The Death of Klinghoffer (UK, 2003)

Klinghoffer was a victim of Palestinean hijackers (a cruise liner the Achille Lauro) in 1985 and this is a film of John Adams opera. Mainly it’s shot in a realist fashion, with handheld camera, interspersing news footage and library footage. Well, ‘realist’ as far as opera can ever be realist. I love Adams’ music, and [...]

West Side Story (US, 1961)

Ultra-stylised violence Prompted by going to see this in the London revival later this week, I watched the Bernstein-Robbins-Sondheim classic again. It was even better than I remembered. Terrific music, choreography and book with stylish, often Expressionist, direction. Whilst there is a tension between the oxymoronic dancing-hoodlums, the emotion on show heightens the hackneyed narrative. [...]

42nd Street (US, 1933)

Fascinating dramatisation of the New Deal so where you might expect jealousy we see cooperation. Unbelievable that Dick Powell would, a decade later, give one of the best hard boiled detective performances. The film’s worth watching if only for the amazing Busby Berkeley finale. (DVD, 2) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0024034/

One from the Heart (US, 1982)

This movie destroyed Francis Coppola’s Zoetrope studios, where he hoped to make art movies to compete with Hollywood. Critics at the time (and presumably the audiences who stayed away) moaned that the story was slight. Who cares?! The visuals (highly stylised lighting) are fantastic, as is Tom Waits score. Stands up well! A must if [...]

An American in Paris (US, 1951)

I love Gene Kelly: he was a great dancer; always played nice guys; he was a socialist. This movie has some stunning dancing (and Oscar Levant in Gershwin’s piano concerto). Sets look great (based on paintings of Toulouse-Lautrec amongst others) and the direction’s perfect (ie you can see the dancing in long fluid takes). (DVD, [...]

Singin’ in the Rain (US 1952)

Possibly the greatest of all Hollywood musicals, this film never fails to stun. The dancing is astonishing and the songs great. It’s also funny. Brilliantly directed in long takes so the dancing can be appreciated making music videos look corrupt with their rapid editing. (DVD, 5) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045152/

Meet Me in St Louis (US, 1944)

One of the great musicals with the great Garland and Minnelli directing. Nuff said. Gorgeous technicolour and a chilling destruction of the bourgeois family by the precocious Margaret O’Brien. (DVD, 7) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037059/

Walk the Line (US, 2005)

I’m not a Cash, or Carter, fan but that didn’t hinder appreciation of the fabulous performances by Phoenix & Witherspoon. Great sound too (and not just the songs; watch/listen to the opening). Musicals aren’t exactly making a comeback in Hollywood but this follows successfully in Ray’s (US, 2004) footsteps. (DVD). http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0358273/