1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die- Les Misérables

#1148- Les Misérables (2012)
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway
Directed by: Tom Hooper


Plot Summary: After serving a nineteen-year prison sentence for stealing a loaf of bread, Jean Valjean is released on parole by prison guard Inspector Javert. Vowing to start a new life, Valjean goes missing and violates his parole, and resurfaces a changed man as the mayor of Montreuil-sur-Mer. His past comes back to haunt him as Javert has made his way to the town, but is unable to recognize Valjean at first. Meanwhile, one of Valjean's workers named Fantine is fired and is forced to enter a life of prostitution to financially support her daughter, Cosette. Feeling guilty for what he has done, Valjean assures Fantine that he will take care of Cosette, while he also tries to once again escape Javert.


I'll never forget when I went with my grandmother on Christmas Day in 2012 to watch Les Misérables in theaters. Going into it, I knew absolutely nothing about the book or the Broadway musical, but I knew this film had a lot of hype from fans of both, so it had a lot to deliver. I knew nothing about the plot, so I begged my grandmother to not spoil what was going to happen so I could have natural responses to what I was seeing on film for the first time. The result was me bawling my eyes out in the theaters along with everyone else. Why did I cry you might ask? Because a majority of the performances were so moving, the plot was so emotional, and the music was so beautiful, that I was moved to tears. Then I went home and read the reviews to find that a lot of people loved it and a lot of people hated it. With such a split decision, I knew I couldn't focus on what the majority thought and only needed to focus on what I liked and disliked about the film.

Hugh Jackman was a great choice to play Jean Valjean due to his successful career in musical theater. Jackman commanded the screen with his voice and is a great protagonist to follow throughout the film because of the various layers he has as a character. The multiple relationships he has with the rest of the characters are apparent and explored as much as the film would allow. It's also great to see and hear him sing alongside Colm Wilkinson, the original Valjean in the stage adaptation, who plays a Bishop who helps Valjean in starting a new life. Another enjoyable performance was Anne Hathaway as Fantine. Despite not having as much screen time as other main characters, Fantine makes a huge impact on the plot and Hathaway does a great job of giving the character both a physical and emotional transformation. Her performance of "I Dreamed a Dream" was enjoyed by most viewers and is a true highlight of the film's style since it is all filmed in one, long take. While her performance was fantastic, it was also a representation of how the beautiful music is not entirely cheerful, and was the first moment of the film that had most people crying in the theater.

Not everyone can turn in great singing performances like Jackman and Hathaway, however, as is the case with Russell Crowe as Javert. Everyone in the world has made jokes at how bad Crowe was at singing, to which I'll admit that he wasn't the best, but that doesn't make him a bad singer. His singing is more based on rock and roll (he did have a band after all) rather than the style of music in Les Misérables, so it makes sense why his voice would seem off from the rest, but I wouldn't say he's the absolute worst singer of the film. To me, the worst singer in the film was Amanda Seyfried as Cosette. I didn't notice it the first time I saw the film, but every time after, my goodness are her high notes shrill. Seyfried has a decent voice but cannot harmonize to save her life in this film, and every song she sings is cringe worthy and makes you want to cover your ears (or her mouth depending on how cynical you want to be).

The object of Cosette's affection is Marius Pontmercy, played by Eddie Redmayne. Redmayne is able to provide a good singing voice, but for a very whinny character. Almost everything Marius speaks of concerning love was full of obnoxious, eye-rolling clichés, not to mention the fact that he is irresponsible for two very important relationships in his life because of Cosette. He loses focus on the rebellion he and his best friend Enjolras, played by Aaron Tveit, are planning, making Enjolras look more like a stoic and noble leader and Marius look like more of a distraction due to not being in the right state of mind during their battles. But the biggest complaint about Marius is how he ignores Éponine, played by Samantha Barks. Everything I said in my Chicago review about Roxie and Amos, you could replace with Marius and Éponine and multiply it by 10. What makes Éponine even more pitiful than Amos is in her musical performances. Her rendition of "On My Own" was one of the best highlights of the film and propelled Barks into the minds and hearts of the audience, and makes us annoyed with Marius that much more. Kudos to the casting director for casting Barks, who has played Éponine in the stage production before.

