The Stories about Music Films: 35. The Piano (1993)

 

Basic Info

Title: The Piano

Genre: Drama, Music, Romance

Country: New Zealand, Australia, France

Language: English

Running time: 117 minutes

Release date: 15 May 1993 (Cannes), 19 May 1993 (France), 5 August 1993 (Australia)

Staff

Director: Jane Campion

Producer: Jan Chapman

Written by: Jane Campion

Music: Michael Nyman

Cinematography: Stuart Dryburgh

Edited by: Veronika Jenet

Cast

Holly Hunter as Ada McGrath

Harvey Keitel as George Baines

Sam Neill as Alisdair Stewart

Anna Paquin as Flora McGrath

Kerry Walker as Aunt Morag

Genevieve Lemon as Nessie

Summary

"The Piano" is a 1993 drama film written and directed by Jane Campion, starring Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel, Sam Neill, and Anna Paquin. 

This film is based on the novel, The Story of a New Zealand River, by Jane Mander. Set in the mid-19th century, the film focuses on a psychologically mute Scottish woman who travels to a remote area of New Zealand with her young daughter after her arranged marriage to a frontiersman.

The film was highly acclaimed and a commercial success, and Hunter and Paquin received high praise for their performances. It won the Palme d'Or at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival and director Jane Campion became the first and only female director to ever receive the award. In addition, at the 1994 Academy Awards, it won three awards among eight total nominations. 

At the time, Paquin was 11 years old and remains the second youngest actor to win an Oscar in competitive category.

Movie Review

“Amazing Film Making”

“A sensual and surprising film”

“The music of the heart”

“An original and extraordinary film”

Interesting stories about the film

1. Holly Hunter learned to play the piano when she was nine years old and played most of the piano sequences herself in this film.

2. Holly Hunter won fourteen awards among the fifteen nominations for her role in this film.

3. Nirvana's Kurt Cobain saw this movie with a few friends one day before he committed suicide, so it is very likely it’s the last movie he has seen during his life.

4. This film was included in the "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die", edited by Steven Schneider.

5. The theme tune for the film is called "The Heart Asks Pleasure First" on the soundtrack album.

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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 Music Films: 9. The Magic Bow (1946)

Basic Info

Title: The Magic Bow

Genre: Biography, Musical, Romance

Country: United Kingdom

Language: English

Production company: Gainsborough Pictures

Distributed by: General Film Distributors (UK)

Running time: 106 minutes

Release date: 25 November 1946

Staff

Director: Bernard Knowles

Producer: R.J. Minney

Written by: Roland Pertwee

Based on: The Magic Bow: a Romance of Paganini by Manuel Komroff

Music: Henry Geehl

Cinematography: Jack Asher, Jack E. Cox

Edited by: Alfred Roome

Cast

Stewart Granger as Niccolò Paganini

Phyllis Calvert as Jeanne de Vermond

Jean Kent as Bianca

Summary

“The Magic Bow” is a 1946 British musical film based on the life and loves of the Italian violinist and composer Niccolò Paganini. This film, directed by Bernard Knowles, is one of the entries to the 1946 Cannes Film Festival.

Movie Review

“Better than expected”

“Great film chronicling the life and times of famous Italian violinist Nicolo Paganini”

“Outstanding Acting”

“Great music in this enjoyable biopic of a great talent”

“Niccolò Paganini the devil's violinist !!”

Interesting stories about the film

Two tutors trained Stewart Granger, who starred Paganini for the film, for his posture and violin playing. The actual music was recorded by Yehudi Menuhin, a British virtuoso born in the United States. He used two violins and took six weeks to create great music from the film.

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