Amy (2015)

I remember when Amy Winehouse died back in 2011, we all knew, sooner rather than later, it would eventually happen, but it was a shock nevertheless. I didn't know much about her though, only that she had an alcohol problem and that she was in a toxic relationship. Learning more about her is what made me watch Amy.

This documentary indeed tells the story of the life and death of Amy Winehouse, a talented singer and songwriter with a unique voice as well as a very tormented soul destroyed by alcohol, drugs and especially self-sabotage and self-destruction.

Danny Collins (2015)

Genres

Comedy, Drama, Music

Director

Dan Fogelman

Country

USA

Cast

Al Pacino, Annette Bening, Jennifer Garner, Bobby Cannavale, Christopher Plummer, Nick Offerman, Cesar Evora, Josh Peck, Fernando Colunga, Michelle Vieth, Katarina Cas, Melissa Benoist, Giselle Eisenberg, Eric Michael Roy

Storyline

Agings folk singer Danny Collins (Al Pacino) decides to change his life and rediscover his family when he finds a 40-year-old undelivered letter written to him by John Lennon. 

Opinion

Danny Collins came to my attention because there's Al Pacino who doesn't play neither a gangster nor a criminal and I gave it a change. And he was impressive. Way more impressive than the film itself. 

Why? Because there simply isn't a lot new in this film. It basically tells a story that has already been told a million times before. Actually, it manages to tells two stories that have already been told a million times before, that of an ageing musician who decides to turn his life around and that of an ageing and absent parent who feels guilty about that and decides to be part of his son's life. I would have loved the writers to go with the John Lennon letter and focus more on that but instead they decided to go on the tedious road of clichés. 

The title character isn't anything special either. He's just another man who has lived a life made of excesses, wants to change it but keeps fucking it up. He isn't a very interesting character either to be honest, but with a strong performance, Al Pacino manages to make you root for him while he charms his way into his son's life and flirts with hotel manager Mary, delightfully portrayed by Annette Bening. However, the courting between Pacino and Bening gets a little repetitive and boring after a while.

So for the most, the script isn't the film's strongest suit, but the dialogue is actually pretty clever. Also, Folgelman's director (Crazy, Stupid, Love.) is good and the film ends up being a little emotional and humorous dramedy. 

Crazy Heart (2009)

Genres

Drama, Music, Romance

Director

Scott Cooper

Country

USA

Cast

Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell, Robert Duvall, Paul Herman, Jack Nation, Ryan Bingham, Rick Dial

Storyline

Bad Blake (Jeff Bridges) is a broken-down country singer with an alcohol addiction who is forced to reassess his life after he meets Jean (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a journalist who will discover the real man behind the musician. 

Opinion

I've been meaning to watch Crazy Heart for quite some time because of Colin Farrell but I eventually ended up watching it because of Jeff Bridges. Isn't it funny? Why am I bringing that up? Because the film itself isn't great, but Bridges' performance sure does elevate it so I'm happy he was the reason I watched this film for (also because Farrell is barely in it).

The main reason is the writing. The film tells the story of a washed up singer trying to overcome his addiction and to save what's left of his career. It isn't the most original of the stories, its outcome is very predictable and the development leaves something to be desired. 

Then there is a decent, slow-paced romance that would have been much better if the writers spent some time developing the characters and provided Jean a little back story to make us understand why she is seduced by this older man and why she is so vulnerable. I know the story isn't about her but since she has a huge impact on it, a deeper character was needed.

The direction isn't great either. There are just too many close-ups, probably Cooper was trying to make up for the characters' lack of deepness with some deep shots. However, the calmness and slow-pacing of the movie work quite well.

At last, we have the performances and they really make the watch worth. Jeff Bridges is spectacular as the decadent singer and captures the sorrows of Blake wonderfully. He doesn't overdo the character, he's pretty much Bad Blake. And he also does his own singing, which is impressive. If you haven't seen the movie, I suggest you go listen to the soundtrack; he really sounds amazing. Same goes with Colin Farrell who also gives a good performance (the fangirl in me wanted more of him though). Maggie Gyllenhaal is impressive considering how poor her character is, but was she Oscar worthy? I'm not sure about that.

Pitch Perfect 2 (2015)

Genre

Comedy | Music

Director

Elizabeth Banks

Country

USA

Cast

Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Hailee Steinfeld, Brittany Snow, Alexis Knapp, Hana Mae Lee, Ester Dean, Chrissie Fit, Kelley Jakle, Shelley Regner, Skylar Astin, Adam DeVine, Katey Sagal, Anna Camp, Ben Platt, Birgitte Hjort Sørensen, Flula Borg, Reggie Watts, John Hodgman, Jason Jones, Joe Lo Truglio, John Michael Higgins, Elizabeth Banks, Snoop Dogg, David Cross, Keegan-Michael Key, Shawn Carter Peterson

Storyline

After a humiliating command performance at The Kennedy Center in front of the President, the Barden Bellas are taken out of the Aca-Circuit. In order to clear their name and regain their status, the Bellas take on a seemingly impossible task: winning the World Championship, the competition no American team has ever won.

