Let's get the positives out of the way. First of all, Peter Dinklage, as you would expect, is very good in Cyrano. What he has to work with is not great, and he hardly has the chance to prove himself as the next musical star, but his obvious skill as a performer works out in … Continue reading Cyrano (Review)
Tag: musical
In the Heights (Review)
Jon M. Chu's adaptation of the acclaimed stage show really wants you to know it is a film. It is all spectacle all the way through, with fantastical inflections that could never happen on stage. The camera is also incredibly pronounced: we shift constantly in large musical numbers (of which there are many, too many), … Continue reading In the Heights (Review)
Hamilton (Review)
The concrete legacy of Hamilton will always be important: giving starring roles to people of colour and putting them on the biggest broadway stage, a stage that was hitherto dominated by whiteness and homogeneity. Though this is no saviour of theatre, and has done little to inspire similar shows in its wake, it did provide … Continue reading Hamilton (Review)
David Byrne’s American Utopia (Review)
Over 36 years ago, Talking Heads teamed up with acclaimed director Jonathan Demme (The Silence of the Lambs) to produce Stop Making Sense. This masterpiece is not only frequently viewed as the best concert film of all time, it is also one of the highlights of 20th Century cinema. Now, in 2020, the ex-frontman of … Continue reading David Byrne’s American Utopia (Review)
Frozen 2 (Review)
Obviously, I am not the target audience for Frozen 2. However, this didn't stop me from resonating with the original - and from being hugely impressed by it. To a certain extent, Frozen 2 is also very impressive - primarily visually. It is a stunning technological achievement but is full of real artistic beauty. The … Continue reading Frozen 2 (Review)
Cats (Review)
The core premise of Cats is very relatable: a collection of characters are desperate to escape the world of cats. There is a vague destination they are heading to, but there's no real explanation or justification. The real reason is pure escape, and it's something audiences will truly understand. Cats is utterly bizarre from beginning … Continue reading Cats (Review)
Blinded by the Light (Review)
Music is a powerful thing: it crosses generational boundaries; cultural boundaries and shapes identity. Blinded by the Light is a film all about this - specifically the impact of Bruce Springsteen's music on the child of a Pakistani-immigrant family in Thatcherite Britain. It's an oddly specific premise but it works brilliantly, presenting the theoretically incongruous … Continue reading Blinded by the Light (Review)
Assorted Opinions 