Fame
I really only added this movie because the Sidney Theater put on the show and my sister had a small part in the production. I get a little bummed out when I think about all the things that I miss out on going to because I live so far away, but I heard the show was great. P.S. Paizley, I'm proud of you!
As far as the movie goes though, I kind of expect it to be just okay in the same way that Flashdance was just okay. I know the movie is about a group of kids who attend a performing arts school in New York, so at the very least it should be entertaining to watch people dance, sing, act, and play music.
After having watched the movie:
(Possible spoilers below)
This movie was much better than Flashdance, it actually blew Flashdance out of the water. That being said though there were a few things that didn't necessarily sit well with me. It's really a love/hate thing that I have with the large ensemble of characters. I mean, I appreciate that there was an ensemble of students with different focused areas of study: dance, music, and drama.
However, by having an ensemble. I felt like it pulled us away from really experiencing four years at the performing arts high school with the entire cast. There were so many characters who seemed to be introduced, and had potentially brilliant story lines that had been dropped to soon. The perfect example is Hilary Van Doren who not only challenges Coco both in dance but with Leroy as well. That's right, she comes into the school and takes a big interest in Coco's boyfriend. It is a little cliche that the pretty, rich, white girl comes to school one day and suddenly the resident minority, and keep in mind Coco has reminded us more than once that she's a minority, has a bit of a fit and trouble adjusting as a result. Though Hilary gets a bit of closure, she leaves the school after becoming pregnant, post abortion and takes a place in a San Fransico Ballet Company. It's all explained in a monologue with a bit of a reveal that she's in a doctors office. It's almost like the director realized the movie was going to be five hours long and the monologue was his way to save the audience from sitting in a theater for another hour at least.
The best part of the movie though is watching the students learn to make their way in the Entertainment Industry. We get to see their struggles: revealing to everyone that you're gay, getting caught up in the party scene, learning to stand out among a crowd instead of blending into the background, and being so caught up in chasing your dream that you wind up stripping in front of a camera in some dirty apartment.
Final thoughts: The movie manages to end on a high note, a final performance just before graduation. It's fun and exciting, but not as exciting as the time everyone starts signing and dancing in the street outside of the school. Although the final performance allows you to finally realize these talented kids are going to be able to go somewhere and do something within the Entertainment Industry, potentially. Really, the only thing missing from the movie was learning about what all the students went on to do in their future. We're left wondering how many people end up like Michael, someone who had such a bright future and excelled at the same school who is now left waiting tables and struggling as an actor, and how many went on to have successful careers.
OFFICIAL COUNT 73 DOWN 292 TO GO
Next up: Wild Strawberries
1 comment:
Shoooot, girl! Thanks for the shoutout! And don't worry, you weren't missing anything with S&B's performance of Fame. I mean, we did a good job, but the show is just not interesting. I'm curious, which Fame did you watch? Old or new? Makes a difference. The new new is good, but they split a few of the character's story lines into two people. It's weird.
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