Opinion

Hollywood loves two things: money and pointless sequels and remakes. So what a better way than making a sequel to such a successful film like Pitch Perfect to make people pay to watch crap?

Disappointing on so many levels, Pitch Perfect 2 is an unfunny, boring and highly offensive comedy.

The plot is so predictable, hopeless, and lame, it's an insult to the audience's intelligence, and the hundreds of sub plots are completely pointless and go nowhere. Beca's job at the recording studio, for example, just fills some time, and ends with her boss saying I like your stuff but basically every single teenager with a computer can do that nowadays, so you are not that special. Also the Benji and Emily's romance is completely nonsense.

I don't even know why I'm trying to give a meaning to this, but how is the original song supposed to make them win the World Championship? If I don't go wrong, a cappella's only do cover, at least that's what they say in the film. And the Germans, Das Sound Machine, were way better than the Bellas.

The characters are even worse. Fat Amy basically takes over, and Beca is downgraded to supporting character. Emily, the new Bella, has no reason to exist, and what did they do to Bumper? How did the arrogant jerk become a love puppy dog?

When it comes to offensive humour and jokes, this film somehow manages to be even worse than its predecessor. The racist stereotypes are extended to Hispanics, with new entry Flo, whose jokes about her homeland make you feel sick. Homophobic, and fatphobic like the first installment, this film is also misogynist: sexist comments are all over the place.

The most disappointing thing is that this film was directed by Elizabeth Banks, a woman, and written by Kay Cannon, another woman, yet the dancing is a lot more sexualised, and there are pointless slow-motion sequences of the girls pillow fighting, and like Anna Kendrick says in the film, this sets women back like 30 years.

Anna Kendrick looks like she'd rather be somewhere else - but we can't blame her, can we? - and Rebel Wilson is trying to hard the fat girls have fun formula. I am sorry, only Melissa McCarthy is entitled to use that.

I wonder what did Obama do wrong to be in this film.

Pitch Perfect (2012)

Genre

Comedy | Music | Romance

Director

Jason Moore

Country

USA

Cast

Anna Kendrick, Anna Camp, Brittany Snow, Rebel Wilson, Ester Dean, Alexis Knapp, Hana Mae Lee, Kelley Alice Jakle, Shelley Regner, Wanetah Walmsley, Skylar Astin, Ben Platt, Adam DeVine, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Michael Viruet, David Del Rio, Gregory Gorenc, Wes Lagarde, Steven Bailey, Brian Silver, Michael Anaya, Nicole Lovince, Caroline Fourmy, Freddie Stroma, Jinhee Joung, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, John Michael Higgins, Elizabeth Banks, John Benjamin Hickey

Storyline

After a disastrous failing at last year’s finals, the Barden Bellas, an all-girls a cappella singing group, are forced to regroup. Among the new recruits is freshman Beca (Anna Kendrick), an independent, aspiring DJ with no interest in the college life. Injecting some much needed energy into their repertoire, The Bellas take on their male rivals in a campus competition.

Opinion

Did you know that in Italian “cappella” also means making a huge mistake? Probably the people who made this film knew it, because it’s aca-awful. Anything but perfect, Pitch Perfect is just another teen movie that seems made out of weaker Glee episodes.

The storyline can be summarized in a word: predictable. Everything goes exactly as somebody with a functioning brain would think. The jokes, revolving around Jewish, menstrual cycle, penetration, and eating a twin in the womb – creepy, right? -, are not funny at all. 

The characters aren’t that good themselves. Beca is an arrogant brat that hates to go to college and be with people. Perfect setup for character development, right? No! After apologizing for being herself, she a social butterfly. Jesse is the clichéd love interest of every single teen rom-com. The other secondary characters are unlikable and annoying, with the exception of Fat Amy because she is funny. Pardon, she will slightly make you chuckle.

More shamefully is that the film constantly offended people, being racist, anti-Semitic, and homophobic. It is disrespectful towards Asians. The two Asian character are simply awful. One is a racist, rude bitch; the other is a crazy pyromaniac who enjoys rolling in vomit. It literally gives no shit about the black girl. After the moment of confession, when she opens up, and talks about her gambling problem, everyone is still concerned about her sexuality. To be honest, the attitude to her isn't better during the rest of the film.

Anna Kendrick is too sweet for the lead role of Beca, but she knows how to lead, and her solo with the coffee mug is the brightest spot in the film. The rest of the cast does not deserve a mention.

Begin Again (2013)

Genre

Drama | Music

Director

John Carney

Country

USA

Cast

Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, Adam Levine, Catherine Keener, Hailee Steinfeld, James Corden, CeeLo Green, Yasiin Bey, James Corden

Storyline

Gretta (Keira Knightley) and her long-time boyfriend Dave (Adam Levine) are college sweethearts and songwriting partners who decamp for New York when he lands a deal with a major label. But the trappings of his new-found fame soon tempt Dave to stray, and a reeling, lovelorn Gretta is left on her own. Her world takes a turn for the better when Dan (Mark Ruffalo), a disgraced record-label exec, stumbles upon her performing on an East Village stage and is immediately captivated by her raw talent.

