Written as part of the blogathon hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves. Join in the blogging fun by picking three movies that fit the week's theme and writing a bit about them!
As you know, I LOVE musicals. But this week isn't about that. This week for Thursday Movie Picks, we are talking about non-musicals that nonetheless have a scene (or two) where characters break into song. Such scenes can certainly liven up the proceedings, being that these scenes tend to do the same things that musical numbers in musicals do, giving us an insight into these characters that we wouldn't otherwise get if they didn't have the musical outlet.
Key Largo (John Huston, 1948) One of the greatest ensemble casts ever assembled (Lauren Bacall, Lionel Barrymore, Humphrey Bogart, Edward G. Robinson, Claire Trevor) get stuck in a hotel lobby during a hurricane on the titular island. Bogart is there to pay his respects to a WWII comrade's widow (Bacall, naturally), but before long, Robinson and his thugs get into a bit of a situation with some local on-the-run criminals and take control of the hotel. The scene in question is a stunner, as Trevor's Gaye Dawn is manipulated by her lover (Robinson, naturally) to perform one of her cabaret numbers for the group. It's a stunning scene, one that more than earned Trevor her Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. The movie itself is a great exercise in escalating tension, if one of the lesser Bogart/Bacall pairings.
Magnolia (Paul Thomas Anderson, 1999) PTA's kaleidoscopic look at the lives of all kinds of people in the San Fernando Valley does the "interconnecting stories" thing much better than most other films (including the similar, ham-fisted Oscar winner Crash), and is absolutely mesmerizing in its best moments. The very best of which is the sequence when nearly all of the film's characters (and there are a LOT of them) start separately singing Aimee Mann's beautiful "Wise Up" as the song plays on the soundtrack. It's a stunning moment, which makes it all the sadder that Anderson had to go and gild the lily with the movie's ridiculous ending, which looks for all the world like he wrote himself into a corner, chose the most ridiculous deus ex machina he could think of, and added the movie's opening sequence to justify it. But that's just me, and I really do love the rest of Magnolia something fierce - the performances alone are worth the price of admission (Tom Cruise deserved the Oscar for his balls-to-the-wall performance as professional male chauvinist Frank T.J. Mackey), and even though it's long, it's consistently involving. It's just a pity about that ending.
The Shape of Water (Guillermo del Toro, 2017) I don't want to spoil it, because it came to me as an utter surprise in the movie, and it's maybe my favorite scene in any movie of 2017. Using the old standard "You'll Never Know" was a stroke of genius, and del Toro manages to turn it into the most magical moment in a movie full to bursting with movie magic. Elisa is a mute cleaning woman at a secret government facility in 1960s Baltimore. When an amphibious humanoid "asset" is brought to the facility, Elisa finds it a kindred spirit, and when she learns it is going to be killed, she takes it upon herself (and her gay artist neighbor) to rescue it. A gorgeous piece of work on every level, The Shape of Water was nominated for more Oscars than any other movie this year, and I'm pulling for it to win most of them, and wouldn't be upset if it pulled off a sweep.
That scene and Claire Trevor in Key Largo are both so great in an uncomfortable heartbreaking way. I have to go against the flow here and say that of their four films together I much prefer the two that are considered the lessers, this and Dark Passage (which is my favorite of the quartet), over the more venerated To Have and Have Not and The Big Sleep.
I've never gotten around to Magnolia and have plans to see The Shape of Water so I'll look for that scene.
I thought this was so narrow for choices this week but it turns out from what everyone has found that I was mistaken, but it did take me a while to think of my three.
Adventures in Babysitting (1987)-When Chris Parker (a phenomenal Elisabeth Shue) agrees to babysit the Anderson kids after her date cancels at the last minute she has no idea that she is embarking on the rollercoaster ride of her life thanks to her friend Brenda (a hilarious Penelope Ann Miller) being stuck at the bus station in the city. Going to help against her better judgement she and the kids have one harrowing madcap adventure after another including an unexpected but spirited impromptu performance in a jazz club. Disarming and just plain fun.
The First Wives Club (1996)- At the funeral of one of their college roommates who committed suicide when her ex-husband married a younger woman three women (Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, and Diane Keaton) reunite for the first time in nearly 30 years. When they realize the reason for their friend's suicide, they discover a common bond-all of their ex-husbands have taken them for granted as well-they decide it's time for revenge and unite to get back at their exes. Scheming and chicanery topped by a musical number follow.
My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)-Julianne Potter (Julia Roberts) panics when her best friend Michael (Dermot Mulroney) calls out of the blue and tells her he is getting married the next weekend to pert, ultra-wealthy Kimmy (Cameron Diaz). Once upon a time Julianne and Michael had made a pact to marry each other if they hadn’t found someone by their 28th birthday, with this news she decides Michael is the man for her and sets out to stop the wedding against the advice of her other best friend George (a scene stealing Rupert Everett). Hilarity and an unexpected musical number ensue. Disarming romantic comedy with Roberts’s superstar charisma totally responsible for making her rather contemptible character someone you almost root for.
I think Dark Passage is SO interesting, especially the first part of it where the camera is in Bogart's point of view. But I think it falls off after that. The Big Sleep is almost completely incomprehensible but the chemistry between Bogart and Bacall was the best it ever was in it. Same with To Have and Have Not.
If you haven't seen The Shape of Water... just FORGET I SAID ANYTHING. Go in as unspoiled as you can and just let it weave it's fairy tale magic. I found it completely spellbinding.
