Whiplash - Damien Chazelle - 2014

As someone trying to up his jazz drum game, I loved this film. But I'd also love it as someone interested in films that can make an audience gasp at something as unspectacular as dropping a folder of sheet music onto a chair.

The kinetics of the drumming (actually played by Miles Teller) are worth the spectacle, and J.K. Simmons own acting impressively stands toe-to-toe with it. Without the combo of the two- the narrative is shockingly thread-bare (until the finale!).

I think it's a fool's errand to see value in how Fletcher treats his students- I see it more as great character work. Discipline and expectations are how one moves to great to a hobby, but I don't believe it's Fletcher's venom that is to cite for Andrew's success.

The Muppet Movie - James Frawley - 1979

The Muppet Movie probably doesn’t need an introduction. I watched for the first time when I was feeling down this month and it did the trick. This film is full of real comedy- by that I mean the sight of muppets walking and funny faces.

You’ll know what the film is like with these following descriptors: gratuitous star cameos, music numbers, puns and and dad jokes, family friendly. It’s a familiar and hearty piece of film.

...Also some very good songs.

The Boys in The Band - William Friedkin - 1970

The Boys in The Band is rad movie about a group queer men in 1960s New York whose birthday party is thrown into chaos upon the arrival of a straight square. There’s two main appeals to me on this film: the actual historic context of male homosexuality in 1970s New York, and the whole package itself- the cinematography, acting, script.

I’ll start with the latter- this would be a great film to watch if you want example of what you can do with a limited set. From clever use the house lights as interrogation room-style lamps to the insanely delivery of great bitchy lines from Alan (Kenneth Wilson) and Harold (Leonard Frey). Plus - it had the hallmark of a great movie to me : imagining lines from it sampled before the start of hardcore song.

Michael: What's so fucking funny?

Harold: Life. Life's a goddamn laugh riot.

cue blast beat

From what I understand, there’s some play on queer theatre tropes here- so there’s some good theory to dig into for film buffs. Ending is a bit on the nose and plays to that!

The Red Shoes - Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger - 1948

This is an awesome example of what you can do with a high budget.

It's epic as in it's about a gigantic idea and has a set and production to match it: Gigantic theater sets with lots of cast members, amazing music, skilled dancers chosen as actors (rather than vice versa), and a cinematic take on a ballet.

I'll wax poetic on some of the technical expertise on the film: Since film lends itself so easily to editing to impress, it's interesting to see a film that does the opposite: extended shots of physically impressive action, extended shots of a scene with a busy in-depth background. It's really a film you can "drink up".

Outside of the long-shots, there's still plenty of impressive cinematography starting from the beginning with the claustrophobic rushing up the stairs, nearly tipping over the ledge of the balcony of the theatre. And obviously, the cinematic staging of the ballet rules. Can't quite describe it, you'll need to watch it!

The narrative works and I'd mark it as "good",  however the ending sequence kicks it up a grade. Thematically, there's a bit you can read about power relations and feminism (that really kicks in during the ending sequence.).