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Entries in musicals (694)

Friday
Apr122013

Reader Spotlight: Joey Moser

We're getting to know the Film Experience community. Today we're talking to Joey from Pittsburgh. He's currently performing in Godspell on stage. If you're in Pittsburgh there's two more shows this weekend.

When did you start reading The Film Experience?

Around the time that Far From Heaven was released in theaters.  I was realizing that Julianne Moore was my favorite actress, so your blog was mecca when I was in college.  I love the site because it doesn't just celebrate movies, but it helped me realize that movies can be bad with something great in them (and vice versa). 

What's your earliest movie memory?
JOEY: The earliest memory I have is when my Dad took me to go see Beauty and the Beast.  I remember playing around outside, and he asked if I wanted to go.  I didn't actually answer his question, because I got so excited and just got into the back seat of the car and buckled myself in. The music floored me, and I wanted all of the household objects in my house to come to life.  

What's your moviegoing diet like in a year?

JOEY: I see more movies in theaters than I do on demand or RedBox.  My dad and I would always go on Saturdays and see at least two (the day we saw Gangs of New YorkLord of the Rings: The Two Towers, and Two Weeks Notice was a long day)  When I worked at a movie theater, we had a competition to see who could see the most movies in the theater, and I was always the biggest bitch and killed everyone else.  When I was really trying to see everything just to see everything I saw 191.  It's calmed down considerably, but I will see anything.  

What's the last movie you watched?

Stoker.  I never want to have Park Chan-wook direct the story of my life, because it was just be so terrifying. It would be gorgeous and edited nicely, but it would scare the crap out of me.  Also, I didn't realize how well Nicole Kidman was aging until I saw it.  I kept leaning over to my friend and whispering compliments to her, "She's gorgeous...I love her hair...she's soooo beautiful..."  

La Pfeiffer was so robbed in 2002Take an Oscar away from someone. Give it to someone else.

Can I give a nomination away instead?  Take Queen Latifah's nomination from Chicago and give it to Michelle Pfeiffer for White Oleander.  Pfeiffer was running circles around everyone else, and she could freeze me with that icy stare any day.  I get stupidly angry over a lot of Oscar winners, so if I had to pick an actual winner, I would take away Jennifer Lawrence's and give it to Emmanuelle Riva.  I mean...COME...ON!!!

I understand you love musicals and you're a singer/actor. What are your favorites or favorite roles.

Sweeney Todd because, well, it's Sweeney Todd.  I've had the pleasure of playing both Tobias and, more recently, Anthony.  It lead to two completely different experiences, and I treasure them both. I have three dream roles at the moment (they change every time my iPod changes).  I want to be Gabe in Next to Normal, because that show DESTROYS me every time I listen to it.  I need to hit the gym before I even consider auditioning for it.  Gordo in A New Brain is something I have wanted to play for years, but no one ever does it. I also want to be Jamie in The Last Five Years someday.  His songs are so great, but his last one (where you find out he was unfaithful) is my favorite because it shatters his likability right then and there.  I can imagine that is just a treat for actors to play.

Godspell commercial with Joey in the cast / NPH doing Sweeney Todd's "Tobias" role in concert

When I was a theater student in college, I was always told I could a lot with my voice, but I am really short and I look like a child.  It's a weird dynamic, I guess. 

I also love The Wild Party. Both versions.

There should be a movie! The Wild Party (LaChiusa version) is the only imaginary movie I ever obsessed over directing even though I'm not a director. But I interrupted you. One more favorite?

Moulin Rouge! because I'm human and that movie makes me openly weep.  I could be at the most professional event of my life and if someone says "Satine dies at the end" I would just ugly cry the entire way home.

 

previous reader spotlights 

Thursday
Apr112013

Annette Funicello (RIP)

Tim Brayton here again. With the cinephile world still reeling from the passing of irreplaceable film critic Roger Ebert a few days before, and The Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher’s death the same day sucking up every available scrap of oxygen in the news cycle, the loss of Annette Funicello on 4 April to the MS that had forced her into retirement over two decades ago was generally reported as a sort of afterthought. A sad thing, but not remotely surprising, and not of particular importance in the grand scheme of things.

While it is true that Funicello’s death doesn’t represent the end of an epoch in quite the same as Ebert’s, it’s still worth stopping and reflecting on her career and what it represents. 

more

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Wednesday
Apr032013

Smash: "The Bells and Whistles" & "The Parents"

I'm short on time and Smash is trying to burn off its episodes given that two will air this very week. But we've got two to catch up on as well so let's rush through like we're running out of breath on a big note.

Ivy is back to being Marilyn in "Bombshell"

more...

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Saturday
Mar232013

10th Anniversary: That Jazzy "Chicago" Win

[Editor's Note: You know "Denny" well from the comments section. Since he's a choreographer by trade, I asked him to sound off on Dance in film. Particularly on Chicago since its win was so strangely celebrated at this year's Oscars making the show a weird mix of 2012 & 2002. Take it away, Denny. - Nathaniel R.]

a happy night for CZJ & Friends, March 23rd, 2003

Oh, how I remember the cheers.

I was at an Oscar party with a group of theater friends ten years ago when Rob Marshall’s Chicago became the first musical in thirty-five years to win the Oscar for Best Picture. It’s easy to see why everyone was excited: Following Moulin Rouge! (and to a lesser extent, Hedwig and the Angry Inch) the year before, it was clear that Hollywood was finally interested in live-action musicals not aimed at children again. There hadn’t been a major live-action Hollywood musical aimed at adults since 1996’s divisive Evita, and before that the last one was 1986’s Little Shop of Horrors. The last to receive major awards attention was 1982’s Victor Victoria (or 1983’s Yentl, depending on your definition of “major awards attention”), and a musical hadn’t won the Oscar for Best Picture since 1968’s Oliver!, a much-derided winner in a year that actually saw two musicals nominated for Best Picture (the other being Funny Girl), if you can believe it. more...

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Thursday
Mar212013

Smash: "Musical Chairs"

"Smash", the confused conflicted self-sabotaging TV Show rife with behind-the-scenes drama is about "Bombshell", a  confused conflicted self-sabotaging Stage Musical rife with behind-the-scenes drama. The TV series has gone so meta lately it's now devouring itself live. Which is turning it into must-see or at least can't-look-away television again.

Backstage at "Liaisons," another show within the show, slumming movie star (Just Jack) has read the online bitching about the show he's starring in and turns to Ivy (Megan Hilty) his supporting actress...

That's "Smash" in a perfectly nutty nutshell. more...

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