Tag: Music

Songs and singers I like

“The History of Sound” (2025) starring Paul Mescal & Josh O’Connor

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Lionel Worthing (Irish actor Paul Mescal) is a music prodigy from a humble Kentucky farming family who is able to visualize sound. Orphaned in adolescence, David White (British actor Josh O’Connor) is from a privileged background under his uncle’s guardianship in Newport, RI. Both become students at a music conservatory in Boston and meet at a bar in 1917. Their shared love of folk music brings them together; that bond soon becomes romantic. While the Great War (WWI) separates them, they’re brought back post-war when David (a researcher at an Augusta, Maine college) asks Lionel to accompany him on a trip to collect folk songs. Chris Cooper (the older version of Lionel) narrates the audiobook version of the short story on which the film is based.

Lionel: What happens to all the sound released into the world that is never captured?

The film was announced in October 2021, but due to challenges in aligning schedules of director Oliver Hermanus (who hails from South Africa and is a queer man of color), Mescal, and O’Connor, filming didn’t begin until FEB 2024. Mescal is one of the EPs, which marks the 1st time he has received a producing credit on a film. Mescal and O’Connor became close friends during the pandemic; both young actors shared the experience of becoming famous at the same time. Mescal co-starred in Normal People; O’Connor played Prince Charles in The Crown (S3 & S4). I was excited for this movie (being a fan of its leads), BUT was also somewhat hesitant. I was NOT a fan of the 2024 miniseries (Mary and George) that Hermanus directed. Though the story is centered around Lionel, David is the more interesting character. O’Connor’s gazes, micro-expressions, and (variety) of smiles draw the audience in. No wonder Lionel was under his spell and wanted to follow him wherever he went! The American accents are flawless and the singing was quite good, too.

[1] My favorite scenes were when Paul and Josh were together. They’re both great actors in my opinion, had amazing chemistry. I just wish we had gotten more! Having these two as your lead actors, the possibilities are endless. Perhaps my expectations were too high. That said, I loved the beginning and the last 30 minutes. Another positive is that it’s a beautiful film, with gorgeous shots!

[2] A love story is at the core of director Oliver Hermanus’ slow-moving 2025 period drama, but his introspective approach doesn’t generate enough heat to make it palpable beyond what is portrayed onscreen.

[3] The movie looks gorgeous. The American scenes in particular are reminiscent of the paintings of Andrew Wyeth. Art decoration and cinematography are beautifully detailed. The music is all based on American folk songs wonderfully augmented by evocative music composed by cellist Oliver Coates. […]

This movie is probably not for everybody, but those interested in folk music and American history will find it rewarding. I was tempted to add “gay studies,” but I think that would be somewhat misleading. That is, however, the central issue, even though it never takes center stage. I think that’s what makes the film so haunting.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

“Un coeur en hiver”/“A Heart in Winter” (1992) starring Daniel Auteuil, Emmanuelle Béart, & André Dussollier

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Stéphane is an emotionally distant but professionally dedicated violin restorer whose cold heart is tested when his employer’s new girlfriend, a beautiful violinist, falls for him. -Synopsis

Stephane (Daniel Auteil) is a restorer of violins; he works for Maxime (Andre Dussollier), who comes from a family known for craftsmanship. These men, though opposites, have built a successful working relationship. While the introverted/reserved Stephane (and his apprentices) work in the background, the extroverted/jovial Maxime charms their (high-maintenance) clients. One day, Maxime is excited to reveal a new/young/beautiful client, Camille (Beart), w/ whom he has fallen in love. Stephane gets to work improving Camille’s violin; she’ll be recording an album soon. One afternoon, Camille is distracted while she plays; Stephane is watching her so intently. When Maxime is busy, Camille seeks to draw Stephane out of his shell. At first, he doesn’t know how to respond; later on (after she has fallen hard for him), he coldly rejects her! Auteil (42 y.o.) and Beart (29 y.o.) were married during the time of filming; this adds another layer to the story.

This unique/thoughtful French film (which I learned about via a Facebook post) was nominated for a BAFTA (Best Film not in the English Language) in 1994. It was chosen to compete at the 49th Venice International Film Festival, where it won 4 awards (tying for the Silver Lion). This is the penultimate film of director Claude Sautet; he collaborated on the script w/ Jacques Fieschi. I will have to look up his other work, as I’d never heard of this filmmaker before. The screenplay is loosely based on the novella Princess Mary by Mikhail Lermontov. Béart learned to play the violin for the part; she took lessons for a year! You can see it on YouTube (4K version).

