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 musicals is, I get annoyed with all the singing, 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.
West Side Story (2021), Ansel Elgort, 20th Century Studios
Starring Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler and Ariana DeBose; Steven Spielberg brings us an adaptation of 1957’s West Side Story. A musical that explores forbidden love and the rivalry between two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds.
Just as I’d started to think that these days, Lin-Manuel Miranda is the only big name attached to hit musical movies; Steven Spielberg brings us a remake of West Side Story, the 1967 Oscar winning musical.
I watched the older movie in high school and I don’t recall disliking it as much as I do most musicals. For that reason and general curiosity, I’ll be watching this one. I also just love all the bright colours in this trailer.
David Alvarez, Rita Moreno, Mike Faist, Curtiss Cook, Brian d’Arcy James, Corey Stoll, Ezra Menas, Ben Cook, Sean Harrison Jones, Patrick Higgins, Paloma Garcia Lee and Maddie Ziegler also star.
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.
Directed by Australian singer/songwriter Sia, Music is a new drama/musical starring Kate Hudson, Maddie Ziegler, Ben Schwartz and Leslie Odom Jr.
Exploring two of Sia’s favourite themes, finding your voice and creating family; Music is the story of Zu (Hudson) and Music (Ziegler). Newly sober, Zu is the older half sister of Music, a young girl on the autism spectrum for whom she’s now become sole guardian.
I’m curious about Ziegler’s acting because playing someone on the spectrum and doing it justice is quite the challenge. Most of all, what I’m in for is the music. And a chance to see Hudson performing again. No doubt being a businesswoman with Fabletics has been keeping her busy.
Juliette Lewis, Mary Kay Place, Hector Elizondo, Tig Notaro, Brandon Soo Hoo, Parvesh Cheena, Christina Veronica, Chris Silcox, Angelina Capozzoli and Blair Williamson also star.
Starring Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, Andrew Rannells and Kerry Washington; Ryan Murphey’s latest creation is comedy/musical film, The Prom.
The Prom is the story of a swarm of self-obsessed theatre stars who arrive in a small conservative Indiana town, in support of a high school girl who wants to take her girlfriend to the prom.
Meryl Streep playing a role that’s the slightest bit reminiscent of her great work in The Devil Wears Prada (2006). That’s all the reason I need to watch this one. Particularly since musicals aren’t my favourite.
Also, Washington and Kidman and Rannells, plus I like the premise.
Keegan-Michael Key, Mary Kay Place, Tracey Ullman, Ariana DeBose, Kevin Chamberlin, Nathaniel J. Potvin, Nico Greetham, Jo Ellen Pellman, Logan Riley and Sebastian Vale also star.
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (2021), Max Harwood, 20th Century Studios
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is a film adaptation of the drama/musical of the same name.
Starring Max Harwood, Lauren Patel, Richard E. Grant, Sarah Lancashire, and directed by Jonathan Butterell; it’s the story of a teenage boy from Sheffield, England who wants to be a drag queen.
I love it when people get to be precisely themselves and succeed regardless of other people’s ideas of who they ought to be. Such predicaments always take me back to one of my favourite quotes of all time. A quote by writer/feminist Audre Lorde: ‘If I didn’t define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other people’s fantasies for me and eaten alive.’
I’m looking forward to seeing Jamie win. Also, I recently finished watching Catastrophe, a very well written comedy series written by and starring Rob Delaney and Sharon Horgan. The latter being the teacher character in this trailer. Catastrophe is a great show that turned me into a life long fan of Horgan. I’d see Everybody’s Talking About Jamie anyway. Now I’m that little bit more excited because Horgan’s in it, even though her character isn’t exactly likeable.
Shobna Gulati, Shameem Ahmad, Ralph Ineson, Samuel Bottomley, Ramzan Miah, Zane Alsaroori, Gareth Joyner, Alex Anstey, Daniel Wallace and Dannie Pye also star.
