Search
Search results
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Dreamgirls (2006) in Movies
Aug 14, 2019
The rise of Motown records is one of the music industries greatest tales. Berry Gordy Jr. in 1959 established the record label that not only made stars of numerous talents such as Diana Ross and the Supremes and the Jackson 5, but helped African American talents finds success in other markets and mainstream radio.
In the film Dreamgirls, Director/Screenwriter Bill Condon brings the book and musical of the same name to the big screen with style and energy, and tells an inspired and entertaining story.
Though the names have been changed, it does not take much effort to discover that many parts in the film are indeed based upon actual people, and situations, which only ads to the story and characters, as though seeing a work of fiction, there is some factual basis to what is being shown.
Beyonce’ Knowles stars as Deena Jones, who is the lead singer in a female trio who hope to get noticed at a local talent show. While the group fails to win, they do attract the attention of Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jaime Foxx), a local manager who runs a car dealership during the day.
Curtis takes the girls under his management and soon begins a relationship with Effie, (Jennifer Hudson), as the band begins to get notice. Curtis uses bribes to get the girls played on white radio stations and soon has a hit on his hands and forms his own record label in order for his talent.
While on tour with R&B legend James Thunder Early (Eddie Murphy), the decision is made to make Deena sing lead over Effie which leads to tensions in the band despite their growing success.
What follows is a tale full of love, loss, success, failure, redemption, and laughs as the dynamic tale of the girls and their career is told over the passage of several years.
While much has been made of the singing of Beyonce’ and Jennifer Hudson, Eddie Murphy was clearly the star of the film as he brought a dynamic energy to the film whenever he was on screen. Murphy amazingly blended comedy and music as he performed his own material as well as generated sympathy as the troubled singer, who is trying to hold onto fleeting fame amongst changing times and gives and Oscar worthy performance.
The songs of the film are very well done, though at times, some of them dragged on to long for my taste, and at times hampered the narrative portion of the film.
That being said, Dreamgirls is one of the best musical to hit the screen and if for no reason other than Murphy’s performance is must see film.
In the film Dreamgirls, Director/Screenwriter Bill Condon brings the book and musical of the same name to the big screen with style and energy, and tells an inspired and entertaining story.
Though the names have been changed, it does not take much effort to discover that many parts in the film are indeed based upon actual people, and situations, which only ads to the story and characters, as though seeing a work of fiction, there is some factual basis to what is being shown.
Beyonce’ Knowles stars as Deena Jones, who is the lead singer in a female trio who hope to get noticed at a local talent show. While the group fails to win, they do attract the attention of Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jaime Foxx), a local manager who runs a car dealership during the day.
Curtis takes the girls under his management and soon begins a relationship with Effie, (Jennifer Hudson), as the band begins to get notice. Curtis uses bribes to get the girls played on white radio stations and soon has a hit on his hands and forms his own record label in order for his talent.
While on tour with R&B legend James Thunder Early (Eddie Murphy), the decision is made to make Deena sing lead over Effie which leads to tensions in the band despite their growing success.
What follows is a tale full of love, loss, success, failure, redemption, and laughs as the dynamic tale of the girls and their career is told over the passage of several years.
While much has been made of the singing of Beyonce’ and Jennifer Hudson, Eddie Murphy was clearly the star of the film as he brought a dynamic energy to the film whenever he was on screen. Murphy amazingly blended comedy and music as he performed his own material as well as generated sympathy as the troubled singer, who is trying to hold onto fleeting fame amongst changing times and gives and Oscar worthy performance.
The songs of the film are very well done, though at times, some of them dragged on to long for my taste, and at times hampered the narrative portion of the film.
That being said, Dreamgirls is one of the best musical to hit the screen and if for no reason other than Murphy’s performance is must see film.
Ear Logic - Ear Trainer for Guitar
Music and Education
App
Ear Logic is a customizable ear training app designed to help guitarists build the musical...
VoiceJam: Vocal Looper - Sing, Loop, Share
Music and Entertainment
App
Sing, Loop, Share. What if you could create something musically amazing with just your voice? What...
Kids Song Collection - Playful Nursery Rhymes
Education and Games
App
~~~ 6 amazing animated, interactive children songs inside! ~~~ ~~~ Child friendly environment with...
RəX Regent (349 KP) rated Tangled (2010) in Movies
Mar 7, 2019
Not Shrek 5... Though I can understand the error...
Contains spoilers, click to show
Last night I went to see Shrek 5
No, I actually went to see a Disney digimation which was trying to cash in on the former franchise. But despite its look, this was Disney through and through. Lacking the wit of Pixar and the sharp zaniness of Dreamworks, this was part musical, part sweeping rom-com.
