Category Archives: Music

Biography, Drama, Music

A COMPLETE UNKNOWN (2024): New Trailer Starring Timotée Chalamet, Edward Norton, Boyd Holbrook, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro…

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A Complete Unknown is the title of the latest Bob Dylon Biographical film, directed by James Mangold and starring Timotée Chalamet,

Also starring Edward Norton, Monica Barbaro, Boyd Holbrook and Elle Fanning; A Complete Unknown starts at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965, where a young Bob Dylan shakes up the folk music scene by going electric and bringing about one of the most transformative moments in 20th-century music.

Considering how revered Bob Dylan is, the fact that I’m not currently a fan of his music likely has more to do with not hearing it played in my childhood home, rather than it not being exactly to my taste.

Even as an adult, when I had the chance to explore his work, there was always something else I connected to more immediately. There was also that point in my teenage years when any little interest I may have had in exploring music new to me, was promptly bulldozed by an unrelenting enthusiasm for film.

Fast-forward to now, and Chalamet’s new role is likely the best chance I’ve ever had to get acquainted with Dylan’s work, and I intend to make the most of the opportunity, well unless I get wind before hand that the movie isn’t great which is highly unlikely.

Are you a Bob Dylan fan? If so, which song do you recommend I listen to right away?

Scoot McNairy, Dan Fogler, Charlie Tahan, P.J. Byrne, Joe Tippett, Michael Chernus, Kayli Carter, Norbert Leo Butz, James Austin Johnson, David Alan Basche, Laura Kariuki and Michael Everett Johnson also star.

A Complete Unknown Release Dates: December 25th, 2024 (US); January 17th, 2025 (UK)…

Happy Film Loving,

G

Drama, Music

TÁR (2022): New Trailer From Cate Blanchett, Noémie Merlant, Nina Hoss, Mark Strong…

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The setting of director Todd Field’s latest film is the international world of classical music.

Central to the story is Lydia Tár (Cate Blanchett) who happens to be widely considered one of the greatest living composers/conductors, and the very first ever female chief conductor of a major German orchestra.

Mark Strong, Noémie Merlant and Nina Hoss are among the key cast.

Sometimes a trailer is unique and it features a great actor or two. Yet, because of how seemingly moody it appears to be, I’m not moved to watch it. But then I learn about the compelling subject matter, and as a fan of the possibilities of film, suddenly, I have to see Tár.

Are you also moved to watch this one, or is it too… something?

Noémie Merlant, Nina Hoss, Sophie Kauer, Mark Strong and Sydney Lemmon also star.

Tár Release Dates: January 20th, 2023 (UK)…

Happy Film Loving

G

Drama, Music, Musical, No Spoiler Reviews

IN THE HEIGHTS (2021): The Things I Liked…

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In The Heights (2021), Warner Bros. Pictures
In The Heights (2021), Warner Bros. Pictures

In the Heights is a musical film I’m happy I watched, and that’s not something I say very often. Especially since what usually happens with me during musicals is, I get annoyed with all the singing, mad at how annoyingly simplistic the lyrics are, and I have to stop. 

Luckily, this time, director Jon M. Chu and Lin-Manuel Miranda, the man in charge of creating the film’s music, delivered a movie that has more good/great songs than not.

Impressive and energetic dance choreography, an engaging story and all the colourful summer costumes helped to keep me watching. In other words, ‘A sweet, moving, and joyous two-and-a-half hours’ is how I see In the Heights.

The experience of the movie is, I imagine, more heightened for Latin American audiences, since it’s focused on their multi-generational stories of life in the United States – specifically, Washington Heights, New York. Still, all you need to appreciate Chu and Miranda’s movie is to be open to a good musical film; one that you’re very likely to enjoy. You may even catch yourself singing ‘In the heights…! Because the title song is catchy in a non-regrettable way. 

Happy Film Loving,

G

Drama, Music, Musical

IN THE HEIGHTS (2021): new Trailer Starring Anthony Ramos, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Dascha Polanco, Corey Hawkins…

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In The Heights (2020), Anthony Ramos, Warner Bros. Pictures
In The Heights (2020), Anthony Ramos, Warner Bros. Pictures

Read my spoiler-free movie review of  In the Heights (2021).

Lin-Manuel Miranda, Corey Hawkins, Dascha Polanco, Anthony Ramos and director  Jon M. Chu’s musical, In the Heights finally has a full trailer.

Set in Washington Heights, New York; the story focuses on a bodega owner’s mixed feelings about closing his store to retire to the Dominican Republic.

The reason I intend to give this a chance, even though I don’t love musicals is the thought that maybe this one won’t be so bad. Additionally, I tried but couldn’t sit through more than ten minutes of Hamilton 2020 because it moved too fast. My thought is that maybe this Miranda production will be different. Maybe.

Susan Pourfar, Melissa Barrera, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Olga Merediz, Ariana Greenblatt, Stephanie Beatriz, Marc Anthony, Leslie Grace, Ken Holmes and Julia Harnett also star.

In The Heights Release Dates: June 18th, 2021 (US & UK)…

Happy Film Loving

G

Comedy, Drama, Music

MOXIE (2021): New Trailer From Amy Poehler, Josephine Langford, Josie Totah, Marcia Gay Harden, Ike Barinholtz…

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Moxie (2021), Hadley Robinson, Alycia Pascual-Pena, Netflix
Moxie (2021), Hadley Robinson, Alycia Pascual-Pena, Netflix

Directed by Amy Poehler; starring Hadley Robinson, Josephine Langford, Marcia Gay Harden and Poehler herself, Moxie is a new comedy/drama about a teenager who publishes a zine that sparks a school-wide, coming-of-rage revolution.

Additional key cast includes Alycia Pascual-Pena, Clark Gregg, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Josie Totah and Ike Barinholtz.

At first I thought this was a new Netflix series, not that I’m mad it’s a movie; one directed by Poehler no less. I’m in for the Poehler experience and the clearly talented young cast, plus the pertinent subject matter.

Also, I rather like the word moxie, meaning energy, courage or determination. A word that makes me think of Captain America. He must have used it in one of the movies.

Sydney Park, Kevin Dorff, Anjelika Washington, Nico Hiraga, Ji-young Yoo, Lauren Tsai and Gracie Lawrence also star.

Moxie Release Dates: March 3rd, 2021 Netflix, (US & UK)…

Happy Film Loving

G