It's Complicated (2009), 6 {nm}

R | 2h | Comedy, Drama, Romance | 25 December 2009
When attending their son's college graduation, a couple reignite the spark in their relationship. But the complicated fact is they're divorced and he's remarried.
Writer/Director: Nancy Meyers
Stars: Meryl Streep, Steve Martin, Alec Baldwin.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1230414/
bundled with Mamma Mia! ('08)

When I ffwd'd through to check for flaws, it looked cute, so I watched it. The story does give MS an opportunity to act various emotions, because it's as the title states: complicated.

The c.track is not very illuminating. The writer/dir is familiar with the early 40's comedies of remarriage (terminology she does not use), and this is a twist on that. Otherwise the c.track does the usual thing of narrating at what venue was this shot captured.

Amusing, pretty to look at, and nice to have older characters as the romantic focus.

Rated  6.6 (79,294)

Universal & more, dir. Meyers; 6

Puccini: Madama Butterfly (2009), 8+

The Metropolitan Opera HD Live (2006– )
2h 53min | Musical | Episode aired 7 March 2009

On shore leave in Japan, Lt. Pinkerton is ready for action and finds it in a wedding broker. Cio-Cio-San naively believes the marriage is real. Wait until the real Mrs. Pinkerton hears about this: there's sure to be a Little Trouble ahead.

Director: Gary Halvorson

Conductor: Patrick Summers

Stars: Patricia Racette, Marcello Giordani, Dwayne Croft, Maria Zifchak.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1469946/

Time: about 1900

Place: Nagasaki

First Performance: 1904

The choice of dvd cover is silly. They should show the puppet (see below), which is the reason I bought this 3rd performance of Butterfly. Here are the other 2: (1997), 8 and (1975), 9.

"Normal", non-puppeted performances have a distracting child in the part of Butterfly's son. The kid has no lines, and children cannot act as well as this puppet moves. His face never changes, but his posture and movements are extremely evocative. In closeups, we could see the face of one or two of the three puppeteers (the 3rd operates the feet), and those guys are acting behind their veils.

I also like the origami cranes on poles used for flying birds.

I had seen a different cast in this production, but I don't know when or who; perhaps the 2016 b'cast. The first Met production of this design was in 2006 by Anthony Minghella (1954-2008).

This Butterfly is rather old to play 15yo, but her voice is good, as are the others in the cast.

Rated  7.9 (18)

MetOpera, cond. Summers; 8+

Spectacular! (2009), 5

Not Rated | 1h 33min | Comedy, Family, Musical | TV Movie 16 February 2009

A high school choir is fading in popularity, as it continues to lose most of its' members one by one. A wannabe rock singer is convinced to join the choir, in hopes of winning the upcoming competition and cash prize.

Director: Robert Iscove

Stars: Nolan Gerard Funk, Tammin Sursok, Victoria Justice, Greg Germann.

R.J. Durell ... choreography

Kelly Konno ... assistant choreographer

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1212986/

Watched online, distorted; played back at 3/4 speed.

12 songs in the Soundtracks, performed by cast members.

They say the words as though they should be capitalized: Show Choir. Lots of acrobatic choreography while singing. Film title is the name of the group. Without the rocker, they're mediocre. The faculty advisor is merely in attendance. With the rocker they have confidence and heart. But the rocker is only doing it for the cash prize, which the (unlikeable) student leader of the choir has promised half to him (school kids competing for cash that they actually can spend?) to get his demo recorded. Y'see, his rock band has dissolved, and he's trying to go solo. But he gets emotionally invested in the choir, and when his big rocker break comes, and conflicts with the night of the choir competition, he's torn. Spoiler alert: someone at his rocker audition asks why his heart's not in it, and he takes them to the choir competition, where he's just in time to perform. BTW, the faculty advisor is a former rocker who does a few licks on guitar during the choir performance.

Part of the video distortion is the cropping of beginning and ending of the film. Not sure if we get the choir competition results, or the record exec reaction. Nor do I care.

Once was more than enough.

Rated 5.7 (2,110)

Nickelodeon & more, dir. Iscove; 5

A Miser Brothers' Christmas (2008), 4

G | 45min | Animation, Comedy, Family | TV Movie 13 December 2008
The story begins when Santa's new chief mechanic, Tinsel, creates a speedy, new high tech sleigh for Christmas. But what Santa doesn't know is that North Wind has secretly sabotaged the sleigh in the hope of taking Santa's place that year. When Santa takes it out for a spin, he gets caught in the crossfire between the feuding Snow Miser and Heat Miser Brothers and his sleigh comes crashing down. North Wind frames the Miser Brothers for Santa's accident and, with Santa stuck in bed with a bad back, everything falls into place for North Wind to slyly come to the rescue as a temporary Santa. But much to his chagrin, Mother Nature punishes the Miser Brothers by forcing them to put their differences aside and fill in for Santa. In between comedic squabbles, the Brothers rediscover what it means to be family and, along the way, save Christmas for everyone!
Director: Dave Thomas
Stars: Mickey Rooney, George S. Irving, Juan Chioran.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1332026/
Watched online, ok print.

4 songs in the Soundtracks.

According to the Connections page and a user review, this is a spin-off from The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974), and related to a dozen other xmas toon tv films.

Frankly, it repelled my attention. I despise this sort of animation, and the story, what little I caught of it, sounded awful. Was it hip to work Global Warming into the show?

Rated 6.3 (615)

Warner & more, dir. Thomas; 4

Victor Borge: 100 Years of Music & Laughter! (2008), 7

53min | Comedy, Music | TV Movie 13 December 2008
A collection of classic Victor Borge comedy skits.
Director: Bob Marty
Stars: Victor Borge, Rita Rudner.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4642130/

No songs in the Soundtracks, but many played.

My biggest criticism of this: it's too short. Oh, but we get 45min of bonus material, where he does some of the excerpted routines in their entirety. Much more satisfying.

Rated (none)

distr. PBS, dir. Marty; 7

Abby in Wonderland (2008), 6-

Not Rated | 45min | Family, Musical | Video 2008

A retelling of Alice in Wonderland featuring Abby Cadabby as Alice and Elmo as the Red Rabbit.

Director: Kevin Clash

Stars: Rickey Boyd, Fran Brill, Tyler Bunch.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1522130/

Watched online, ok print.

No songs in the Soundtracks, but a few sung by characters.

The online print was actually less than 45min, which wouldn't really qualify as a feature.

I liked some of the modifications: instead of eating and drinking to change sizes, she rhymes with the words eat and drink. Also, the queen of hearts became a king (why?), and didn't demand "off with their heads". And perhaps best of all, she follows the rabbit because her magic wand has fallen into his pocket.

Otherwise, this is just ok.

