Archive for Music & Musicals

Walk The Line Movie Review

Posted on May 31, 2007 under Biography, Drama, Music & Musicals, Romance | No Comment

Walk the lineA real legend is...well, the stuff of legends. But much harder to reproduce on film, because of the depths of human expression that tend to get lost in the business of making it on time, on budget, and on a subject the public will "buy". Which means 2005's "Walk The Line" is that rarest of movies, one that dug deep into the story, put it up as it really unfolded, and managed to bag actors that could carry it off.

"Walk The Line" is the hard fighting/drinking/loving story of country icon, Johnny Cash and his love affair with wife June Carter. It lays the foundation for the movie's focus, and Cash's real life, by detailing his boyhood in Arkansas, the early death of a brother, and impulsive first marriage that ended in disaster. All of that contributes to the way Cash's life was already drifting when he sang for Sam Phillips of Sun Records, where he brushed shoulders with another newcomer, Elvis Presley. Chastised for offering a hymn, Joaquin Phoenix rips off a version of Folsom Prison Blues that snags him the prized contract, and sets his foot on a path that will lead him to depths he never dreamed of, and the woman who would pull him out of then, June Carter.

Both Phoenix, and Reese Witherspoon who plays June Carter, did their own vocals, which added immeasurably to the reality of their performances. Witherspoon at times was perhaps a tad too ebullient, but also managed to reach inside herself to pull out both the feminine side of Carter, and her fury at Cash's moral and physical deterioration as their relationship progressed from an initial backstage meeting to the final, enduring chapter written at the Folsom Prison concert.

Not strictly a love story, "Walk the Line" is nonetheless a sometimes moving, infuriating, and emotionally charged tale of two people both struggling towards the same goal- to be with each other.

Director: James Mangold
Producers: Alan C. Blomquist, James Keach, Cathy Konrad
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Ginnifer Goodwin, Robert Patrick, Ginnifer Goodwina

Also See:  Rental Movie

About the Author:

Alice Flegel is a self-confessed movie fanatic that reveals exactly which movies are living up to they hype and which are better left for the DVD. Check out her movie and DVD reviews at http://www.MoviesByAlice.com before you lay down cold-hard cash at the movie theatre or video store.

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Musical Guide – Review Of Mary Poppins

Posted on Feb 27, 2007 under Articles, Music & Musicals | No Comment

In this article we're going to cover one of the most unusual musicals of our time, the part human, part animated Mary Poppins.

Mary Poppins. It's probably the one musical responsible for making Julie Andrews a household name. But Mary Poppins was more than just that.

The musical movie, made in 1964, was probably the crowning achievement in Walt Disney's career. It was his first feature to mix real people with animated characters. At the time, this was some pretty cool stuff. And Disney made sure that everything for this movie masterpiece was just right. He hired one of the best songwriting teams of the time, the Sherman brothers, Robert and Richard. The score for this movie is still to this day considered the teams best ever. The movie itself was nominated for 13 Oscars. It won 5 of those nominations, including Best Actress, Julie Andrews, Best Musical Score, and Best Song, "Chim Chim Cher-ee."

But Mary Poppins was more than just great music. It was a purely delightful story of two children in desperate need of their father's love. Ultimately it took Mary Poppins to make the father realize that it wasn't a nanny that the children needed but their father. As the movie goes on we get to see this man, who at first is only concerned with the bottom line figures at his bank, transform into a loving father who takes his children out to fly a kite. Ultimately, Poppins, who the children had grown to love almost as a mother, drops out of the picture at the end realizing that the children belong with their father and that she would only be in the way. The ultimate sacrifice one would say.

Musical highlights in this one are numerous. There is of course the ever popular "Spoonful Of Sugar" which Poppins sings to the children in order to get them to take their medicine after an outing in the rain. Then there is the classic "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" which was sung during the animated horse race that Poppins, Bert the chimney sweeper and the children attended. And if you want to hear one of the most beautiful songs ever, and sung by an angelic voice, there is "Feed The Birds." This is probably the highlight of Andrews' vocal performances. Aside from that, the story of the old lady feeding the birds is one that only a soul without a heart wouldn't cry to. Of course you can't leave out the Oscar winning tune "Chim Chim Cher-ee" which was sung during Poppins', Bert's and the children's moonlight walk on top of the buildings of the city.

The great music just goes on and on. There isn't a bad tune in this movie. The final tune "Fly A Kite" where the father and children are finally doing something together as a family is really what the whole thing is all about. Yes, a lot of this musical is pure fantasy. But the lessons taught are lessons that every parent in this world should long remember. Children need their parents, not a nanny. Even if she can talk to animated creatures

About the Author:

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Music

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