Starring Renée Zellweger, Rufus Sewell, Bella Ramsey, Jessie Buckley, and directed by Rupert Goold; Judy is a new biography/musical about legendary performer Judy Garland, a.k.a. Frances Ethel Gumm.
Judy focuses on Garland’s winter of 1968 series of sold-out concerts in London. Goold’s film will show Garland as she prepares for the show, battles with management, charms musicians and reminisces with friends, fans and meets Mickey Deans, her soon-to-be fifth husband.
As someone who’s aware of Garland but not so much her work, especially outside of The Wizard Of Oz (1939), I look forward to being enlightened.
Furthermore, having not watched Zellweger in a movie in a while, I’m excited to see her do a great job with this role. I wonder if she’ll actually sing.
Michael Gambon, Finn Wittrock, Andy Nyman, Fenella Woolgar, Philippe Spall ,John Dagleish and Gemma-Leah Devereux also star.
Starring Jennifer Aniston, Danielle McDonald and Odeya Rush, I had some fun Watching Dumplin’, the comedy/drama about Willowdean, a.k.a Dumplin,’ the plus-size teenage daughter of a former beauty queen.
Directed by Anne Fletcher, the story really gets underway when, to the surprise of many in their small Texas town, Willowdean starts a revolution by signing up for her mom’s Miss Teen Bluebonnet pageant.
I wanted to watch Dumplin‘ because of Aniston and the promise of some humour. There is a little humour involved, and the messaging about inclusion, representation and love of self is adequately executed. I also enjoyed witnessing the positive evolution of a strained mother/daughter relationship, plus a teenage girl finding her confidence.
Though everyone did well in their roles, a part of me does wish that Dumplin’ had been a tad more amusing and fun. A similar movie that I had more fun watching is Don’t Talk To Irene (2017), which I recommend.
Dolly Parton’s music features quite a lot in Dumplin’, and she’s often mentioned. As such, if you’re a fan, you know what to do.
Another reason to watch Dumplin’ is to see Aniston have fun in her role as a small town Texas woman. The idea alone just makes me smile.
In new comedy/drama/musical Dumplin‘, the plus-size teenage daughter of a former beauty queen decides to sign up for her mom’s Miss Teen Bluebonnet pageant. Doing so ends up revolutionising the pageant and their small Texas town.
Dumplin is directed by Anne Fletcher, and stars Jennifer Aniston, Danielle Macdonald, Odeya Rush, Harold Perrineau and Dove Cameron.
Reasons to be excited about this one include the promise of humour, the fact that I enjoy Aniston in comedy roles, and Harold Perrineau in drag as ‘Rhea Ranged.’
Luke Benward, Bex Taylor-Klaus, Sam Pancake and Joshua Allan Eads also star.
A Star Is BornstarsBradley Cooper as Jackson Maine, an ageing, alcoholic musician in a downward spiral, while Lady Gaga plays the talented young singer he helps find fame.
I’ll start by saying that I definitely misread the film’s duration of ‘one hundred and thirty six minutes’ as ‘one hour thirty-six minutes.’ Luckily though, in the end the longer than average two hours 16 minutes total length barely proved punishing.
As for why this movie appealed, I had to watch it to see how well Cooper fared in the dual leading actor/director role. The good news is, A Star Is Born is a well-executed story that’s heartbreaking, funny, layered, well-captured, and it features some rather memorable music. In fact, my favourite song on the soundtrack is called Shallow, and I’ve listened to it many times since.
I absolutely bought Cooper’s tortured character’s emotional journey. I also believed him as a rock star because of the good music in the film and how his character presented physically – including the way he moved – both on and off the stage. I especially enjoyed the first time Shallow is performed on stage; a pretty glorious experience that’s very beautifully shot.
Besides Cooper’s well-executed dual roles, other highlights include the deep bass in Cooper and co-star Sam Elliott’s voices. There’s also a memorable, perfectly timed funny momentthat involves one of the two/three times Frank Sinatra is mentioned.
As for the not-quite-great things about A Star Is Born, my suspension of disbelief was briefly interrupted by the uncomfortable close-ups near the beginning of the movie. Close-ups that luckily either eased off as the film went on, or they somehow bothered me less. There were also one or two moments of dialogue that felt awkward during Cooper and Gaga’s early interactions. Thankfully, though, that awkwardness also eased off as the film continued.
Watch A Star Is Born because it’s good, handles well themes linked to different kinds of relationships, familial, business, healthy, unhealthy, poisonous, etc. Lastly, if you’re not already in love, there’s a reasonable chance that A Star Is Born will make you want to be – and likely with a musician. So, good luck with that!
Starring Natalie Portman and written/directed by Brady Corbet, Vox Lux is a new drama/musical about the unusual set of circumstances that end up bringing unexpected success to a pop star.
Jude Law, Christopher Abbott, Willem Dafoe and Jennifer Ehle also star.
I’m drawn to what looks like the humour and kookiness of this movie. I also just want to see the talented Portman perform in a role I didn’t quite expect her to play.
The Movie My Life 