Rated 6.9 (13)

Sesame Workshop, dir. Clash; 6-

Soul Men (2008), 6+

R | 1h 40min | Comedy, Drama, Music | 7 November 2008
Though it's been about twenty years since they have spoken with one another, two estranged soul-singing legends agree to participate in a reunion performance at the Apollo Theater to honor their recently deceased band leader.
Director: Malcolm D. Lee
Stars: Samuel L. Jackson, Bernie Mac, Sharon Leal.
Jamal Sims ... choreographer

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1111948/

Watched online, ok print.

34 songs in the Soundtracks, including some Motown-ish standards.

SJ sings and "dances" pretty well. But together these guys don't even sound like decent background singers, much less a good duo act. 

John Legend is already big enough that he has a non-speaking "role" as the star of the trio, shown only in "archive" footage, and as a corpse.

The film amused me until maybe the last 3rd, when the plot got messy.

Rated  6.5 (9,829)

distr. MGM, dir. Lee; 6+

Center Stage: Turn It Up (2008), 6+

PG-13 | 1h 35min | Drama, Music, Romance | 1 November 2008
A self-trained dancer from the streets of Detroit finds her way after auditioning for the most prestigious ballet academy in New York.
Director: Steven Jacobson
Stars: Kenny Wormald, Rachele Brooke Smith, Sarah Jayne Jensen, Peter Gallagher, Ethan Stiefel.

Marco Arimare ... assistant choreographer: ballet

Aakomon Jones ... choreographer 

Odessa Munroe ... ballet choreographer

Marius Petipa ... original choreography: Black Swan Pas de Deux

Arike Rice ... assistant choreographer 

Kyle Toy ... assistant choreographer: ballet

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1145144/

Very enjoyable. Ballet and hip hop, but not fused. However, KW, RBS and ES each danced in both genres, but never in the same venue: hip hop was in the hh club, ballet at the school, plus ballet/jazz in the finale. The first film, Center Stage (2000), 6+, had a better, longer finale, but this had a better story.

Again amazing to see dancers who can act so well. I look forward to the 3rd installment (2016).

Rated 6.2 (5,524)

distr. Sony, dir. Jacobson; 6+

Sunday School Musical (2008), 5

G | 1h 33min | Drama, Musical | Video 21 October 2008

When financial woes threaten their church's future, a group of teens, led by one talented performer, enters a song and dance competition in hopes of winning a heavenly cash prize.

Co-writer/Director: Rachel Lee Goldenberg

Stars: Chris Chatman, Candise Lakota, Krystle Connor.

Cheryl Baxter ... choreographer

Tiffany Burton ... hip hop dance choreography

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1270792/

Watched on AmazonPrime.

14 songs in the Soundtracks, many spirituals, old and modern.

HS Musical this ain't. They may have mislead people with their poster, especially so close to the release of HSM3, but these are choir gowns, not graduation. And this is a church choir, not a HS choir.

It's mediocre, but not nearly so bad as the IMDb rating. The singing and dancing are not up to Disney standards, but they do dance a bit as part of their performance, and what they do is fairly acrobatic (jackknife, strenuous street moves). Unfortunately, that doesn't occupy much of the screen time. 

The story is slow, the stars don't make me care about them, or even want to watch them.

But I'd rather see this than a violent rapper film. I just don't need to see it again.

Rated 2.5 (704)

indie Christian, dir. Goldenberg; 5

High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008), 6-

G | 1h 52min | Comedy, Drama, Family | 24 October 2008
As seniors in high school, Troy and Gabriella struggle with the idea of being separated from one another as college approaches. Along with the rest of the Wildcats, they stage a spring musical to address their experiences, hopes and fears about their future.
Director: Kenny Ortega
Stars: Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman.

Bayli Baker ... assistant choreographer

Charles Klapow ... choreographer

Kenny Ortega ... choreographer

Bonnie Story ... choreographer

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0962726/

25 songs in the Soundtracks, most performed by the cast.

The same crew is back, now seniors. They win the bball season, then find that the top 4 or 6 cast members are being considered for scholarships to Julliard. (The h.s. drama teacher had written/submitted his application.) VH visits Stanford for 2+ weeks during the h.s. term. AT takes over her role in the senior musical. Everyone is prepping for Prom.

The dance numbers are pretty good; the more the merrier, but my usual complaint of too many cuts. The story is tedious of course. Pretty colors.

Rated  4.7 (51,748)

Disney, dir. Ortega; 6-

U-Carmen eKhayelitsha (2005), 6

2h 2min | Musical, Drama, Romance | 1 April 2005
A version of Georges Bizet's Carmen, set in a modern-day South African township.
Co-writer/Director: Mark Dornford-May
Stars: Pauline Malefane, Andile Tshoni, Lungelwa Blou.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0445776/
I only became aware of this recently.
disc has video issues, with pixelations happening at least 10 times.

Translated from French to Xhosa, an indigenous language of SA. The bullfighter is instead an opera singer, and some events of the story seem altered (I didn't re-read the synopsis).

I couldn't distinguish between the policeman who offers to trade sex from Carmen for not arresting her for fleeing from police custody before, and Jose (Jongi here).

Even when the women dress up to party, the colors are all pale/bland. The buildings are often tin shacks, and/or partially built. I think they were trying to represent real conditions in a SA township.

I don't remember seeing any whites.

Lots of time talking/fighting without Bizet's music. Some indigenous-sounding music was added to at least 1 scene.

I'd rather watch the other production I have, the Americanized film adaptation, or listen to audio only. But I'm glad to have seen it.

Apartheid was in force 1948-93, and Mandela was president 1994-9.

Rated  6.7 (615)

distr. Koch, dir. Dornford-May; 6

Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway (2008), 6

Not Rated | 2h 45min | Drama, Musical, Romance | TV Movie 24 September 2008

Set in New York City's gritty East Village, the revolutionary rock opera RENT tells the story of a group of bohemians struggling to live and pay their rent. "Measuring their lives in love," these starving artists strive for success and acceptance while enduring the obstacles of poverty, illness and the AIDS epidemic.

Director: Michael John Warren

Stars: Will Chase, Adam Kantor, Michael McElroy.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1273675/

borrowed dvd

No songs listed on the Soundtracks, but this is almost all sung.

Having already seen Rent (2005), 6, the story was mostly familiar, but done differently. What I missed from the film was the dance number by Angel during the song where s/he explains the extra cash came from drumming so that a nasty little dog yapped itself to death. 

The extras on this disc documenting the pre-show & backstage activities, interesting because it was the final performance after 12 years.

I just don't love the show.

