Dance and Music: 93

Tár (2022) is a psychological drama film written and directed by Todd Field. Acclaimed actress Cate Blanchett takes on the role of Lydia Tár, a world-renowned conductor facing accusations of misconduct. As the first female chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic, she relies on Francesca, her personal assistant, to handle her busy schedule. During an interview with Adam Gopnik at The New Yorker Festival, Lydia shares details about her upcoming live recording of Mahler’s Fifth Symphony and her book Tár on Tár. In addition to her musical endeavors, she also collaborates with Eliot Kaplan, an investment banker and amateur conductor who co-founded the Accordion ...

The film Metal Lords (2022) is a teen comedy-drama, written by D. B. Weiss and directed by Peter Sollett. It tells the story of two high school buddies, Hunter and Kevin, who share a love for metal music and decide to form their own band, going against societal expectations. Metal enthusiast Hunter Sylvester often jams with his introverted best friend Kevin Schlieb, who only plays a single drum in the school’s marching band. During one of their practices, Kevin witnesses Emily, a sensitive Scottish student, having a meltdown and quitting the band due to her lack of ...

Elvis (2022) is a biographical drama film co-produced and directed by Baz Luhrmann, chronicling the life of American rock and roll singer and actor Elvis Presley. On his deathbed in 1997, Presley’s former manager Colonel Tom Parker reflects on their initial meeting and the rise to fame under his management. Growing up in poverty-stricken areas of Mississippi with a nurturing mother, Presley found solace in comic books and music, particularly African-American genres from Beale Street. It wasn’t until Parker, a self-proclaimed modern-day P. T. Barnum, heard ...

Purple Hearts (2022) is a new American musical romance film created for Netflix and directed by Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum. Adapted from the novel of the same name by Tess Wakefield, it tells the story of Cassie Salazar, a young woman who serves and performs with her band, The Loyal, at a local bar. Recently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, she struggles to afford the expensive medication needed to manage her condition. One night, while working at the bar, she meets a group of Marines who are about to be deployed to Iraq. Among them is Luke Morrow, who takes an interest in ...

Marry Me (2022) is an American romantic comedy-drama directed by Kat Coiro, with a screenplay by John Rogers, Tami Sagher, and Harper Dill. The film follows pop superstar Kat Valdez, a well-known figure in the Latin community who has experienced two high-profile divorces. Despite this, she is planning to get married to her fiancé, Bastian, after their song “Marry Me” becomes a worldwide hit. They have even arranged for their wedding ceremony to be streamed during ...

Directed and produced by Todd Haynes, The Velvet Underground (2021) is an American documentary that delves into the story of the influential rock band. Haynes was granted access to interviews with surviving members, including founding members John Cale and Maureen Tucker. Filmed in 2018, the documentary also features voiceovers from Doug Yule, who joined the band in 1968. In October 2020, Apple TV+ secured distribution rights for the film. The world premiere took place at the ...

Sing 2 (2021), an American animated jukebox musical comedy film from Illumination and Universal Pictures, sees Buster Moon thriving in his new theater, a month after the events of the first film. However, despite his efforts to impress talent scout Suki, she believes he won’t succeed in Redshore City. Encouraged by Nana Noodleman, Buster brings together the singers from the previous competition and heads to the city for an audition with entertainment mogul Jimmy Crystal. While Crystal initially shows no interest in Buster’s original show pitch, Gunter introduces a unique space-themed concept featuring Clay Calloway, a rock star who hasn’t been seen ...

Directed by Edgar Wright, The Sparks Brothers (2021) is a documentary that delves into the story of Ron and Russell Mael, the talented duo behind the pop and rock band Sparks. The film premiered at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival on January 30 and was later released in North America on June 18 by Focus Features. Through extensive interviews with Ron and Russell Mael, as well as other notable musicians such as Beck, Flea,

Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020) is a comedic science fiction film directed by Dean Parisot and written by Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon. Serving as the third installment in the Bill & Ted film series, it follows the events of its predecessor, Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey (1991). Almost three decades after their last adventure, Bill and Ted have not fulfilled their destiny of creating a song that will bring unity to the world. As a result, their marriages are faltering and their careers are dwindling while the fabric of time and space begins to crumble. To save reality from collapsing, Kelly – daughter of ...

Everybody’s Everything (2019) is a documentary that delves into the life of Gustav Elijah Åhr, better known as the American rapper Lil Peep. Directed by Sebastian Jones and Ramez Silyan, it was produced by Benjamin Soley and executive produced by Terrence Malick, Liza Womack, and Sarah Stennett. The film follows Lil Peep’s journey from his childhood in Long Beach, NY ...

Yesterday (2019) is a romantic comedy musical directed by Danny Boyle and written by Richard Curtis, based on a story by Jack Barth and Curtis. The film follows the journey of Jack Malik, a struggling singer-songwriter from Lowestoft who plays small shows. His childhood friend and manager, Ellie Appleton, encourages him to keep pursuing his dreams. During a rare power outage that lasted only twelve seconds, Jack is struck by a bus. After his recovery, he surprises his friends ...

