Director: Scott Cooper (his directorial debut)
Stars: Jeff Bridges (The Big Lebowski, The Muse)
Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Dark Knight, 40 Day and 40 Nights)
YesNoSoso: 2
I'm pretty jaded (fed up?) with the Hollywood music biopic and I hate country music, so logic would imply that I would dislike this movie. But Jeff Bridges gives an amazing performance and is particularly (and somewhat surprisingly) adept at singing. A lot of comparisons have been made with The Wrestler, which is certainly called for, but I thought Crazy Heart was even better. Washed up country singer Bad Blake plays one-night-stands for cash when he falls in love with a reporter that interviews him. It sounds as trite as can be, but I assure you, it actually comes through feeling original. Combine that with the awesome music (yes I described country music as awesome) performed by the unlikely sources of Bridges and Colin Farrell and its a truly re-watchable film.
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Showing posts with label Musical. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Musical. Show all posts
6/28/10
5/4/09
Black Snake Moan (2006)
Director: Craig Brewer (Hustle and Flow, nothing else I've heard of)
Stars: Samuel L Jackson (Jungle Love, Snakes on a Plane)
Christina Ricci (Buffalo 66, That Darn Cat!)
YesNoSoso: 2
This movie flew completely under the radar. I barely remember it being released other than it being an awesome movie title and starring Justin Timberlake. Its actually very good; its got tons of blues music (most actually sung by Samuel L Jackson) and Christina Ricci chained to a radiator (she has one of the greatest bodies on earth). Definitely worth checking out.
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Wikipedia
Stars: Samuel L Jackson (Jungle Love, Snakes on a Plane)
Christina Ricci (Buffalo 66, That Darn Cat!)
YesNoSoso: 2
This movie flew completely under the radar. I barely remember it being released other than it being an awesome movie title and starring Justin Timberlake. Its actually very good; its got tons of blues music (most actually sung by Samuel L Jackson) and Christina Ricci chained to a radiator (she has one of the greatest bodies on earth). Definitely worth checking out.
IMDB
Wikipedia
2/10/09
A Prairie Home Companion (2006)
Director: Robert Altman (The Player, Popeye)
Stars: Meryl Streep (Deer Hunter, Death Becomes Her)
Kevin Kline (The Ice Storm, In and Out)
YesNoSoso: 0
At first I wrote: "This movie should be viewed by all if only to get a better understanding of the long standing American tradition that is A Prairie Home Companion" but I'm changing my stance. This movie, which tells a day in the life of the Saturday evening live radio show, boasts a impressive Altman-style ensemble cast of Woody Harrelson, Tommy Lee Jones, Garrison Keiller (the show's founder and leader), Lindsay Lohan, Virginia Madsen, John C Reilly, Maya Rudolph, and Lily Tomlin. But the movie is mostly a 2 hour long folk music concert with an extremely flimsy plot tying the performances together (the Virginia Madsen as the Angel of Death is especially bad). The movie does have a nice folksy charm, reminding one of better times, and would be nice for a family or if you are just in for a feel good show, but unless you are in one of those very specific demographics (or you just want to know more about Prairie Home companion) skip it.
IMDB
Wikipedia
Stars: Meryl Streep (Deer Hunter, Death Becomes Her)
Kevin Kline (The Ice Storm, In and Out)
YesNoSoso: 0
At first I wrote: "This movie should be viewed by all if only to get a better understanding of the long standing American tradition that is A Prairie Home Companion" but I'm changing my stance. This movie, which tells a day in the life of the Saturday evening live radio show, boasts a impressive Altman-style ensemble cast of Woody Harrelson, Tommy Lee Jones, Garrison Keiller (the show's founder and leader), Lindsay Lohan, Virginia Madsen, John C Reilly, Maya Rudolph, and Lily Tomlin. But the movie is mostly a 2 hour long folk music concert with an extremely flimsy plot tying the performances together (the Virginia Madsen as the Angel of Death is especially bad). The movie does have a nice folksy charm, reminding one of better times, and would be nice for a family or if you are just in for a feel good show, but unless you are in one of those very specific demographics (or you just want to know more about Prairie Home companion) skip it.
IMDB
Wikipedia
11/19/08
Dancer in the Dark (2000)
Director: Lars Von Trier (some foreign crap I've never heard of)
Stars: Bjork (she sings and stuff, never heard of any of her other movies)
Catherine Deneuve (Repulsion, french movies I've never seen [I know, running theme])
YesNoSoso: 2
I know its kind of a musical so I SHOULD hate it. But its dark as hell and I love that. I guess the simple juxtaposition of the musical aspects and extremely depressing storylines were enough to warm me up. Well not literally, this movie is depressing as a dead puppy.
IMDB
Wikipedia
Stars: Bjork (she sings and stuff, never heard of any of her other movies)
Catherine Deneuve (Repulsion, french movies I've never seen [I know, running theme])
YesNoSoso: 2
I know its kind of a musical so I SHOULD hate it. But its dark as hell and I love that. I guess the simple juxtaposition of the musical aspects and extremely depressing storylines were enough to warm me up. Well not literally, this movie is depressing as a dead puppy.