Rated 8.0 (3,475)

distr. Sony, dir. Warren; 6

Once (2007), 7-

R | 1h 26min | Drama, Music, Romance | 15 June 2007
A modern-day musical about a busker and an immigrant and their eventful week in Dublin, as they write, rehearse and record songs that tell their love story.
Writer/Director: John Carney
Stars: Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová, Hugh Walsh.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0907657/
disc arrived recently

17 songs in the Soundtracks, 10 Written/performed by Glen Hansard, 2 Written/performed by Markéta Irglová, 2 written jointly. All are acoustic ballads.

Lots of singing/performing. I think they estimate (featurette) that 60% of the film is songs. Some of it underscore, but somehow it feels different than a normal underscore.

Likable characters, surprising the direction the relationship took.

2 c.tracks with the same trio (dir, stars); I only sat through the 1st one.

Rated 7.9 (103,838)

distr. Fox, dir. Carney; 7-

Every Little Step (2008), 8

PG-13 | 1h 36min | Documentary, Music | 6 September 2008
Follows the plight of real-life dancers as they struggle through auditions for the Broadway revival of "A Chorus Line". Also investigates the history of the show and the creative minds behind the original and current incarnations.
Directors: Adam Del Deo, James D. Stern

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0977648/

Better than the film of the play, which I gave a 7-. But this doesn't have the production numbers; it's mostly about the auditions, not even the rehearsals.

But the cameras follow the candidates into the streets and some into their homes. We don't learn much about the people, but a lot about the audition process and get to see the winners' reactions when they learn they got the part.

One of the auditioners, Jason Tam, gives such a great performance that the producers cried. If I weren't familiar with the script, I would have thought he was telling his own story rather than performing. Fortunately, he's Peter in Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert (2018 TV Movie), but his songs are all shared with others.

Part of what makes this so good is likely the fact that they used multiple camera crews, shooting ~450 hours of footage.

Rated 7.5 (1,276)

distr. Sony, dir. Del Deo & Stern; 8

Hamlet 2 (2008), 6

R | 1h 32min | Comedy, Music | 27 August 2008
In this irreverent comedy, a failed actor-turned-worse-high-school-drama-teacher rallies his Tucson, AZ students as he conceives and stages politically incorrect musical sequel to Shakespeare's Hamlet.
Co-writer/Director: Andrew Fleming
Stars: Steve Coogan, Elisabeth Shue, Catherine Keener.
Brandi Tobias ... choreographer

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1104733/

disc recently arrived

17 songs in the Soundtracks, 9 written (or co- or produced) by Ralph Sall.

Spoof/satire on the sub-genre of heroic teachers enriching/rescuing students in an economically challenged school via the Arts.

Intentionally bad because the teacher is bad, but somehow it has enough heart to be worth watching.

The actual play "Hamlet 2" gets short shrift, so people looking for a clever spoof there will likely be disappointed. The sequel is possible due to a time machine, the author removed most of the tragedy that occurs during Shakespeare's play, and somehow makes Jesus Christ a major character.

Rated 6.4 (16,077)

indie/distr Universal (dvd), dir. Fleming; 6

La Vie en Rose (2007), 6

PG-13 | 2h 20min | Biography, Drama, Music | 20 July 2007
La môme (original title)

Biopic of the iconic French singer Édith Piaf. Raised by her grandmother in a brothel, she was discovered while singing on a street corner at the age of 19. Despite her success, Piaf's life was filled with tragedy.

Co-writer/Director: Olivier Dahan

Stars: Marion Cotillard, Sylvie Testud, Pascal Greggory.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0450188/

disc recently arrived.

25 songs in the Soundtracks, 10 Performed by Édith Piaf.

Translation of môme is kid.

Great singer. Not enough time with her recordings in the film.

If this is accurate, she lived a horrendous life. But the emphasis is on the traumatic; we don't spend any time with her enjoying her success.

It's almost completely in French. They didn't subtitle the songs, which is VERY disappointing.

When you watch the featurette, it's shocking to see how the actress looks in real life. The makeup and her physical acting was terrific.

Disc is imperfect; in penultimate chapter it has a couple of minute that hesitate/skip a line or two a few times.

Rated 7.6 (76,283)

distr. HBO, dir. Dahan; 6

Step Up 2: The Streets (2008), 6

PG-13 | 1h 38min | Drama, Music, Romance | 14 February 2008
Romantic sparks occur between two dance students from different backgrounds at the Maryland School of the Arts.
Director: Jon M. Chu
Stars: Robert Hoffman, Briana Evigan, Cassie Ventura.
Hi-Hat ... choreographer
Luis Salgado ... latin assitant choreographer
Dave Scott ... choreographer
Jamal Sims ... choreographer

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1023481/

37 songs in the Soundtracks.

What I like about the original is the fusion of ballet and street dancing. This is 99% street. It's very good street, but that comes with toughness and with hip hop music, which isn't my fave.

There's a fairly violent beatdown that made me avert my eyes. But the vic recovers quickly.

Rated 6.3 (75,186)

Touchstone & more, dir. Chu; 6

Mozart: Don Giovanni (2008), 7

3h 22min | Music | TV Movie 12 September 2008
Add a Plot »
Director: Robin Lough
Conductor: Charles Mackerras

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2374452/

Time: 17th century
Place: in and about Seville

First performance at Prague, October 29, 1787

This is the lothario Don Juan, but in addition to seducing too many women, he kills the father of one of them. And it's murder, because he disarmed him, then killed him. This happens quite near the beginning of the opera.

Then we get some seduction action, all failed, because he runs into an old flame who gets in his way, and a small posse is after him for the murder.

Eventually the ghost of the murdered man dispatches DG, taking him down into a flaming hell.

And this is a comedy.

This production seemed well done.

Cast:

DON GIOVANNI, a young nobleman Baritone :: Simon Keenlyside
LEPORELLO, his servant Bass :: Kyle Ketelsen
THE COMMENDATORE SEVILLE Bass :: Eric Halfvarson
DONNA ANNA, his daughter Soprano :: Marina Poplavskaya
DON OTTAVIO, her fiancé Tenor :: Ramón Vargas
DONNA ELVIRA, a lady of Burgos Soprano :: Joyce DiDonato
ZERLINA, a country girl Soprano :: Miah Persson
MASETTO, her fiancé Baritone :: Robert Gleadow

Rated 8.8 (11)

Royal Opera, cond. Mackerras; 7

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008), 5

PG-13 | 1h 30min | Comedy, Drama, Music | 3 October 2008
High school student Nick O'Leary, member of the Queercore band The Jerk Offs, meets college-bound Norah Silverberg when she asks him to be her boyfriend for five minutes.
Director: Peter Sollett
Stars: Michael Cera, Kat Dennings, Aaron Yoo.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0981227/
Watched on IMDb Freedive.

37 songs in the Soundtracks.

More teen angst, all happening on 1 night, searching for the band Where's Fluffy, which only posts clues as to where they'll appear.

