Pain courses beneath the skin of Ned Benson‘s The Greatest Hits, yet the surface is adorned with winsome melodies and Ryan Lott‘s gentle and emotional score. The music is a colorful bandage for Lucy Boynton‘s character Harriet, who has been coping (not very well) with her boyfriend Max’s (David Corenswet) death. Everyone else has moved on, but Harriet has channeled herself into her music. Just not the way one would expect; the former producer has discovered an uncanny ability after surviving the very car accident that killed Max. Able to send herself to moments of her life using certain songs, the protagonist hopes she can find that one perfect track. The one that can save Max.
Time travel stories have mass appeal, although most filmmakers tend to go for those with a clearly defined mission to save all of mankind and prevent a terrible future of some kind. Stop a disaster, spare many lives. It’s been done ad nauseam at this point. The Greatest Hits, on the other hand, is refreshing because Boynton’s character isn’t out to correct all of history. Just her own. And that’s fine! Benson was not out to create a sweeping genre story. Just the opposite, this softly genred film is more enclosed — totally lost in itself. What might be dismissed as self-indulgent, however, ultimately ends up being a heart-tugging study on permanence.
Music has an immediacy to it that film, while coming very close, does not. A flood of emotions and memories can come back with only a few opening notes, and the right chorus or a considerable key change can alter someone’s entire day. The Greatest Hits tackles the power of music on a personal level and uses that individuality to better understand Harriet, not only as someone in mourning but also someone whose whole world is dictated by song. It’s more literal in her situation, seeing as the “wrong” track played in public could lead to quite the scene on her part. Still, Benson has a good grasp on how music is more than just rhythmic beats and earworms. For many people, it’s what makes a messy life bearable.
It wouldn’t be a love story without a living love interest, now would it? Justin H. Min fills that role impeccably as David, a fellow music lover also dealing with the loss of a loved one (two, in fact). His and Harriet’s budding relationship coincides with the task to undo Max’s fate, and it’s handled with equal amounts of syrupy cuteness and awkward grace. Benson keeps a tight leash on his main characters’ emotions, refraining from anything too theatrical or earth-shattering. Teary eyed declarations are kept to a minimum, but the few uses are delivered harmoniously, never once disrupting the film’s beautiful yet persuasive flow.
The Greatest Hits will appeal to audiophiles and romantics foremost, and maybe fellow remorseful types who wish they had their own instant time machine to fix their biggest regrets. Regardless of why anyone tunes in, this film is an impressive playlist of catharsis, passion and self-realization.
The Greatest Hits premiered at South by Southwest 2024, and it’s currently streaming on Hulu.
Tales from the Paulside 
Leave a comment