Written as part of the weekly blogathon hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves. You can play along by picking three movies that fit the week's theme and saying a little something about them.
Ah, school competitions. Whether it's music, recitations, or science projects, they are a hotbed of young talent. Sometimes. Other times, you just have to sit back and wonder at the state of the education system that these untalented, awkward youths before you are the very best the modern world has to offer. Usually while laughing and shaking your head.
HOWEVER! There is only one school competition I really care about: The National Spelling Bee. When I was in elementary school, I wanted to win the Spelling Bee SO. BAD. I actually got pretty close, considering I wasn't one of those kids who spent all their free time studying a dictionary (I made it to the final ten of my regional competition one year). I still watch the bee every year, and usually cover the area of the screen where the word it so I can "compete" alongside our nation's youngest and brightest spellers. It's fun. And these movies are pretty fun, too.
Spellbound (Jeffrey Blitz, 2002) The movie that basically made the National Spelling Bee a must-watch for millions of people, this documentary is pretty basic but very well done. Like my beloved Mad Hot Ballroom (which came later), it looks at America through the prism of the students competing, showing how cultural differences not just across socioeconomic lines but across cultural heritage determine How We Live in the US. And it shows just how much of a pressure cooker it really is up on the national stage, in the ridiculously suspenseful competition sequences.
Akeelah and the Bee (Dough Atchison, 2006) Ladies and gentlemen, witness the birth of a STAR. Keke Palmer is the heart and soul of this movie, carrying it all on her tiny little shoulders with the confidence and poise of actors decades older than she. Sure, it helps that she has Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett as scene partners, but most of it is just her. As a smart girl from a poor community who falls into her talent as a speller, Palmer is impossibly assured and incredibly winning, somehow avoiding nearly all the usual child actor traps. The movie is one of the few that embraces its status as a "feel-good movie", but always leavens those qualities with a tough, lived-in sense of grit.
Bad Words (Jason Bateman, 2014) ...and now, for something completely different! This movie is incredibly, possibly irredeemably stupid, but I'm not gonna lie: I laughed my ass off. Jason Bateman plays an irascible middle-aged man on a mission: To win the National Spelling Bee for reasons unknown. Along the way, he meets a young Indian boy who worms his way into his stone cold heart, and takes the kid under his wing, teaching him the value of breaking a rule or two every once in a while. Look. I'm not saying this is great cinema, and the ending is a total flub, but if profanity used by or around children makes you laugh for almost no good reason (GUILTY), then you'll enjoy this.
BONUS:
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (Bill Duke, 1993) How do you improve on the Whoopi Goldberg vehicle Sister Act? Add some talented singing kids, that's how. especially if one of those kids is the prodigiously talented Lauryn Hill. Sister Mary Clarence has gone back to the life of a headliner, but the nuns she bailed out last time now need her help to save their school. So she does the EXACT SAME THING SHE DID LAST TIME (create a choir to win a competition), except now with kids. The supporting cast of nuns remains a riot (Mary Wickes! Kathy Najimy! Dame Maggie Smith!), and the kids are game, if perhaps a little too stereotypically "urban". If you're not impressed by their singing in this, then I just don't know how to help you.
I like your theme within a theme. I'm a shit speller so I never made it anywhere near our spelling bee in school. Just our geography bee. I've seen all but Spellbound. I laughed my ass off in Bad Words too.
Hehehe in fourth grade our teacher began each day with team spelling bees and it was the only time I got picked first for anything in elementary school.
I'm a decent speller, nowhere near competition level but I likewise enjoy films about that particular subject. Loved Spellbound, so simple yet compelling. It's the only one of your main three I've seen. Bad Words sounds goofy but I'll be checking out Akeelah and the Bee.
The Sister Act sequel was okay but for me nothing compared to the first it's a good fit for this week however.
I thought of a spelling bee when I was floundering around for titles this week, and this was a tough one for me, and rented Bee Season since I thought it would work but ended up hating it. But my second rental which is my first pick turned out to be much better.
Chops (2007)-This documentary follows different groups of students as they prepare and then compete in the annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band competition. Terrific look at the commitment of both the students and teachers who care passionately about music and what it takes to compete.
Fame (1980)-Covering four years at New York’s High School for Performing Arts where students are constantly competing for advancement and acknowledgment all leading up to the big finale and graduation. This led to a successful spin-off TV series.
Strike Up the Band (1940)-It’s Judy Garland & Mickey Rooney as high schoolers and aspiring musicians who want their band to compete in the upcoming Paul Whiteman competition for high school bands. Problem is the fare to the contest in Chicago is $200. What to do? Why put on a show of course!! Mickey’s a bit much as he usually was but Judy is lovely and sings like a dream naturally. The tagline will give you some idea of what to expect "Their Sunniest, Funniest, Down-to-Mirthiest Hit! It Beats the Band!”
I have no idea what those words are never mind trying to spell them! I bow my head to you that you can play along. I have not seen any except for Sister Act 2 which I enjoyed even though I still like the first one better. I must see Bad Words...looks right up my alley. I also am very interested in the documentary which looks quite captivating. The stress these kids are under is just too much. One day I will see the Bee one also...notice I have not spelled her name:)
I agree that the first Sister Act was better although the sequel was enjoyable. You know exactly what you're getting with Bad Words, so if it looks up your alley then it probably is.
