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Reviews
The Last Whistle (2019)
*SPOILERS AHEAD* An emotional story bolstered by a seasoned cast, sound & music, and screenwriting
Who would have thought that the story of a high school football coach dead set on winning state championship - so dead set that he subjects his star football player to extreme physical stress - would evoke tears near the end of the film? There are many factors that made this a great film, but three factors stood out: acting, sound and music, and screenwriting.
The acting is nothing short of what I would expect from a seasoned cast. Brad Leland, who plays Coach Trenton, taps into the psyche of the character and channels his personality into his interactions with other characters. You can tell from the beginning that he's hot-headed, such as getting into physical altercation at the bar. However, near the end, he has a character arc that goes full circle to show how he has changed. Instead of getting into another physical altercation, he says he has a different type of fire inside him, and he is more at peace.
What also makes this film stand out is its sound and music. The film does an amazing job utilizing sounds and music to emerge us in the environment (sound of whistles and cheering for football games, and country music to fit the Texas setting) as well as to evoke particular emotions (discordant music to make us relate to the character's stress and nervousness).
Lastly, the screenwriting by Robert Smat allows the audience to connect with Coach Trenton as we follow him on his journey to find peace after many people blame him for football player Benny's death. What stands out for me is the heated exchange between the coach and Benny's mother during the court case. The way the dialogue is written, it makes them feel more real. After all, both sides are in pain, and they're trying to convey their pains to each other. Another moment that stands out is in the end, when the coach gives the rallying speech to the football team to commemorate Benny. Originally, I wish Benny's interaction with the coach, his teammates, and his family could be more drawn out to give a better sense of who he is. However, towards the end, I find that I do know Benny, through the stories that other share after his death. In a sense, the coach was right, Benny does live on through each and every one of the teammates.
A film that starts out with a coach that pushes his team to the edge, is hot-tempered, and doesn't care about others' opinion, he has to shift his mindset and start accessing himself after Benny's death. We as the audience are brought along this journey, and aided by the acting, sound and music, and the screenwriting, the film turns a football film into a lesson on reputation, teamwork, and finding inner peace.
Glee: The 3D Concert Movie (2011)
It was enjoyable, yet short.
When I first heard that the Glee 3D Concert is being made into a movie, I decided to check it out, since I am a Glee fan and all. However, after I finished watching this documentary movie of the concert, let's just say that there was no spark, no disappointment. Nothing. The movie was really short, and it did not feature some of the songs that were memorable from Glee. Nonetheless, I would not say that watching the concert on a movie was a complete waste because after all, it feels like I am more connected to the Glee characters through the live performance. For instance, when Chris Colfer was performing "I want to take your hand," there was so much emotions that I felt like I might actually cry.
Glee (2009)
Social outsiders from McKinley High band together to create music in Glee Club
Will Schuester, a Spanish teacher at McKinley high, in hopes of recreating his teenage dream of becoming a star on Broadway, decides to take over the school's Glee Club, the New Directions, and help it regain its former glory by competing in show choir, from Sectionals to Nationals. Meanwhile, the school's outsiders, all of whom decide to join Glee Club, navigate around the complex webs of high school life, such as backstabbing, relationships dilemmas, and self-acceptance, by expressing themselves through songs and dances. I have never watched Glee until a few months ago, and now, I am an official Gleek. I love all the actors' and actresses' performance, especially Chris Colfer's performance as Kurt Hummel, as well as their singing voices. Glee has opened me to all the songs that I have never heard about, and it also provides comedy relief. While the plots and characters are in some ways unrealistic, it is an excellent TV show nonetheless due to its breadths and depths of the characters. I highly recommend this TV series for those who have not watched it yet.
The Three Musketeers (2011)
Young D'Artagnan allows three former Musketeers to relive the glory days of sword fighting.
Athos, Porthos, and Aramis were the three Musketeers who schemed to obtain Leonardo Da Vinci's airship blueprints. After a failed attempt, however, they were dismissed and now live in obscurity in France. Then comes D'Artagnan, a hot-headed son of a former Musketeer, who provides Athos, Porthos, and Aramis a second chance at reliving the glory days of sword fighting. I have never heard of the story about the Three Musketeers before, but this movie is easy to follow. The movie is very cliché and there is not much to get out of the movie other than the fact that it serves an entertainment purpose. However, I decide to give this movie a high rating because of the wonderful Cinematography, Art Direction, and Costume design. Also, I enjoy Logan Lerman's humorous touch on D'Artagnan's personality. This movie is enjoyable if you are simply looking for a movie in which the sole purpose is to provide entertainment and family fun.