While the music is beautiful, it is mostly dark, emotional, and not the kind of songs that usually create a feel-good feeling with the audience. The only exception of a "fun" song is "Master of the House," performed by the Thénardiers, played by Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter. The song serves as a nice break from the dramatic narrative and has the most comedic tone of the film, which is heavily accentuated due to the performances by Cohen and Carter. They find their way into the plot numerous times after the plot, and when they do, they are still able to deliver that hilarious, yet eye-rolling, brand of levity that the audience can appreciate in-between a heavily dramatic (and emotionally exhausting) plot.

Les Misérables was a GREAT way for me to end musical month. The film takes elements found in the Victor Hugo novel and blends them with the style found in the fan-favorite musical. Aside from the characters, there are also many great songs that I wish I could go more into without spoiling the film, such as "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables," "Do You Hear the People Sing?," "In My Life," "Look Down," "Who Am I?," "Bring Him Home," and my favorite, "One Day More." There's a unique dimension added to the film by having the singing all recorded live while filming, the first film of its kind to do that. It allows the audience to be pulled into the world of the film and the music sounds and feels real, because it IS real.


Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Les Misérables is one of those films that everyone has an opinion about, either good or bad. It's not perfect, but still very much enjoyable, and I strongly recommend that everyone see the film at least once to form an opinion on it, and if you like it, it is definitely worth owning in your DVD collection.

Comment below to share your thoughts on the movie or to discuss a topic that I left out of my review

Les Misérables and movie images are copyrighted by Universal Pictures

1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die- Chicago

#1046- Chicago (2002)
Starring: Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere
Directed by: Rob Marshall


Plot Summary: Roxie Hart wants to be a vaudeville star and hopes her lover, Fred Casely, will help pull some strings for her. When she learns that he lied to her in order to get what he wanted from her, she murders him in cold blood. Roxie is sent to the Murderess' Row at Cook County Jail, run by the corrupt Matron "Mama" Morton. While in jail, Roxie tries to become friends with fellow inmate and vaudeville star, Velma Kelly, but Velma shows no interest in making friends with Roxie. Under Mama Morton's advice, Roxie seeks help from Velma's lawyer, Billy Flynn, who has never lost a case. Thanks to Billy's help, Roxie becomes the talk of the town and steals Velma's spotlight. Jealous of Roxie's success, Velma craves the spotlight and would stoop to any level to get it back on her, while Roxie does everything in her power to keep the attention of the paparazzi fixated on her.


I went into Chicago expecting to not like it. I remember when it came out, my grandmother rented it to watch and turned it off five minutes in because of the film's sexual content (might have had something to do with 9 year old me watching it with her, oops). But I saw how the world went crazy for it, and I said "What's so special about Chicago?" When I sat down to watch it oh so many years later, a lot of my perceptions proved to be true, but there was also a lot to enjoy with the film. It wasn't that the songs weren't catchy, or that the plot wasn't engaging, or even that the characters weren't enjoyable, but rather that the musical numbers detracted from the story. While I know that happens in most musicals, the style of Chicago really made this fact stick out like a sore thumb.

Renée Zellweger plays the films main character, Roxie Hart. Roxie wants to be a star, so she's very selfish throughout the film, but that's okay because most of the other characters are as well. That all could normally be forgiving, but it is Roxie's attitudes towards her husband that make it difficult to stand her. Her husband Amos, played by John C. Reilly, is one of the most devoted and sympathetic husbands I've ever seen on film. Of the film's I've seen, I have never felt as bad for a character as I have for Amos. Reilly does a great job of making Amos this lovable, yet naive, character that is full of empathetic material. I won't spoil all the stuff he goes through, but it is his attitudes and moral nature towards them that make him absolutely pitiful, and Roxie absolutely detestable for treating Amos so coldly.

The shining star of Chicago is Catherine Zeta-Jones as Velma Kelly. There is not a whole lot I could say about Velma without giving away a good deal of the plot, but I will say that she does an amazing job of making a character seem so glamorous and so desperate at the same time. Catherine Zeta-Jones shows serious dedication in her acting, singing and dancing, as is evident in the "Cell Block Tango," my favorite song in the film due to the pacing and emotion flowing throughout the musical number.

