The Stories about Music Films: 33. Once (2007)

 

 

Basic Info

Title: Once

Genre: Drama

Country: Ireland

Language: English

Running time: 86 minutes

Release date: 20 January 2007 (Sundance), 23 March 2007 (Ireland)

Staff

Director: John Carney

Producer: Martina Niland

Written by: John Carney

Music: Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová

Cinematography: Tim Fleming

Edited by: Paul Mullen

Cast

Glen Hansard as Guy

Markéta Irglová as Girl

Hugh Walsh as Timmy Drummer

Gerard Hendrick as Lead Guitarist

Alaistair Foley as Bassist

Geoff Minogue as Eamon

Bill Hodnett as Guy's Dad

Danuse Ktrestova as Girl's Mother

Summary

“Once” is a 2007 Irish romantic musical drama film, written and directed by John Carney. The film stars Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, who are two struggling musicians in Dublin, Ireland. Hansard and Irglová had previously performed music as the folk rock duo "Swell Season", and composed and performed the original songs for the film.

The film was a commercial success and well received by critics. The song "Falling Slowly" by Hansard and Irglová in the film won the 2008 Academy Award for Best Original Song, and the film's soundtrack was nominated for the Grammy Award.

Movie Review

“A must see film”

“This is a film you don't want to miss”

“Excellent, gorgeous story”

“The best Irish film ever”

“Special in every way”

“Close to Perfect”

“See "Once" many more times than once”

Interesting stories about the film

1. Bob Dylan, a big fan of the film, arranged to have opening performance of Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová for his world tour. Hansard and Irglová also covered Dylan's song "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" for the film “I'm Not There (2007).”

I'm Not There (2007)

2. Steven Spielberg was a big fan of this film. He said "A little movie called Once (2007) gave me enough inspiration to last the rest of the year".

Steven Spielberg

3. John Carney wrote the outline of the film in just five minutes at a Dublin cafe in 2004. At the time, he was missing his girlfriend who had taken an acting job in London.

4. Both Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová said they would never act again and will concentrate on music.

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The Stories about Music Films: 27. Whiplash (2014)

Basic Info 

Title: Whiplash
Genre: Drama
Country: United States
Language: English
Running time: 107 minutes
Release date: January 16, 2014 (Sundance), October 10, 2014 (United States)

Staff 

Director: Damien Chazelle
Producer: Jason Blum, Helen Estabrook, Michel Litvak, David Lancaster
Written by: Damien Chazelle
Music: Justin Hurwitz
Cinematography: Sharone Meir
Edited by: Tom Cross

Cast

Miles Teller as Andrew Neiman
J. K. Simmons as Terence Fletcher
Paul Reiser as Jim Neiman, Andrew's father
Melissa Benoist as Nicole
Austin Stowell as Ryan Connolly
Nate Lang as Carl Tanner
Chris Mulkey as Uncle Frank
Damon Gupton as Mr. Kramer
Suanne Spoke as Aunt Emma
Jayson Blair as Travis
Charlie Ian as Dustin
Kavita Patil as Sophie
April Grace as Rachel Bornholdt

Summary

Whiplash is a 2014 American drama film written and directed by Damien Chazelle. The film depicts the relationship between an ambitious jazz drummer Miles Teller and J. K. Simmons, the notorious bandleader at the fictional Shaffer Conservatory. The film premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival as the festival's opening film, and was particularly well-received for Simmons's performance, Cross' editing, and Chazelle's screenplay. At the 87th Academy Awards in February 2015, it won Best Film Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Supporting Actor for Simmons. 

Movie Review

“An incredibly powerful film” 

“A modern day masterpiece”
“Tension, tension, tension”
“A dynamic movie full of tensions and twists”
“A Psychological Horror Story”
“Terrible, unrealistic portrayal of a beautiful art form (Jazz)”

Interesting stories about the film

1. The film was shot in 19 days, edited, and submitted to the Sundance Film Festival in 10 weeks.
2. J.K. Simmons has won 47 awards for his role as Fletcher.
3. All of Andrew's drumming in the film was performed by Miles Teller himself to pre-recorded tracks, and about 40% of Teller's drumming was used in the soundtrack.
4. J.K. Simmons has played the piano in the past, but had to take piano lessons again for his role in the film.
5. Miles Teller has been drumming since he was 15 years old, but he took additional lessons 4 hours a day, 3 days a week for this film.