Opinion

"These pearls are just... becoming increasingly more and more rare to me. - More string than pearls? - Yeah. You've got to travel over a lot more string to get to the pearls.This moment film is a pearl, Gretta everybody."

After seeing the trailer, I was expecting a cheesy film, but I was pleasantly surprised. Sad, funny, and romantic, yet not falling into the clichéd sentimental genre, Begin Again is a wonderful, creative, quirky film about love for music.

John Carney wrote a really good script, that avoid most of the typical romantic comedy clichés. You genuinely don't know where it's going - I tried to guess, and I'm usually good at it, but this time I miserably failed. The story captured me from the start, and took me up and down, in a rollercoaster of emotions. What can I say about the ending? Just perfect. Not to mention the closing credits. The scenes that run in there complement the film. I wish all closing credits were this good.

The film shows how complicated it is to maintain a healthy relationship when one of the two is becoming a star. Also, shows how hard can be to an artist to stay faithful to his art.

The characters are all likeable and the leads are both relatable. It's a great relationship the one between Dan and Gretta, but the one that stuck with me is the reconnection of Dan to his daughter. 

Being a film about music, the main character is music herself. Feelings are not explicit but are the songs performed around New York City to deliver the emotions. The music used is just wonderful, from the soundtrack to the original performances. The greatest moment? When Dan listens to Gretta perform for the first time, and in his head the voice and guitar grow into something much bigger.

Mark Ruffalo gives a charming performance as Dan Mulligan, and he is a real pleasure to watch. Keira Knightley delivers a moving and subtle performance as Gretta, and who knew she could sing so well? She doesn't have a powerful voice, but it perfectly suits the film's songs. There's great chemistry between the leads. Catherine Keener is great as always as Miriam, Ruffalo's wife, and Hailee Steinfeld is surprisingly good as Violet, Ruffalo's estranged daughter. Also, who knew Adam Levin could act? That was quite a performance. 

Quotes

Dan: That's what I love about music.

Gretta: What?

Dan: One of the most banal scenes is suddenly invested with so much meaning! All these banalities - They're suddenly turned into these... these beautiful, effervescent pearls. From Music.

Dan: You can tell a lot about a person by what's on their playlist.

Gretta: I know you can. That's what's worrying me.

Frank (2014)

Genre

Comedy | Drama | Music

Director

Lenny Abrahamson

Country

United Kingdom | Ireland | United States

Cast

Domhnall Gleeson, Michael Fassbender, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Scoot McNairy, Carla Azar, François Civil

Plot

Jon (Domhnall Gleeson), a young wanna-be musician, discovers he's bitten off more than he can chew when he joins an eccentric pop band led by the mysterious and enigmatic Frank (Michael Fassbender).

Opinion

Oscar Wilde once said, "Every man lies, but give him a mask and he will be sincere". This film is an example of that. Frank is a funny, clever, moving, surreal and unusual film.

The autobiographical experience of screenwriter Jon Ronson, upon which the film is based, certainly helps, but Lenny Abrahamson's film is something more than a man in the papier-mâché head. The film shows the thin line between artistic talent and insanity, and also the difference between going viral and being popular.

Michael Fassbender's performance as Frank is stunning. Despite the covered face, he manages to show the depth of the soul of such a complex character through gestures and voice modulation. In the spectacular closing scene, when Michael/Frank finally takes the mask off, all we see is a man in tears embarrassed by the awareness of being different.

Quotes

Frank: I say, tell everyone everything. Why cover anything up, right?

Rating

9.0/10

Whiplash (2014)

Genre

Drama | Music

Director

Damien Chazelle

Country

United States

Cast

Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons, Paul Reiser, Melissa Benoist, Austin Stowell, Nate Lang, Chris Mulkey, Jayson Blair, Kavita Patil, Michael Cohen, Kofi Siriboe, Suanne Spoke, April Grace

Plot

Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller) has a dream: becoming one of the greatest jazz drummers of his generation.

Since the competition is fierce at the New York's prestigious Shaffer Conservatory, and to impress his instructor Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons), Neiman practices hard day and night, until his hands bleed. 

Opinion

Whiplash is an incredibly powerful film with lot to teach: never give up, pursue your dream, no matter what. Damien Chazelle, young and talented, becomes part of the history of cinema with this thrilling, exciting masterpiece. The constant drumming that stays with us for almost the entire film is amazing.

Miles Teller is surprisingly good, actually he is fantastic and this is his best performance so far. J.K. Simmons delivers a flawless and astonishing performance, which got him a Golden Globe for best supporting actor, and an Oscar nomination, which surely will turn into a win.

Buy on Amazon.com | Buy on Amazon Instant Video

Quotes

Terence Fletcher: There are no two words in the English language more harmful than good job.

Terence Fletcher: I was there to push people beyond what's expected of them. I believe that's an absolute necessity.

Rating

10/10