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Awix (3310 KP) rated The White Crow (2018) in Movies

Mar 28, 2019 (Updated Mar 28, 2019)  
The White Crow (2018)
The White Crow (2018)
2018 | Biography, Drama
Left-field remake focuses less on vengeful undead Goths and more on cold war politics and ballet dancing. Talented, driven, arrogant dancer Rudolf Nureyev chafes against the Soviet system seeking to exploit and control him; a visit to Paris offers him the hope of freedom. (You know, the more I think about it, the more I suspect this doesn't actually have anything to do with that Brandon Lee movie...)

Solid, typically measured stuff from Ralph 'Little Sunbeam' Fiennes; strong performances and good photography, together with a thoughtful script, make this engaging even if you're not that into people bounding around doing plies and what-have-you. Sags a bit in the middle, but the scenes depicting Nureyev's defection are gripping. Oleg Ivenko isn't quite the full Rudolf, but he gets near enough (thanks everyone, I'm here all week).
  
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Awix (3310 KP) rated Aladdin (2019) in Movies

Jun 12, 2019  
Aladdin (2019)
Aladdin (2019)
2019 | Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Musical
Eye-searingly garish, largely redundant auto-cash-in on the 1992 cartoon (which, full disclosure, I've never seen) - if you don't know the plot, well, what's wrong with your parents, did they never take you to a pantomime when you were young? Cave, lamp, genie, princess - I note that Widow Twankey has been ruthlessly scythed from the story.

After a slow start it does generate some energy and entertainment value, mainly because of Will Smith's turn as the genie (Will Smith in good movie role choice shocker!), and for anyone looking for something of substance to contemplate, there is an interesting subtext about the nature of power in traditional hierarchical societies. In the end, though, it manages to take panto plotting, Broadway show tunes, MOR power-ballads, blockbuster CGI, and Bollywood dancing and produce something which still feels essentially lifeless and calculated.
  
The Greatest Showman (2017)
The Greatest Showman (2017)
2017 | Drama, Musical
Everything! The music, dancing, the storyline, the characters. (0 more)
It will surprise you... then become an addiction!
I was originally unsure if I wanted to see this movie. A friend who has similar tastes saw it in theaters and told me I would regret not seeing it in the theater, so I went. From the first beat of music, I was hooked. I did not want the movie to end. The acting is phenomenal, music gave me chills, and I could not take my eyes off of it. I immediately bought the soundtrack, and saw it a second time in theaters. I also made sure to preorder the movie. Since then, I have show it to my students, and let teachers borrow it to show to their students. Every time, people or students who were not interested became hooked. This is a must see!
  
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Britt Daniel recommended track Moody by ESG in Come Away With ESG by ESG in Music (curated)

 
Come Away With ESG by ESG
Come Away With ESG by ESG
1983 | Rock
(0 Ratings)
Album Favorite

Moody by ESG

(0 Ratings)

Track

"This record is just so unique. All I know is that it’s the kind of album where you could put any song from it on at a party and everybody starts dancing. I’d been hearing this song at parties for years and I never knew what it was, other than that I loved this particular sound. Finally, one night, I asked the DJ, and it turned out it was these sisters from The Bronx, doing something totally fresh in the late '70s and early '80s. It must have come very naturally to them, because it sounds like nothing else I’ve ever heard. It’s almost bizarre; nearly all of it is just percussion and vocals and the occasional dub element. It’s minimal, and so singular, and you just have to dance to it. I guess that’s testament to how good the drummer was."

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