In typical (Hollywood) movies, the main character usually goes through change or growth; the more you see European films, you’ll notice that this is NOT always the case. This movie raises more questions than it answers, one astute viewer pointed out. Stephane (always dressed formally in suits) stays a mystery to us, as we don’t learn much re: his inner life. In the opening scenes, a voiceover is used; this is done perhaps to trick us into thinking we’ll get to know his mind. We see him having lunch and seeing movies w/ his bookseller friend, Helene; they have a connection of the mind. In the countryside, Stephane spends time w/ his former music teacher (a father figure). Some viewers thought Stephane was loyal to Maxime, so he didn’t want to get involved w/ Camille. Others questioned: Is Stephane even capable of love?

[1] I think it is an engaging and thoughtful movie – the kind that you keep thinking about, long after you have finished watching.

[2] This movie is about human psychology and love. These characters are tormented by a feeling of inadequacy, by strong unresolved love, and deep affection. It’s a modern Greek tragedy. It reminds us of the real human nature, un-linear, never simple. […] This movie manages to remind us this in the context of a difficult love story accompanied by one of the most beautiful scores ever.

[3] A character that holds a violin as if it were the most fragile item in the world, and yet does not hesitate to shatter a woman’s heart… But in the end, as he himself realizes, he is only destroying himself. This movie makes me fall in love with French cinema all over again.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

“Hold on to Me Darling” at The Lucille Lortel Theatre (NYC): OCT 16th-DEC 22nd

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On learning of his mother’s death, country music icon Strings McCrane (Adam Driver) finds himself in an existential tailspin. The only way out, he decides, is to abandon superstardom in favor of the simple life, so he moves back to his hometown in Tennessee. The simple life turns out to be anything but simple in this brilliantly observed tragicomedy, as the consequences of Strings’ success and mind-bending effects of his fame prove all but impossible to outrun. -Synopsis

Hey y’all, I had a FAB wknd in NYC!!! On SAT night, I saw Adam Driver (my current fave actor, as regular readers know) in the play Hold on to Me Darling (written by Kenneth Lonergan)! The play has a limited engagement at The Lucille Lortel Theatre (West Village) until DEC 22nd; I set a reminder, got in the (online) queue, and (luckily) got my ticket in early AUG. In the past, Timothy Olyphant (Deadwood; Justified) played the lead role of country singer/actor Strings McCrane. Twitter was abuzz (earlier this Fall) after seeing a few photos of Olyphant in the role (incl. ones where he is wearing black boxers and socks). OMG, how was Adam going to look (some of us wondered)!? And more importantly, how were we super-fans (AKA rats) going to handle seeing him in-person!?

Let’s get the important stuff out of the way: Adam really is that tall (so towers over the supporting cast) and looks as (uniquely) gorgeous as in photos/movies. His hair is V dark/ thick; he is BOTH wide (note the shoulders) and slim (see waistline). Early in the 1st act, Strings strips down to his boxers and socks before getting a massage from Nancy (Heather Burns). Yup, Adam still has 6-pack abs! As the stage is small, he looms large as a (physical) presence and w/ (deep/baritone) voice. Strings has a Southern accent; fans/viewers from the region commented (online) that Adam did a good job w/ it. He plays the guitar, but Strings is TOO upset to sing much.

The story involves grief, regret, unresolved family issues, a love triangle, and the toxicity of fame (incl. loss of privacy and disconnection from everyday ppl). This play is V well-suited to Adam, as he shows his range; Strings goes from loud/domineering to more quiet/vulnerable (w/o missing a beat). Strings can be charming, yet also self-centered (after being a celeb so long). Adam is in every scene of the 2 act play, aside from one, in the 2 hr. 45 mins. play (which I thought was a BIT too long). Strings wants to regain closeness w/ his older brother, Duke (C.J. Wilson), a working-class family man who still lives in their hometown. He is reunited w/ his 2nd cousin twice removed, Essie (Adelaide Clemens), at his mother’s funeral; this actress has a strong resemblance to Michelle Williams. Essie was a close friend to this mom in recent yrs, so feels her loss deeply.

There are meta moments, such as Strings complaining to his assistant Jimmy (Keith Nobbs) re: “this goddamn space movie” he needs to shoot soon in Kansas City. When Rian Johnson (director of Star Wars: The Last Jedi) saw the play in previews, he laughed out loud at that line. There are many funny lines; I didn’t expect to laugh so much! Nancy compares Strings to a “sad, dark prince” (a la Kylo Ren); a viewer who saw the (previous) play wrote: “Lonergan changed a few lines to fit Adam.” In the final scene, we meet a (hitherto unseen) character named Mitch (Frank Wood); he and Strings have an emotional/powerful conversation (which made me a BIT teary). If you want to see more (incl. 2 vids I took at the stage door), then go to my Twitter/X account (knightleyemma)!