Norah must decide tonight where to go to college. Nick is going to a conservatory an hour away from one of her choices.

They try to get a "drunk mess" friend of Norah's home via Nick's gay bandmates, but she wanders off. More searching.

Nick and Norah each have almost-ex bf/gf they keep encountering during their travels.

Like any "road trip", N&N bond.

Once was more than enough.

Rated 6.7 (83,378)

Columbia & more, dir. Sollett; 5

The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning (2008), 5

G | 1h 17min | Animation, Drama, Family | Video 25 August 2008
The kingdom of Atlantica where music is forbidden, the youngest daughter of King Triton, named Ariel, discovers her love to an underground music club and sets off to a daring adventure to bring restoration of music back to Atlantica.
Director: Peggy Holmes
Stars: Jodi Benson, Samuel E. Wright, Jim Cummings.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0969647/
Watched online, good print.

8 songs in the Soundtracks.

I'm going to cheat and rate this even though I fell asleep. I shouldn't have attempted it.

This feels very child-targeted, despite the characters being adults, or nearly so.

Rated 6.4 (6,921)

Disney, dir. Holmes; 5

The American Mall (2008), 5

TV-PG | 1h 40min | Comedy, Drama, Musical | TV Movie 11 August 2008

A musical romantic comedy set at a mall and focused on the relationship between two young musicians and their respective personal and professional struggles.

Director: Shawn Ku

Stars: Nina Dobrev, Rob Mayes, Autumn Reeser.

Eldon Johnson ... assistant choreographer

Shawn Ku ... choreographer

Bonnie Story ... choreographer

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1160313/soundtrack

Watched online, mediocre print.

12 songs in the Soundtracks.

Teen angst. Girl is daughter of mall music store, wants to attend music conservatory not business school. Boy, romantic interest, is janitor at mall and has rock band. The mall's owner has bratty daughter who wants the music store's location and the janitor's band to help promote her new store.

Tiresome.

Rated 4.9 (1,231)

MTV, dir. Ku; 5

Mamma Mia! (2008), 6+

PG-13 | 1h 48min | Comedy, Musical, Romance | 18 July 2008
The story of a bride-to-be trying to find her real father told using hit songs by the popular 1970s group ABBA.
Director: Phyllida Lloyd
Stars: Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Amanda Seyfried.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0795421/

20 songs in the Soundtracks, all Written by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus & 5 with Stig Anderson.

Enjoyable, but I just don't buy the impromptu marriage.

Very glad to have another full-out movie musical in 2008, especially one that is about adult humans in live action.

IMDb trivia: "The stage play first opened in London on April, 6th, 1999, at the Prince Edward theater. Its North American debut was May 23rd, 2000, at Toronto's Royal Alexandra Theatre. The original Toronto cast then started Mamma Mia!'s pre-Broadway tour in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Chicago. During the Chicago performances, Louise Pitre and Tina Maddigan were invited to play their same roles in the original Broadway cast. The Broadway opening, directed by Phyllida Lloyd, was October 18th, 2001, at the Winter Garden Theater, the former home of "Cats". The play was nominated by the 2002 Tony Awards for Best Musical and Best Book; Pitre was nominated for Best Actress in a Musical. By January 2010, the play had exceeded forty-seven hundred performances on Broadway, and is the tenth longest running Broadway show ever (February, 2013). As of April 2007, Mamma Mia! has open productions in: New York City, London, Las Vegas, Madrid, Moscow, Stuttgart, Fukuoka, Gothenburg, and Essen. The U.S. and International touring companies have performed in cities all over the globe, including Melbourne, Australia, Utrecht, The Netherlands, and Copenhagen and Horsens, Denmark. According to "Variety", the play's original producer and writer "were broke when they first tried to put the show together, and were even snubbed by the Swedish pop group whose music formed the basis for the show. They are now two of the wealthiest women in England.""

Interesting that the 2018 sequel has a higher rating: 6.8 (51,036).

Rated 6.4 (186,853)

Universal & more, dir. Lloyd; 6+

Camp Rock (2008), 5

TV-G | 1h 34min | Comedy, Family, Music | TV Movie 20 June 2008

At a music camp for gifted teens, a popular teen idol overhears a girl singing and sets out to find who the talented voice belongs to. What he doesn't know is that the girl is actually a camp kitchen worker with a fear of being heard.

Director: Matthew Diamond

Stars: Demi Lovato, Joe Jonas, Meaghan Martin.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1055366/

Watched online, very blurry.

14 songs in the Soundtracks.

More about economic snobbery than music, although plenty of bubble gum is sung. The "star" of the camp from the prior summer is the daughter of a pop star, and the new girl is only there because her mom is the camp cook; they couldn't afford camp otherwise.

The songs seem all to be about self-discovery/development/identity. <eye roll>

Very consistent in whiny tone. Avoid.

Rated 5.1 (26,002)

Disney, dir. Diamond; 5

Crazy (2008), 5

R | 1h 46min | Biography, Drama, Music | 2 March 2008
Inspired by the life of Hank Garland, CRAZY is the story of a legendary guitar player who emerged from Nashville in the 1950's.
Co-writer/Director: Rick Bieber
Stars: Waylon Payne, Ali Larter, Lane Garrison.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443474/
Watched on AmazonPrime.

22 songs in the Soundtracks, 9 Written by Larry Klein, 3 Written by Hank Garland; none say performed by him.

Another unpleasant story. Most of the music is country, but on the fringe where I'm ok with it. Some is jazz, which is much better. But the family dynamics and the mental instability is just not worth the effort of watching this.

Rated 6.6 (559)

indie, dir. Bieber; 5

Hollywood Singing and Dancing: 1930s (2009), 8

Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1930s: Dancing Away the Great Depression (2009)
2h | Documentary, Musical | Video 10 March 2009
A two-hour in-depth exploration into the Hollywood musicals of the 1930s.

Writer/Director: Phillip Dye

Stars: Shirley Jones

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1359579/

This is on the same disc as the 1920s.

58 songs in the Soundtracks, including the film source.

63 films listed in the Connections.

I didn't check the completeness or accuracy of these lists. I'm very grateful I didn't have to fill an empty void.

Divided into 2 parts.