IMDB
Wikipedia
Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
Director: Michael Curtiz (Casablanca, never heard of anything else)
Stars: James Cagney (haven't really heard of anything else, I suppose he was famous cause I know his name)
I'm not even gonna attempt a second star
YesNoSoso: 0
I'm sure George C Cohan was an amazing patriot deserving of our respect, but unfortunately for him and his legacy his movie sucks. Although teetering on the AFI 100 @ 100, there's no way this should be on it while Requiem for a Dream is not.
IMDB
Wikipedia
Stars: James Cagney (haven't really heard of anything else, I suppose he was famous cause I know his name)
I'm not even gonna attempt a second star
YesNoSoso: 0
I'm sure George C Cohan was an amazing patriot deserving of our respect, but unfortunately for him and his legacy his movie sucks. Although teetering on the AFI 100 @ 100, there's no way this should be on it while Requiem for a Dream is not.
IMDB
Wikipedia
Singin' in the Rain (1952)
Director: Stanley Donan and Gene Kelly (I'll pass on examples since it was a joint effort)
Stars: Gene Kelly (An American in Paris, The Magic Lamp)
Debbie Reynolds (How the West was Won, too many to pick one)
YesNoSoso: 1
As stated on numerous occasions, I fucking hate musicals. If you like musicals, this movie would probably fall into an emphatic YesNoSoso 2, but you not me so shut up. There were impressive moments and was somewhat entertaining, but it was still roughly 2.5 hours of a dude singing and dancing.
IMDB
Wikipedia
Stars: Gene Kelly (An American in Paris, The Magic Lamp)
Debbie Reynolds (How the West was Won, too many to pick one)
YesNoSoso: 1
As stated on numerous occasions, I fucking hate musicals. If you like musicals, this movie would probably fall into an emphatic YesNoSoso 2, but you not me so shut up. There were impressive moments and was somewhat entertaining, but it was still roughly 2.5 hours of a dude singing and dancing.
IMDB
Wikipedia
10/30/08
My Fair Lady (1964)
Director: George Cukor (The Philidelphia Story, Heller in Pink Tights)
Stars: Audrey Hepburn (Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Nun's Story)
Rex Harrison (Cleopatra, Dr. Dolittle)
YesNoSoso: 1
As explicitly stated earlier: I hate musicals. This movie achieved a YesNoSoso rating of 1 merely because of the exorbitant amount of famous songs that have come out of this movie. Seems like every annoying kitschy song that comes out of a >55 year old woman is from this movie. I know, not a ringing endorsment worthy of a 1 rating. I don't really care, see it or don't, your pathetic life does not interest me.
IMDB
Wikipedia
Stars: Audrey Hepburn (Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Nun's Story)
Rex Harrison (Cleopatra, Dr. Dolittle)
YesNoSoso: 1
As explicitly stated earlier: I hate musicals. This movie achieved a YesNoSoso rating of 1 merely because of the exorbitant amount of famous songs that have come out of this movie. Seems like every annoying kitschy song that comes out of a >55 year old woman is from this movie. I know, not a ringing endorsment worthy of a 1 rating. I don't really care, see it or don't, your pathetic life does not interest me.
IMDB
Wikipedia
An American in Paris (1951)
Director: Vincente Minnelli (Gigi, The Pirate [I've never hear of it either])
Stars: Gene Kelly (Singin' in the Rain, "The Love Boat")
Leslie Caron (Gigi, The Reef)
YesNoSoso: 1
I hate Musicals. Let that be known. But if you're going to watch a musical, you could do worse than this or Kelly's Singin' in the Rain. Some of the dance numbers are actually pretty impressive. And that's all my fragile virility will allow me to write positively about a musical.
IMDB
Wikipedia
Stars: Gene Kelly (Singin' in the Rain, "The Love Boat")
Leslie Caron (Gigi, The Reef)
YesNoSoso: 1
I hate Musicals. Let that be known. But if you're going to watch a musical, you could do worse than this or Kelly's Singin' in the Rain. Some of the dance numbers are actually pretty impressive. And that's all my fragile virility will allow me to write positively about a musical.
IMDB
Wikipedia
9/30/08
Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny (2006)
Director: Liam Lynch (Tribute Music Video, Sarah Silverman: Jesus is Magic)
Stars: Jack Black (Tropic Thunder, Shallow Hal)
Kyle Gass (Elf, Shallow Hal)
YesNoSoso: 1
The TV show on HBO was awesome but this movie is not. It contains some nice inside jokes for fans of the TV show, but not enough to satisfy true D fans' desires and too many for someone not familiar with the show. Its not overly funny but still entertaining. Look for Dave Grohl of Nirvana and Foo Fighters fame as the Devil.
IMDB
Wikipedia
Stars: Jack Black (Tropic Thunder, Shallow Hal)
Kyle Gass (Elf, Shallow Hal)
YesNoSoso: 1
The TV show on HBO was awesome but this movie is not. It contains some nice inside jokes for fans of the TV show, but not enough to satisfy true D fans' desires and too many for someone not familiar with the show. Its not overly funny but still entertaining. Look for Dave Grohl of Nirvana and Foo Fighters fame as the Devil.
IMDB
Wikipedia
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