The Good Liar Soundtrack Available on WaterTower Music
Two-time Academy Award Nominated Composer Carter Burwell Provides New Music for Director Condon’s Suspense Thriller Starring Helen Mirren and Ian McKellen
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WaterTower Music is excited to announce today’s digital release of the soundtrack to The Good Liar, a thriller from New Line Cinema about the secrets people keep and the lies they live. The film stars legendary actors Helen Mirren (Oscar winner, The Queen) and Ian McKellen (two-time Oscar nominee, Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Gods and Monsters), together on the big screen for the first time. Directed by Bill Condon and based on the widely acclaimed novel by Nicholas Searle, The Good Liar hits theaters nationwide Friday, November 15, 2019. The music from the film is composed by Emmy Award winning and two-time Oscar nominated composer Carter Burwell (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Carol).
Condon, who won an Oscar as screenwriter of Gods and Monsters, glowingly discussed his frequent creative collaborator and what the composer brings to the music of The Good Liar. “Carter is a master of bringing out emotions that may exist under the surface and, if you go back and know what you’re looking for, he has a wonderful way of dropping little musical clues throughout. The scoring is the final element that ties all the pieces together.”
Burwell further elaborated on the film and its music. “The Good Liar opens with a classic overture, during which the main characters and their musical themes are introduced. The characters meet and we see that, like most people, they are not completely honest with each other. But five minutes into the film you know the level of deceit is much more serious than that.”
“As is obvious from its title,” the composer continued, “The Good Liar is about untruth, so early on I asked Bill how much lying the music should do. He felt the most important role for the score was to keep drawing us in, weaving its own web to tangle us enjoyably in the misdeeds we’re watching. Not so much lying to the audience as making them co-conspirators.”
ABOUT CARTER BURWELL
Carter Burwell has composed the music for more than 90 feature films, including Blood Simple, Raising Arizona, Miller's Crossing, Barton Fink, The Hudsucker Proxy, Rob Roy, Fargo, The Spanish Prisoner, Gods and Monsters, Velvet Goldmine, Three Kings, Being John Malkovich, O Brother, Where Art Thou? (BAFTA Award nominee for Film Music), Before Night Falls, A Knight’s Tale, The Rookie, Adaptation., Intolerable Cruelty, No Country for Old Men, In Bruges, Burn After Reading, Twilight, Where the Wild Things Are (Golden Globe nominee for Best Original Score), A Serious Man, The Blind Side, The Kids Are All Right, True Grit, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Parts 1 & 2, Mr. Holmes, Legend, Anomalisa, Hail, Caesar!, The Founder and Goodbye Christopher Robin.
Burwell wrote the music for 2017’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, starring Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson and Sam Rockwell and written and directed by Martin McDonagh. He received an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe Award nomination and won the British Independent Film Award for Best Music for his work on the film. His other recent films include Wonderstruck, which premiered at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival and was Burwell’s fourth collaboration with director Todd Haynes; and the Coen Brothers’ The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, a six-part Western anthology film for Netflix which marked their 17th project together and premiered in November 2018. His original score for The Ballad of Buster Scruggs was named to the 2019 Oscar shortlist. He also wrote the music for the animated feature Missing Link directed by Chris Butler. Among his recent credits, Burwell wrote the music for The Morning Show, starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Billy Crudup and Steve Carell.
Burwell wrote the music for the drama Carol, starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara and directed by Todd Haynes, which premiered in Cannes and was released in theatres in November 2015. He received his first Oscar nomination for Best Original Score for Carol, as well as nominations for a Golden Globe and a Critics’ Choice Movie Award. He won the Los Angeles Film Critics Association’s Award for Best Music Score for Carol and Anomalisa. Burwell previously worked with Haynes on Velvet Goldmine and the HBO miniseries Mildred Pierce, starring Kate Winslet, for which he was nominated for two Emmy Awards and won for Outstanding Music Composition for a Miniseries, Movie or Special (Original Dramatic Score).
His theater work includes the chamber opera The Celestial Alphabet Event and the Mabou Mines productions of Mother and Lucia’s Chapters of Coming Forth by Day.
In 2005 he developed a concert work for text and music titled Theater of the New Ear, presented in New York, London and Los Angeles. The text, by Joel and Ethan Coen and Charlie Kaufman, was performed by a dozen actors, including Meryl Streep, Steve Buscemi, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Hope Davis, Peter Dinklage and Jennifer Jason Leigh. The music was performed by the eight-member Parabola Ensemble, conducted by Burwell.
Burwell’s dance compositions include the pieces The Return of Lot’s Wife, choreographed by Sara Pearson and Patrik Widrig, and RABL, choreographed by Patrice Regnier. He has performed around the world with his own ensembles as well as others, such as The Harmonic Choir. His writing includes the essay "Music at Six: Scoring the News Then and Now," published in the inaugural issue of Esopus magazine in 2003 and reprinted in Harper's Magazine in 2004, and the essay “No Country for Old Music” in the 2013 Oxford Handbook of New Audiovisual Aesthetics. Burwell has taught and lectured at The Sundance Institute, New York University, Columbia University, and Harvard University. His website is carterburwell.com.
ABOUT THE FILM
Consummate con man Roy Courtnay (Ian McKellen) has set his sights on his latest mark: the recently widowed Betty McLeish (Helen Mirren), worth millions. And Roy means to take it all. From their very first meeting, Roy begins plying Betty with his tried and true manipulations, and Betty, who seems quite taken with him, is soon going along for the ride. But this time, what should have been a simple swindle escalates into a cat-and-mouse game with the ultimate stakes—revealing more insidious deceptions that will take them both through a minefield of danger, intrigue and betrayal.
Helen Mirren and McKellen star together on screen for the first time, in this smart and suspenseful thriller from New Line Cinema about the secrets people keep and the lies they live. The Good Liar was directed by Bill Condon, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of Gods and Monsters, from a screenplay by Jeffrey Hatcher (Mr. Holmes), based on the widely acclaimed novel by Nicholas Searle. The main cast also includes Russell Tovey (The History Boys, Quantico) and Jim Carter (Downton Abbey).