Roxie and Velma seek the attention of hotshot lawyer, Billy Flynn, played by Richard Gere. Gere might not seem believable as this fast talking lawyer at first, but throughout the film, he blends into the character nicely. His singing isn't the greatest, but it's done in a style that it is very self-aware of the fact by having him sing like how Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin would sing, which translates into more talking in sing-song than actual singing. Gere showcases a talent for dancing more than singing. There's an exceptionally choreographed tap dance he does during the film's climax, a metaphor for how he schools his competition in the courtroom. Billy Flynn is also a character with motivations the audience can understand. His loyalty is towards proximity and profit. We shouldn't expect him to solely want to support Roxie or Velma in the press if someone new becomes the center of the media's attention, so he isn't faulted for his actions. He's a film lawyer after all (no disrespect to lawyers in real life, only those portrayed stereotypically on film).

Queen Latifah plays the corrupt matron, "Mama" Morton. Latifah adds a lot of fun and a natural charisma to the role, while also making good use of her time on screen. While Latifah could have benefited from more time on-screen to break out of a supporting role, admittedly, the character belongs in the background to help the flow of the film's narrative. Consider Queen Latifah's performance a compliment, fulfilling her purpose as a character, while also leaving the audience wanting more of her in the film.

The set design for Chicago is spectacular, but also a detriment to the film's narrative. When the film decides to do a musical number, it cuts together two versions of the number, from the point of view of the film's narrative, and a choreographed stage production-like version of the number. This wasn't bad to watch, but it also can be a bit confusing as to what's going on in the film. It wouldn't be surprising if audience members were confused about it being a daydream or not. Truthfully, the songs would work better if they ONLY showed them in the stage production setting, which would also be a fitting method to popularize the film adaptation of a Broadway musical.


Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I give Chicago a lot of credit for its dedication to adapt the look of a stage production on film, while also carrying a big production value in sets and costumes to go along with it. Despite the issues I have with some of the characters, it is a film I would recommend everyone see once, so give it a rental and see if you like it.

Comment below to share your thoughts on the movie or to discuss a topic that I left out of my review

Chicago and movie images are copyrighted by Miramax Films

1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die- Moulin Rouge!

#1031- Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor, Jim Broadbent
Directed by: Baz Luhrmann


Plot Summary: Christian is struggling to write about love, having not felt love himself, when he is introduced to Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and the rest of his performers. Impressed by his writing skills, they ask Christian to help write their new show "Spectacular Spectacular." When they go to the Moulin Rouge to sell the show to the owner, Harold Zidler, Christian sees Satine, the star courtesan, and is captivated by her beauty. Zidler has promised Satine to the Duke of Monroth, in hopes to get the Duke to buy the Moulin Rouge, turn it into a theater house, and make Satine a real actress. After the Duke agrees to invest in "Spectacular Spectacular," Christian and Satine attempt to keep their romance a secret, in fear for what it would mean for them if the Duke were to find out.


I'm not sure why, but when I was younger, Moulin Rouge! was one of the first films to pop into my head when I heard the term "musical." Even though I had never seen it, I had heard enough people saying how great it was and how it looks great and how the characters are great and how the songs are great, and it went on, and on, and on. So when I finished watching it for the first time, I thought it was alright, but not what I was expecting. It took a while for me to warm up to the film once I started watching it. By the time all the music, dancing, and visuals started popping up, I was able to have fun with the film and not take it too seriously. Then I started to have fun with the acting performances and how over the top they were. I knew by the end of the film that I also had to blend my fun in with constructive thoughts about the film as well, with the result being a very muddled opinion about a film that is a lot of fun to watch, but in that "so bad, it's good" sort of way.

Moulin Rouge! stars Nicole Kidman as Satine. I was a bit disappointed with Kidman's performance because I had no idea what direction they were going with her. They explain that she can be seductive and alluring to men, but then they show scenes where she acts absolutely insane. Two scenes that occur in succession come to mind, one where she rolls on the ground making loud, over the top, moaning sounds (must be channeling her inner Meg Ryan), and another involving her prancing around like a bird making weird animal noises. She's also not the strongest singer in the film, but can hold her own like when she sings "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend." Kidman's performance leaves many mixed feelings because it's obvious that she's trying to do something worthwhile, but the direction of the script and her character make it really difficult to do so.

