Written as part of the weekly blogathon hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves. Take part in the festivities by picking three movies that fit the week's theme and writing a bit about them! So, I had already basically done this for last year's "Movies About Music/Musicians" week, before realizing that movies about REAL-LIFE musicians were verboten. So this week was pretty easy to do. Here you go, the good, the bad, and the ugly of music biopics. In that order.
De-Lovely (Irwin Winkler, 2004) And right off the bat I MAY be cheating a bit, because Cole Porter wasn't so much a musician as a songwriter, but I don't care. This is far and away my favorite music(-adjacent) biopic, an easily entertaining - but NOT easy - film with two lovely central performances by Kevin Kline (in the role he was born to play) and Ashley Judd. Unlike the earlier Night & Day with Cary Grant, De-Lovely doesn't shy away from Porter's taste for men, but that's just one superficial reason why this is a superior picture. Solid filmmaking all around, plus cameos from a rogue's gallery of music stars singing some of Porter's most famous songs. What's your favorite? Mine is probably John Barrowman singing "Night and Day", with Vivian Green's poignant "Love For Sale" (and its stunning one-take scene) in a close second.
Get On Up (Tate Taylor, 2014) It's sad, really, because all the elements were there for this James Brown biopic to really soar. But unfortunately, the film decides to jump around in time whenever it feels like it for no real reason at all. Chadwick Boseman is electrifying as the Godfather of Soul, Nelsan Ellis and Dan Aykroyd offer reliable support, Brandon Mychal Smith makes a killer cameo as Little Richard, and Viola Davis is her typical stellar self as Brown's mother. The costumes, hair, and makeup are great. The music and choreography are fabulous. But the film's structure and editing are so far gone as to make this one very nearly unsalvageable.
Jersey Boys (Clint Eastwood, 2014) ...but then again, Get On Up for all its faults is nowhere near as mind-numbingly awful as Clint Eastwood's adaptation of the hit Broadway musical about the rise and fall of The Four Seasons. The stage show has such tremendous energy as it barrels through its story and the hits that happened along the way, but Eastwood sucks it all dry - and I'm not just talking about the severely drained color palette. The actors are almost entirely at sea (John Lloyd Young, who won a Tony for playing this part, is hopeless despite his golden voice), the musical numbers are flatly staged (not to mention the downright embarrassing sound mix on the film's big number, "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You"), and the few issues with the stage show's script are somehow even worse in this version. And worse than all that, it's boring as all hell - the filmic equivalent of listening to an AM radio oldies station that keeps fading in and out when you're a kid on an hours-long road trip with your parents and they refuse to change the station.
I don't think De-Lovely is cheating. Porter was certainly a musician, even occasionally a performer so it works. I don't LOVE the film but I do like it quite a lot. Agree the use of contemporary artists performing Porter songs adds an extra element to the movie. I think my favorite is Alanis Morissette's Let's Do It because it's so different from her usual style, though all the numbers are well performed.
I've considered Get On Up a couple times but something kept me at bay so thanks for the warning!
I was extremely disappointed in Jersey Boys. I love most of The Four Seasons music but Eastwood drained almost every ounce of pleasure from the film. I could say the music was worth it but I could listen to a CD and have a much better experience!!
This is a genre that is a favorite of mine and I'll watch practically any one that I come across so it made it tough to choose just three. I ended up with three I love that have a sort of theme within theme since all are about performers who struggle back at some point from a major physical trauma.
Sweet Dreams (1985)-Tale of Patsy Cline’s ascension from honkytonk singer to queen of the Grand Ole Opry and beyond as well as her messy personal life, including a near fatal car wreck, until her death in a plane crash. Jessica Lange was Oscar nominated for her turn as Patsy, she’s given strong support by Ed Harris as Cline’s difficult husband and Ann Wedgeworth in a beautiful performance as her mother.
The Joker is Wild (1957)-Crooner Joe E. Lewis (Frank Sinatra) works his way up through the racket run nightclubs of Chicago mob boss Georgie Parker. Once successful he tries to move on only to have his throat slashed in retaliation. His voice ruined he slides into alcoholism but his former accompanist and friend helps him reestablish himself as a successful stand-up comic. The road still has many rough patches ahead though. One of Sinatra’s better lesser known performances. The film features one of Sinatra’s signature songs the Oscar winning “All the Way”.