This post was always going to happen. Particularly since my review of director Howard Hawks’s Gentlemen Prefer Blondes revealed William Travilla’s unforgettable costume design as a major highlight. And so, without any further a do, I hope you enjoy the below images at least half as much as I do.
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), Marilyn Monroe, Twentieth Century Fox
Firstly, lilac magic.
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), Marilyn Monroe, Twentieth Century Fox
Then some head-turning leopard print gorgeousness.
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), Marilyn Monroe, Elliott Reid, Twentieth Century Fox
The only word is ‘Wow!’
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), Marilyn Monroe, Twentieth Century Fox
Double ‘wow!’
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell, Twentieth Century Fox
This here is a shot from the film footage that had me compelled to watch the movie; after finding out who these two characters were and how they came to look so great together.
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), Marilyn Monroe, Twentieth Century Fox
The super famous ‘diamonds are a girl’sbest friend‘ number. Just ask Madonna, Lady Gaga and Margot Robbie.
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), Jane Russell, Twentieth Century Fox
Hello, brown!
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), Marilyn Monroe, Twentieth Century Fox
Completely stunning red sequins from the opening dance number.
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), Jane Russell, Twentieth Century Fox
More red shine, just after the aforementioned opening dance sequence.
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), Jane Russell, Twentieth Century Fox
Some yellow roses with gold detail for your memories.
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), Jane Russell, Twentieth Century Fox
And, an important question: ‘Is this the coolest, that blue, red, yellow and black have ever looked together?’ Very likely!
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), Jane Russell, Twentieth Century Fox
Another very well deserved ‘wow!’
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), Jane Russell, Marilyn Monroe, Twentieth Century Fox
Who said ‘blue and green must never be seen?’ Seriously, I’m not trying to start a fight, but WHO in their right mind…?
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), Jane Russell, Marilyn Monroe, Twentieth Century Fox
Probably the most memorable double wedding look in film history!
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), Marilyn Monroe, Twentieth Century Fox
Last but in no way least, there’s of course, no celebration of the costume design in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, without featuring the famous gold lamé dress. A creation that was deemed so risqué for the time period, that in the movie, it’s only shown from the back. And what a beautiful view it is.
Did I miss out your favourite look? Unlikely. But it’s nice to ask.
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), Marilyn Monroe, Elliott Reid, Twentieth Century Fox
Watching movies that were made long before the 90s and 80s isn’t something I do very often. Yet, recently I came across film footage of Hollywood icons Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe. Two ladies who were looking incredibly stunning while walking together.
A few Google searches later, and there I was watching director Howard Hawks’s 1953 comedy/musical classic, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. A fun movie in which Monroe and Russell play two showgirls named Lorelei Lee and Dorothy Shaw. The ladies are two best friends who happen to be stunning. So stunning in fact that I would have fit right in among the admires Lorelei and Dorothy attracted everywhere they went in Hawks’s film. Fans including a private detective hired by the suspicious father of Lorelei’s fiancé, and a rich, enamoured old man, among many others.
I see Gentlemen Prefer Blondes as a movie that fits into the ‘perfectly pleasant, easy viewing’ category. There’s some mild to moderately amusing humour, the story moves along at a good pace, and visually, there’s much to enjoy; whether you’re taking in the production design or the very beautifully created costumes by Travilla.
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), Jane Russell, Twentieth Century Fox
As someone who’s near enough always been aware of Monroe’s iconic status, it wasn’t until this movie that I finally understood. To put it in no uncertain terms, the lady is so incredibly magnetic, that I have to wonder whether a camera has ever loved a person more. Travilla’s costumes, Ben Nye’s makeup and the skills of those in charge of hair certainly helped, but of course, there’s a lot more to that special magnetism than the beautiful shell.
My favourite thing about Gentlemen Prefer Blondes? Two things. Firstly, the touching friendship between Lorelei and Dorothy. Secondly, all the stunning fashion! Watch it for the fashion. The story is pleasant enough – but THE FASHION!
One more thing. Here’s the link to the film footage that got me here – in case you’re curious. You see?
The Movie My Life 