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Category: Musical

  • Pink Floyd: The Wall (1982)

    Pink Floyd: The Wall (1982)

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    Since its formation in 1965, Pink Floyd is considered to be one of the most successful bands of all time. Originally consisting of Syd Barrett, Nick Mason, Roger Waters, and Richard Wright, the band sold over 250 million records worldwide. As the band rose to prominence in the 70s, Waters felt somewhat alienated from his audiences under the “executive approach”. The band used this disillusionment as the basis for the 11th studio album The Wall which was released in 1979. The album was a massive hit, so Pink Floyd decided to adapt the album to film using tour footage. Alan Parker, best known for Fame and Bugsy Malone, was hired to direct, though this led to a troubled production. Parker, Waters, and animation director Gerald Scarfe clashed over the vision and who had the final say on the project. Finally, Pink Floyd: The Wall was released in mid-1982.

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    Synopsis

    The film centers around Pink (Bob Geldof), a rock star wracked with depression who has isolated himself from the world. Through a series of flashbacks, we learn that his father was killed in WWII, leaving his mother (Christine Hargreaves) alone. He also remembers his school days as a sort of prison camp run by teachers who’re unhappy with their lives. Eventually, Pink gets a wife (Eleanor David) who ends up leaving him for another man, starting the wall’s construction. Back in the present, Pink becomes increasingly self-destructive, culminating in him destroying his hotel room and trapping himself within. Now fully isolated, Pink shaves off his hair and watches TV until his manager (Bob Hoskins) finds him. During a concert, Pink starts slipping further into insanity, imagining himself as a dictator at a fascist rally. It all leads to him eventually deciding he no longer wants to be in the wall.

     

    Review

    Since its release, much has been written about Pink Floyd: The Wall, so I’m not sure what I can add. All I can say is that this is easily one of the most surreal and bizarre films I’ve ever seen. I mean that in a good way, as this film tells a great story with its odd visuals. The animations by Gerald Scarfe are a sight to behold, feeling like a cross between Ralph Bakshi and Salvador Dali. They complement the live-action sequences, which offer some of the most iconic images ever associated with Pink Floyd. The sequence where school children are on a conveyor belt leading to a meat grinder is easily the most memorable. It’s one of those films where even if you’re unsure of what’s happening, you’re never bored because of the visuals. Paired with some great songs, it’s a visual and auditory feast.

    Admittedly, it’s hard to judge this on a narrative level since there’s not much in terms of story or dialogue. This film tells its story purely through visuals with little to no dialogue, which can be good and bad. While it doesn’t spoonfeed you information, it can also be difficult to discern what’s going on unless you’re paying attention. In terms of acting, Bob Geldof works thanks to his body language and facial expressions showing his pain and anguish. There are some appearances from Bob Hoskins (Brazil) and a then-unknown Jenny Wright (Near Dark), but they don’t do much. At roughly 95 minutes in length, the film moves at a decent pace and never overstays its welcome. Even if you’re not a huge Pink Floyd fan, this is still worth a watch for its visual storytelling alone. Overall, Pink Floyd: The Wall is an impressively depressing yet beautiful musical drama.

     

    Buy Pink Floyd: The Wall from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3sdCoZW

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  • The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure (2012)

    The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure (2012)

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    Kenn Viselman was the American producer of Thomas & Friends and The Teletubbies, which he wanted to adapt to film. Series creator Anne Wood refused, so he decided to create something similar loosely based on the series My Bedbugs. He got the idea for audience interactivity after seeing a screening of Madea Goes to Jail with an overactive audience. Viselman wanted to have kids be able to get up, dance, and sing along with the movie in the theater. In the director’s chair was Matthew Diamond, who was nominated for an Oscar for Best Documentary for 1998’s Dancemaker. Originally filmed in 2009, the film sat on the shelves for years because Viselman wanted to patent the film’s interactivity. Its production budget was $20 million, but an additional $40 million was spent on marketing, totaling around $60 million. In August 2012, The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure was released.

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    Synopsis

    The Oogieloves, consisting of Goobie (Misty Miller), Zoozie (Stephanie Renz), and Toofie (Malerie Grady), are putting together a surprise party. It’s their pillow Schluufy’s birthday and they got some magical balloons, but their vacuum J. Edgar (Nick Drago) loses them. With help from him and Windy Window (Maya Stange), the Oogieloves set off to get the balloons back. Along the way, they meet several eccentric characters, each with their own quirks and song numbers to help them. They meet Dotty Rounder (Cloris Leachman), Milky Marvin (Chazz Palminteri), Rosalie Rosebud (Toni Braxton), and Bobby Wobbly (Cary Elwes). Along with Lola and Lero Sombrero (Jaime Pressly and Christopher Lloyd), each offers a gift along with the balloon. It’s a race against time as Schluufy’s birthday party is coming up very soon and they need all the balloons. Will they succeed, or will they not be able to get the balloons on time?

