| Why can't Hollywood make movies like these? |
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| written by WZoller |
October 24, 2005 - 11:51 AM PDT |
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1 out of 4 members found this review helpful
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| Have to hand it to the French. This is a well made family movie with terrific acting and a heart warming story. I personally prefer it over animated movies that are more prominent here or comic book characters that are becoming a dime a dozen. |
| A Musical Memory |
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| written by talltale |
May 9, 2005 - 7:50 PM PDT |
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3 out of 3 members found this review helpful
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Leave it to the French, bless 'em, to turn out in droves for THE CHORUS--which proved to be their most popular homegrown movie of last year. And it is a lovely piece of work (Manola Darghis' nasty New York Times review notwithstanding--which helped prevent the film from finding the large east coast audience it deserved). Here in America on the other hand, we flocked to the likes of "The Passion of Christ" and like-minded "slasher" fests.
"The Chorus" is a memory film, most of which takes place in a home for problemed boys to which a new teacher comes--and changes lives in the process. The movie is sentimental, yes, but it also filled with so much kindness, sadness and beauty (not least of which is the ravishing choral work) that it will win over all but the very cynical among us.
Performances are just fine, with Gerard Jugnot full of grace and smarts as the kind teacher and Francois Berleand (no French actor does a better "nasty") as his nemesis. The kids are particularly wonderful; they range from cherubic to frightening, and--to the movie's credit--things do not turn out so well for all of them. Cynics may pooh-pooh the taste of Miramax and those of us who embrace a movie like this. Well, tant pis for them. This one's rich and wonderful in ways too numerous to tally. |
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