The film was produced by Greg Yolen and Bill Condon. Richard Brener, Andrea Johnston, Aaron L. Gilbert, Jason Cloth, Anjay Nagpal, Jack Morrissey and Nick O’Hagan served as executive producers. The creative filmmaking team included director of photography Tobias Schliessler, production designer John Stevenson, editor Virginia Katz, and costume designer Keith Madden. The music was composed by Carter Burwell.
New Line Cinema presents, in association with BRON Creative, a 1000 Eyes Production, a Bill Condon Film, The Good Liar. It is being distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Goodliarmovie.com
---------------------------
Showing posts with label Bill Condon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bill Condon. Show all posts
Friday, November 15, 2019
Monday, April 30, 2018
Director Bill Condon's "The Good Liar" Begins Production
Helen Mirren and Ian McKellen Headline Director Bill Condon’s Drama “The Good Liar,” Starting Production April 23 in London
- Based on the Nicholas Searle Book -
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Principal photography began on location in London, on the New Line Cinema drama “The Good Liar,” pairing Oscar winner Helen Mirren (“The Queen”) and two-time Oscar nominee Ian McKellen (“Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” “Gods and Monsters”) on the big screen for the first time. Bill Condon, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of “Gods and Monsters,” will direct and produce from a screenplay by Jeffrey Hatcher (“Mr. Holmes”), based on the widely acclaimed book by Nicholas Searle.
Career con artist Roy Courtnay (McKellen) can hardly believe his luck when he meets well-to-do widow Betty McLeish (Mirren) online. As Betty opens her home and life to him, Roy is surprised to find himself caring about her, turning what should be a cut-and-dry swindle into the most treacherous tightrope walk of his life.
“The Good Liar” also stars Russell Tovey (TV’s “Quantico”) and Jim Carter (TV’s “Downton Abbey”).
Condon produces alongside producer Greg Yolen. Serving as executive producers are Jack Morrissey, Nick O’Hagan, Aaron L. Gilbert, and Jason Cloth.
The creative filmmaking team includes director of photography Tobias A. Schliessler (“Beauty and the Beast,” “Mr. Holmes”), production designer John Stevenson (BAFTA nominee, “Burton and Taylor”), editor Virginia Katz (“Mr. Holmes,” ACE Award winner for “Dreamgirls”) and costume designer Keith Madden (miniseries “Patrick Melrose,” “Mr. Holmes”).
“The Good Liar” will film on location in London and Berlin. It is set for a 2019 release.
A New Line Cinema presentation, in association with BRON Creative, “The Good Liar” will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Entertainment Company.
------------------------------------------
- Based on the Nicholas Searle Book -
BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Principal photography began on location in London, on the New Line Cinema drama “The Good Liar,” pairing Oscar winner Helen Mirren (“The Queen”) and two-time Oscar nominee Ian McKellen (“Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” “Gods and Monsters”) on the big screen for the first time. Bill Condon, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of “Gods and Monsters,” will direct and produce from a screenplay by Jeffrey Hatcher (“Mr. Holmes”), based on the widely acclaimed book by Nicholas Searle.
Career con artist Roy Courtnay (McKellen) can hardly believe his luck when he meets well-to-do widow Betty McLeish (Mirren) online. As Betty opens her home and life to him, Roy is surprised to find himself caring about her, turning what should be a cut-and-dry swindle into the most treacherous tightrope walk of his life.
“The Good Liar” also stars Russell Tovey (TV’s “Quantico”) and Jim Carter (TV’s “Downton Abbey”).
Condon produces alongside producer Greg Yolen. Serving as executive producers are Jack Morrissey, Nick O’Hagan, Aaron L. Gilbert, and Jason Cloth.
The creative filmmaking team includes director of photography Tobias A. Schliessler (“Beauty and the Beast,” “Mr. Holmes”), production designer John Stevenson (BAFTA nominee, “Burton and Taylor”), editor Virginia Katz (“Mr. Holmes,” ACE Award winner for “Dreamgirls”) and costume designer Keith Madden (miniseries “Patrick Melrose,” “Mr. Holmes”).
“The Good Liar” will film on location in London and Berlin. It is set for a 2019 release.
A New Line Cinema presentation, in association with BRON Creative, “The Good Liar” will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Entertainment Company.
------------------------------------------
Wednesday, May 31, 2017
Negromancer News Bits and Bites from May 21st to 31st, 2017 - Update #40
Support Leroy on Patreon.
MOVIES - From YahooMovies: Jessica Chastain, on the 2017 Cannes awards jury, said she was "quite disturbed" by the images of women in the films she saw at the festival.
----------
TELEVISION - From YahooNews: Scott Pelley reportedly out as host of the "CBS Evening News."
----------
ANIMATION - From IndieWire: Popular animated TV series, "Animaniacs," is being rebooted by Steven Spielberg, Amblin TV, and Warner Bros. TV, the forces behind the original.
----------
OBIT - From Deadline: Legendary sportswriter, Frank Deford, has died at the age of 78, Sunday, May 28, 2017. He wrote 18 books and was known for his work with "Sports Illustrated." His 1981 book, "Everybody's All-American," was made in a 1988 film. His 1983 book, "Alex: The Life of a Child," about his daughter who died of Cystic Fibrosis, was also made into a 1986 TV movie.
----------
BLM - From YahooNews: Timothy Loehmann, the man who murdered 12-year-old Tamir Rice in November 2014, has finally been fired... for "inaccuracies" on his application form. The other officer involved in the killing, Frank Garmback, was suspended for his driving mistakes made that day.
----------
HEALTH - From YahooBeauty: Sugar may have a connection to a type of lung cancer.
----------
COMICS-FILM - From TheWrap: The site gives "Wonder Woman" movie high praise.
----------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo: The winner of the 2017 Memorial Day three-day weekend (5/26 to 5/28/2017) is Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales" with an estimated take of $62 million.
From Gamespot: The 2017 Memorial Day weekend was the worst Memorial Day weekend at the box office since 1999.
From Deadline: The Grateful Dead documentary, "Long Strange Trip," has a strong debut.
----------
HARRY POTTER - From BleedingCool: J.K. Rowling says she has finished the script for "Fantastic Beasts 2."
----------
FESTIVALS - From ScreenDaily: "The Square" wins the Palme d'Or at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival. Screen Daily also provides a list of other winners.
----------
COMICS-FILM - From SlashFilm: "Wonder Woman" director Patty Jenkins talks about sequel plans and deleted scenes.