What has happened to this studio, when they lack the confidence to make their films, their way? If this had been hand drawn animation it would have been twice the film, but instead we're treated to a mongrel 3D digimation with the story and style of Disney, Dreamworks and Pixar, but done without any of the flare of any of them.
The 3D was effective but the whole concept is now becoming very, very boring and I would have preferred to have seen it in 2D to be honest. It was never the less enjoyable, it made me laugh and some of the character development was quite effective, such a the horse, Maximus, who was as far removed from Shrek's 'Donkey' as you could imagine, especially as he never utters a word! I recon that kids and pure Disney fans will lap this up, though it is no Lion King, it's certainly an entertaining animation.
What has happened to this studio, when they lack the confidence to make their films, their way? If this had been hand drawn animation it would have been twice the film, but instead we're treated to a mongrel 3D digimation with the story and style of Disney, Dreamworks and Pixar, but done without any of the flare of any of them.
The 3D was effective but the whole concept is now becoming very, very boring and I would have preferred to have seen it in 2D to be honest. It was never the less enjoyable, it made me laugh and some of the character development was quite effective, such a the horse, Maximus, who was as far removed from Shrek's 'Donkey' as you could imagine, especially as he never utters a word! I recon that kids and pure Disney fans will lap this up, though it is no Lion King, it's certainly an entertaining animation.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Wild Rose (2018) in Movies
Apr 16, 2019 (Updated Apr 16, 2019)
A Star is Paroled, More Like
Scottish-set take on the same kind of material as A Star is Born features a terrific performance (both acting and musical) from Jessie Buckley, and much less material about people falling in love or weeing themselves on stage. Talented but off-the-rails young woman comes out of prison, tries to reconnect with her mother and children, plans (not very realistically) to go to Nashville and become a country star. (The point is repeatedly made that country music is not the same as country and western music, but this is possibly not the venue to be pedantic in.) Features a cameo by Whispering Bob Harris, who gives an oddly unconvincing performance even though he's playing himself.
Buckley is tremendous, as noted, but Julie Walters is equally good as her disapproving mum (no singing from Walters, though); the film plays engagingly with audience expectations and - to its credit - resists the temptation to suggest there are easy answers to life's questions. It works really hard to earn its moments of triumph and joy: there is some real heartbreak along the way, and the film suggests that while being dedicated to your dreams is all very well, it can also make you a horrible person to be around. Cheats a bit at the very end, but has earned the right to by that point, I would say.
Buckley is tremendous, as noted, but Julie Walters is equally good as her disapproving mum (no singing from Walters, though); the film plays engagingly with audience expectations and - to its credit - resists the temptation to suggest there are easy answers to life's questions. It works really hard to earn its moments of triumph and joy: there is some real heartbreak along the way, and the film suggests that while being dedicated to your dreams is all very well, it can also make you a horrible person to be around. Cheats a bit at the very end, but has earned the right to by that point, I would say.
Caitlin Ann Cherniak (85 KP) rated Moana (2016) in Movies
Oct 4, 2018
A real feminist Disney film (3 more)
LOVE THE SOUNDTRACK
The Rock actually makes an extremely good Maui
The animation is to DIE for!
David Bowie musical number ripoff, but that's a very minor issue (1 more)
WHERE'S PUA?
Letterboxd review: https://letterboxd.com/caitcher/film/moana-2016/
First Impressions:
I said it was one of the best movies I've ever seen two years ago. It's still one of the best movies I've ever seen. First, let me start by saying that the animation was definitely at its best with this film (And it's the best as far as the Disney animation studio is concerned; Pixar has nothing to do with this). It is very hard to animate water as real as Moana was made to be, but Disney did it. The film is also one of the most colorful that I have ever seen in years, and it was super appealing to all of the senses. I loved the casting because the majority, if not all, the characters are played either by those of Pacific Islander or New Zealand descent, and that's diversity without shoving it into everyone's faces. Also, remember when Frozen's commercials were saying that its soundtrack was the best since the Lion King. That's bull. Moana's soundtrack is one of the best since the Lion King. This movie beat Frozen by a landslide.