The film is told through the point of view of Christian, played by Ewan McGregor. I was pleasantly surprised by McGregor's performance. I was kind of expecting him to suck (that might be from my bias towards the Star Wars prequels), but he actually does a very convincing job of the bohemian-styled playwright. His singing voice isn't half bad either. He can hold a good opening note to get everyone's attention, theoretically with the audience and literally with the characters in the film, and could sustain a great musical performance with some vocal training. Actually, one thing I noted when hearing his voice was that I could have seen him play Javert in Les Misérables (instead of that other guy, but we'll get to that on another day).

Satine and Christian are really downplayed in comparison to many of the film's supporting characters. John Leguizamo plays Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and is a genuinely annoying character with how over the top he is. Here's what you need to know about him: he's short and has a funny voice. That's all he's got. Jim Broadbent plays Harold Zidler, the owner of the Moulin Rouge. Broadbent really knows how to play Zidler as a truly bizarre man. His look and voice combine to make one of the most uncomfortable characters I've ever seen (listening to him singing "Like a Virgin" made me feel the need to wash my eyes and ears out with soap). But my favorite performance in Moulin Rouge! is Richard Roxburgh as The Duke of Monroth. From his voice, to his teeth, to his mustache, to his mannerisms, the Duke is an absolutely phenomenal performance to watch (again, sort of in that "so bad, it's good" kind of way).

I'm not sure if this film can be considered a groundbreaking musical. I remember more of the characters and scenery than the music and dancing. The music is almost a guessing game "Which song did they just reference?" as majority of the songs in Moulin Rouge! are covers of other songs, but not full covers. Some of the songs are compilations of various songs blended in together, but I never felt that they fit well together. The biggest factor that makes it feel like a musical is that the plot centers on Satine trying to be an actress, the Moulin Rouge itself, and the production of "Spectacular Spectacular."

I've normally never been a fan of Baz Luhrmann's movies. From what I have seen of his work, he seems focused on style over substance. He seems to care more on what's appealing to the eye as opposed to fully developing his characters. With Moulin Rouge!, that seems to work in his favor. The characters are more over the top, even vaudevillian like in their performances (especially Harold and The Duke), and the sets are grand and lavish because it builds up the importance of the environment of sets and entertainers of the time period. My biggest problem with The Great Gatsby was that it got the grand and lavish design right, but desperately needed to have an equal focus on its characters because they are the focus of the film, not the set pieces. Moulin Rouge! throws everything at the audience in rapid speed with bright colors and sets representing numerous cultures, but almost too fast to the point where I can't focus on anything going on, making me wish the film could slow down and take its time to display the visuals so I can enjoy them fully.


Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

You have to be in the right kind of mood to watch a film like Moulin Rouge!. If you are looking for fun visuals, over the top acting, and a story that is in no way taking itself seriously, this one might be worth checking out, but probably as a rental on DVD.

Comment below to share your thoughts on the movie or to discuss a topic that I left out of my review

Moulin Rouge! and movie images are copyrighted by 20th Century Fox

1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die- Grease

#663- Grease (1978)
Starring: John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing
Directed by: Randal Kleiser


Plot Summary: Sandy Olsson is the new girl at Rydell High School and is taken under the wings of The Pink Ladies, a popular clique of girls led by Betty Rizzo. Sandy tells of her summer romance with a handsome and sweet boy that is later revealed to the Pink Ladies as Danny Zuko, the leader of a group of greasers known as the T-Birds. After giving Sandy the cold shoulder in front of his friends, Danny realizes he will have to change his ways if he wants Sandy in his life. Likewise, Sandy contemplates what she will have to do to make things work with Danny.


Since my days in high school, Grease has been one of those movies that I can honestly say I don't "get." I don't get why people say it's one of the greatest musicals of all time, I don't get why people love the songs as much as they do, and I don't get why people have so much fun watching it. Are the characters really that identifiable? Are the songs that catchy? Is there a nostalgic factor towards it? After recently re-watching it, I can safely say that there were some things that I thought were good, but I STILL don't get why Grease is so beloved. I'll just get this out of the way and say that I'm not a big fan of the doo-wop music. I'm more or less confused while listening to it and trying to make heads or tails of what the heck they are saying. Are there some songs that I enjoy? Sure there are, but the fact that most of the music annoyed me was a sure sign that this musical was going to be exhausting to get through.

