Just a Regular Girl- Chi-town Movie Chick

Thursday, February 27, 2014

The First Time- "One Chance" (2013)

The classic story of the underdog is a beloved troupe that has lasted for years and will continue to go on for years to come. Sometimes this troupe is even found in real life.

Six years ago, a man from Whales auditioned for a little TV show called" Britain's Got Talent". He struggled with nervousness and self-confidence, but he believed that he was put on this Earth to sing opera. Now, Paul Potts has performed all over the world, recorded three albums, and even performed for the Queen! And now his story has been immortalized for all time in film!

One Chance is Potts' story about his struggle and his triumph. The film uses Potts' own voice in the film instead of finding some copycat (although, James Cordon who plays Potts, can sing and will be playing the Baker in the eagerly awaited Into the Woods musical-turned-film). I'm one of those "weird people" who think that opera is absolutely the most gorgeous music in the world and its performers are only the most talented vocalists in the world, but even for those who don't appreciate opera, you cannot help but fall in love with this man and his story.

Plot

Paul Potts has been bullied all his life, maybe it was for his weight, but it was probably due to this love of singing opera music. His mother fervently encourages his passion while his father wishes he would hide it all under a rug and take up rugby instead. Paul works at a local cell phone store with his boss and best friend Braddon (played by Mackenzie Crook (from Pirates of the Caribbean)). Paul has been trying to save up to go to opera school in Venice for years, but he is still short. He is convinced by Julz, a girl he met online, to take part in a talent show to win the money he needs and fulfill his dream of going to Italy. But he doesn't stay there very long (I'll leave that part out for you to discover).

Paul returns back to his regular life and eventually finds out about "Britain's Got Talent". The rest is history.

Stars

James Cordon is so lovable in this movie. Even though he does not sing the full songs, he somehow manages to make me believe that his power comes from his voice. Lip-synching is hard to do on its own, but there is a real power that comes from the throat and from the body when you sing that you cannot copy without singing. I figure that Cordon probably belted out something while they were filming and then the editors went in and dubbed everything with the real Paul Potts' voice. We will get to see Cordon sing in Into the Woods and find out if he could have done some opera.

I honestly didn't recognize Mackenzie Crook at first with two eyes. And he's not the absent-minded character in this one. He's lovable for his loyalty to his friend and his good heart.

Julie Walters ("Mamma Mia" and HP Series) shows up as Paul's loving mother, and just like in the HP Series, you wish she was your mother.

Message

Life is rough. Many times in underdog films, our hero just happens to come upon success. We don't get to see the struggle and hardships that go along with fulfilling your dream. This film is full of them.

But I think the biggest message of the film, one that Paul Potts himself would be very proud of, is never be afraid to be who you are. Paul is bullied by his schoolmates, his father, his teacher; everyone tells him that his dream is stupid and that opera is stupid. After a while he begins to believe it himself and stop believing in himself, which is especially detrimental to someone who wants to be in show business.

This film reminds us that everyone has a talent, but we need to remember to believe in our talent and in ourselves because that is the only way we can fulfill our purpose in life.

In the film, Julz asks Paul if he could be anyone else in the whole world, who would he be. Paul says, he would rather be himself. He just wants to be him.

Overall

If you've ever been bullied, sang opera or any other kind of music, or struggle with believing in yourself, this movie is for you.

Real Paul Potts performance on "Britain's Got Talent":

4 out of 4 Standing Ovations

Thursday, January 23, 2014

An Oldie But a Goodie- "The Thin Man" (1934)

My last college semester begins with a film class on Classical Hollywood. The definition of that era, if we can really call it that, is after the Silent Film Era (which does deserve it's own era) and before The Era of Modern Movies (when everything got worse- according to film historians). I understand that Hollywood was the place to be at a point in time, and movies were one of the only forms of entertainment people had (there was a time when everyone didn't have a TV in their living room and Netfix on their iPhones). But I refuse to believe that Hollywood and the value of Hollywood-produced films declined after this great period. Can't we just say they were great? And old?

I will first turn to "The Thin Man" starring William Powell and Myrna Loy as adorable married couple Nick and Nora Charles. The plot goes that Nick used to be a detective but has decided to take a vacation away from it all with his lovely wife when trouble comes knocking at the door. All of the sudden, they are thrown into a murder mystery case complete with a bitter divorced woman and her two children, some gangsters, and an old man and his money.

I really enjoyed this film because of the incredible chemistry between William Powell and Myrna Loy. They laugh at each other, make fun of each other, push each other, and generally get along quite well. I also love that Nora Charles is no force to be reckoned with, unlike many of the women on screen at this time. Sure, her husband makes sure she stays out of the line of fire, but it is really Nora getting Nick to chase down the case. Nick brings the much needed sarcasm and humor to their relationship and the film, but Nora is the brawn.

And there's a dog. Who doesn't love a little terrier?

The film is a series of 6 total films including "After the Thin Man" (1936), "Another Thin Man" (1939), "Shadow of the Thin Man" (1941), "The Thin Man Goes Home" (1945), and "Song of the Thin Man" (1947). These are now all on my Watch List. Check it out! Any recommendations for films like this one?

Saturday, December 28, 2013

In Review: "The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones"

To judge a book by its movie. Years ago, this was not a problem. Now, it is what controls what flies off the shelves and what develops cobwebs.

I think this movie has hurt its book series and its chances for new readers.

The Plot

Clary (Lily Collins) is just your average teenager with a dorky best friend (Robert Sheehan) who is clearly in love with her. All of the sudden (not really- it's a movie, something's gotta happen), she starts seeing people in crazy goth costumes who no one else can see, creepy looking monsters that were rottweilers, and Clary finds out she is a "shadow hunter" aka part-angel-part-human, demon hunter, like Van Helsing, minus the werewolves thing.

Like any good YA book, there is tons of sexual tension between our heroine and the mysterious, brooding, sexy Jace (Jamie Campell Bower). And the best friend looks on sadly.

Somewhere Clary's mom gets captured, she has to find this cup thing that everyone keeps talking about, and she keeps getting into trouble.

The Cast

Lily Collins goes back to the fantasy world from her latest role as Snow White in the wildly unsuccessful "Mirror Mirror" with Julia Roberts. Jamie Campell Bower, who you will recognize from the "Twilight" series as Caius, gets to play a good guy this time around. No one's performance is too horrible or too fantastic. I don't think these actors are to blame for my dislike of this film. The lack of character development and emotional connection has nothing to do with flaws in acting. It has to do with the amount of information required to understand what the heck is going on in this movie.