Part 1 covers:

• Maurice Chevalier at Paramount
• Jeanette MacDonald at Paramount
• Eddie Cantor at Goldwyn
• Marx Bros at Paramount
• Mae West at Paramount
• Jimmy Durante at MGM
• Bing Crosby with Mack Sennett and at Paramount
• Al Jolson at Warner
• Dick Powell at Warner
• Ruby Keeler at Warner
• Busby Berkeley at Warner
• Astaire & Rogers at RKO (but they use extensive footage of Second Chorus ('40, distr. Paramount) which has no Rogers
• Singing cowboys Roy Rogers, Gene Autry at Republic
• Tex Ritter at Grand National Pictures
• Herb Jeffries
• Race films
• Lena Horne
• Bill Robinson
• Nicholas Brothers
• Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Cab Calloway

Part 2 covers:

• poor 1st attempts at MGM
• James Cagney at Warner, other
• Eleanor Powell at MGM
• Jeanette MacDonald at MGM, Nelson Eddy, 
• Allan Jones at MGM
• Marx Bros at MGM
• Grace Moore
• Show Boat at Universal barely mentioned
• Alice Faye at Fox
• Sonja Henie at Fox
• Betty Grable at Fox
• Shirley Temple at Fox
• Jane Withers at Fox
• Bobby Breen at RKO
• Mickey Rooney at MGM
• Deanna Durbin at Universal
• Judy Garland at MGM
• Snow White from Disney
• Wizard of Oz from MGM
• Mickey & Judy & Busby & Arthur Freed

I can't think of anything major that they missed. Maybe next time I should watch this just as I finish watching 30s musicals.

Rated 8.2 (44)

distr. Koch, dir. Dye; 8

Sita Sings the Blues (2008), 6

Not Rated | 1h 22min | Animation, Comedy, Fantasy | 11 February 2008
An animated version of the epic Indian tale of Ramayana set to the 1920s jazz vocals of Annette Hanshaw.
Co-writer/Director: Nina Paley
Stars: Annette Hanshaw, Aseem Chhabra, Bhavana Nagulapally, ... Nina Paley.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1172203/
Watched on AmazonPrime.

22 songs in the Soundtracks, 11 Sung by Annette Hanshaw.

Very limited animation, reminiscent of UPA (50s/60s).

Three layers: 1) Nina Paley's breakup story, where her live-in bf gets a job in India, is away for a year, she joins him, but when she's called back to the US for a week, he dumps her by email. 2&3) Indian storytellers in silhouette (with holes in Indian design) argue over what is the tale, then animation of the tale takes over with an Annette Hanshaw song. These 3 elements rotate through until we get the disappointing ending: NP (animated) was reading a book of Ramayana, and puts it on the shelf next to other Indian tomes. The End.

The dvd is very highly priced today.

Rated 7.6 (4,119)

(none), dir. Paley; 6

You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story (2008), 7 {nm}

TV-14 | 3h 48min | Documentary, Biography | Episode aired 23 September 2008
American Masters (1985– )

Add a Plot »

Writer/Director: Richard Schickel

Stars: Clint Eastwood (host/narrator/interviewed).

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1230441/

Divided into 5 chronological parts.

Just reinforces how little WB contributed to the film musical after the 30s: nothing after Jolson, Busby Berkeley until Doris Day in the 50s.

Emphasizes the WB contribution to crime films: gangsters in the 30s and again when Scorsese arrives, and others.

Not that Bette Davis or Olivia de Havilland got short shrift. But this covers the entire span from silents to 2008.

I turned away when the worst violence was shown.

Rated  8.2 (201)

Warner & more, dir. Schickel; 7

Adventures of Power (2008), 6-

PG-13 | 1h 29min | Comedy, Music | 20 January 2008
In his quest to become the world's greatest air-drummer, a small-town dreamer must overcome obstacles and ridicule to save the day.
Writer/Director: Ari Gold
Stars: Ari Gold, Michael McKean, Jane Lynch, Steven Williams.
Keith Young ... choreographer

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0960721/
Watched online, ok print.

35 songs in the Soundtracks, 18 Written by Ethan Gold plus 2 Written by Ari Gold.

The character's 1st name is Power.

Not as horrible as the premise sounds. Has a conflicting view of air drumming: it's represented as very marginal, but the competition in NJ has a large enthusiastic audience in the theatre, and the LIVE broadcast is picked up easily by AG's family in Lode NM.

We get other plot elements to add interest: he taught air drumming to a child friend who lost a parent, his own father derides him, but uses air drumming at a crucial moment of the copper mine strike.

Rated 6.3 (1,774)

indie, dir. Gold; 6-

Hollywood Singing and Dancing: 1920s (2008), 7

Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1920s: The Dawn of the Hollywood Musical (2008)
1h | Documentary, Musical | Video 10 January 2008

The 1920s was a time of great change in Hollywood. This program tells the story of the advent of sound technology for movies and the emergence of talkies and musicals in Hollywood. While audiences cried out for more, the movie industry struggled to adapt to the strange new technology. The result was an explosion of movie musicals by the end of the decade.

Writer/Director: Phillip Dye

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1190718/

66 songs in the Soundtracks, complete with link to film from which it was extracted!

The earliest talking short they excerpt here is from 1923.

The "20s" here stretches into the 30s, with 22 of the 72 films on the Connections page having a 193x release date. Since the first feature film with synchronized talking was The Jazz Singer ('27), I was surprised the 20s got their own hour. But when you can go back to '23 for shorts, and forward to '34... They also include silent films that show dancing.

I don't remember a discussion of sound technologies, but I'm writing this at least 12 hours, and maybe 24, after viewing. I also watched the 30s hour, and don't remember it there either. Namely: recording the sound on disc versus on film. But I have a through discussion of that elsewhere.

Some of the films mentioned are actually lost, and what they show is a segment that survives.

Rated 7.9 (31)

distr. Passport Video, dir. Dye; 7

An American in Paris: The Musical (2018), 6

Great Performances (1971– )

2h 30min | Music | Episode aired 2 November 2018
2h 40min | Musical | 16 May 2018 (UK)

Jerry Mulligan is an American GI striving to make it as a painter in a city suddenly bursting with hope and possibility. Following a chance encounter with a beautiful young dancer named Lise, the streets of Paris become the backdrop to a sensuous, modern romance of art, friendship and love in the aftermath of war.

Directors: Christopher Wheeldon, Ross MacGibbon

Stars: Leanne Cope, Robert Fairchild.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9627100/
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7877016/
watched OTA/dvr, burned to dvd. That length is now 2h 12m. I dozed off during replay of the disc, so I don't know if there is a gap/jump (or many), but it seems unlikely that it lost 18 minutes in single frames (almost 26k of them?) It certainly began and ended without incident (1 pixelated moment).

This has a double listing on IMDb because it was shown first outside of GP, then as an episode. Much more information is on the non-GP page (2nd).

18 songs according to the Wikipedia page.

The 2 stars are super-threats; they don't just sing/dance/act, they dance ballet/jazz. If anyone tap danced, it escaped me.

In this play, it seems we have 3 men interested in LC: the struggling American painter, the established French entertainer, and the struggling composer (Oscar Levant in the film). I don't remember her encouraging the composer, but he sings about her plenty. The rich American woman is here too. Having all the major characters from the '51 film make comparison unavoidable.

