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Deconstructing the machinery of cinema.

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Category: musical

comedy, essay, musicalLeave a comment

“We’re on a mission from God” | The Blues Brothers (1980)

January 17, 2021January 17, 2021 Grant Watson

‘Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Universal Amphitheatre. Well, here it is, the late 1970s, going on 1985. You know, so much of the music we hear today is pre-programmed electronic disco, we never get a chance … Continue reading “We’re on a mission from God” | The Blues Brothers (1980)

musical, review2 Comments

REVIEW: Black is King (2020)

September 14, 2020 Grant Watson

There is a very good argument to be made that I, a white middle-aged Australian man, am not qualified to critique Black is King. Beyoncé Knowles-Carter’s self-described ‘visual album’ premiered earlier this year on streaming service Disney+. This 85-minute film acts … Continue reading REVIEW: Black is King (2020)

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REVIEW: La La Land (2016)

August 25, 2020 Grant Watson

Mia (Emma Stone) is an aspiring actress trapped in the industry cycle of waitressing by day and failing auditions by night. Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) is an ambitious jazz pianist trapped playing Christmas music at a restaurant while dreaming of setting … Continue reading REVIEW: La La Land (2016)

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REVIEW: You Can Succeed, Too! (1964)

May 27, 2020 Grant Watson

Yamakawa (Frankie Sakai) and Nakai (Tadao Takashima) are salesmen working for Tokyo firm Towa Tours, which is seeking to secure lucrative American travel contracts over rival Kyokuto Tours. When the president’s daughter Yoko (Izumi Yukimura) takes over their department, she … Continue reading REVIEW: You Can Succeed, Too! (1964)

fantasy, musical, reviewLeave a comment

REVIEW: Aladdin (2019)

May 23, 2019May 24, 2019 Grant Watson

Homeless thief Aladdin (Mena Massoud) lives on the streets of Agrabah, until a chance encounter with Princess Jasmine (Naomi Scott) throws him into a fantastical adventure involving an evil vizier (Marwan Kenzari), a magical cave, a flying carpet, and an … Continue reading REVIEW: Aladdin (2019)

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REVIEW: Swing Kids (2018)

January 13, 2019 Grant Watson

1951: Ro Ki-soo (Do Kyung-soo) is a rebellious young North Korean prisoner in an American POW camp. He is a troublemaker in the camp and given minor celebrity status by his comrades thanks to his war hero brother. When the … Continue reading REVIEW: Swing Kids (2018)

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REVIEW: Mary Poppins Returns (2018)

January 1, 2019 Grant Watson

With England in an economic depression, bank teller Michael Banks (Ben Wishaw) struggles to keep his household in order following the recent death of his wife. When the bank threatens to foreclose on his loan, taking away his house in … Continue reading REVIEW: Mary Poppins Returns (2018)

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REVIEW: The Greatest Showman (2017)

December 12, 2018October 7, 2020 Grant Watson

Let me tell you about 19th century entrepreneur and entertainment giant P.T. Barnum (Hugh Jackman). He grows up poor and mocked by the upper classes, despite falling in love with a wealthy heiress (Michelle Williams). As an adult, when the … Continue reading REVIEW: The Greatest Showman (2017)

essay, musical1 Comment

“Right here where we live” | Meet Me in St Louis (1944)

January 14, 2018September 13, 2018 Grant Watson

A Missouri family go about their day-to-day lives in the 12 months leading up to the 1904 St Louis World’s Fair. That is the one-sentence summary of Vincente Minnelli’s musical film Meet Me in St Louis. On a superficial level … Continue reading “Right here where we live” | Meet Me in St Louis (1944)

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“I shouldn’t have come” | It’s Always Fair Weather (1955)

February 29, 2016February 3, 2017 Grant Watson

  Sometimes you can’t go home again. In 1952 movie-goers around the world fell in love with Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen’s vibrant, toe-tapping musical Singin’ in the Rain. They embraced it with such enthusiasm that it remains one of … Continue reading “I shouldn’t have come” | It’s Always Fair Weather (1955)

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