With a Song in My Heart (1952)-Young singer Jane Froman (Susan Hayward) rises from staff artist on a small radio station in the Midwest quickly climbing the ladder of success to become a top radio and stage star. Along the way she enters into a marriage of convenience with her manager which soon hits the rocks, then America enters WWII. Like many performers she volunteers to entertain the troops and is on her way to do so when her seaplane crashes into the Tagus River off the Lisbon coast. She is one of the few survivors but is severely injured, most perilously her leg is nearly amputated. The remainder of the film follows her grueling treatment, difficult recovery and return to finish the job she started. Grim in parts but overall a story of someone with tremendous fortitude in the face of huge adversity. Loaded with great music both Hayward (whose lip-syncing to Froman’s vocals is impressively realistic) and Thelma Ritter, as her steadfast nurse, were Oscar nominated.
I totally agree with you on Morisette - I remember being shocked that she somehow fit that song like a glove. I REALLY wish Get On Up were better because Boseman, at the very least, gives a performance worthy of a MUCH better film.
I need to see Sweet Dreams - and the rest of Lange's 80s Leading Lady output (Music Box, Frances, and the like) for that matter. Never saw Joker is Wild but I've definitely seen it advertised on TCM quite a bunch.
Oooh. I like where you went here. De-Lovely is a movie I really need to see. It just slipped right by me. I have no interest in seeing a James Brown biopic. I just want to enjoy the mysticism of him in my mind and not have that ruined. As for Jersey Boys, what a disaster. I never saw it on stage, but it has to be better than this ridiculous phoned-in effort from Eastwood. Funny how he made a great movie (American Sniper) the same year. The only sequence in Jersey Boys that really moved me was the ending dance number underneath the credits.
De-Lovely is, well, completely accurate to its title lol. Boseman really is dynamite in Get On Up, but good God the film around him is NOT.
If you get a chance, see Jersey Boys on stage. I was dragged to it practically kicking and screaming but had a blast. The film just sucked ALL of the show's tremendous energy right out, killing it in the process.
I really enjoyed De-Lovely and glad it got some love. I think it came out the same year as Kevin Spacey's film about Bobby Darin which I also thought was quite good. I can't stand James Brown and have no desire to see a film about this a-hole. Sorry for being blunt. Eastwood can be good but can also make films so boring that you'd rather watch paint dry. From what I am reading, it reminds me of of the film The Hereafter. I was looking forward to this film only to be bored beyond tears
De-Lovely is going straight on my list - absolutely love Kevin Kline. I was gutted I kept missing Get On up at the cinema so will be seeking it out. Great picks!
I haven't seen any of these. I wanted to see Get On Up because of the cast, then all the reviews started rolling in so I skipped.
ReplyDeleteThe thing is, the cast really does make it ALMOST worth it.
DeleteThe first time I watched Jersey Boys I kind of enjoyed it. The second time I only enjoyed the end.
ReplyDeleteThe first - and only - time I saw it, I kept checking my watch. Not a good sign.
DeleteI don't think De-Lovely is cheating. Porter was certainly a musician, even occasionally a performer so it works. I don't LOVE the film but I do like it quite a lot. Agree the use of contemporary artists performing Porter songs adds an extra element to the movie. I think my favorite is Alanis Morissette's Let's Do It because it's so different from her usual style, though all the numbers are well performed.
ReplyDeleteI've considered Get On Up a couple times but something kept me at bay so thanks for the warning!
I was extremely disappointed in Jersey Boys. I love most of The Four Seasons music but Eastwood drained almost every ounce of pleasure from the film. I could say the music was worth it but I could listen to a CD and have a much better experience!!
This is a genre that is a favorite of mine and I'll watch practically any one that I come across so it made it tough to choose just three. I ended up with three I love that have a sort of theme within theme since all are about performers who struggle back at some point from a major physical trauma.
Sweet Dreams (1985)-Tale of Patsy Cline’s ascension from honkytonk singer to queen of the Grand Ole Opry and beyond as well as her messy personal life, including a near fatal car wreck, until her death in a plane crash. Jessica Lange was Oscar nominated for her turn as Patsy, she’s given strong support by Ed Harris as Cline’s difficult husband and Ann Wedgeworth in a beautiful performance as her mother.
