Rent (2005 movie) – I was familiar with a good amount of the music from Rent before I saw it. After seeing it, I liked the soundtrack even more. It goes with the plot/book well and is varied in melody and tempo.1 The plot follows a group of struggling artists living the Bohemian life in New York City while dealing with various relationship troubles and HIV/AIDS. It’s based on Puccini’s La boheme, if that gives you any further clue about the plot.
Notable songs: “Seasons of Love,” “One Song Glory,” “La Vie Boheme,” “Without You”
A Chorus Line (1985 movie) – Apparently the original Broadway version of A Chorus Line was supposed to be about aging stars looking for one last chance, not young dancers trying to get their first big break, but if you can get over that, it’s not a bad movie. It takes place almost entirely onstage and depicts dancers auditioning for a new musical. As the day progresses, the auditionees are asked to talk about their lives and reveal their pasts, all while vying to be chosen for the chorus line.
Notable songs: “I Hope I Get It,” “Nothing”
Carousel (1956 movie) – After seeing this musical, I think my last major Rodgers and Hammerstein musical to watch is The King and I. Overall, I liked it, but it was slow, and this is coming from someone who enjoys doing things like making eight dozen of the same sandwich and reading cereal boxes. The plot can mostly be summed up as “do Billy and Julie really love each other?” with some side issues. It’s based on a Hungarian play by Molnár, Liliom. “June is Bustin’ Out All Over” is a fun extended dance break though. [Side note: For some reason, this musical reminds me of the third act of Burning Bright by John Steinbeck, which has little to no relation except both works contain a boat.]
Notable songs: “June is Bustin’ Out All Over,” “A Real Nice Clambake”
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1999 movie) – In this musical, Andrew Lloyd Webber takes on the story of Joseph and his coat of many colors (plus what follows). This version includes an unnecessary (in my opinion) frame story but otherwise is flashy and entertaining, and I am a fan of Pharaoh/Elvis.
Notable songs: “Any Dream Will Do,” “Joseph’s Coat,” “Go, Go, Go Joseph”
Jesus Christ Superstar (1973 movie) – And here’s more Andrew Lloyd Webber, presenting a somewhat fictionalized version of Jesus’s last week on earth. There’s an entire subplot involving Judas. Mainly, this musical was a little weird – partly true, partly not, and sung entirely as a rock opera. Then again, someone else wrote an entire musical about the Shroud of Turin (Into the Light, which lasted a whole five days on Broadway, in case you were wondering).
Notable songs: “Hosanna,” “King Herod’s Song,” “Superstar” [Incidentally, “Red Solo Cup” by Toby Keith has a line that sounds exactly like a line in “King Herod’s Song.” It makes for a slightly bizarre listening experience.]
That wraps up another group of musicals, probably my last for the near future. At this point I’ve seen most of the common/popular musicals that the library has, plus I haven’t been watching as many movies in the past couple months.
1Not going to name names here2, but there are some musicals where every song sounds the same, except with different words.
2But . . . if I have a hard time coming up with notable songs for a musical, it’s probably one of those musicals where every song sounds the same, except with different words.3
3Nested footnotes.
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