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Showing posts with label Andrew Rannells. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Andrew Rannells. Show all posts

Saturday, December 12, 2020

MOVIE REVIEW: PROM

 


Down-on-their-luck Broadway stars shake up a small Indiana town as they rally behind a teen who wants to go to the prom with her girlfriend.

Director: Ryan Murphy

Cast: Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, Keegan-Michael Key, Andrew Rannells, Ariana DeBose, Tracey Ullman, Kevin Chamberlin, Mary Kay Place, Kerry Washington, Jo Ellen Pellman

Release Date: December 4, 2020

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Musical

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, some suggestive/sexual references and language

Runtime: 2h 10min

Review:

Ryan Murphy’s Prom is an over the top musical cornucopia of schmaltz and positive message that’s easy to digest.  Those looking for any deep meaning should probably look elsewhere because this film is all glitz and jazz hands.  Character development is sparse with each character representing more of a type than a fully formed person.  The real trick is that Murphy keeps you engaged with each of these characters throughout each musical number.  The cast, which is made up of A listers, helps mainly because they are all clearly having a great time and it shines through in their performances.  Streep, Kidman and Corden all seem very much in their wheel house belting out Broadway style musical numbers so that shouldn’t come as much a surprise.  Somehow Jo Ellen Pellman finds a way to have her moment even with all the luminaries sharing the same proverbial stage. It’s an impressive understated performance that is sure to draw the attention of more than a few casting directors.  The film itself feels a little like a more musical riff on Footloose with a generally upbeat feel which works for the current situation.  It’s overlong, Netflix seems terribly uninterested in reigning in their talent, and overstuffed but it’s the best kind of comfort food for anybody who loves musicals.  

B-

Friday, October 9, 2020

Cindy Prascik's Review of The Boys In The Band

 























Dear reader(s): Last weekend offered no real excuse for getting out to the cinema, but fortunately my friendly neighborhood streaming services had me covered. On my agenda: The Boys in the Band.

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailer.

In late 1960s New York City, eight gay friends gather for the worst birthday party ever.

Netflix' the Boys in the Band is a remake of the 1970 film of the same name. Anyone who watches this space regularly won't waste time wondering whether I bothered to revisit the original before opining on its successor; of course I did not. This updated rendering features the company of the Tony Award-winning 2018 revival of the off-Broadway groundbreaker from 1968.

The Boys in the Band takes place in a time when homosexuality was still outlawed, and even dancing or socializing with a partner of the same sex could get a person thrown in jail. The whole thing should feel very dangerous, but, sadly, this telling is mostly missing the feel of another era. Excepting Zachary Quinto's unfortunate hairstyle, the movie feels more like a modern story with characters who are into retro fashion, which leaves the film with less edge than it could have had. Jim Parsons enjoys the most screen time, but his is an unsympathetic take on an abrasive character. Also on the character note (back to the actors later), the question I kept asking myself was: "Why do these people even hang out together?" Their disdain for one another is obvious, and it only becomes more so the more they drink. The underlying theme of self-loathing is critical to the story, but most of these people seem to hate each other more than they hate themselves. A few characters ultimately prove decent and aware enough to start trying to repair the damage, but - given the things that are said and done throughout - it feels like too little, too late. There's an nasty awkwardness to the whole that makes it a difficult watch, BUT...

Difficult or not, the Boys in the Band is definitely a worthwhile watch, for a number of reasons. The cast is so good I'd be hard-pressed to pick a standout. Zachary Quinto is an obvious choice, but Robin de Jesus is also terrific, and on- and off-screen couple Andrew Rannells and Tuc Watkins are heart-wrenching. The extraordinary Matt Bomer is a bit underused. Understandable, since his character doesn't feed into any of the major conflicts, but disappointing because featuring him more prominently might have made the whole an easier watch. (And not just because Matt Bomer is quite easy to watch, if ya know what I mean.) For whatever reason, we humans tend to be fascinated by others' trials, and here there is an aspect of watching something awful unfold without risk of being dragged into it personally...rather like reading all 500 comments in a Facebook argument among people you don't know! Finally, while the impact of this play in the late 1960s must have been monumental, it continues to carry a feeling of immense release and freedom. Seeing a story that reflects your own - warts and all - is an all too uncommon experience for many. I'm reminded of a moment when the the National Tour of Rent stopped in my city a few years back. As the theatre emptied out after the show, two people stood at the front for the longest time, crying and hugging each other, so deeply moved they were oblivious to anything around them. Long before Rent, the Boys in the Band would have been the first time many folks had seen someone like themselves on page, stage, or screen, and that emotion runs through even its bitchiest moments. 

The Boys in the Band runs 121 minutes and is rated R for "sexual content, language, some graphic nudity, and drug use."

The Boys in the Band isn't a perfect movie by any means, but its fantastic cast and emotional wallop make for worthwhile viewing. Of a possible nine Weasleys, the Boys in the Band gets seven.

The Boys in the Band is now streaming on Netflix.

Until next time...



Sunday, September 23, 2018

MOVIE REVIEW: A SIMPLE FAVOR







































A SIMPLE FAVOR, directed by Paul Feig, centers around Stephanie (Anna Kendrick), a mommy vlogger who seeks to uncover the truth behind her best friend Emily's (Blake Lively) sudden disappearance from their small town.

Director: Paul Feig

Cast: Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Henry Golding, Andrew Rannells

Release Date: September 24, 2018

Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama

Rated R for sexual content and language throughout, some graphic nude images, drug use 
and violence

Runtime: 1h 57min

Review:

A Simple Favor is a twisty yet funny mystery that could have easily been written off like a Gone Girl knock off if not for Paul Feig’s style and wit.  Paul Feig has quietly become on of the stronger filmmakers working today.  Feig’s work has a great sense of style and humor that hard to find, in this film he crafts a classic Hitchcockian type of mysteries while satirizing it as well. It’s a delicate balance but he keeps going for the better part of the film even if the major reveal is slightly bungled and losing its impact.  The film’s strength is that it’s so fun and engaging that it barely matters.  Feig is also blessed with a stellar cast.  Anna Kendrick drives the film with a role that could be anymore suited to her talents.  Her and Blake Lively share solid chemistry with each playing off each other perfectly.  Their interactions are some of the best parts of the film.  Henry Golding is solid as the husband but in all honestly this film belongs to Kendrick and Lively.  A Simple Favor is one of the more unexpected cinematic surprises of the year. 

A-
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