Grease was one of the films that served as a launching pad for John Travolta's career in Hollywood, as he plays T-Bird leader, Danny Zuko. Travolta's got a natural charisma in his performance, but for most of the film, Danny seemed unlikable. A lot of what he did in order to protect his reputation, including being rude to Sandy and bragging that he went all the way with her (which is VERY different from Sandy's version of the story), seemed like things an antagonist would do in a movie, and he's the leading man? Something about that doesn't feel quite right. It's also clear that Travolta should stick to acting, since I found most of his musical numbers, complete with an obvious and butchered Elvis impression, painful to listen to.

Sandy Olsson is played by Olivia Newton-John and isn't a very compelling character to follow. It's bad enough that Danny is an unlikable male lead, but does Sandy really need to be an uninteresting female lead? There isn't much to her character to follow for most of the film. Throughout the movie, Sandy's goodie good reputation is on display, but doesn't lead to a whole lot of interesting moments for her. The only things I can remember Sandy doing for most of the film is getting upset and storming off. It doesn't help that Olivia Newton-John is the exact opposite of John Travolta in being a good singer and a so-so actress.

Despite a deplorable lead and a boring lead, Grease has some fun characters. The most engaging to watch are Betty Rizzo, played by Stockard Channing, and Kenickie, played by Jeff Conaway. Their attitudes in their relationship are put to the test when Rizzo believes she is pregnant and doesn't want Kenickie's help through it. There's an actual struggle and conflict that feels relatable for both characters thanks to the performances of Channing and Conaway. The other T-Birds, Sonny, Putzie and Doody, played by Michael Tucci, Kelly Ward, and Barry Pearl respectively, are pretty one-dimensional with interchangeable personalities. All three are loud, obnoxious and not too bright, but have a friendly charm with each other which is kind of nice. The Pink Ladies have a bit more depth, or at least have distinguishable personalities. Marty, played by Dinah Manoff, is the gossip, Jan, played by Jamie Donnelly, is the "fat" one (she's shown eating a lot, but still doesn't look fat, so I don't know), and Frenchy, played by Didi Conn is the one who is the nicest to Sandy (and has a REALLY annoying voice).

One of the film's bigger appeals is in its time capsule like environment for the '50s. While it has its charm for a lot of people, it's a bit over the top for my taste. One of the reasons Back to the Future is my favorite movie is because it was made and set during the '80s, then goes into the '50s, and offers a time capsule environment for both and feels completely genuine. Grease feels like a cardboard cutout of what modern people would think the '50s were like. A show like Happy Days even knows when to draw the line between homage and parody, and I think Grease crossed that line and made their '50s world laughable. Whether that was intentional or not, it's a bit off-putting for me because I like environments from history that I can believe actually happened, and in the case of Grease, the illusion is lost.

My biggest problem with the movie has to do with the ending, so this paragraph contains *SPOILERS* (if you care). So Danny becomes a jock to impress Sandy, even to the point where he is willing to ditch his T-Bird friends. At the same time, Sandy dresses in leather and begins to smoke to impress Danny. Then they start singing and dancing and are happy together and they drive off into the sunset in a flying car (WHAT!?!?!?!). First off, it seems like Danny has not given up as much as Sandy has. He has become an accomplished athlete at school, and while it doesn't fit the traditions of the T-Birds, it's certainly not as bad as selling out your personal health and reputation to become this chain smoking greaser babe. And since both of them switched, where's the compromise? The film deals in too much black and white extremes, not creating a grey area where both could compromise and accept both lifestyles in each other (instead of completely switching to the other side). Heck, HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL does a better job at this idea by giving characters from two different lifestyles a mutual third lifestyle to test their comfort zones (and yes, I WENT THERE). This is the type of ending to a film that makes me want to tear my hair out, because the whole film was built up on nothing but annoyance and this is the payoff for the climax? It's easy to see how I can't understand the appeal to this film, when I know so many people love the ending.


Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Grease has a few memorable characters and moments, but also is a poor representation of the '50s and also has a HUGE moral dilemma with the ending, making it a film that I could only recommend as a rental to die-hard musical fans only.