----------
ANIMATION - From SideshowToys: In June 2017, a series of animated shorts featuring "Ant-Man" will debut on Disney XD.
----------
OBIT - From YahooMusic: Legendary rock musician and songwriter, Gregg Allman, has died at the age of 69, Saturday, May 27, 2015. sigh.
From Slate: Recording artists and musicians offer tributes to Gregg Allman.
----------
COMICS-FILM - From YahooMovies: Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, Texas is offering "Women Only" showings of the new "Wonder Woman," and predictably, some dudes are miffed.
From YahooMovies: Lynda Carter, famous for playing "Wonder Woman" on the 1970s TV series of the same name, joins current screen Wonder Woman, Gal Gadot, on the red carpet.
----------
COMICS-FILM - From TheWrap: Sony Pictures is planning a movie featuring Silver Sable and Black Cat, entitled "Silver and Black," two characters from the Spider-Man line of comic books. Gina Prince-Bythewood is in talks to direct, and if she is hired, she would be the first Black woman to direct a movie starring Marvel Comics characters...
----------
COMICS-FILM - From YahooNews: Rosario Dawson may join "X-Men: New Mutants."
----------
MOVIES - From Variety: Joseph Kosinski is the front runner to direct "Top Gun 2." Kosinski directed "Top Gun" star Tom Cruise in "Oblivion."
----------
OBIT - From People: The actor Roger Moore has died at the age of 89, Tuesday, May 23, 2017. Moore was best known for being the third James Bond in Eon Productions long-running James Bond-007 film franchise. He also played the character "Simon Templar" in the British TV series, "The Saint," from 1962 to 1969. He was my favorite Bond, and I adored him as The Saint - R.I.P. Sir Roger George Moore.
From YahooCelebrity: Meet the Bond girls who fell in love with the late Sir Roger Moore's 007.
----------
MOVIES - From Variety: Hot off "Get Out," Jordan Peele's next social thriller is due in 2019.
----------
MOVIES - From Deadline: The ever-busy James Wan will produce the "Resident Evil" reboot.
----------
COMICS-FILM - From TheReelWord: Joss Whedon will finish the upcoming "Justice League" movie, after Zack Snyder stepped down due to a personal tragedy.
---------- MANCHESTER:
BREAKING - From YahooNews: There has been an explosion (possible suicide bombing) at the end of an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England. There have been injuries and deaths (at least 20).
From YahooNews: ISIS claims responsibility for Manchester attacks.
From TheGuardian: Ariana Grande "broken" by attack at her Manchester concert.
From YahooNews: Portrait of Manchester suicide bomber, Salman Abedi, emerges.
From BET: Araina Grande may cover funeral costs for the victims of the bomb attack at her recent concert.
---------------------------------------------------
POLITICS - From RollingStone: Matt Taibbi says Roger Ailes was one of the worst Americans ever.
From NewYorkMagazine: Gabriel Sherman knew the truth about Roger Ailes before it was made public.
----------
SPORTS-MUSIC - From SBNation: Nico Marley, the grandson of reggae and world music legend, Bob Marley, has signed a contract with the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL).
----------
MOVIES - From Variety: Bill Condon will direct a new "Bride of Frankenstein," that is due February 14, 2017. This will be the second film in Universal's "Dark Universe," which launches with the Tom Cruise film, "The Mummy," June 9th.
----------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo: The winner of the 5/19 to 5/21/2017 weekend box office is "Alien Covenant" with an estimated take of $36 million. The finals may change the winner, as "Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2" is at an estimated $35.1 million and the film's early weekend estimates were far less than the Monday actual grosses the last two weekend.
From Variety: "Dangal," a drama from India, just became the most successful foreign language film of all time in China.
----------
MOVIES - From YahooMovies: At Cannes, Clint Eastwood says that he might act again.
-----------
MUSIC - From Vibe: Legendary rapper, hip-hop recording artist, and actor Snoop Dogg is working on a gospel album.
-----------
MOVIES - From Variety: The "Resident Evil" franchise will get a reboot... of course.
TRAILERS:
From SideshowToys: This is the third trailer for "Spider-Man: Homecoming."
MOVIES - From YahooMovies: Jessica Chastain, on the 2017 Cannes awards jury, said she was "quite disturbed" by the images of women in the films she saw at the festival.
----------
TELEVISION - From YahooNews: Scott Pelley reportedly out as host of the "CBS Evening News."
----------
ANIMATION - From IndieWire: Popular animated TV series, "Animaniacs," is being rebooted by Steven Spielberg, Amblin TV, and Warner Bros. TV, the forces behind the original.
----------
OBIT - From Deadline: Legendary sportswriter, Frank Deford, has died at the age of 78, Sunday, May 28, 2017. He wrote 18 books and was known for his work with "Sports Illustrated." His 1981 book, "Everybody's All-American," was made in a 1988 film. His 1983 book, "Alex: The Life of a Child," about his daughter who died of Cystic Fibrosis, was also made into a 1986 TV movie.
----------
BLM - From YahooNews: Timothy Loehmann, the man who murdered 12-year-old Tamir Rice in November 2014, has finally been fired... for "inaccuracies" on his application form. The other officer involved in the killing, Frank Garmback, was suspended for his driving mistakes made that day.
----------
HEALTH - From YahooBeauty: Sugar may have a connection to a type of lung cancer.
----------
COMICS-FILM - From TheWrap: The site gives "Wonder Woman" movie high praise.
----------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo: The winner of the 2017 Memorial Day three-day weekend (5/26 to 5/28/2017) is Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales" with an estimated take of $62 million.
From Gamespot: The 2017 Memorial Day weekend was the worst Memorial Day weekend at the box office since 1999.
From Deadline: The Grateful Dead documentary, "Long Strange Trip," has a strong debut.
----------
HARRY POTTER - From BleedingCool: J.K. Rowling says she has finished the script for "Fantastic Beasts 2."
----------
FESTIVALS - From ScreenDaily: "The Square" wins the Palme d'Or at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival. Screen Daily also provides a list of other winners.
----------
COMICS-FILM - From SlashFilm: "Wonder Woman" director Patty Jenkins talks about sequel plans and deleted scenes.
----------
ANIMATION - From SideshowToys: In June 2017, a series of animated shorts featuring "Ant-Man" will debut on Disney XD.