A theme within a theme! Yayyyyyyy! I live Akeelah. That's a family favorite around my house. Almost picked it, myself. By the way, I have to brag a bit, here. I won my sixth grade spelling bee. Nearly won my district, but fell a bit short. Love Sister Act 2, also.
LOL I don't really understand it either, especially since most of the words you're asked to spell are not words you will EVER use in real life, most likely. But I was good at it, so I didn't care about silly things like that.
As much as I too ADORE spelling bees (I also got into the regional one year!), I haven't seen any spelling bee movies. I really wanted to see Bad Words. Love Jason Bateman. Just didn't get to it. "Stereotypically 'urban'"! That's what I was trying to say in my snippet as well. Great call on Sister Act 2!
I like your theme within a theme. I'm a shit speller so I never made it anywhere near our spelling bee in school. Just our geography bee. I've seen all but Spellbound. I laughed my ass off in Bad Words too.
ReplyDeleteHehehe in fourth grade our teacher began each day with team spelling bees and it was the only time I got picked first for anything in elementary school.
DeleteA theme within the theme!! Love that!
ReplyDeleteI'm a decent speller, nowhere near competition level but I likewise enjoy films about that particular subject. Loved Spellbound, so simple yet compelling. It's the only one of your main three I've seen. Bad Words sounds goofy but I'll be checking out Akeelah and the Bee.
The Sister Act sequel was okay but for me nothing compared to the first it's a good fit for this week however.
I thought of a spelling bee when I was floundering around for titles this week, and this was a tough one for me, and rented Bee Season since I thought it would work but ended up hating it. But my second rental which is my first pick turned out to be much better.
Chops (2007)-This documentary follows different groups of students as they prepare and then compete in the annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band competition. Terrific look at the commitment of both the students and teachers who care passionately about music and what it takes to compete.
Fame (1980)-Covering four years at New York’s High School for Performing Arts where students are constantly competing for advancement and acknowledgment all leading up to the big finale and graduation. This led to a successful spin-off TV series.
Strike Up the Band (1940)-It’s Judy Garland & Mickey Rooney as high schoolers and aspiring musicians who want their band to compete in the upcoming Paul Whiteman competition for high school bands. Problem is the fare to the contest in Chicago is $200. What to do? Why put on a show of course!! Mickey’s a bit much as he usually was but Judy is lovely and sings like a dream naturally. The tagline will give you some idea of what to expect "Their Sunniest, Funniest, Down-to-Mirthiest Hit! It Beats the Band!”
Oh definitely check out Akeelah! It's so good.
DeleteFAME! I'm gonna live forever! LOVE it so much! Strike Up the Band is actually one of the few Mickey/Judy pairings I haven't seen.
LOL, why have I never seen Sister Act 2?!?!?
ReplyDeleteLove that you went with a theme within a theme, buddy. I'm a horrid speller, but I find this fascinating.
...because you lived an empty existence in the '90s? LOL see it now!!
DeleteI have no idea what those words are never mind trying to spell them! I bow my head to you that you can play along. I have not seen any except for Sister Act 2 which I enjoyed even though I still like the first one better. I must see Bad Words...looks right up my alley. I also am very interested in the documentary which looks quite captivating. The stress these kids are under is just too much. One day I will see the Bee one also...notice I have not spelled her name:)
ReplyDeleteI agree that the first Sister Act was better although the sequel was enjoyable. You know exactly what you're getting with Bad Words, so if it looks up your alley then it probably is.
DeleteA theme within a theme! Yayyyyyyy! I live Akeelah. That's a family favorite around my house. Almost picked it, myself. By the way, I have to brag a bit, here. I won my sixth grade spelling bee. Nearly won my district, but fell a bit short. Love Sister Act 2, also.
ReplyDeleteSo glad the family loves Akeelah, too! It's a great family film. Congrats on the old spelling bee success!
DeleteA sense a theme :) Spellbound was a great doc but I will never understand the whole spelling competition.
ReplyDeleteLOL I don't really understand it either, especially since most of the words you're asked to spell are not words you will EVER use in real life, most likely. But I was good at it, so I didn't care about silly things like that.
DeleteI'm not sure if I've ever seen Sister Act 2. I haven't seen the other three, but I must see Bad Words.
ReplyDeleteBad Words is pretty funny if you like that kind of thing. Which I obviously do.
DeleteAs much as I too ADORE spelling bees (I also got into the regional one year!), I haven't seen any spelling bee movies. I really wanted to see Bad Words. Love Jason Bateman. Just didn't get to it. "Stereotypically 'urban'"! That's what I was trying to say in my snippet as well. Great call on Sister Act 2!
ReplyDeleteSpelling bee nerds UNITE! LOL
DeleteIf you like Bateman then definitely watch Bad Words. He's really funny in it.
Another spelling bee movie is Bee Season. Can't remember much of it other than Richard Gere was in it.
ReplyDeleteHow have I never even heard of this movie?!?!?
Delete