Directed by Adam Del Deo and James D. Stern
Certainly, up until this point, this is the best thing I've seen thus far at the Newark Film Festival. A surprisingly tension-filled look at the auditions for the 2006 Broadway revival of A Chorus Line. The auditions are intercut with video and audio of A Chorus Line creator/choreographer Michael Bennett discussing how the musical came about and how they shaped it into a long-running show in the 1970s.
It runs a tiny bit too long towards the end, but I was actually amazed at how entertaining it was. It was actually incredibly interesting to see the nuances that different actors/actresses brought to the roles they were auditioning for and it allowed us in the audience to try and guess who should earn a spot in the show.
I really don't know a whole lot about A Chorus Line, and, if I'm being completely honest, none of the music that was showcased here really won me over and would make me want to see the show, but that's even more proof that the movie does a great job -- even if I wasn't impressed with the show, I was thoroughly impressed with the movie. I stand by the fact that this flick puts you on the edge of your seat wondering how things are gonna pan out for these young aspiring actors/singers/dancers.
It runs a tiny bit too long towards the end, but I was actually amazed at how entertaining it was. It was actually incredibly interesting to see the nuances that different actors/actresses brought to the roles they were auditioning for and it allowed us in the audience to try and guess who should earn a spot in the show.
I really don't know a whole lot about A Chorus Line, and, if I'm being completely honest, none of the music that was showcased here really won me over and would make me want to see the show, but that's even more proof that the movie does a great job -- even if I wasn't impressed with the show, I was thoroughly impressed with the movie. I stand by the fact that this flick puts you on the edge of your seat wondering how things are gonna pan out for these young aspiring actors/singers/dancers.
The RyMickey Rating: B+
But you also enjoy reality television.
ReplyDeleteWould someone such as I, who hates the reality television craze, enjoy it?
There is certainly a reality television vibe to it, but it was much more focused on the people trying out rather than the "final decision" although that certainly plays a role in the film's long final act.
ReplyDeleteThis flick was so close to a 4.5 for me that I would recommend this to everyone. I've seen a crapload of documentaries in the past week and this is, by far, the most well made of the bunch.
I saw this in Boston earlier in the summer. I agree with you - it was my kind of documentary. I appreciated the whole meta-something-al aspect of people aspiring to make it big on Broadway trying out for a show about people aspiring to make it big on Broadway.
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