----------
OBIT - From YahooMusic: Legendary rock musician and songwriter, Gregg Allman, has died at the age of 69, Saturday, May 27, 2015. sigh.
From Slate: Recording artists and musicians offer tributes to Gregg Allman.
----------
COMICS-FILM - From YahooMovies: Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, Texas is offering "Women Only" showings of the new "Wonder Woman," and predictably, some dudes are miffed.
From YahooMovies: Lynda Carter, famous for playing "Wonder Woman" on the 1970s TV series of the same name, joins current screen Wonder Woman, Gal Gadot, on the red carpet.
----------
COMICS-FILM - From TheWrap: Sony Pictures is planning a movie featuring Silver Sable and Black Cat, entitled "Silver and Black," two characters from the Spider-Man line of comic books. Gina Prince-Bythewood is in talks to direct, and if she is hired, she would be the first Black woman to direct a movie starring Marvel Comics characters...
----------
COMICS-FILM - From YahooNews: Rosario Dawson may join "X-Men: New Mutants."
----------
MOVIES - From Variety: Joseph Kosinski is the front runner to direct "Top Gun 2." Kosinski directed "Top Gun" star Tom Cruise in "Oblivion."
----------
OBIT - From People: The actor Roger Moore has died at the age of 89, Tuesday, May 23, 2017. Moore was best known for being the third James Bond in Eon Productions long-running James Bond-007 film franchise. He also played the character "Simon Templar" in the British TV series, "The Saint," from 1962 to 1969. He was my favorite Bond, and I adored him as The Saint - R.I.P. Sir Roger George Moore.
From YahooCelebrity: Meet the Bond girls who fell in love with the late Sir Roger Moore's 007.
----------
MOVIES - From Variety: Hot off "Get Out," Jordan Peele's next social thriller is due in 2019.
----------
MOVIES - From Deadline: The ever-busy James Wan will produce the "Resident Evil" reboot.
----------
COMICS-FILM - From TheReelWord: Joss Whedon will finish the upcoming "Justice League" movie, after Zack Snyder stepped down due to a personal tragedy.
---------- MANCHESTER:
BREAKING - From YahooNews: There has been an explosion (possible suicide bombing) at the end of an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England. There have been injuries and deaths (at least 20).
From YahooNews: ISIS claims responsibility for Manchester attacks.
From TheGuardian: Ariana Grande "broken" by attack at her Manchester concert.
From YahooNews: Portrait of Manchester suicide bomber, Salman Abedi, emerges.
From BET: Araina Grande may cover funeral costs for the victims of the bomb attack at her recent concert.
---------------------------------------------------
POLITICS - From RollingStone: Matt Taibbi says Roger Ailes was one of the worst Americans ever.
From NewYorkMagazine: Gabriel Sherman knew the truth about Roger Ailes before it was made public.
----------
SPORTS-MUSIC - From SBNation: Nico Marley, the grandson of reggae and world music legend, Bob Marley, has signed a contract with the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL).
----------
MOVIES - From Variety: Bill Condon will direct a new "Bride of Frankenstein," that is due February 14, 2017. This will be the second film in Universal's "Dark Universe," which launches with the Tom Cruise film, "The Mummy," June 9th.
----------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo: The winner of the 5/19 to 5/21/2017 weekend box office is "Alien Covenant" with an estimated take of $36 million. The finals may change the winner, as "Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2" is at an estimated $35.1 million and the film's early weekend estimates were far less than the Monday actual grosses the last two weekend.
From Variety: "Dangal," a drama from India, just became the most successful foreign language film of all time in China.
----------
MOVIES - From YahooMovies: At Cannes, Clint Eastwood says that he might act again.
-----------
MUSIC - From Vibe: Legendary rapper, hip-hop recording artist, and actor Snoop Dogg is working on a gospel album.
-----------
MOVIES - From Variety: The "Resident Evil" franchise will get a reboot... of course.
TRAILERS:
From SideshowToys: This is the third trailer for "Spider-Man: Homecoming."
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Review: "Mr. Holmes" Shows that Ian McKellan is as Sharp as Ever
[A version of this review originally appeared in Patreon.]
Mr. Holmes (2015)
Running time: 104 minutes (1 hour, 54 minutes)
MPAA – PG
DIRECTOR: Bill Condon
WRITER: Jeffrey Hatcher (based on the novel, A Slight Trick of the Mind, by Mitch Cullin)
PRODUCERS: Iain Canning, Anne Carey, and Emile Sherman
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Tobias A. Schliessler
EDITOR: Virginia Katz
COMPOSER: Carter Burwell
DRAMA with elements of a mystery
Starring: Ian McKellen, Laura Linney, Milo Parker, Hiroyuki Sanada, Hattie Morahan, Patrick Kennedy, Frances de la Tour, Roger Allam, and John Sessions
Mr. Holmes is a 2015 British-American drama from director Bill Condon and writer Jeffrey Hatcher. The film is based on the 2005 novel, A Slight Trick of the Mind, from author Mitch Cullin. Mr. Holmes the movie focuses on an aged and retired Sherlock Holmes, who struggles with early dementia as he tries to remember his final case, which haunts him.
Mr. Holmes opens in 1947. The long-retired Sherlock Holmes (Ian McKellen) returns from abroad and travels to Headley House, his farmhouse in Sussex. He shares his home with Mrs. Munro (Laura Linney), his housekeeper and a war widow, and Roger (Milo Parker), her young son. Holmes is suffering from early dementia or “senility.” His trip abroad was to Japan, specifically Hiroshima, where he hoped to find the prickly ash plant, as he believes a “jelly” made from the plant can act as an elixir and help his failing memory.
Holmes is trying to recall his last case, which occurred over 30 years prior. A suspicious husband, Thomas Kelmot (Patrick Kennedy), had asked Holmes to investigate his wife, Ann (Hattie Morahan). Something happened, leaving the case unfinished and causing Holmes to retire. Unhappy with his ex-partner, Dr. John Watson's account of the case, Holmes hopes to write his own account. However, he has trouble recalling the details, but young Roger's curiosity drives the legendary detective to close a troubled chapter in his famed career.