The acting is not great, or maybe it's the direction. Or maybe it's the large-venue stage, but they're mic'd. The acting is very broad, seemingly shouted to the ceiling.

I don't love the dancing. It's too close to straight ballet: technique-centered rather than designed to convey emotions.

I found myself missing the Vincente Minnelli sets and cinema, and missing Gene Kelly in a big way.

Interesting that it boasts 28 5-star reviews. Probably from theatre critics, and not cinephiles.

Rated 8.3 (137)

PBS, dir. Wheeldon & MacGibbon; 6

Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History (2008 Video), 7

1h 48min | Documentary, Musical | Video 14 October 2008
A look at the history of musical movies hosted by Shirley Jones. Full of clips and behind the scenes stories that any movie buff will appreciate.
Director: Mark McLaughlin

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1267421/

What makes this "better" than That's Entertainment ('74): this covers more than MGM musicals. And it has 30 more years of history to mine.

But all that doesn't fit into less than 2 hours, so we have 7 more hours coming: roughly 1 per decade, but with the last 3 decades combined.

I was impressed by the quality of the images. This is a legit enterprise.

Biggest "goof": they start talking about Arthur Freed at MGM working with Gene Kelly, but then "illustrate" that with Cover Girl ('44), where GK & Stanley Donen were loaned OUT to Columbia for that film. Arthur Freed had nothing to do with Cover Girl.

I spent a great deal of time on IMDb contributions for this: 73 film connections (accepted) and 23 cast members (pending).

2 hours of extra footage on 2nd disc: Q&A after screening the doc'y w/ SJ, vintage featurettes, and an hour of interview footage not used in the doc'y. Good stuff.

Rated 7.7 (72)

distr. Koch, dir. McLaughlin; 7

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007), 7

R | 1h 56min | Drama, Horror, Musical | 21 December 2007
The infamous story of Benjamin Barker, aka Sweeney Todd, who sets up a barber shop in London which is the basis for a sinister partnership with his fellow tenant, Mrs. Lovett.
Director: Tim Burton
Stars: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0408236/
Watched on AmazonPrime.

25 songs in the Soundtracks, all Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, performed by cast.

Concert viewed: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in Concert (2001), 7-, which had partial costumes and a few props, but no sets, and the orchestra was onstage.

TB almost completely desaturated the colors, except blood, which (I'm sure) is partially for shock value when the red appears, and partly to invoke the dreariness of London at the time of the story.

The mood is much better here during the duet describing the different flavors of pie (priest, shepard, etc.) than in the concert; it's wry and dour, not upbeat waltzy.

Rated 7.4 (317,602)

Dreamworks, Warner & more, dir. Burton; 7

Legally Blonde: The Musical (2007), 7; Legally Blonde (2001), 6 {nm}

3h 5min | Musical | TV Movie 13 October 2007

Tells the story of Delta Nu Sorority Sister Elle Woods, and her amazing trip in pursuit of sexy man Warner Huntington III. Along the way she meets friends Emmett, Paulette, and all her Delta Nus see her through.

Directors: Beth McCarthy-Miller, Jerry Mitchell

Stars: Laura Bell Bundy, Christian Borle, Orfeh.
(wow, no choreographer credits listed)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1125194/
Watched online, blurry. Only 2h 13m; didn't seem edited, except to remove commercials.

20 songs in the Soundtracks, all Written by Nell Benjamin and Laurence O'Keefe.

More! I want more captures of B'way musicals!

The opening song was super annoying. I haven't seen the film upon which this show is based (but now I want to), so maybe it's funnier if you have that context. I also felt some of the subplots were very expendable. And the sexual harassment plot twist would deserve an even stronger response these days. But enjoyable overall, with good dance numbers. (Elle dances Irish in spike heels!)

Rated 8.3 (1,048)

MTV, dir. McCarthy-Miller & Mitchell; 7

PG-13 | 1h 36min | Comedy, Romance | 13 July 2001
Elle Woods, a fashionable sorority queen is dumped by her boyfriend. She decides to follow him to law school, while she is there she figures out that there is more to her than just looks.
Director: Robert Luketic
Stars: Reese Witherspoon, Luke Wilson, Selma Blair.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0250494/

Watched online, ok print.

Well, the plot of the musical followed the film pretty closely, except for that opening number, which was not based on phrasing used in the film at all (Oh My God You Guys).

The musical is more fun, of course, because of good singing and dancing. Then again, RW is charming, but does come across as silly sometimes in the context of Harvard Law. But it's great to see her prevail.

Rated 6.3 (159,760)

MGM & more, dir. Luketic; 6

Enchanted (2007), 8-

PG | 1h 47min | Animation, Comedy, Family | 21 Nov 2007
A young maiden in a land called Andalasia, who is prepared to be wed, is sent away to New York City by an evil queen, where she falls in love with a lawyer.
Director: Kevin Lima
Stars: Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, Susan Sarandon, James Marsden, Timothy Spall, Idina Menzel.
Christopher Harrison ... assistant choreographer

John O'Connell ... choreographer

Maria Torres O'Connor ... associate choreographer 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0461770/
Watched online, good print.

14 songs in the Soundtracks. Most are Music by Alan Menken, with Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz or Howard Ashman.

Absolutely enchanting, with a cartoon beginning and very brief ending. In between, we get occasional appearances from SS in cartoon form, until she joins the others in NYC.

The characters from the fairy tale cartoon all behave under their rules of engagement (including singing for no reason), and the humans keep theirs. As with other tales of strangers in a strange land, sustained interactions with the aliens changes both.

Ordered a copy.

Rated 7.1 (162,724)

Disney, dir. Lima; 8-

August Rush (2007), 7-

PG | 1h 54min | Drama, Music | 6 October 2007
An orphaned musical prodigy uses his gift to try to find his birth parents.
Director: Kirsten Sheridan
Stars: Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Terrence Howard, Robin Williams.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0426931/

Watched online, ok print.

24 songs in the Soundtracks, some classical, some post-punk?

Total fairy tale about a kid who hears music everywhere, finally gets told in 1 minute how to read music, gets immediately into Juilliard and writes a symphony performed by the NY Phil in Central Park.

His mother didn't know he was alive until halfway through the film. His father never knew he was born. RW plays a Fagan character mentoring child beggars to whom he's taught music, and our prodigy is with him for a while. TH plays the social worker on his case.

Without the strength of the performances, this probably would be awful. But FH (b. '92), who is currently in a tv series about a doctor who's autistic, conveys very well a person who has other things going on in his brain. He also conveys joy very well.