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The Stories about Music Films: 18. Shine (1996)

Basic Info

Title: Shine

Genre: Drama

Country: Australia

Language: English

Running time: 105 minutes

Release date: 21 January 1996 (Sundance Film Festival), 15 August 1996 (Australia), 20 November 1996 (United States)

Staff

Director: Scott Hicks

Producer: Jane Scott

Written by: Jan Sardi

Music: David Hirschfelder

Cinematography: Geoffrey Simpson

Edited by: Pip Karmel

Cast

Geoffrey Rush as David Helfgott

Armin Mueller-Stahl as Peter

Justin Braine as Tony

Sonia Todd as Sylvia

Chris Haywood as Sam

Summary

"Shine" is an Australian biographical drama film in 1996 based on the life of David Helfgott, an Australian pianist who suffered a mental breakdown, due to trauma inflicted upon him by his abusive father. The film is directed by Scott Hicks, written by Jan Sardi, and Geoffrey Rush starred as the main character, David Helfgott. Shine had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, and Geoffrey Rush won the Academy Award for Best Actor at the 69th Academy Awards in 1997.

Movie Review

“Powerful film”

“A stunning film”

“Wonderful little story that is interesting for the majority but heartbreaking at times”

“One of the great biopics”

“Moving”

“A tribute to music and love”

Interesting stories about the film

1. Geoffrey Rush learned the piano until the age of 14. He took piano lessons again 30 years later for this film, and he conducted his performances without using hand double.

2. According to Scott Hicks, the film title "Shine" was inspired by Pink Floyd's song "Shine on you crazy diamond", written in honor of Syd Barrett, who was their first band leader and another musical genius suffered from mental illness.

Syd Barrett

3. Dustin Hoffman was impressed by David Helfgott's music and life story and expressed interest in his role for this film.

Dustin Hoffman

4. In an interview, Geoffrey Rush referred to the movie “The Eddy Duchin Story (1956)”, a film starring Tyrone Power and Kim Novak, which is about the life of a musician who was a famous pianist and bandleader in the 1930s and 1940s. Rush had watched and remembered the movie before portraying pianist David Helfgott in this movie. The film “Shine” was released in the 40th anniversary of The Eddy Duchin Story (1956).

Poster "The Eddy Duchin Story"

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The Stories about Art Films: 3. The Mill and the Cross, ACJ Movie Academy

Basic Info

Title: The Mill and the Cross

Genre: Drama

Country: Poland, Sweden

Language: English, Spanish

Production company: Angelus Silesius, Telewizja Polska, Arkana Studio, Bokomotiv Filmproduktion

Running time: 96 minutes

Release date: 23 January 2011 (Sundance), 18 March 2011 (Poland)

Staff

Director: Lech Majewski

Producer: George Lekovic, Lech Majewski, Freddy Olsson, Dorota Roszkowska

Screenplay: Michael Francis Gibson, Lech Majewski

Music: Lech Majewski, Józef Skrzek

Cinematography: Lech Majewski, Adam Sikora

Editor: Eliot Ems, Norbert Rudzik

Cast

Rutger Hauer (Pieter Bruegel)

Michael York (Nicolaes Jonghelinck)

Charlotte Rampling (Mary)

Joanna Litwin (Marijken Bruegel; Pieter's wife)

Marian Makula (Miller)

Summary

The Mill and the Cross (Polish: Młyn i krzyż) is a drama film directed by Lech Majewski in 2011 and starring Rutger Hauer, Charlotte Rampling and Michael York. The film was inspired by "The Procession to Calvary" by Pieter Bruegel the Elder in 1564 and is based on the book "The Mill and the Cross" written by Michael Francis Gibson. The film was co-produced by Poland and Sweden and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 23, 2011.

The Procession to Calvary, Pieter Bruegel the Elder (1564)

The film focuses on a dozen of the 500 characters depicted in Bruegel's painting and consists of a series of vignettes that depict everyday life of farmers. In addition, monologues of some of the main characters, including Bruegel, explaining the structure and symbolism of his paintings, are interspersed throughout the film. The subject of Christ's suffering was set against religious persecution in Flanders in 1564.

Movie Review

“Neither conventional costume drama nor abstract objet d'art, this visually ravishing, surprisingly beguiling gamble won't fit any standard arthouse niche. Still it could prove the Polish helmer's belated international breakthrough”, Variety

“In this lush and hypnotic examination of a painter's work and the times in which he lived, Mr. Majewski presents an extended contemplation of the creative process itself”, The New York Times

“No description can do justice to The Mill and the Cross, which must be seen to be fully appreciated”, New York Post

“If ever a film cried out for the 3D treatment, it's The Mill & the Cross, an ambitious but frustratingly flat attempt to explore, analyze and dramatize a masterpiece of 16th-century art”, The Hollywood Reporter

“Despite a too slow pace for my own tastes, Hauer helps move the film along by being captivating even in just a few scenes”, San Francisco Chronicle

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