Sherlock Holmes first appeared in the 1887 detective novel, A Study in Scarlet, which was written by British author, Arthur Conan Doyle. Just over a decade later, the Holmes character began appearing in films, and after a little more than a century, Holmes has appeared in over 200 films (according to the British newspaper, The Telegraph).
Although I am a fan of Sherlock Holmes, I would be surprised if I have seen even 30 of those films. I am certainly happy to have experienced Mr. Holmes. It is one of the best Sherlock Holmes films that I have ever seen, primarily because of Ian McKellen's tenderly-wrought and alluring turn as Holmes.
As the 93-year-old Holmes, McKellen fashions a vulnerable man, who doggedly fights a losing battle with his health. Still, he maintains his dignity and learns to change and to acknowledge his errors and misjudgments, both in the past and in the present. As the Holmes seen in this film's flashbacks, who is in his late 50s or early 60s (which is somewhat unclear), McKellen presents a Holmes who is clearly a man of some age, but who is also clearly still a detective in full. It is a testament to McKellen's skills and talent as a thespian that he can make two versions of “old-man Holmes” that are distinct from one another and are of different states of mind and intellect.
Laura Linney is potent and fiery as Mrs. Munro, although the script mostly keeps her restrained, even silently suffering. Once again, a consummate actor takes what is given to her and makes it more than an actor of lesser skills could. Young Milo Parker steals the movie as the brash Roger, who is on the cusp of young manhood and whose curiosity is a torch that brings light to what could have been a dark and moody film.
I recommend Mr. Holmes without reservations to fans of Sherlock Holmes movies and to fans of director Bill Condon. He seems always to deliver interesting films that grab the audience with their unique way of being film narratives. I think that there must simply be at least a few film award nominations in its future because Mr. Holmes does Sherlock Holmes so differently and so delightfully.
8 of 10
A
Saturday, November 21, 2015
The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Last "Twilight" Film Dominates 2013 Razzie Awards
by Leroy Douresseaux
The Golden Raspberry Award or, as it is best known, the Razzie Award, is basically the opposite of the Academy Awards (the Oscars). This award honors the worst achievements in film in a calendar year, as determined by the paid membership of the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation.
The nominations for 33rd Annual Razzie Awards were announced on January 8, 2013, and the 33rd Annual Razzie Awards were announced Saturday, February 23, 2013, one day before the Academy Awards ceremony. This is the tradition, although the previous awards ceremony (32nd) was held on April Fool’s Day.
Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 won 7 of the 10 categories at the 33rd Annual Razzie Awards. Adam Sandler continued his recent reign as a performer at the Razzie Awards, winning "Worst Actor" for That's My Boy. I am a fan of the Twilight films (though I've only read the first two books in the series), and I think the Razzie voters are just haters when it comes Twilight. In fact, I think they're haters in general. The Razzies are the mirror image of the Oscars. Why? Both focus, for the most part, on the Hollywood industry - highlighting big names to serve their own self-interests. Anyway, here are the winners/losers...
Here, are the nominees and winners of the 2013 Razzie Awards, with the winners in bold and with “WINNER” next to their name or title:
Worst Picture:
Battleship
Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure
That’s My Boy!
A Thousand Words
Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 WINNER
Worst Actress:
Katherine Heigl, One For The Money
Milla Jovovich, Resident Evil #5: Retribution
Tyler Perry (In Drag), Madea’s Witless Protection
Kristen Stewart, Snow White and The Huntsman & Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 WINNER
Barbra Streisand, Guilt Trip
Worst Actor:
Nicolas Cage, Ghost Rider 2: Spirit of Vengeance & Seeking Justice
Eddie Murphy, A Thousand Words
Robert Pattinson, Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2
Tyler Perry (Not in Drag), Alex Cross & Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds
Adam Sandler, That’s My Boy! WINNER
Worst Supporting Actress:
Jessica Biel, Playing For Keeps & Total Recall
Brooklyn Decker, Battleship &What To Expect When You’re Expecting
Ashley Green, Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2
Jennifer Lopez, What to Expect When You’re Expecting
Rihanna, Battleship WINNER
Worst Supporting Actor:
David Hasselhoff (as “Himself”), Pirannha 3-DD
Taylor Lautner, Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 WINNER
Liam Neeson, Battleship & Wrath of the Titans
Nick Swardson, That’s My Boy!
Vanilla Ice (as “Himself”), That’s My Boy!
Worst Screen Couple:
Any Combination of Two Cast Members from Jersey Shore, The Three Stooges
Mackenzie Foy (as “Little Renesmee”) & Taylor Lautner, Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 WINNER
Robert Pattinson & Kristen Stewart, Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2
Tyler Perry & His Drag Get-Up, Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Witless Protection
Adam Sandler and either Leighton Meester, Andy Samberg, or Susan Sarandon, That’s My Boy!
Worst Director:
Sean Anders, That’s My Boy!
Peter Berg, Battleship
Bill Condon, Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 WINNER
Tyler Perry, Good Deeds & Madea’s Witless Protection
John Putch, Atlas Shrugged: Part II
Worst Screen Ensemble:
The Entire Cast of Battleship
The Entire Cast of Oogieloves inThe Big Balloon Adventure
The Entire Cast of That’s My Boy!
The Entire Cast of Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 WINNER
The Entire Cast of Madea’s Witless Protection
Worst Screenplay:
Atlas Shrugged: Part II
Battleship
That’s My Boy! WINNER
A Thousand Words
Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2
Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-off or Sequel (selected by the general public via the Razzie Award website):
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 WINNER
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance
Tyler Perry's Madea's Witness Protection
Piranha 3DD
Red Dawn
http://www.razzies.com/
The Golden Raspberry Award or, as it is best known, the Razzie Award, is basically the opposite of the Academy Awards (the Oscars). This award honors the worst achievements in film in a calendar year, as determined by the paid membership of the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation.
The nominations for 33rd Annual Razzie Awards were announced on January 8, 2013, and the 33rd Annual Razzie Awards were announced Saturday, February 23, 2013, one day before the Academy Awards ceremony. This is the tradition, although the previous awards ceremony (32nd) was held on April Fool’s Day.
Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 won 7 of the 10 categories at the 33rd Annual Razzie Awards. Adam Sandler continued his recent reign as a performer at the Razzie Awards, winning "Worst Actor" for That's My Boy. I am a fan of the Twilight films (though I've only read the first two books in the series), and I think the Razzie voters are just haters when it comes Twilight. In fact, I think they're haters in general. The Razzies are the mirror image of the Oscars. Why? Both focus, for the most part, on the Hollywood industry - highlighting big names to serve their own self-interests. Anyway, here are the winners/losers...
Here, are the nominees and winners of the 2013 Razzie Awards, with the winners in bold and with “WINNER” next to their name or title:
Worst Picture:
Battleship
Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure
That’s My Boy!
A Thousand Words
Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 WINNER
Worst Actress:
Katherine Heigl, One For The Money
Milla Jovovich, Resident Evil #5: Retribution
Tyler Perry (In Drag), Madea’s Witless Protection
Kristen Stewart, Snow White and The Huntsman & Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 WINNER
Barbra Streisand, Guilt Trip
Worst Actor:
Nicolas Cage, Ghost Rider 2: Spirit of Vengeance & Seeking Justice
Eddie Murphy, A Thousand Words
Robert Pattinson, Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2
Tyler Perry (Not in Drag), Alex Cross & Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds
Adam Sandler, That’s My Boy! WINNER
Worst Supporting Actress:
Jessica Biel, Playing For Keeps & Total Recall
Brooklyn Decker, Battleship &What To Expect When You’re Expecting
Ashley Green, Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2
Jennifer Lopez, What to Expect When You’re Expecting
Rihanna, Battleship WINNER
Worst Supporting Actor:
David Hasselhoff (as “Himself”), Pirannha 3-DD
Taylor Lautner, Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 WINNER
Liam Neeson, Battleship & Wrath of the Titans
Nick Swardson, That’s My Boy!
Vanilla Ice (as “Himself”), That’s My Boy!
Worst Screen Couple:
Any Combination of Two Cast Members from Jersey Shore, The Three Stooges
Mackenzie Foy (as “Little Renesmee”) & Taylor Lautner, Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 WINNER
Robert Pattinson & Kristen Stewart, Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2
Tyler Perry & His Drag Get-Up, Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Witless Protection
Adam Sandler and either Leighton Meester, Andy Samberg, or Susan Sarandon, That’s My Boy!
Worst Director:
Sean Anders, That’s My Boy!
Peter Berg, Battleship
Bill Condon, Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 WINNER
Tyler Perry, Good Deeds & Madea’s Witless Protection
John Putch, Atlas Shrugged: Part II
Worst Screen Ensemble:
The Entire Cast of Battleship
The Entire Cast of Oogieloves inThe Big Balloon Adventure
The Entire Cast of That’s My Boy!
The Entire Cast of Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 WINNER
The Entire Cast of Madea’s Witless Protection
Worst Screenplay:
Atlas Shrugged: Part II
Battleship
That’s My Boy! WINNER
A Thousand Words
Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2
Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-off or Sequel (selected by the general public via the Razzie Award website):
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 WINNER
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance
Tyler Perry's Madea's Witness Protection
Piranha 3DD
Red Dawn
http://www.razzies.com/
Friday, January 25, 2013
DreamWorks Begins Production on "WikiLeaks" Movie
Drama Will Open in Theaters November 15, 2013
Participant Media Joins Project
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Principal photography has begun on the WikiLeaks drama “The Fifth Estate,” it was announced today by DreamWorks Studios. The film about the controversial website stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Julian Assange and Daniel Brühl as Daniel Domscheit-Berg, as well as Laura Linney, Anthony Mackie, David Thewlis, Peter Capaldi, Dan Stevens, Alicia Vikander and Carice van Houten.
“The Fifth Estate” will open in U.S. theaters on November 15, 2013 and be distributed domestically by Disney’s Touchstone label. Distribution internationally will be split among Disney, DreamWorks partner Reliance, and deals made through the studio’s partnership with Mister Smith Entertainment.
Following Daniel Domscheit-Berg (Brühl), an early supporter and eventual colleague of Julian Assange (Cumberbatch), “The Fifth Estate” traces the heady, early days of WikiLeaks, culminating in the release of a series of controversial and history changing information leaks. The website’s overnight success brought instant fame to its principal architects and transformed the flow of information to news media and the world at large.
Joining DreamWorks as a co-financier on “The Fifth Estate” is Participant Media. This will be the fifth collaboration between the two companies who previously partnered on Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln,” the 2011 Academy Award-winning smash “The Help,” “The Kite Runner” and “The Soloist.” With a focus on real issues that shape our lives, Participant creates social action and advocacy programs to transform the impact of the media experience into individual and community action. Some of their other films include “An Inconvenient Truth,” “Good Night, and Good Luck,” “Food, Inc.,” “Charlie Wilson’s War,” “Waiting for ‘'Superman,’” “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” and the current Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Language Film, “No.”
Bill Condon (“Kinsey,” “Dreamgirls,” "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn") will direct “The Fifth Estate” from a screenplay by Josh Singer (TV’s “Fringe,” “The West Wing”), based on “Inside WikiLeaks: My Time with Julian Assange at the World’s Most Dangerous Website” by Daniel Domscheit-Berg and “WikiLeaks: Inside Julian Assange’s War on Secrecy” by David Leigh and Luke Harding. The producers are Steve Golin and Michael Sugar, with Participant’s Jeff Skoll and Jonathan King joining Richard Sharkey as executive producers. “The Fifth Estate” is a coproduction between Afterworks and FBO, with Hilde De Laere co-producing for FBO. The film is supported by the Belgian Tax Shelter for Audiovisual Production.
Said director Bill Condon, “It may be decades before we understand the full impact of WikiLeaks and how it's revolutionized the spread of information. So this film won't claim any long view authority on its subject, or attempt any final judgment. We want to explore the complexities and challenges of transparency in the information age and, we hope, enliven and enrich the conversations WikiLeaks has already provoked.”
About DreamWorks Studios
DreamWorks Studios is a motion picture company formed in 2009 and led by Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider in partnership with The Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group. The company’s recent releases include Spielberg's "Lincoln," starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field and Tommy Lee Jones. The film has grossed over $150 million at the U.S. box office and has been nominated for twelve Academy awards including Best Picture and Best Director. Other releases include “Real Steel,” starring Hugh Jackman and directed by Shawn Levy, Steven Spielberg’s “War Horse,” based on Michael Morpurgo’s award-winning book and was nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture, and “The Help,” which resonated with audiences around the country and earned over $200 million at the box office and received four Academy Award nominations with Octavia Spencer winning one for Best Supporting Actress. Upcoming films include the comedy "Delivery Man," starring Vince Vaughn, the WikiLeaks drama "The Fifth Estate," and car racing actioner "Need For Speed."
