daughter Eva plays his joyful, energetic daughter Livvy (she’s got a career ahead of her for sure), while Williams’ wife (Sam Stevens) is portrayed by Dayana Rincon, who shows cleverness in her performance peppered with just the right amount of restraint. It’s a well-balanced choreographic event, as we witness Williams’ and Stevens’ emotional turmoil while navigating a sense of normalcy for Eva and attempting to save what’s left of their relationship.

From the very start, with its cinematic magic, the film takes the viewer through their own emotional roller coaster (I’m sure it’s not just me!). The writing is clean yet powerful. What could have morphed into creepiness and preachiness resulted in something with much more of an impact: I felt as if I actually knew John. I felt his pain, his nonsensicalness (if I may be blunt)…and then it hit me: I think I AM John! I think there are a lot of us like John (particularly as we muddle through this never-ending pandemic) - and there are things we just can’t make sense of.

Best part for me? No red ribbon around this one. There are no answers, no resolutions…just a man trying to figure it all out before he takes his final bow.

Think Lovely Thoughts brings out the best in Williams and Stevens: he as a man gone mad, and she as the dutiful wife on her last leg of endurance.

Yes, what a lovely dance.

I am JBlair Brown. I do a lot of stuff. Especially write. I love to write…o’ and watch good films (the kind I’d be comfortable watching with my grandchildren…if I had any). Thanks for reading.