Mama Mia! Here We Go Again (2018)

Directed by Ol Parker 

Screenplay written by Ol Parker

Story by Richard Curtis, Ol Parker and Catherine Johnston

Based on the songs by ABBA

Starring Amanda Seyfried, Lily James, Meryl Streep and Cher 

This movie is the perfect example of a sequel where a sequel was not needed-- but more ABBA songs, a prequel and a sequel in one and Cher making a cameo? Sign me up! Even if we never really asked for a sequel to Mama Mia, everyone was sure happy to get one. 

Set five years in the future after the first movie, Mama Mia! Here We Go Again, takes us back to the beautiful Greek island where Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) is preparing for the grand re-opening of the Hotel Bella Donna. This sequel also dives back into 1979 with a young Donna (Lily James), beginning her life after college by exploring what the world has to offer, and along the way meeting Sophie's three potential fathers. 

As much as the magic of an ABBA musical did steal my heart again, this movie had way more plot holes than the first installment. According to the original movie, Donna's best friends, Tanya and Rosie never met her boyfriends back in 1979. Donna also claims that her mother was dead in the first movie, but here we see her played by Cher. Maybe the assumption is that Donna met her mom was "dead to her" since she wasn't in her life but that still doesn't explain other things. I'm not even sure if Ol Parker watched the first movie before writing this one. 

All criticism aside, this movie was still very enjoyable for me. They incorporated almost all new ABBA songs, and the few they repeated were favorites of mine, so that is totally fine by me. The jumping around between 1979 and the present wasn't too hectic, it was actually beneficial to the story progressing. 

This film brought many new characters as well, including Lily James as young Donna, and she did a great job. James is actually a decent singer and really captured the essence of a free-spirited Donna from the 70's. The two young girls who played Tanya and Rosie were really funny and must've taken a lot of Baranski/Walters mannerisms lessons before filming because the resemblance was uncanny. Almost too uncanny with the appearances though, as if Tanya and Rosie have had the same haircut for 30 years? Nonetheless, very good performances there. Amanda Seyfried has more of a chance to stand out in this one, even with the added cast members, and she gives another great performance as Sophie. As always, the three men (both young and old) are just fine. The younger versions of the men are actually better singers than Brosnan, Firth and Skarsgard. 

Sure, this revival may not have been needed, and sure it wasn't perfect, but it does what it needs to do which is leaves the audience feeling satisfied. The musical numbers are so much fun especially the ones with Lily James. This movie yet again left me with a huge smile on my face, and even a tear in my eye from nostalgia as they sang "Dancing Queen" again, which always has a special place in my heart. 

7/10

Mama Mia! (2008)

Directed by Phyllida Lloyd

Screenplay written by Catherine Johnston 

Starring Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Borsnan and Colin Firth













Mama Mia! still remains in the top slot for my favorite musical, and maybe I am bias because ABBA is one of my all time favorite groups. This musical movie just tells such a fun story with great music to perfectly align with it, and a great cast-- whats not to love?

Sophie Sheridan (Amanda Seyfried) lives on a beautiful Greek island with her mother Donna (Meryl Streep), and the hotel they run. She is young and in love and soon to be married, and has only one dream-- that her father walks her down the aisle. The only issue is that her mother slept with three different men around the same time Sophie was conceived, so she is not sure who is her real father. Sophie invites all three men to her wedding assuming she will recognize which one is her father instantly, however that is not the case and the water gets more treacherous as Donna finds out her three ex-lovers are back.

While this movie can be a little corny at some times, it is just way too heartwarming to not make you smile ear to ear as you watch. The film has the great music of ABBA synched perfectly with its storyline in such a charming way that really keeps you hooked. The musical numbers are so lively and colorful, they make you want to get up and sing-a-long with every song. Not every cast member is the greatest singer; Amanda Seyfried being the best, Streep is just fine and Brosnan is really quite bad-- you can tell how much fun they had so it's fine.

Amanda Seyfried did a great job in her main role, really proving she can be more than just the dumb blonde in Mean Girls. While she brought the great singing to the movie, Christine Baranski as one of Donna's best friends brought the laughs. Her and Julie Walters together really made every scene they were in much better with their goofiness. Meryl Streep also did great as Sophie's mother, great enough to be recognized at the Golden Globes that year? Maybe not, but Streep gets award nominations for leaving the house so who was really shocked by that.

This will always be one of those comforting movies for me that doesn't fail to bring a smile to my face-- especially when they sing "Dancing Queen."

8/10

Walk The Line (2005)

Directed by James Mangold

Written by James Mangold, Gill Dennis and Johnny Cash (novel)

Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Ginnifer Goodwin and Robert Patrick 

     Johnny Cash fans will audibly rejoice for this film, and non Johnny Cash fans will become fans after this musical triumph based on the life of legendary singer, John R. Cash. I went into this movie knowing a few notable songs by him, and being a minor fan. After seeing Mangold and Joaquin Phoenix revive this musical legend- I can now say I am a much bigger fan. Walk The Line tells Cash's sometimes dark story of his rise to stardom in an honest way which doesn't make you praise him- it makes you see where he came from and how he became successful, and thus respect his to fame. 

