movie review

The best music movies throughout history.

‘In the Heights’ Review—An Energetic Musical Feat
Lights up on Washington Heights as Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, Now You See Me 2) directs In the Heights, a musical drama based on Qiara Alegría Hudes and Lin Manuel-Miranda’s Tony-winning musical of the same name. This film follows the members of the Washington Heights community as they face a blackout, all while pursuing their dreams.
By Jonathan Sim5 years ago in Beat
Documentary Review: 'Moby Doc' A Pretentious Look at a Pretentious Artist
If you plan on watching the new documentary Moby Doc, all about the music artist Moby, then you must be a fan first. The documentary is utterly impenetrable to those who aren’t already in Moby’s fandom. Being someone outside of the Moby fandom, aware of him mostly through cultural osmosis, I was rarely engaged or invested in the rather obtuse and off-putting artiness of Moby Doc. I appreciate that Moby and director Robert G Bralver wanted to do something different and fitting for Moby’s unique personality, but the artful touches are a little too extravagant for those who aren’t already familiar with Moby’s personality and art.
By Sean Patrick5 years ago in Beat
The Genius of Psycho's Score
One of the most important aspects of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic Psycho is Bernard Hermann’s tense score. In addition to Hitchcock’s brilliant direction that feels meticulous in every shot, the music serves to convey the emotions of the characters, the terror in their eyes, their deepest fears, and their determination to learn more about the strange events at Bates Motel. At its most prominent, the score allows us to get inside the head of Marion Crane, feel the weight of the actions of Norman’s mother, and accentuate the actions of the characters with the help of the editing.
By Jamie Lammers5 years ago in Beat
My Review of "Biggie: I Have a Story to Tell"
Biggie: I Have a Story to Tell is a biography of Christopher Wallace better known as the Notorious B.I.G. A lot of us probably know of the rapper but this documentary goes into more details of how he was brought up. It's also one of Netflix's latest song writer biographies. They've been killing it with a lot of the biographies lately so I couldn't help but check this documentary out.
By Brian Anonymous5 years ago in Beat
On The Rocks: A Rocky Road
On The Rocks is is a drama from Sofia Coppola starring Bill Murray, Rashida Jones, and Marlon Wayans. The red flags started early in this lackluster drama when its first words were, (spoken by the main character’s father): “And remember, don’t give your heart to any boys. You’re mine. Until you get married. Then you’re still mine.”
By Roya Weiss-Weinberg5 years ago in Beat
Five Must-See Music Documentaries
The Filth and The Fury Julien Temple – 2000 The first of my must-see music documentaries is The Filth and the Fury. Temple’s exposé explores the rise and the ensuing chaotic demise of the Sex Pistols. It is a damning critique of the 70s’ Britain told from the perspective of the surviving members of the Sex Pistols.
By Ricky Chopra5 years ago in Beat
Movie Review: 'The United States vs Billie Holiday
I don’t wish to psychoanalyze the power structure of an entire country or an entire gender of people, but, it appears from the evidence at hand, throughout American history, that racism is based deeply within the power desired by white men. Is it that white men hate black people just for being black? In some cases, perhaps, but the majority of racism and acting on racist instincts appears, to my amateur psychologist mind, to be an exertion of power over others. The desire to bend others to your will and not have to answer for it is one that has afflicted American history for decades.
By Sean Patrick5 years ago in Beat
Documentary Review: 'Truth to Power' Celebrates Art Changing the World
Though System of a Down became popular and relevant during a time when I should have taken notice of them, I somehow have managed to miss out on their career entirely. Where once I was plugged into nearly every music scene and every relevant popular band on those scenes, after September 11th, 2001, I fell out of love with any music that was not a comforting reminder of a pre-terrorism past.
By Sean Patrick5 years ago in Beat
The Music Lovers (1971)
The Music Lovers is a film that begins in the streets of Moscow, a frenzy. The viewer slowly, consciously begins to focus on Piotr Illyich Tchaikovsky (Richard Chamberlain) and his lover, Count Chiluvsky (Christopher Gable) as they celebrate amidst what seems to be a general merry-making in the icy Russian. The music of Tchaikovsky is as frenetic and joyful as the occupation of the two celebrants; we see them next crawling out of bed with each other, much to the chagrin of Rubinstein (Max Adrian), who is currently housing the closeted homosexual composer and genius.
By Tom Baker5 years ago in Beat
Song One - A Movie Review
If you ever feel lost, music will guide your way. Song One was released to theaters in 2014. After getting a call from her mother that her brother is in a coma in the hospital, Franny grapples with her path. Meeting James Forester, a fan-favorite musician of her brothers, they create a bond helping one another through struggles.
By Marielle Sabbag5 years ago in Beat
Summer of Love a Great Film And a Musical
The Summer of Love is a famous song by The Beatles. It was first released in December of 1960 and remains one of their most popular songs. The film version has become a cult classic and was made into a successful musical with an all star cast headed by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. If you are looking for a movie musical that will keep you guessing till the end, then The Summer of Love is a good choice.
By Daniel Thomas5 years ago in Beat
Aria (1987)
There are few films that have brought me as much pleasure as 1987's anthology of short cinematic wonders called Aria. I have repeatedly viewed the film: as an escape, as an elevation of the spirit, as a perfect and complete entertainment--it exemplifies all that the cinema is. Dream-like, surreal, a fantasia blending sound and image with utter and complete rapturous affection. To say that it is perfect is perhaps overstating things; but, only a little. It is damn near perfect.
By Tom Baker5 years ago in Beat