Chicago

Now here is a film I just can't seem to like, no matter how hard I try. To be fair, I haven't tried that hard, but Chicago simply is not my kind of film. It's a musical, hurdle one, and is just so over-the-top with little reason, hurdle two, that it hurts to watch. While the stage play might be great, this is a movie. If you want to see a play, go to the theater. I want a movie, so give me one. Be over-the-top, but don't lose control. And I may be in the minority with this one, but the characters played by Renee Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones alienate me. Sing, but don't be so damn cold when you do it. Only John C. Reilly had me enjoying myself, but he is not in Chicago long enough for me to care. Maybe I'll try it again in a couple years, but this one is just not for me.

Genre - Musical (2)

Screenplay (2)
Acting (2)
Production (2)
Directing (2)

Once

Once is one of few musicals (a term used loosely here) I can watch and enjoy. Something about breaking into song for no reason at all kills me. But Once is nothing like that. The singing serves a purpose, which is to tell a story about a strange love between two people. But it is more than the music, and that is saying a lot, because the music in Once is great. No, it is really just about the small, quiet script and directing by John Carney. It is almost as if you were watching a documentary, no, it is as if you were there watching the Guy (Glen Hansard) and Girl (Marketa Irglova) interact before your eyes. I went into this film with no expectations, or if anything, I went in expecting to be disappointed. Good god, was I wrong. The performances by Hansard and Irglova, who are both musical performers and wrote the songs, are amazing, they just melt into their roles.

Genre - Musical (4)

Screenplay (4)
Acting (4)
Production (4)
Directing (4)