     

    Review

    The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure is one of the worst movies I’ve ever had to review. Granted, I’m not the target audience for this, but I can’t imagine anyone over the age of 5 enjoying this. This comes off as more of a corporate attempt at creating marketable characters than someone with a message to tell. Obviously, not every family/children’s film needs a message to be good, but this isn’t even good children’s entertainment. For a film that had a $20 million budget, the production values are incredibly cheap between the sets and puppets. Sure, there’s tons of color and everything looks bright, but it has a flat and boring look to it. It would be excusable if this were some direct-to-video kids movie, but the fact that it was theatrical is shocking. Guess it’s no wonder the film was such a massive flop.

    The budget probably went to the cast they assembled, who all look like they’re embarrassed to be there. Chazz Palminteri and Christopher Lloyd in particular look confused as if they’re unaware of what’s happening around them. Toni Braxton isn’t too bad, and her song isn’t awful, but she clearly deserved better than this given her talent. Cloris Leachman and Jaime Pressley are making the most of the material, and Cary Elwes is either spacey or self-aware. His performance is so bizarre that it makes you wonder if he knew what kind of movie he was in. Anyway, the film’s attempts at trying to add interactivity come across as annoying and make the overall experience more grating. Granted, the story is pretty uneventful, so it’s not like you’re missing out on anything whenever you’re told to stand. Overall, The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure is best avoided at all costs.

     

    Buy The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure from Amazon: https://amzn.to/38b7kU0

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  • Cannibal! The Musical (1993)

    Cannibal! The Musical (1993)

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    Today, Trey Parker and Matt Stone are best known for their long-running hit adult animated series, South Park. However, in the late 1980s, they were attending the University of Colorado, Matt a math major, Trey a film major. The two became fast friends and started making short films together showcasing their brand of anti-authoritarian and absurd humor. In 1992, Parker and Stone, alongside Jason McHugh and Ian Hardin formed the production company Avenging Conscience. Around this time, Parker was going through a horrible depression after learning that his fiancee was having an affair. Rather than sulk, Parker focused his efforts on making a 3-minute trailer for a fictional movie, Alfred Packer: The Musical. After getting some money together, they expanded the trailer into a feature film and premiered it in Boulder in 1993. Troma eventually picked the film up for distribution and released it in 1996 as Cannibal! The Musical.

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    Synopsis

    In 1883, Alfred Packer (Trey Parker) is being tried for supposedly killing and eating his group during a gold expedition. While imprisoned, Packer’s visited by journalist Polly Pry (Toddy Walters), who asks him to explain his side of the story. Cut to 1873 in Bingham Canyon, Utah, where a group of men is planning on an expedition to Breckenridge. Led by Mormon priest Shannon Wilson Bell (Ian Hardin), Packer is brought on given his time in Colorado territory. They’re joined by James Humphrey (Matt Stone), Israel Swan (John Hegel), Frank Miller (Jason McHugh), and George Noon (Dian Bachar). Along the way, they encounter a group of fur trappers, Japanese Indians, and a cyclops, as well as harsh weather. Back in the present, Packer is sentenced to death by hanging, but Polly decides to fight for his innocence. What will happen to Packer, and is he guilty of murder and cannibalism?

     

    Review

    Cannibal! The Musical has very amateurish production qualities and was clearly made by film students who didn’t entirely know better. What it lacks in production value, the film more than makes up for in energy, absurd humor, and catchy songs. Before becoming a film major, Trey Parker was a music major, which he puts to good use here. Taking inspiration from musicals like Oklahoma and the works of Rogers & Hammerstein, each song stands out from the rest. From the opener, Shpadoinkle, to the love ballad, I Was On Top Of You, you’ll be humming at least one. Parker and Walters are easily the best singers here, though you can tell the rest of the cast is trying. Hegel has probably one of the film’s best songs, Let’s Build a Snowman, an upbeat song during a hopeless scene. These songs are great despite the Casio-sounding score.

    South Park fans will notice some elements that would appear in the show, including a grey alien in the background. The musical numbers are predecessors to the numbers in South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut and Team America: World Police. Even the amateurish production value is similar to South Park, showing that entertainment can be made for little money. Admittedly, there are some noticeable flaws present, such as awfully fake beards, plastic weapons, obvious doubles, and ADR. However, much like The Toxic Avenger and Class of Nuke ‘Em High, these flaws give the film its charm. This feels like a home movie some friends made to later watch while drinking, though there’s some artistic merit. Even with its crude production, questionable acting, and cut corners, this film was what laid the groundwork for South Park. Overall, Cannibal! The Musical is a fun time if you don’t take it too seriously.

     

    Buy Cannibal! The Musical on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3mZ4JRN

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  • Rocketman (2019)

    Rocketman (2019)

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    Synopsis

    As a child, Reggie was raised by his cold mother Sheila (Bryce Dallas Howard), and his caring grandmother (Gemma Jones). He becomes interested in playing the piano, receiving a scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music for his talents. Having grown up, he changes his name to Elton John (Taron Egerton) and starts getting his first taste of success. He manages to get a deal with manager Ray Williams (Charlie Rowe) and meets songwriter Bernie Taupin (Jamie Bell). The two become a hit after a performance of “Crocodile Rock” at the Troubadour club in Los Angeles. Soon, Elton falls for John Reid (Richard Madden), who becomes his new manager, but things start spiraling downward. John does find success with his flamboyant persona, but ends up addicted to alcohol, cocaine, and sex, Reid not caring. It’s a story of the price of fame and how people can leach off your success.