DreamWorks Studios can be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/DreamWorksStudios and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/dw_studios.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Review: "Twilight: Breaking Dawn - Part 2" is a Wonderful Finale
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 (2012)
Running time: 115 minutes (1 hour, 55 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for sequences of violence including disturbing images, some sensuality and partial nudity
DIRECTOR: Bill Condon
WRITER: Melissa Rosenberg (based upon the novel by Stephenie Meyer)
PRODUCERS: Wyck Godfrey, Karen Rosenfelt, and Stephenie Meyer
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Guillermo Navarro
EDITOR: Virginia Katz
COMPOSER: Carter Burwell
FANTASY/DRAMA/ROMANCE
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Billy Burke, Peter Facinelli, Elizabeth Reaser Ashley Greene, Jackson Rathbone, Nikki Reed, Kellan Lutz, Mackenzie Foy, Julia Jones, Chaske Spencer, Alex Rice, Cameron Bright, and Maggie Grace, with Michael Sheen and Dakota Fanning
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 is the fifth film in The Twilight Saga film franchise. Like the previous films: Twilight, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn – Part 1, Breaking Dawn – Part 2 is based upon the wildly popular Twilight book series by author, Stephenie Meyer. Each of the first three films is based upon one of the first three books in the series; however, the fourth book, Breaking Dawn, has been adapted into two movies.
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 continues the love story a young human woman, Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), and her vampire boyfriend, Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), who were married in the previous film. The story begins as Bella opens her eyes to find her senses sharpened. The transformation is complete; she is now a vampire. Still, all is not perfect.
Bella is shocked to learn that her recently born infant daughter has imprinted on her friend and former love interest, Native American werewolf, Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner). Bella must also find a way to explain her new situation to her worried father, Police Chief Charlie Swan (Billy Burke). Meanwhile, Bella and Edward’s daughter does not stay an orphan for long. Renesmee Cullen (Mackenzie Foy) is undergoing a tremendous growth spurt, which leads to a bigger problem. When a false allegation puts their family in front of the Volturi to likely face a death sentence, the Cullens gather other vampire clans and old allies in order to protect Renesmee.
I enjoyed Breaking Dawn – Part 1, but I found the film to be mostly joyless, even dour and morbid. Breaking Dawn – Part 2 is quite the opposite. It is joyful and celebratory. Like Renesmee, Breaking Dawn – Part 2 is fresh and new and curious about the world. It almost seems like a brand new thing, unconnected to the other films, although it is.
I think this is the result of having a director like Bill Condon, who is not just good with character drama. He is also a standout, and he did not get enough credit for what he did with Dreamgirls, getting so much more out of the material than it offered. Here, in his second Twilight movie, he gives all the supernatural characters mortality, not just Edward and Bella (who have seemed forever on the edge of demise in this series). Mortality for the immortals means that not only do their actions have real consequences, but also that those consequences can mean the end of them. When everyone has “skin in the game,” conflict is rich and complicated.
However, the sense of death does not dampen this movie’s themes of hope and happiness. Who knows how many days lie ahead for each character? There may be many days (or not), but they will be happy days, with family and friends. There will also be dark days, as in any human’s life. In fact, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 is about loving family, close friends, and new friends and allies made.
For Twilight as a whole, the franchise gets something that escapes even the best franchises, a superior ending. Compared to The Dark Knight Rises, the end of Christopher Nolan’s so-called “The Dark Knight trilogy,” Breaking Dawn – Part 2 is Oscar-worthy.
8 of 10
A
Sunday, November 25, 2012
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Sunday, November 27, 2011
"The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" Actually Dark and Moody
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 (2011)
Running time: 117 minutes (1 hour, 57 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for disturbing images, violence, sexuality/partial nudity and some thematic
DIRECTOR: Bill Condon
WRITER: Melissa Rosenberg (based upon the novel by Stephenie Meyer)
PRODUCERS: Wyck Godfrey, Karen Rosenfelt, and Stephenie Meyer
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Guillermo Navarro
EDITORS: Virginia Katz
COMPOSER: Carter Burwell
FANTASY/DRAMA/ROMANCE
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Billy Burke, Ashley Greene, Jackson Rathbone, Nikki Reed, Kellan Lutz, Peter Facinelli, Elizabeth Reaser, Julia Jones, Chaske Spencer, Gil Birmingham, Boo Boo Stewart, and Michael Sheen
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 is the fourth film in the Twilight Saga film franchise. Like the previous films: Twilight, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, and The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, Breaking Dawn – Part 1 is based upon the wildly popular Twilight book series by Stephenie Meyer. Each of the first three films is based upon one of the first three books in the series; however, the fourth book, Breaking Dawn, is being adapted into two movies.
Breaking Dawn – Part 1 continues the love story a young human woman, Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), and her vampire boyfriend, Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), as the two join hands in marriage. Not everyone is happy about the nuptials, especially Bella’s friend, the Native American werewolf, Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner). Jacob vehemently objects to Edward’s honeymoon plans for the couple, as he believes what Edward plans could kill Bella. The couple honeymoon on the private island of Isle Esme in Brazil, but Bella makes a shocking discovery that puts a strain on her relationship with Edward. That discovery also threatens the Cullens’ treaty with Jacob’s tribe and Bella’s very life.
Although I enjoyed it, I don’t have as much to say about The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 as I had about the previous movies. Most of this film is joyless, but it isn’t slow. The story deals with the darker side of romance and family; even the wedding is filled with omens and portents. This is a jarring difference from the rest of the series, which depicted young love growing stronger and more confident. I would be lying if I did not admit that I wanted more of that. There were times in this movie that I was begging for the unhappiness to hurry up and end.
For those hungry for more vampire vs. werewolf action, that dominates the second half of the Breaking Dawn – Part 1. This physical, tribal, racial conflict offers an energetic anecdote to the gloomy Gus that is most of this film. Also of note: I don’t know if it was because of the theatre in which I saw Breaking Dawn – Part 1, but there were times in the film that the musical score was so loud that I could not hear the dialogue.