Rocketman (2019) is a jukebox musical film, based on the life and achievements of British musician Elton John. Dressed extravagantly as the devil, Elton John appears at a rehab session, reminiscing about his life through flashbacks (The Bitch Is Back). In the 1950s, young Reginald Dwight grows up under the care of his unaffectionate mother Sheila and his grandmother Ivy, who is more loving. Music becomes Reginald’s passion and he dreams of performing for his father Stanley, who shows no interest in him (I Want Love). After starting piano lessons, Reginald makes his way into the prestigious Royal ...

Vox Lux (2018), an American musical drama film, follows the story of a tragic incident in early January 2000. Cullen Active enters his school in Staten Island and shoots his teacher and classmates before taking his own life. Amidst the chaos, 13-year-old Celeste Montgomery calmly speaks to Cullen and offers to pray with him. Despite her efforts, the shooting results in multiple casualties and Celeste herself is injured. As she recovers, she turns to music for solace and begins writing songs with her older sister Eleanor. During an event honoring the victims, Celeste performs one of their original pieces titled ‘Wrapped Up’. The song receives instant ...

Her Smell (2018) is an American drama film written, co-produced and directed by Alex Ross Perry. The story unfolds through five distinct scenes, interwoven with home movie footage from the band’s earlier days of success – gracing magazine covers, posing for photo shoots, and receiving gold records. As the first scene begins, punk rock group Something She finishes a show and lead singer Becky Something heads backstage for a brief ceremony with her personal shaman. Her emotions rapidly swing from joy to aggression as her bandmates, ex-husband, manager, and former collaborator all attempt to guide her towards ...

Luca Guadagnino’s supernatural horror film, Suspiria (2018), was written by David Kajganich and draws inspiration from Dario Argento’s 1977 Italian film of the same name. Set in West Berlin during the German Autumn of 1977, it follows the story of Susie Bannion, an American from a Mennonite family in Ohio who enrolls at the Markos Dance Academy. The academy is still reeling from the mysterious disappearance of one of its students, Patricia Hingle. Patricia had confided in her psychotherapist, Josef Klemperer, ...

Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) is a biographical drama film that follows the story of Freddie Mercury – the legendary lead singer of British rock band Queen. Spanning from 1970 when the band was formed, to their iconic 1985 Live Aid performance at Wembley Stadium, the film captures Mercury’s journey and struggles. As he waits to take the stage at Live Aid in ’85, we see a flashback to his humble beginnings. In 1970, Farrokh Bulsara had a job as a baggage handler at Heathrow Airport and lived with his family. A chance encounter with the band Smile at a pub led him to meet Mary Austin – whom he was immediately attracted to. Despite encountering some obstacles, ...

Terrence Malick’s American experimental romantic drama film, Song to Song (2017), follows the story of Faye, a guitarist seeking success in Austin, Texas. Her journey leads her to become involved with both record producer Cook and musician BV. As Faye’s relationship with BV deepens, she embarks on a secret affair with Cook, leading to a trip to Mexico with all three of them. Meanwhile, Rhonda, a former kindergarten teacher now working as a waitress at a diner, catches the eye of Cook and they eventually marry. However, their professional and personal lives become strained as tensions rise between Cook and ...

Rolling Stone: Stories From the Edge (2017) delves into significant articles, including Michael Hastings’ exposé that led to the downfall of Gen. Stanley McChrystal in Afghanistan, Lawrence Wright’s captivating exploration of televangelist Jimmy Swaggart’s rise and fall, and Jann Wenner’s moving post-election interview with Barack Obama in 2016. This two-part documentary also takes a retrospective look at the past 50 years of the renowned magazine, featuring interviews and footage with prominent individuals who have graced its pages since Jann Wenner founded it in 1967.

The American musical comedy film, Pitch Perfect 3 (2017), was directed by Trish Sie and written by Kay Cannon and Mike White. The third installment of the ‘Pitch Perfect’ franchise starts off somewhere off the coast of France. On a yacht, the Bellas perform Britney Spears’ “Toxic” for three men. As they finish, Fat Amy bursts through the ceiling and sprays the men with a fire extinguisher, causing an explosion. Quickly jumping ship, the movie then opens with a snapshot of the title PITCH ...

Coco (2017), an animated fantasy film from Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Pictures, takes place in the Mexican town of Santa Cecilia. In this town, a young woman named Imelda marries a man who later leaves her and their daughter Coco to pursue music. After he never returns, Imelda bans music from her family and starts a shoemaking business. Years pass and Imelda’s great-great-grandson Miguel now resides with his elderly great-grandmother Coco, parents, and grandmother – all of whom are shoemakers. Despite the music ban, Miguel secretly admires the late musician Ernesto de la Cruz and learns to play guitar by watching his old films. On the Day of ...