     

    Review

    When news of the film first started surfacing, many people were starting to draw comparisons with Bohemian Rhapsody. Obviously, they’re similar in that they’re both biopics about successful rock musicians struggling with addiction and their sexual identity. However, between the two, while Bohemian Rhapsody has its positives, I feel that Rocketman is easily the stronger film. For one, as good as Rami Malek was as Freddy Mercury, Taron Egerton delivers a great performance and then some. Not only is his acting amazing, but he also does his own singing, and he does a phenomenal job at that. Also, while Bohemian Rhapsody mostly skirted around the darker moments, Rocketman embraces those moments and doesn’t pull back. You really get a sense of the struggles that Elton went through and see the low points in his life. This is definitely the film that Freddy Mercury should have gotten in the first place.

    What helps set this movie apart is that, though following the typical biopic structure, there’s very lively energy here. While they may seem obtrusive, the musical numbers help give the film a ton of energy and fun. Many of the numbers and songs used help to show what Elton was going through during parts of his life. Some of the highlights include the use of “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” and the titular “Rocketman”. Aside from Egerton, the rest of the cast does a good job, Bell is particularly giving a very human performance. You really feel for these two friends, how they support one another, and how they remain friends for years. If this film doesn’t receive at least one Oscar nomination, it will be a damn shame for that awards season. Overall, Rocketman is a powerful biopic that does its subject matter justice.

     

    Buy Rocketman on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4hwkUmk.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase. 

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    Where to watch Rocketman (2019)

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  • The Apple (1980)

    The Apple (1980)

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    After the massive success of Saturday Night Fever, various movies were made to capitalize on its success. Some of these included Thank God It’s Friday, Skatetown USA, and Roller Boogie. But then, there was Can’t Stop the Music, which bombed at the box office and led to the creation of the Razzies. Alongside it was Xanadu, which was a financial disappointment, but it has spawned a cult following. Around the same time, there was The Apple. Directed by Menahem Golan of The Cannon Group, this was to be his big hit. Golan planned on having this film be the next big thing, hoping that this would be his big break in the American film industry. Sadly, this wasn’t the case as the film was destroyed by critics and audiences. Overtime, it found its audience and now has a new appreciation. So what is it that makes The Apple so special?

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    Set in the far-off (at the time) future of 1994, the film takes place in a world dominated by BIM. BIM, which stands for Boogalow International Music, is a major record label that more or less runs the world. At the Worldvision Song Festival, BIM is showcasing their two latest stars, Pandi and Dandi. Things change when a young couple, Alphie and Bibi, show up to perform. While hated at first, the crowd starts to love them. Mr. Boogalow ends up sabotaging them, but still wants to sign them for a contract. While Bibi agrees to sign, Alphie realizes this isn’t right and refuses. Unfortunately, Alphie is thrown out and living in a flophouse while Bibi is a major superstar. As time goes on, Bibi realizes how evil BIM is, and she manages to get out of the contract and reunites with Alphie at a hippy commune.

    To say that this movie is crazy would only be scratching the surface of just how ludicrous this movie is. There are musical numbers almost every five minutes. It’s very colorful, it has elaborately designed costumes, and the set design is amazingly weird. Being the feature film debut of Catherine Mary Stewart, she’s pretty decent and really does come across as a young naive woman. While she does lip sync, it’s done so well that you actually believe she’s singing. George Gilmour who plays Alphie isn’t terrible, but it does feel like acting isn’t really for him. Grace Kennedy and Allan Love, who play Pandi and Dandi respectively, are a lot of fun to watch. Vladek Sheybal completely owns his role as Mr. Boogalow, and he’s clearly having a blast here. Also of note is Ray Shell as Boogalow’s assistant Snake, who is so wild and over-the-top, he is wonderful.

    While I do love this movie, I can totally understand why people wouldn’t like the film. It’s very ridiculous, nonsensical, and very loud and bombastic. The movie is very weird, it’s out there, and it has one of the biggest deus ex machina endings ever. Audiences in 1980 were not very kind to this movie. At the premiere, guests were given free copies of the soundtrack, and they hated the movie so much, they started throwing the soundtracks at the screen. Golan was so distraught by how much hate the movie got, he almost jumped off a balcony to his death. Luckily, his business partner saved him, and he may have gone a bit too far, but it’s very understandable. Here was a movie he put his heart and soul into, and people are booing it and throwing things at the screen.

    However, as time went on, a cult following started to develop and people started liking it. There are people who love it ironically, but there are those who legitimately love it. Personally, the movie is so much fun to watch that it’s hard for me to hate the movie. It’s so crazy, weird, and out there, but The Apple is the kind of movie that is too much fun to hate.

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