The Joker is Wild (1957)-Crooner Joe E. Lewis (Frank Sinatra) works his way up through the racket run nightclubs of Chicago mob boss Georgie Parker. Once successful he tries to move on only to have his throat slashed in retaliation. His voice ruined he slides into alcoholism but his former accompanist and friend helps him reestablish himself as a successful stand-up comic. The road still has many rough patches ahead though. One of Sinatra’s better lesser known performances. The film features one of Sinatra’s signature songs the Oscar winning “All the Way”.
With a Song in My Heart (1952)-Young singer Jane Froman (Susan Hayward) rises from staff artist on a small radio station in the Midwest quickly climbing the ladder of success to become a top radio and stage star. Along the way she enters into a marriage of convenience with her manager which soon hits the rocks, then America enters WWII. Like many performers she volunteers to entertain the troops and is on her way to do so when her seaplane crashes into the Tagus River off the Lisbon coast. She is one of the few survivors but is severely injured, most perilously her leg is nearly amputated. The remainder of the film follows her grueling treatment, difficult recovery and return to finish the job she started. Grim in parts but overall a story of someone with tremendous fortitude in the face of huge adversity. Loaded with great music both Hayward (whose lip-syncing to Froman’s vocals is impressively realistic) and Thelma Ritter, as her steadfast nurse, were Oscar nominated.
I totally agree with you on Morisette - I remember being shocked that she somehow fit that song like a glove. I REALLY wish Get On Up were better because Boseman, at the very least, gives a performance worthy of a MUCH better film.
DeleteI need to see Sweet Dreams - and the rest of Lange's 80s Leading Lady output (Music Box, Frances, and the like) for that matter. Never saw Joker is Wild but I've definitely seen it advertised on TCM quite a bunch.
Oh, With a Song in My Heart. Poor Susan really wanted that Oscar, didn't she? LOL I can't hate. It's a fine film but oh so cliché. LOVE Thelma, in it, though. As always.
Oooh. I like where you went here. De-Lovely is a movie I really need to see. It just slipped right by me. I have no interest in seeing a James Brown biopic. I just want to enjoy the mysticism of him in my mind and not have that ruined. As for Jersey Boys, what a disaster. I never saw it on stage, but it has to be better than this ridiculous phoned-in effort from Eastwood. Funny how he made a great movie (American Sniper) the same year. The only sequence in Jersey Boys that really moved me was the ending dance number underneath the credits.
ReplyDeleteDe-Lovely is, well, completely accurate to its title lol. Boseman really is dynamite in Get On Up, but good God the film around him is NOT.
DeleteIf you get a chance, see Jersey Boys on stage. I was dragged to it practically kicking and screaming but had a blast. The film just sucked ALL of the show's tremendous energy right out, killing it in the process.
I'd never heard of De-Lovely -- I'll check it out.
ReplyDeleteIt's so good! Please do. :-)
DeleteI really enjoyed De-Lovely and glad it got some love. I think it came out the same year as Kevin Spacey's film about Bobby Darin which I also thought was quite good. I can't stand James Brown and have no desire to see a film about this a-hole. Sorry for being blunt. Eastwood can be good but can also make films so boring that you'd rather watch paint dry. From what I am reading, it reminds me of of the film The Hereafter. I was looking forward to this film only to be bored beyond tears
ReplyDeleteYes! I never saw Beyond the Sea but probably should since it was long a dream project of Spacey's.
DeleteLOL I don't blame you for not wanting to see anything about James Brown but Chadwick Boseman is really quite something in the role.
The only version of Jersey Boys ANYONE should see is the stage show. I think its just better for all of us if we pretend the film was never made.
Haven't seen De-Lovely, but songwriting counts. Every word you wrote about the other two dead perfect.
ReplyDeleteWhy, thank you, my good man! See De-Lovely when you're in the mood for something slightly old-fashioned.
DeleteDe-Lovely is going straight on my list - absolutely love Kevin Kline. I was gutted I kept missing Get On up at the cinema so will be seeking it out. Great picks!
ReplyDeleteHe's so good in it!!
DeleteAhh...you saw the musical. I was wondering how the Jersey Boys movie compared to the musical. Anyway like you I thought the movie was a bore.
ReplyDeleteJust don't let the movie put you off the stage show if you get a chance to see it. It's really incredible.
Delete