Cinema Classics: “Gigi” (1958)

From the advent of talking pictures, MGM Studios became known for producing lavish musicals. Their credits include such landmark films as “The Wizard of Oz”, “Singin’ in the Rain”, and “Gigi”, the latter being the one that many consider the last great MGM musical. “Gigi” is so French it almost parodies the lavish culture and people […]

Holiday Classics: “Meet Me in St. Louis” (1944)

The Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane song “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” is a standard during the holidays, and has been ever since Judy Garland first sung it in the 1944 MGM musical “Meet Me in St. Louis”. But if it wasn’t for Garland, it probably would have been a much different song. Martin […]

Cinema Classics: “The Young Girls of Rochefort” (1967)

In 1964, French director Jacques Demy’s musical film “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” (Las parapluies de Cherbourg) was an international sensation, winning the Palmes d’Or at Cannes and being nominated for five Academy Awards. Even watching it today, it’s easy to see why. “Cherbourg” is unique in that it is entirely sung through, as opposed to […]

Review: “Rocketman”

3.5 out of 5 stars. Biographical movies always play fast and loose with the facts, often shaping and twisting them to fashion a more cinematic story. “Rocketman,” which tells the story of the life and career of musician Elton John, is no exception. But “Rocketman,” directed by Dexter Fletcher (who, incidentally, took over directing duties […]

Review: “Aladdin” (2019)

3.5 out of 5 stars. “A Whole New World,” the duet between Aladdin and Princess Jasmine is one of many favorite music numbers that appear in “Aladdin,” the new live-action remake of the animated Disney classic of the same name. It isn’t a great descriptor for the film itself, which in many aspects is inferior […]

Review: “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again”

3 out of 5 stars. “Mamma Mia!” is the sort of musical that embodies escapism. The story of a daughter trying to identify her father before her wedding day is set on the gorgeous Greek island Kalokairi, far from the troubles of reality, and is filled with peppy songs by ABBA. It’s rather bizarre, even […]

Review: “La La Land”

4.5 out of 5 stars. “La La Land” opens with a long tracking shot, the camera moving along bumper-to-bumper traffic on a Los Angeles freeway, a cacophony of sounds and different music emanating from each vehicle—a fairly typical scene, until, one by one, people leap out of their cars, jumping on top of them and […]