Oddly, KR, as his birth mother, "recognizes" him in a current photo, even though she's never seen an image of him at any age. She also "recognizes" his music when she's at the park performance (cello solo for a prior song). JRM has already encountered FH in the park, has been looking for KR to reconnect. They all converge at the concert. It's as though a fairy godmother swept her wand to make it happen. But it's satisfying because it's played well.

Rated 7.5 (97,960)

Warner & more, dir. Sheridan; 7-

Honeydripper (2007), 5

PG-13 | 2h 4min | Crime, Drama, History | 10 September 2007
1950. Rural Alabama. Cotton harvest. It's a make-or-break weekend for the Honeydripper Lounge and its owner, piano player Tyrone "Pine Top" Purvis. 
Writer/Director: John Sayles
Stars: Danny Glover, LisaGay Hamilton, Yaya DaCosta, Charles S. Dutton, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Stacy Keach.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0829193/

Watched on AmazonPrime.

20 songs in the Soundtracks, but it felt as though we got almost no music until the final 15 minutes. Oh, there was some bad singing (acknowledged as such by the characters), and a blind street performer. But even the "good" stuff was deeply mediocre.

Very slow, plodding, ponderous. And not worth the time.

Rated 6.7 (1,795)

indie, dir. Sayles; 5

Across the Universe (2007), 6-

PG-13 | 2h 13min | Drama, Fantasy, Musical | 12 October 2007
The music of The Beatles and the Vietnam War form the backdrop for the romance between an upper-class American girl and a poor Liverpudlian artist.
Co-writer/Director: Julie Taymor
Stars: Evan Rachel Wood, Jim Sturgess, Joe Anderson.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0445922/
Watched online, good print.

33 songs in the Soundtracks, all written by Beatles, mostly John Lennon and Paul McCartney, a few by George Harrison, all performed by cast members, including some cameo rockers.

I can understand why people like this. It's creative, with good use of the songs, seamlessly providing exposition for the images, which are also very creative.

But I have no nostalgia for the period, nor for the music. Actually, I have an aversion to the Vietnam era, so I hesitated watching this at all.

Dir. JT (b. '52) also provided the creative masks & puppets in the opera Oedipus Rex ('93) that I found interesting, and the B'way musical of The Lion King.

Rated 7.4 (100,470)

distr. Buena Vista, dir. Taymor; 6-

I'm Not There (2007), 5

R | 2h 15min | Biography, Drama, Music | 7 December 2007
Ruminations on the life of Bob Dylan, where six characters embody a different aspect of the musician's life and work.
Co-writer/Director: Todd Haynes
Stars: Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Heath Ledger, Ben Whishaw, Richard Gere, Marcus Carl Franklin.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368794/
Watched online, ok print.

Mostly b/w with some color sequences.

~44 songs in the Soundtracks, very few not Written and Performed by Bob Dylan. Most are in the background as score.

This film does nothing to help me appreciate Dylan. But for people who already do, and know about the events of his life, this might seem like a profound method for telling the story.

Not worth a second attempt.

Rated 7.0 (53,438)

distr. Weinstein, dir. Haynes; 5

High School Musical 2 (2007), 6-

TV-G | 1h 44min | Comedy, Drama, Family | TV Movie 17 August 2007

School's out for summer and the East High Wildcats are ready to make it the time of their lives after landing jobs in a wealthy country club owned by Sharpay and Ryan's family.

Director: Kenny Ortega

Stars: Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman.

Charles Klapow ... choreographer

Roger Malaga ... associate choreographer

Jared Murillo ... associate choreographer

Kenny Ortega ... choreographer

Bonnie Story ... choreographer

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0810900/

14 songs in the Soundtracks, including at least 1 alternate version.

The Sharpay (AT) character is incredibly annoying, and motivates the entire plot. So the story is no fun. The songs & singing are only ok. You can only wait for the dance numbers. The big dance numbers are fun, but the actual dance moves are not impressive.

Rated 4.9 (48,328)

Disney, dir. Ortega; 6-

Hairspray (2007), 7

PG | 1h 57min | Comedy, Drama, Musical | 20 July 2007
Pleasantly plump teenager Tracy Turnblad teaches 1962 Baltimore a thing or two about integration after landing a spot on a local TV dance show.
Director: Adam Shankman
Stars: John Travolta, Queen Latifah, Nikki Blonsky, Christopher Walken, Zac Efron.
Anne Fletcher ... associate choreographer
Joey Pizzi ... associate choreographer
Adam Shankman ... choreographer
Jamal Sims ... associate choreographer

Zachary Woodlee ... associate choreographer 

Jerry Mitchell ... stage choreographer (uncredited)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427327/

30 songs in the Soundtracks, including at least 2 reprises and 5 duplicates. All Written by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman.

Lively songs & choreography. Great plot focused on integration of the races and tolerance of big and large.

I bought a copy because they were cheap and I want all films where CW dances. He and JT have a nice duet in the backyard (or is it a roof?), and they wear fantasy costumes, including an Astaire/Rogers tribute for a few moments. Nice to have JT's dancing skills in the fat suit, but his femininity was more convincing than his heft. 

Not actually a remake of Hairspray (1988), 7. This is a musical based on the B'way play, which is based on the '88 film.

Casts in order of '07 film:
Divine :: John Travolta ... Edna Turnblad
Debbie Harry :: Michelle Pfeiffer ... Velma Von Tussle
Jerry Stiller :: Christopher Walken ... Wilbur Turnblad
Leslie Ann Powers :: Amanda Bynes ... Penny Pingleton
Shawn Thompson :: James Marsden ... Corny Collins
Ruth Brown :: Queen Latifah ... Motormouth Maybelle
Vitamin C :: Brittany Snow ... Amber Von Tussle
Michael St. Gerard :: Zac Efron ... Link Larkin
Clayton Prince :: Elijah Kelley ... Seaweed
Jo Ann Havrilla :: Allison Janney ... Prudy Pingleton
Ricki Lake :: Nikki Blonsky ... Tracy Turnblad
Cyrkle Milbourne :: Taylor Parks ... Little Inez

Alan J. Wendl :: Jerry Stiller ... Mr. Pinky

Sonny Bono :: none ... Franklin von Tussle

Josh Charles :: none ... Iggy 

Note that Jerry Stiller had roles in both films. John Waters was a Doctor in the original and a brief cameo as a flasher here. Ricki Lake also had a cameo here as a talent agent (although I didn't see her.)

ZE looks much younger in High School Musical ('06) than here, which is partially due to hairstyle and clothing.

Rated 6.7 (110,781)

New Line Cinema & more, dir. Shankman; 7

The Sound of Music Live (2015), 7+

Great Performances (1971– )
2h 30min | Music | Episode aired 9 November 2018, original live UK b'cast 20 December 2015

An apprentice nun tasked with caring for the children of a retired naval officer finds herself falling in love with him as the Nazi invasion of Austria looms on the horizon.