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Grease and movie images are copyrighted by Paramount Pictures

1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die- The Sound of Music

#455- The Sound of Music (1965)
Starring: Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Eleanor Parker
Directed by: Robert Wise


Plot Summary: In 1938, Maria is a mischievous nun in training who has been asked to assume the role of a governess for Captain Georg von Trapp and his seven children. Maria tries to change the strict lifestyle Captain von Trapp has established in his home by teaching the children to have fun and how to sing. After seeing how Maria has changed his children's lives, Captain von Trapp's feelings for her begin to show. Eventually, Captain von Trapp marries Maria, but the feeling of happiness is not for long, as Captain von Trapp has been ordered to accept commission in the German Navy under the direction of the Third Reich.


When I started brainstorming which films I should do for Musical Month, one of the first films to pop into my head was The Sound of Music. Like many other movies I've reviewed on here, The Sound of Music was one of those movies that people were appalled at me for never seeing before. Naturally, with such a strong response like that, I believed I would be in for something special when I finally sat down and watched it for the first time. To my surprise, there was actually quite a bit of the film that seemed familiar to me. Considering the theme of the month, it is only natural that I would recognize most of the songs due to their impact on pop culture, but I also wanted to know if there was more to the film than just its music.

The main character of The Sound of Music is Maria, played by Julie Andrews. While Maria is a free-spirited character and believes more in having fun than rules, I'm sorry but I kept seeing Mary Poppins for a while. The film was released only ONE YEAR after Mary Poppins, and both films have their similarities and both star Julie Andrews as a similar type of character. But by the end of the film, I was able to see the difference between the two. Mary Poppins is more structured by knowing when to have fun and when to be serious, and Maria is more of a fun having type of character. Of course, Andrews is once again able to give her character a breathtaking voice, as she has the strongest singing voice in the film, as is evident in "The Sound of Music," "My Favorite Things," "Do-Re-Mi," and many more beautiful songs.

Captain Georg von Trapp is played by Christopher Plummer. Right off the bat, Georg feels like an uptight crank, but throughout the film, we see a natural progression of him changing his ways through Maria and his children. He's the character that Maria impacts the most and is given a new outlook on life and those around him. He's still a stern character, as is evident through his stances on Nazism and times when he stands up for his family, but is given more character in the process. There's a lot of depth to Georg and once the movie was over, he was the character I enjoyed most because I love characters in film that tell a complete story. Georg starts off the film as a strict and neglectful single father, and ends the film as a noble and loving family man, the perfect beginning and end points for a great character.

The von Trapp children are Liesl, Friedrich, Louisa, Kurt, Brigitta, Marta and Gretl, played by Charmian Carr, Nicholas Hammond, Heather Menzies, Duane Chase, Angela Cartwright, Debbie Turner, and Kim Karath respectively. Just like in my review of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, I felt that The Sound of Music had a difficult time developing all seven children. Some were obvious, like Liesl being the eldest and Gretl being the youngest, but that's about it. Friedrich and Kurt were the only boys in the group, and despite the age difference, I still couldn't tell them apart. And then with three other girls in the middle, it became even more difficult. I'm sure with multiple viewings I'd be able to catch on, but I saw the children as more of a plot device for Maria and Georg's relationship.

Filmed on location in Austria, the film has wonderful setting with a sense of realism. I have a feeling that the hills wouldn't be alive if they were a stage set or a backdrop. The film is given an extra amount of depth by having real locations for sets, creating a grand film adaptation of a Broadway musical that leaps off the stage (so to speak).

Besides the songs I've already named off, there are a number of great songs in The Sound of Music that have had a major cultural impact (as well as that darn catchy factor). The songs, including "Maria," "I've Got Confidence," "Sixteen Going on Seventeen," "The Lonely Goatherd," "So Long, Farewell," and "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" were great and songs that I was mostly familiar with due to hearing them elsewhere (it's funny to notice how many of these songs I've heard parodied on Family Guy). But my favorite song in the film was "Edelweiss," particularly when it's sung near the end of the film. It was a very powerful and moving number that really sets the tone for the film's climax. These songs are spectacular, memorable and are another factor in bringing the cherished musical by Richard Rodgers Oscar Hammerstein II to life on the big screen.


Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

With an epic three hour length, The Sound of Music is one of the grandest and most beloved musicals of all time. It is a film that all moviegoers should see at least once in their life, and one that all musical lovers need to see and own in their collection.

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The Sound of Music and movie images are copyrighted by 20th Century Fox

1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die- Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

#294- Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)
Starring: Howard Keel, Jane Powell, Jeff Richards
Directed by: Stanley Donen


Plot Summary: In 1850 Oregon, Adam Pontipee comes to town searching for a bride. He finds and marries Milly and brings her home to take care of him and his six brothers, Benjamin, Caleb, Daniel, Ephraim, Frank, and Gideon. Milly teaches Adam's brothers how to be civilized and how to earn a lady's heart. When they're tested in public, their rugged nature shines through, ruining their attempts to find wives of their own. Adam steps in and tells his brothers to take what is theirs, and they go back into town, kidnap the women they love and head off to their cabin in the mountains, waiting for winter to pass so they can all wed in the spring.


Musical Month continues with one of the films that I was most curious about, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Reading the title alone, I knew what this movie should be, a character piece. Set in an 1850's frontier environment, it certainly offers a contrast in styles for the concept of a musical to be incorporated into. The idea of a western musical is certainly different from a 1930's silent era based musical like Singin' in the Rain. To my surprise, there was a lot of stuff in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers that I did enjoy, but also a lot of problems that made it difficult to fully enjoy.

Adam Pontipee is played by Howard Keel. Keel's voice is powerful enough to perform one of the film's bigger numbers, "Bless Your Beautiful Hide," but doesn't offer much as a protagonist. He's gruff and commanding, but there isn't much else with his character. In fact, he kinda drops out of the picture every once in a while, and it isn't really noticeable in terms of the film's plot.

The more important role in the main couple is Milly, played by Jane Powell. Milly's goal in the film is to civilize her husband and his brothers so they can find wives of their own. Milly has a no nonsense attitude, as right off the bat she berates her new husband for looking for a cook and a cleaning lady, rather than a wife. Milly fits into the family right away, and once she starts tending to the brothers, they look to her for advice and support more than their eldest brother Adam.

Adam's brothers are Benjamin, Caleb, Daniel, Ephraim, Frank, and Gideon, played by Jeff Richards, Matt Mattox, Marc Platt, Jacques d'Amboise, Tommy Rall, and Russ Tamblyn respectively. The brothers don't stand out a whole lot. The only brother that really stood out was Gideon, because he was the youngest and also the character that looked up to both Adam and Millie the most. Benjamin and Frank also stand out, but only by smaller and more materialistic qualities. For example, Frank only stands out to me because he's one of the better dancers and singers in the brothers.

The brides are Dorcas, Ruth, Martha, Liza, Sarah and Alice, played by Julie Newmar, Ruta Kilmonis, Norma Doggett, Virginia Gibson, Betty Carr, and Nancy Kilgas respectively. The brides don't stand out a whole lot. There are few distinguished personalities between them, even less than the brothers. The only one I could distinguish was Dorcas and that's only because she was played by Julie Newmar (one of the Catwoman actresses from the old Batman TV show).

Apart from "Bless Your Beautiful Hide," there aren't many songs in the film that are memorable to me. However, the film does offer other musical qualities that stand out and make up for the music. The dances and the fights throughout the movie are so grand and pristine that it is impossible not to be impressed by the choreography. The film's dance scenes are also accentuated through a large scale of colors. One of the ways you can tell the brothers apart is through the bright colored shirts they begin to wear after Milly has civilized them. Throw them in a dance sequence with women in equally bright and colorful dresses, and the dancing becomes this elegant display of movement and color, making these scenes the biggest contribution to Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.


Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers does offer something unique through its choreography and vibrant colors, but not much else. I only advise die-hard musical lovers to check this one out, and even then, it should probably just be a DVD rental.