I love all three of your picks this week! First Wives Club and My Best Friend's Wedding are iconic '90s movies that are both perfectly cast and very entertaining watches. The closing number in First Wives is PERFECTION, and the "Say a Little Prayer" sing-along in Wedding absolutely inspired (to say nothing of Cameron Diaz's terrible, ingratiating karaoke performance). Adventures in Babysitting is just as iconic for the '80s in terms of how well it captures the look and feel of life then. You're right to point out Shue and Miller, both of whom are just stellar. It's lightweight stuff, but perfectly so.
The Shape of Water is such a great pick! I wanted to go with it as well but, as I was writing the post, I remembered seeing a musical scene in a non-musical movie recently but I couldn't remember the movie. I haven't seen the other two, but Magnolia is on my watchlist.
Love that scene in Key Largo and it really shows how good an actress Claire Trevor is. I was also enamoured with Lionel Barrymore’s performance. He was in great pain with Rheumatoid arthritis so to get up and do what he did took guts. I really like Magnolia and I liked that ending. I still must see Shape of Water and I will soon.
Magnolia is a great choice! I didn't think of that. I still haven't seen Key Largo. That's going to have to go on the list.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely Blindspot Key Largo - it's a classic for a reason!
DeleteThat scene and Claire Trevor in Key Largo are both so great in an uncomfortable heartbreaking way. I have to go against the flow here and say that of their four films together I much prefer the two that are considered the lessers, this and Dark Passage (which is my favorite of the quartet), over the more venerated To Have and Have Not and The Big Sleep.
ReplyDeleteI've never gotten around to Magnolia and have plans to see The Shape of Water so I'll look for that scene.
I thought this was so narrow for choices this week but it turns out from what everyone has found that I was mistaken, but it did take me a while to think of my three.
Adventures in Babysitting (1987)-When Chris Parker (a phenomenal Elisabeth Shue) agrees to babysit the Anderson kids after her date cancels at the last minute she has no idea that she is embarking on the rollercoaster ride of her life thanks to her friend Brenda (a hilarious Penelope Ann Miller) being stuck at the bus station in the city. Going to help against her better judgement she and the kids have one harrowing madcap adventure after another including an unexpected but spirited impromptu performance in a jazz club. Disarming and just plain fun.
The First Wives Club (1996)- At the funeral of one of their college roommates who committed suicide when her ex-husband married a younger woman three women (Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, and Diane Keaton) reunite for the first time in nearly 30 years. When they realize the reason for their friend's suicide, they discover a common bond-all of their ex-husbands have taken them for granted as well-they decide it's time for revenge and unite to get back at their exes. Scheming and chicanery topped by a musical number follow.
My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)-Julianne Potter (Julia Roberts) panics when her best friend Michael (Dermot Mulroney) calls out of the blue and tells her he is getting married the next weekend to pert, ultra-wealthy Kimmy (Cameron Diaz). Once upon a time Julianne and Michael had made a pact to marry each other if they hadn’t found someone by their 28th birthday, with this news she decides Michael is the man for her and sets out to stop the wedding against the advice of her other best friend George (a scene stealing Rupert Everett). Hilarity and an unexpected musical number ensue. Disarming romantic comedy with Roberts’s superstar charisma totally responsible for making her rather contemptible character someone you almost root for.
I think Dark Passage is SO interesting, especially the first part of it where the camera is in Bogart's point of view. But I think it falls off after that. The Big Sleep is almost completely incomprehensible but the chemistry between Bogart and Bacall was the best it ever was in it. Same with To Have and Have Not.
DeleteIf you haven't seen The Shape of Water... just FORGET I SAID ANYTHING. Go in as unspoiled as you can and just let it weave it's fairy tale magic. I found it completely spellbinding.
I love all three of your picks this week! First Wives Club and My Best Friend's Wedding are iconic '90s movies that are both perfectly cast and very entertaining watches. The closing number in First Wives is PERFECTION, and the "Say a Little Prayer" sing-along in Wedding absolutely inspired (to say nothing of Cameron Diaz's terrible, ingratiating karaoke performance). Adventures in Babysitting is just as iconic for the '80s in terms of how well it captures the look and feel of life then. You're right to point out Shue and Miller, both of whom are just stellar. It's lightweight stuff, but perfectly so.
I haven't seen any of these, but I am so excited to watch The Shape of Water.
ReplyDeleteShape of Water is SO GOOD. See it as soon as you can and forget I said ANYTHING.
DeleteGreat, great picks with Magnolia and The Shape of Water. Haven't seen Key Largo yet.
ReplyDeleteKey Largo is definitely worth a watch. It's really good.
DeleteThe Shape of Water is such a great pick! I wanted to go with it as well but, as I was writing the post, I remembered seeing a musical scene in a non-musical movie recently but I couldn't remember the movie. I haven't seen the other two, but Magnolia is on my watchlist.
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed The Shape of Water. I'm a fan of Key Largo, too, but I forgot about that scene. Thanks for the reminder. Haven't seen Magnolia yet.
ReplyDeleteLove that scene in Key Largo and it really shows how good an actress Claire Trevor is. I was also enamoured with Lionel Barrymore’s performance. He was in great pain with Rheumatoid arthritis so to get up and do what he did took guts. I really like Magnolia and I liked that ending. I still must see Shape of Water and I will soon.
ReplyDeleteHaven't seen any of these. I've have had Magnolia DVD for years, one day I'll finally see it.
ReplyDelete