Directors: Coky Giedroyc, Richard Valentine

Stars: Kara Tointon, Julian Ovenden, Alexander Armstrong.

UK: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5285494/

US: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9627060/

Watched now b/c I was pulling operas off my dvr for burning to dvd, and this was a candidate too.

No songs listed in the Soundtracks, but at least 2 more and 1 fewer than the '65 film.

Many songs were used in different contexts than in the film, but made perfect sense either way. 

Although this is not a stage performance, all the sets are clearly within the confines of a studio.

I don't think I'll burn a dvd of this. It has nothing done better than the film, and my heart belongs to Julie Andrews. I must admit, KT's speaking voice is much like JA's, and she can hit great notes, but the advantage of retakes, outdoor locations, and JA's warmth all make that an all-round superior performance.

Rated 7.2 (316)

(unknown), dir. Giedroyc & Valentine 7+

The Brothers Warner (2007), 7- {nm}

Not Rated | 1h 34min | Documentary, Biography, History | TV Movie 25 September 2008

An intimate portrait and saga of four film pioneers--Harry, Albert, Sam and Jack who rose from immigrant poverty through personal tragedies persevering to create a major studio with a social conscience.

Writer/Director: Cass Warner (as Cass Warner Sperling)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1023499/

Cass is granddaughter of Harry, and is telling mostly the story of the brothers, not of the studio. Since they all worked at that family business, some milestones of the studio are mentioned, but the only musical that was referenced was the last one that Jack produced, Camelot ('67).

According to this, the story in my mind about Sam's death is conflated with the death of Lewis, Harry's son. Lewis is the one who died from complications of an infected tooth at age 23. Sam died shortly before the debut of The Jazz Singer ('27) from a brain hemorrhage at age 40.

Fascinating that Sam's wife, who was working on-camera at Paramount, wanted Sam to bring the sound technology he had pursued to Paramount instead of his own family's firm. Or 

Jack and Harry were at odds, with Albert being peace-maker, until Jack crossed the line and sold the company, only to buy it back a few days later.

Interesting, but not fascinating. These are important characters in the history of film, and the era which is most interesting to me, but this is more about personalities than about the films. For instance, this never mentions the short film(s) that were done with sound before The Jazz Singer ('27). (IMDb may be highly inaccurate in this era, but it lists more than 50 non-silent titles released by Warner before TJS was released.)

Rated 7.4 (363)

distr. PBS, dir. Warner; 7-

High School Musical: The Concert (2007), 6-

57min | Family, Music, Musical | Video 26 June 2007
Be a part of an incredible concert as the worldwide phenomenon goes extreme! HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: THE CONCERT: EXTREME ACCESS PASS invites you behind the scenes and puts you in the middle of the action.
Director: James Yukich
Stars: Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman, Lucas Grabeel, Vanessa Hudgens, Drew Seeley, Ashley Tisdale.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1142381/

Accidentally bought 1 HSM disc too many; this one is not directed by Kenny Ortega.

18 songs in the Soundtracks; some are from the extra features.

5 of the 6 principals are from the (TV) film; Drew Seeley replaces Zac Efron here, and his credit on HSM is listed as Troy Bolton (singing voice) (uncredited), which is ZE's character. But in the Soundtracks for HSM, both ZE and DS are credited as performing on the same songs. Confusing.

We also have a chorus of dancers, but I didn't watch closely enough to decide whether I liked the choreography.

A lot of the songs seemed familiar, but I'm not going to compare the track lists for film and concert.

Lots of people in the audience, and many looked pre-teen.

In an extra feature, they said the stage show was 90min, which is 50% more than this disc's primary feature.

Rated 5.1 (190)

distr. Disney Channel, dir. Yukich; 6-

Control (2007), 5 b/w

R | 2h 2min | Biography, Drama, Music | 17 May 2007 | b/w
A profile of Ian Curtis, the enigmatic singer of Joy Division whose personal, professional, and romantic troubles led him to commit suicide at the age of 23.
Director: Anton Corbijn
Stars: Sam Riley, Samantha Morton, Craig Parkinson.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421082/
Watched online, ok print.

24 songs in the Soundtracks, 13 written by Ian Curtis & 3 others; of those, 3 are performed by Joy Division, 9 by the actors portraying them, and 1 another group.

I don't know the music; per a google search, it's post-punk. I was reminded of The Doors, but less melodic and less abstract lyrics (but not to the extent that the lyrics could qualify for American country music), perhaps more depressive.

Ian has epilepsy, and the drugs he took attempting to control it had depressive side effects. He was in love with a reporter who had interviewed him, but didn't want to divorce his wife, but she wanted to divorce him.

Their accents are hard for me to understand, and when I cranked up the volume, here comes a song to blow up the sound. No English subtitles on this print.

Not worth a second look. Not sure why the ratings are so good; band fans? Don't want to read reviews to find out.

Rated 7.7 (57,016)

distr. Weinstein, dir. Corbijn; 5

Ocean's Thirteen (2007), 6+ {nm}

PG-13 | 2h 2min | Crime, Thriller | 8 June 2007
Danny Ocean rounds up the boys for a third heist, after casino owner Willy Bank double-crosses one of the original eleven, Reuben Tishkoff.
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Stars: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Elliott Gould, Al Pacino, Andy Garcia.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0496806/

Amazing that these guys are at it again in Vegas. I don't remember having this qualm during Ocean's Twelve - oh, yeah, that was in Europe - namely, how are they able to walk into any Vegas casino. Didn't GC serve time related to the first robbery? I suppose AG is such a spiteful guy that he not only doesn't report them to the authorities, he helps bankroll the effort on AP's house. Oh well, another complex but enjoyable plot, hoisting the mark on his own petard.

Rated 6.9 (292,544)

Warner & more, dir. Soderbergh; 6+

Shrek the Third (2007), 7 {nm}

PG | 1h 33min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy | 18 May 2007
When his new father-in-law, King Harold falls ill, Shrek is looked at as the heir to the land of Far, Far Away. Not one to give up his beloved swamp, Shrek recruits his friends Donkey and Puss in Boots to install the rebellious Artie as the new king. Princess Fiona, however, rallies a band of royal girlfriends to fend off a coup d'etat by the jilted Prince Charming.
Directors: Chris Miller, Raman Hui (co-director)
Stars: Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0413267/

Worthy sequel with good story, lots of gags, and high energy. 

Will they ever use Dragon for more than a cameo?

Several familiar songs used as brief comic relief, mostly by Donkey. But the 2 most precious were by Julie Andrews, from 2 of her iconic films. She only hummed, but very recognizable.

Rated 6.1 (248,362)

Dreamworks, dir. Miller & Hui; 7