     The film opens in the early 1940's with a young Johnny Cash growing up in Arkansas, under the discipline of his hard-ass father, Ray Cash (Robert Patrick). This sets as a preview to where Cash firs became interested in music- as he is often seen singing with his mother, or listening to the radio with his older brother. Fast-forward many years and we see Johnny living in Memphis with his wife, Vivian (Ginnifer Goodwin) and his daughter. Now in the mid 1950's, he is in a band called, Johnny Cash and The Tennessee Twos. He auditions for a record label with his band, and thus begins his journey to fame. Johnny finds himself on tour with a young Jerry Lee Lewis and June Carter (Reese Witherspoon).  While the number of shows played tallies up and his fame grows, we start to see Cash's addiction to pills and alcoholism take affect. His unique, deep voice continues to rocket him to stardom while his alcoholism and pill addiction drags his relationship with June down. The film progresses to scenes from the 1960's where his relationship with Vivian has ended and he does a concert in the Folsom prison. 

     Mangold takes a very interesting approach in how he portrays Cash. He is shown often as a flawed man who gets by with his immense musical talent. This movie wasn't made as a shrine of heroism to the great Johnny Cash. If anything, this was very much a love story. Through his drug addiction and alcoholism we see June's persistence in being there for him. She remains a friend to Cash even through his worst times. They have a very unconventional love story as they met on tour, and had a very rocky relationship considering his drug abuse. This movie includes many of Cash's songs, often from start to finish- and that is what I enjoyed about this movie. The music plays a very important part in this movie which is equally balanced with the love story between him and June. 

     The acting performances by the two lead roles was amazing to watch. Witherspoon and Phoenix both did all the singing and playing of instruments themselves and I was extremely impressed. Phoenix's ability to accurately imitate Johnny Cash's speaking and singing voice was highly impressive. Witherspoon gives one of her best performances of the sweet southern bell, June - earning her an Oscar win. 

     This film is great for anybody- Johnny Cash fans or just people who recognize the name. The singing is great, the acting is superb and the storyline is interesting. I was unaware of a lot of the dark things that aided in Johnny Cash's early life and this film served as a lesson to me. 

I give Walk The Line a...

7/10

La La Land (2016)

Directed by Damien Chazelle

Written by Damien Chazelle 

Starring Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling, J.K. Simmons and John Legend

     I wanna start off by saying that I am not the biggest fan of musicals whatsoever- but with all the buzz over this film I decided to take the leap. Chazelle's beautiful modern day musical surpassed my expectations. With the director's past triumph (2014's Whiplash) and Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone as leads, how could it not be doomed for major success. 

     Set in Los Angeles- the city of hopes and dreams; we meet aspiring actress, Mia (Emma Stone) and jazz pianist, Sebastian (Ryan Gosling). The two first meet after an extensive highway scene musical number, in a special circumstance. They continue running into each other after that which deems us all to believe it is fate that they be together.

      As the movie progresses it starts to feel like an homage to classical hollywood films and musicals. With the set design, costumes and the beautifully crafted score of the film- I felt like I was watching a musical from the golden age of film. I was reminded constantly this wasn't a film from the 20th century as the characters were driving in Prius's and talking on iPhones. The musical numbers in this film were spectacular. They fit in perfectly with the flow of the story. The expertly shot musical scenes never took away from the brilliant story of Sebastian and Mia. They aided in telling the budding love story between the two artists. They were visual spectacles to watch- with amazing choreography and a sea of colors. It was very fun to watch while being very aesthetically and audibly pleasing. 

     Aside from the extravagant yet not overdone musical numbers- Sebastian and Mia's story is what captivated me. Sebastian being a starving jazz musician, trying to keep the genre alive. Mia being an aspiring actress jumping from audition to audition. They were both real, genuine people facing struggle, and that made them very relatable. Their relationship was very genuine and they were constantly assisting each other in their ambitions. 

     The chemistry between Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling is everlasting. I already loved the pair after the romantic comedy, Crazy, Stupid Love- so to see the on-screen duo triumph in this film was no surprise. However, they bring an extra to the table this time around. Showing they are more than just a comical duo with amazing chemistry. Gosling showed us he can sing, dance and play the piano. While Stone demonstrated her strong singing (especially in the song, "Audition). The dynamic duo bring a level of class to their roles along with some comical scenes on top of the romance. Individually, they were amazing as well. Gosling showed levels of talent we didn't know we had while also playing a character with charm and confidence. Stone exudes a similar level of charm while also showing some raw emotion over the constant rejection she faces. Both amazing. Both deserving of the Academy Award. 

     La La Land is amazing. A brilliant storyline heightened by very pleasing music (I can't stop singing "City of Stars"). A musical journey everyone needs to take regardless of your opinion on films involving song and dance. 

I give La La Land a...

8/10