Well, October is over, so back to our "regularly-scheduled programming" (read: non-scary) on Thursday Movie Picks. This week: Movies centered around music. I had to re-pick this week as I missed the note on there being no films based on real-life people, so... here goes!
That Thing You Do! (Tom Hanks, 1996) You'd think Tom Hanks would have directed more after this perfectly entertaining film about a 60's band's rise to the top. He's even great in it as the band's big-label manager. Tom Everett Scott, Jonathan Schaech, Steve Zahn, and Ethan Embry make for great distinctive personalities as the band members, and Liv Tyler makes an impression as "The Girl". And the soundtrack is to DIE. Long Live The Oneders!
Frank (Lenny Abrahamson, 2014) This isn't a GREAT film, but it does contain what is possibly Michael Fassbender's best performance as the giant-head wearing musical genius Frank, and a great performance from Maggie Gyllenhall as one of his band members - a much more typical role for her, but damn if she isn't PERFECT. The music is at points extremely weird, but also kind of perfect for what it is, and often laugh-out-loud funny. Domnhall Gleeson makes for a perfectly agreeable narrator, and the film is a good watch. But it doesn't have much staying power outside of Fassbender's performance. Also: He has a surprisingly good singing voice, if not "good" in a traditional sense.
That Thing You Do! Love that movie, it's the second time I've seen it pop up today and I can't believe it didn't even occur to me. Agree totally on all your points, Liv Tyler is so perfectly cast as the winsome Faye. It is surprising that Hanks hasn't returned to the director chair since this turned out so well but maybe he decided it was his particular brand of vodka.
ReplyDeleteI liked but didn't love Almost Famous and I'm not even sure what held me back. So many of the elements are terrific but it didn't quite jell as a whole for me.
This is also the second mention of Frank that I've seen, it's a new one to me. Neither of you seem to be wild for it, I'll have to read a bit more about it to see if it intrigues me.
There are so many films that fall into this genre I decided to try and run the gamut musically, classical, jazz, rock and a brass band. My extra stretches the rules a bit because while it’s not a strict bio it is based on the band whose music is used in the film.
Humoresque (1946)-Violin prodigy Paul Boray (John Garfield) is scraping by because his temper and impatience with others less talented than he keeps getting in his way. One night performing at a party he meets Helen Wright (Joan Crawford), a neurotic socialite on her third husband who takes him under her wing and turns him into a star at great cost to them both. Amazing music, beautiful noirish photography and perhaps Crawford's career best performance.
Blues in the Night (1941)-"Jigger" Lane's jazz band is so down on their luck they are catching a lift in a boxcar when they befriend a gangster, Del Davis who happens to run a roadhouse and offers them a job. What seems at first a break is just the start of their troubles. Del's moll Kay takes a fancy to Leo, one of the band members, causing much pain to his wife, the band's singer Character. Jigger tries to distract her but is driven to madness by Kay's cruelty and things only go downhill from there. Atmospheric music drama, not a musical. Good cast including Priscilla Lane, Jack Carson and in a rare acting role future director Elia Kazan as one of the boys in the band.
Eddie and the Cruisers (1983)-An ambitious young reporter (Ellen Barkin) latches onto the story of the mysterious death of rock legend Eddie Wilson (Michael Pare). Through her research and the reminiscences of former members of Eddie’s band she begins to uncover hidden facts that make her question the known facts of the band’s rise and his demise. A pastiche of the legends of James Dean, The Doors and Bruce Springsteen this rock & roll drama produced a soundtrack album by John Caffrey & the Beaver Brown Band that was far more successful than the movie ever was.
Honorable Mention-Brassed Off (1996)-The coal miners in a northern England town play in a brass band which is as old as the mine itself. Now when it is faced with closure the band members pull together to offer support and a chance at survival. Great music.
Frank is one of those weird films that I didn't really love when I first watched it, but whenever I've thought about it since, I think of it fondly. The stuff I didn't like just melts away.
DeleteOf yours I most need to see Humoresque. Brassed Off sounds like something I'd like, too.
I expect Almost Famous to be a popular pick. It's such a great movie. Haven't mustered up the courage for Frank, yet. It's been in my Netflix queue for months, now. Somehow, I've not seen That Thing You Do, either. Need to fix this. Great job!
ReplyDeleteFrank is good, and a pretty easy watch. You don't need much courage for it at all. Almost Famous is just the BEST. But you needs must rectify the fact that you haven't seen That Thing You Do immediately!!
DeleteI expected Almost Famous to be more popular this week too.
DeleteAnyway, it's just one of those movies that while I like it enough, I don't really get why it's super revered.
Now That Thing You Do I love, just a very fun movie that has the 60's nostalgia going for it.
I enjoyed Almost Famous-I have not seen it since it came out but I found it captured the 60's quite well. I have not seen That Thing You Do. I wasn't in love with seeing it but now I shall take a chance on this. It sounds better than I thought. Frank is just really F'ed up :)
ReplyDeleteLOL Frank is a bit "F'ed up" - the character moreso than the film. Do not fear That Thing You Do! It is really quite good.
DeleteI love Almost Famous, it frustrates me now though when I see Kate Hudson in films. She was so good here. What happened? lol
ReplyDeleteI KNOW, right?!? She was so great in Almost Famous - Oscar-worthy, really - and then a million stupid rom-coms happened.
DeleteDude! I love that you picked That Thing You Do! too. The Oneders!!!!! Almost Famous is so great, but I just can't use it again. In fact, I've decided to never use it on another list. It's greatness defies all lists that I can make.
ReplyDelete