Category Archives: Musical

Crime, Drama, Musical

JOKER – FOLIE À DEUX (2024): New Trailer Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Catherine Keener, Zazie Beetz…

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Starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga; it’s time for that long-awaited new Joker – Folie À Deux (Madness for Two) trailer.

I’m quite sure that the story that director Todd Phillips has chosen to tell will be engaging. Nevertheless, since many iterations of the Joker story have been told, it’s not the story that is pulling me in. Rather, it’s my curiosity about the performances and especially the visuals.

Part of what made Joker 2019 a must-see was the deep dive into his origin story, like never before. Now that we’re in the phase where he’s finally gained power, it will be interesting to see if this second part is presented in a way that doesn’t feel too much like a repetition of the ’empowered Joker story’. To begin with, Joker – Folie À Deux is a musical, which is certainly different.

What are your thoughts after seeing the above trailer?

Brendan Gleeson, Steve Coogan, Zazie Beetz, Ken Leung, Jacob Lofland, Gattlin Griffith, Leigh Gill Sharon Washington, Troy Metcalf, Harry Lawtey, Tim Dillon, George Carroll and Mike Houston also star.

Folie à Deux Release Dates: October 4th, 2024 (US & UK)…

Happy Film Loving,

G

Fantasy, Musical, Romance

WICKED (2024): New Trailer From Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum…

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Wicked (2024), Cynthia Erivo, Universal Pictures
Wicked (2024), Cynthia Erivo, Universal Pictures

The cast of Wicked, director Jon M. Chu’s latest musical/fantasy/romance film is great. And it includes Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum.

Fans of this long-standing and beloved stage musical will surely be delighted after watching this trailer.

As strong as my aversion to musicals is, this iteration just has way too much going for it for me to look the other way.

From the very talented cast to the costumes, the story of a beautiful friendship, incredible singing voices, triumph over a seemingly strong but actually weak monster and stunning special effects – to name just the most obvious things.

Maybe I’ve finally found another musical film I like, one to add to a list that currently only features The Greatest Showman (2017) Here’s to hoping.

Are you also drawn to Wicked?? I imagine the answer is yes; even more so if you’ve seen the live theatre production.

Keala Settle, Bowen Yang, Adam James, Terence Hughes, Aaron Teoh Guan Ti, Peter Dinklage, Grecia De la Paz, Alfredo Tavares and Bronwyn James also star.

Wicked Release Dates: November 24th, (UK); November 27th, (US)…

Happy Film Loving,

G

Crime, Drama, Musical

JOKER – FOLIE À DEUX (2024): New Trailer From Todd Phillips, starring Joaquin Phoenix, Zazie Beetz, Lady Gaga, Catherine Keener…

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Joker – Folie À Deux (Madness for Two), the highly anticipated sequel to the story of Gotham City’s most beloved villain is soon upon us.

Directed and co-written by Todd Philips, this time, Joaquin Phoenix is joined by Lady Gaga, Steve Coogan, Brendan Gleeson and Catherine Keener to name just a few.

Admittedly, much of the subject matter of Joker (2019) made me sad. Thankfully, however, all the tragic material was balanced by the plenty there was to appreciate as far as great filmmaking is concerned. It is largely for this reason, plus my general appreciation of the talents of Phoenix and Phillips, that we can all consider my ticket for this release well and truly purchased.

We all have to suffer for our art sometimes, right? In this case, it’s suffering for the art I love to consume, as opposed to the art that I’m creating.

Another way I’ll potentially suffer while watching this is because I dislike, am turned off by and largely HATE 99.9% of musicals. But, hey. I at least have to try in this case, right?

Lastly, can Phillips, Joaquin and I also consider your ticket for Joker – Folie à Deux, well and truly purchased? Confirm at once!

Zazie Beetz, Brendan Gleeson, Steve Coogan, Ken Leung, Jacob Lofland, Gattlin Griffith, Leigh Gill Sharon Washington, Troy Metcalf, Harry Lawtey, Tim Dillon, George Carroll and Mike Houston also star.

Folie à Deux Release Dates: October 4th, 2024 (US & 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

Crime, Drama, Musical

WEST SIDE STORY (2021): New Trailer From Steven Spielberg, Starring Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler, Ariana DeBose…

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West Side Story (2021), Ansel Elgort, 20th Century Studios
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.

West Side Story Release Dates: December 10th, 2021 (US & UK)…

Happy Film Loving

G