Anyway, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, Breaking Dawn – Part 1 is, thus far, the least of the series, but it is not at all a bad movie. It tells a good story, but it does come across as weird (even weirder than vampire stories normally are) and wonky.
6 of 10
B
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Review: "Dreamgirls" a Delightful Spin on Music History (Happy B'day, Beyonce)
Dreamgirls (2006)
Running time: 131 minutes (2 hours, 11 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for language, some sexuality, and drug content
DIRECTOR: Bill Condon
WRITER: Bill Condon (based upon the original Broadway Production Book and Lyrics by Tom Eyen)
PRODUCER: Laurence Mark
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Tobias Schliessler
EDITOR: Virginia Katz, A.C.E.
Academy Award winner
MUSICAL/DRAMA
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé Knowles, Eddie Murphy, Danny Glover, Anika Noni Rose, Keith Robinson, Jennifer Hudson, Sharon Leal, and Hinton Battle
Writer/director Bill Condon wrote the screenplay that brought the famous musical Chicago to the screen in 2002, and the film went onto to win six Academy Awards including "Best Picture" in 2003. Condon, who won an Oscar for writing his 1998 film Gods and Monsters, takes on the movie musical again with Dreamgirls, a film adaptation of the beloved 1981 Tony Award-winning musical of the same name. Condon uses music (featuring the score of Henry Krieger, who also scored the original musical) and song to drive this film into a memorable musical experience that recreates a particular period in American music.
In 1960's Detroit, an African-American singing trio, the Dreamettes - Deena Jones (Beyoncé Knowles), Lorrell Robinson (Anika Noni Rose), and lead singer Effie White (Jennifer Hudson), are trying to make it to the big time. They arrive at a big talent show in their cheap wigs and homemade dresses. The Dreamettes perform songs written by Effie's brother, C.C. (Keith Robinson), who also choreographs their dancing.
They get their big break when they meet Curtis Taylor, Jr. (Jaime Foxx), an ambitious car salesman determined to make his mark on the music industry. He wants to form his own record label and get its music heard on mainstream radio stations - meaning white-owned - in a time when the Civil Rights movement is still struggling to get a foothold and when black recording artists are mostly marginalized. He sees the Dreamettes as the right angle to make that move to the mainstream. They've got the right talent and could be the right product to sell - if Curtis can shape it all the way he sees fit.
Curtis talks the girls into allowing him to become their manager, and he gets them a gig singing backup for James "Thunder" Early (Eddie Murphy), a pioneer of the new Detroit sound that blends soul music and rock 'n' roll. Early, however, is stuck singing on the "Chitlin' Circuit," which, at the time, meant mostly black-owned clubs. Curtis promises Early to move him into the mainstream, replacing Early's original manager, Marty Madison (Danny Glover), but that's not the only changes Curtis plans on making. He changes the Dreamettes name to the Dreams, and moves to replace Effie as the lead singer. As a new musical age dawns and Curtis' new sound takes hold, some people are fading away and others are finding that their dreams have come true, but at a high price.
Dreamgirls is indeed a movie musical, pretty much in the fine tradition of Hollywood musicals, except that its major characters are all black. It's an absolutely lovely film. In terms of the film's creative staff (art direction, costumes, cinematography, etc.), Dreamgirls is as good as any in recent memories, and the Dreams' costumes seem right out of a musical dream. Tobias Schliessler's cinematography creates a crystal clear heavenly aura of color that mixes the hyper-reality of the music world with the harsh reality of failure and betrayal.
The acting is quite good, but the singing is what makes these performances so memorable. As an actress, Jennifer Hudson isn't yet as skilled as some she beat out for the Oscar she earned for this film, but film performances aren't always built just on dialogue and physical movement. What put her over the top were those extraordinary pipes. Watching this film, it's easy to see why she amazed people with both her powerful, booming voice and her ability to interpret songs. Coming from a novice actress, she impressed enough awards voters to win all the big prizes.
In fact, so much of this movie's narrative and characterization is done through song. Jaime Foxx and Beyoncé Knowles who are professional singers sound better than they ever have. Eddie Murphy who has recorded albums using a voice that imitated other singers, but was on its own not distinctive, sounds better than I thought it was possible. Anika Noni Rose, as Lorrell, is a classically trained actress, Broadway veteran, and Tony Award winner, and she sounds great in a part that puts her character in the shadow of Knowles and Hudson's.
Condon deserves so much of the credit for bringing actors singing and singers acting together to create an ensemble cast that brings this colorful fantasy to life. Dreamgirls is a musical, but it is also a musical revue and music-filled overview of a time when African-American music was trying to break into the mainstream. In that, Dreamgirls is an intimate look at the lives of black artists, entertainers, musicians, singers, composers, and businessmen. The songs may unite the audience, but the experience of the African-American struggle to be accepted in the wider society and culture may seem foreign to so many. Still, Condon's colorful song-filled, dreamy myth making of real musical history will delight many for a long time to come.
10 of10
NOTES:
2007 Academy Awards: 2 wins: "Best performance by an actress in a supporting role" (Jennifer Hudson) and "Best achievement in sound mixing" (Michael Minkler, Bob Beemer, and Willie D. Burton); 6 nominations: "Best performance by an actor in a supporting role" (Eddie Murphy), "Best achievement in art direction" (John Myhre-art direction and Nancy Haigh-set decorator), "Best achievement in costume design" (Sharen Davis), and 3 nominations for "Best achievement in music written for motion pictures, original song" ("Listen" Henry Krieger and Scott Cutler-music and Anne Preven-lyrics; "Love You I Do" Henry Krieger-music and Siedah Garrett-lyrics; and "Patience" Henry Krieger-music and Willie Reale-lyrics)
2007 BAFTA Awards: 1 win: “Best Actress in a Supporting Role” (Jennifer Hudson); 1 nomination: “Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music” (Henry Krieger)
2007 Golden Globes: 3 wins: “Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy, “Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture” (Eddie Murphy), and “Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture” (Jennifer Hudson); 2 nominations: “Best Original Song - Motion Picture” (Beyoncé Knowles, Henry Krieger, Anne Preven, and Scott Cutler for the song "Listen"), and “Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy” (Beyoncé Knowles)
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