First Impressions:
I said it was one of the best movies I've ever seen two years ago. It's still one of the best movies I've ever seen. First, let me start by saying that the animation was definitely at its best with this film (And it's the best as far as the Disney animation studio is concerned; Pixar has nothing to do with this). It is very hard to animate water as real as Moana was made to be, but Disney did it. The film is also one of the most colorful that I have ever seen in years, and it was super appealing to all of the senses. I loved the casting because the majority, if not all, the characters are played either by those of Pacific Islander or New Zealand descent, and that's diversity without shoving it into everyone's faces. Also, remember when Frozen's commercials were saying that its soundtrack was the best since the Lion King. That's bull. Moana's soundtrack is one of the best since the Lion King. This movie beat Frozen by a landslide.
Awix (3310 KP) rated A Star Is Born (2018) in Movies
Oct 10, 2018
The story that's been resurrected more times than Dracula is back again, this time with Bradley Cooper as troubled country-rocker Jackson Maine, and Lady Gaga as the aspiring singer-songwriter who starts off as his protege/girlfriend but whose talent threatens to eclipse his. Better bring your hankies (or some kind of absorbent cloth, anyway).
Well, the good news is that Cooper can sing and Gaga can act, so the film hangs together as a dramatic musical, but it's still probably at its best when Cooper is acting and Gaga is singing. Some of the songs are absolutely lovely, but to be quite honest, the film goes on a bit too long, especially the wallowing-in-existential-misery stuff near the end. It's also made quite clear from the opening moments that Cooper's character has problems, so the story kind of comes across as one last detour on the way down than a genuine romantic tragedy.
Still, well acted, well sung, convincing stuff: the kind of old-fashioned meaty melodrama that often does very well for itself both critically and commercially, though it may have come out a bit too early to really storm the Oscars next year. Brace yourself for a remake of The Bodyguard with Katy Perry or Taylor Swift, I shouldn't wonder.
Well, the good news is that Cooper can sing and Gaga can act, so the film hangs together as a dramatic musical, but it's still probably at its best when Cooper is acting and Gaga is singing. Some of the songs are absolutely lovely, but to be quite honest, the film goes on a bit too long, especially the wallowing-in-existential-misery stuff near the end. It's also made quite clear from the opening moments that Cooper's character has problems, so the story kind of comes across as one last detour on the way down than a genuine romantic tragedy.
Still, well acted, well sung, convincing stuff: the kind of old-fashioned meaty melodrama that often does very well for itself both critically and commercially, though it may have come out a bit too early to really storm the Oscars next year. Brace yourself for a remake of The Bodyguard with Katy Perry or Taylor Swift, I shouldn't wonder.
Bong Mines Entertainment (15 KP) rated Golden Boy - Single by Young Pwavy in Music
Jun 17, 2019
Young Pwavy is an up-and-coming 15-year-old artist from Harlem, New York. Not too long ago, he released a tropical rap tune, entitled, “Golden Boy”, featuring Louyah.
“Now you have to see that I have been chosen. We about to blow. Make it so I never have to see another day where my momma stress about the bills that she got to pay. I stay on the path that I know. The road that leads straight to the goals. Hating ‘cause you see the growth. You ain’t gonna stop me, I shine through the storm. I will never worry about these hoes. I look over my shoulder as long as it goes ” – lyrics
‘Golden Boy’ tells an interesting tale of a young man who is determined to be the best version of himself.
Apparently, he’s not worried about promiscuous women or any other distraction. His main concern is stacking money as high as he can stack it and supporting his family.
‘Golden Boy’ contains a relatable storyline and harmonious rap vocals. Also, the likable tune possesses rhythmic instrumentation scented with an urban-tropical-rap fragrance.
Young Pwavy got involved in music after his cousin played him the work he had done for other artists. His musical influences include Drake, Post Malone, and Sheckwes.
https://www.bongminesentertainment.com/young-pwavy-golden-boy-louyah/
“Now you have to see that I have been chosen. We about to blow. Make it so I never have to see another day where my momma stress about the bills that she got to pay. I stay on the path that I know. The road that leads straight to the goals. Hating ‘cause you see the growth. You ain’t gonna stop me, I shine through the storm. I will never worry about these hoes. I look over my shoulder as long as it goes ” – lyrics
‘Golden Boy’ tells an interesting tale of a young man who is determined to be the best version of himself.
Apparently, he’s not worried about promiscuous women or any other distraction. His main concern is stacking money as high as he can stack it and supporting his family.
‘Golden Boy’ contains a relatable storyline and harmonious rap vocals. Also, the likable tune possesses rhythmic instrumentation scented with an urban-tropical-rap fragrance.
Young Pwavy got involved in music after his cousin played him the work he had done for other artists. His musical influences include Drake, Post Malone, and Sheckwes.
https://www.bongminesentertainment.com/young-pwavy-golden-boy-louyah/