Links to Reviews:

Deadline

The Guardian

Vogue

Vulture

“Priscilla” (2023) starring Cailee Spaeny & Jacob Elordi

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Wife to the King. Icon to the world. Destined for more. -Tagline

When teenage Priscilla Beaulieu meets Elvis Presley, the man who is already a meteoric rock-and-roll superstar becomes someone entirely unexpected in private moments: a thrilling crush, an ally in loneliness, a vulnerable best friend. -Tagline

Are any of y’all having a hard time sleeping? Well, this movie MAY be the solution- no joke! We have (another) case of style over substance. I had modest (NOT high) hopes for this biopic; it had gotten a LOT of buzz at the Venice Film Festival last Fall. The teens/20s crowd (mostly female) waiting for pics/autographs went wild for the statuesque Jacob Elordi (who plays Elvis). Priscilla Presley (whose autobiography the film was based on) was on the red carpet, along w/ Sofia Coppola (director) and petite/newcomer Cailee Spaeny (who plays the title role).

I think it would’ve been easy to make a much darker movie, especially because seeing something unfold onscreen can be so much more visceral than reading it. But I didn’t want the darker side of their relationship to completely overshadow the film, so it was a matter of trying to show the reality. It was important to Priscilla that it was still her love story and to show Elvis as a real human being instead of some two-dimensional villain. I just wanted to show her point of view and leave it to the audience to come to their own conclusions about this relationship. But it was a matter of finding some balance because I don’t want the film to seem like it’s condoning certain things, but I also wanna portray Priscilla’s experience as she says it was. It was important to me for her to feel good about the film, and that it felt truthful to her experience and how she told it. -Sofia Coppola, director

Lisa Marie Presley (before passing away suddenly) read the script and strongly disapproved; she wrote a letter to Coppola criticizing the portrayal of her father. Elvis Presley Enterprises declined approval for this film to use his songs; Coppola used music by her husband’s band (Phoenix) and cover versions of songs. As we expect from this director, the look of the film is impressive; the period details are cool to see. At nearly 2 hrs in run time, this movie seems TOO long b/c of its pacing. The tone is heavy throughout. I didn’t see much heat (romantic chemistry) btwn Elordi and Spaeny! Was this perhaps intentional (in some scenes), I had to wonder? Their acting is good for what they’re given, BUT I didn’t find depth in the dialogue or feel connection to the story. The supporting characters don’t get much to say/do, which makes the tale seem even more thin. As the Young’uns might say: “It was meh.”

“One Royal Holiday” (2020) starring Laura Osnes & Aaron Tveit

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When Anna offers a stranded mother and son shelter in a blizzard, she learns that they are the Royal Family of Galwick. Anna shows the Prince how they do Christmas in her hometown, encouraging him to open his heart and be true to himself. -Synopsis (Hallmark)

[1] ...despite the predictability of the final outcome, the writing is fresh, with plot twists and surprises that add layers of emotional depth.

[2] Finally a prince who acts like a prince! This was a sweet coincidental love story. Thank you Hallmark!

[3] Surprisingly fun and trope-filled royal holiday movie is packed with Broadway greats.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

I came across this Hallmark Xmas movie last month by chance; you can rent it on Amazon Prime. I noticed that it stars (surprise) Broadway/theater actors/singers: Laura Osnes (who plays cheerful cardiac nurse Anna Jordan) and Aaron Tveit (who plays serious/grumpy Prince James Gallant). Some of y’all MAY recognize Tveit from the 2012 adaptation of Les Miserables; he played the friend/fellow rebel to Marius. Here he uses a British accent and has slightly longish hair; the actor has the handsome looks of a prince. This movie as shot in June 2020 (during the COVID-19 pandemic); it was the 1st movie to go into production in Connecticut (and the East Coast) at that time.

Anna is NOT intimidated/nervous in the presence of the royals; she pokes fun at James (in a sweet/harmless style). James is a BIT arrogant and acts entitled (at first), BUT he has real worries. As they are snowbound, Anna and James (who seem like opposites) get to know each other. There are cute/funny references to Jane Austen novels and The Sound of Music. Osnes and Tveit have good onscreen chemistry; you can see their relationship develop.

Unlike a LOT of other Hallmark movies, the supporting characters get stuff to do. Queen Gabriella (Victoria Clark) is V supportive of her son; she is BOTH down-to-earth and elegant. Anna’s widowed father, Ed (Tom McGowan- a Canadian character actor), is a jolly innkeeper who is close w/ his daughter. Anna’s childhood friend, Sarah (Krystal Joy Brown), is the mayor of the small town; she has a side plot w/ romance. There are 2 scenes where Xmas carols are sung to showcase the actors’ FAB voices.