Comment below to share your thoughts on the movie or to discuss a topic that I left out of my review

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and movie images are copyrighted by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die- Signin' in the Rain

#256- Singin' in the Rain (1952)
Starring: Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds
Directed by: Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen


Plot Summary: With the success of the first talkie motion picture, The Jazz Singer, all the film studios are pressured into producing films with sound. The transition is not so smooth for Monumental Pictures and its stars Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont, with Lina especially having difficulty adjusting to the sound technology. The studio comes up with a solution by dubbing Lina's voice with an up and coming actress, and Don's new girlfriend, Kathy Selden. When Lina discovers this, her jealousy will not let her be upstaged and does everything to make sure she takes all the credit for Kathy's work.


Per the request of my soon-to-be wife, the month of February is being centered on musicals. Which makes sense considering a lot (in fact, all) of my Disney reviews last month spent time talking about the music, which serves as a good warm up for me in reviewing this genre of film. Since the music is an important part of each film, the individual songs and performances will be talked about with their respective character (you'll see what I mean below), allowing more time to talk about individual characters and other interesting aspects to look at along with the music. Singin' in the Rain is one of the most iconic musicals of all time, and one I desperately needed to watch and cross off my list of great movies I'd never seen before, so it only made sense that this would be the film I wanted to start this month off with.

In Singin in the Rain, Don Lockwood is one of Hollywood's biggest actors and he's played by my grandma's favorite actor, Gene Kelly. This is arguably the movie that Kelly is most known for, and it's easy to see why. He's got the traditional Hollywood good looks, he's got a quirky sense of humor, and he's able to take command of a scene whenever he appears on-screen. Of course, Kelly's performance can't be discussed without talking about his rendition of "Singin' in the Rain." It is one of the most iconic moments, and definitely one of the greatest musical numbers, in film history. I think what sells the scene is Kelly's dedication towards his singing, his dancing and his emotion. The audience should be able to believe that Don would be feeling that happy that he would sing and dance in the rain (even if musical numbers do usually come out of nowhere in musicals).

Debbie Reynolds plays Kathy Selden, a breath of fresh air from the traditional female characters. Rather than fall madly in love with Don at first sight, she actually appears critical of what he does for a living. She gives off the impression of wanting nothing to with the film industry and considers "real" acting to be done on a stage. She still has a charming personality, shown through the warmth she has towards Don throughout the film and her energy in her singing and dancing. She isn't a traditional female character of the time to stay in a supporting role with little to no development. Instead, she is at the forefront of many scenes and is able to keep up with the commanding power of her male character counterparts.

One of the most entertaining parts of the film was Donald O'Connor as Cosmo Brown, Don's best friend and composer for his films. Cosmo's biggest contribution to Singin' in the Rain is a never-ending sense of humor, as he provides some of the biggest laughs of the film. As a fan of slapstick comedy, I can honestly say the highlight of the film for me was watching O'Connor perform "Make 'Em Laugh." His perfect timing, hilarious facial expressions and endless supply of jokes and one-liners easily cemented Cosmo Brown as my favorite character in the movie.

Jean Hagen plays Don's costar, Lina Lamont. Lamont is an attention seeking diva with a low IQ, nasally voice and full of jealous rage towards Kathy. What I was most impressed by was Hagen's dedication to making a fool out of herself and not being afraid to sound like an idiot. Also, if anyone knows if that's her real voice or not, please let me know in the comments, because if it's NOT, then that is an even bigger testament to Hagen's performance.

When I was watching Singin' in the Rain, there was a big elephant in the room that I was trying to ignore while watching it, but after a while, I couldn't keep it contained. It's quite obvious when watching this film that The Artist took a LOT of direction from it, but not in the form of plagiarism. Both films talk about the transition of silent films to talkies and both films have similar characters and styles, while still offering enough differences to allow both to stand on their own (although The Artist could have benefited from a Cosmo Brown-type character, but that's just me). Singin' in the Rain is such an iconic film, with beloved characters, quirky humor, that it is often considered the greatest musical of all time. With a reputation like that, it's no wonder why filmmakers would want to pay homage to it.


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Musical Month has started off greatly, with some of the most celebrated musical numbers in film history. Signin' in the Rain should be considered iconic due to its fantastic blend of music, comedy and romance, not to mention the star power of Gene Kelly. This is one musical I can definitely recommend watching and owning in your DVD collection.

Comment below to share your thoughts on the movie or to discuss a topic that I left out of my review

Singin' in the Rain and movie images are copyrighted by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer