Musical

The Aristocats

  • Title: The Aristocats
  • IMDb: link

Originally released in 1970, I first saw The Aristocats during one of its re-releases in theaters. The last film to be personally approved by Walt Disney, the last film to be released during co-founder Roy O. Disney‘s tenure as CEO, and notably worked on by five of Disney’s core animators, the film is an interesting mix of classic Disney animation with splashes of French styling and jazz thrown into the mix as well. Much like Disney’s next feature Robin Hood, released three years later, you can feel a change in the studio’s continued direction away (at least temporarily) from the classic princess films that built so much of the magic kingdom.

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KPop Demon Hunters

  • Title: KPop Demon Hunters
  • IMDb: link

KPop Demon Hunters is an odd, although likable, all-ages animated film centered around the idea that demons are prevented from overtaking our world through the use of music sung by a select trio of women who also, when demons do slip through the cracks, take them down by more direct means with magic blades made by music. The current trio are Rumi (Arden Cho), Mira (May Hong), and Zoey (Ji-young Yoo) who together make up the uber-popular K-pop girl group Huntr/x.

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Sinners Sins So Well

  • Title: Sinners
  • IMDb: link

Featuring Michael B. Jordan in dual roles as dangerous twins who return home to the Mississippi Delta with ill-gotten gains to set up their own juke joint, writer/director Ryan Coogler‘s Sinners is one part period drama which examine the lives of the tightknit community and one part supernatural thriller as something evil is drawn in by the music of the twins’ cousin Sammie (Miles Caton) all taking place during a single day and night.

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The Ballad of Wallis Island

  • Title: The Ballad of Wallis Island
  • IMDb: link

Tom Basden (who wrote the songs used in the film and co-wrote the screenplay with Tim Key) stars as famous, if floundering, musician Herb McGwyer who arrives on a remote island for a private concert to a pair of surprises. First, the reclusive millionaire Charles (Tom Key) who has hired Herb is the only audience member for the concert on the near-deserted island. And, second, he has also invited Herb’s former partner Nell Mortimer (Carey Mulligan) who he hasn’t spoken to in almost a decade.

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A Complete Unknown

  • Title: A Complete Unknown
  • IMDb: link

“You’re kind of an asshole, Bob.”

There’s a scene between Bob Dylan (Timothée Chalamet) and Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro) after their first night together that sums up the themes of the movie succinctly. Returning to music over her, while also offering an offhand dismissal of her work, Bob still brings her back to his bed through his songwriting. In a nutshell, just as Ms. Baez so eloquently puts it, Bob is indeed an asshole. However, he’s one hell of a talented asshole.

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