Fame
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Movie Reviews of Fame
Movie Review: hommage to a diminuished sort of pedagogical ethos
Summary: 5 Stars
The "Hot Lunch Jam" with piano-player Bruno and singer Coco in the cafeteria (1), the title song "FAME" immortalized in the streets of NYC, danced on top of taxi cabs in Times Square, stopping the traffic (2), and then (3) the angst- and romance-ballad "(C) Is it / (G) O.K., if I call you / (Bb) mine / (A) just for a time? Dm, Dm7j, Dm7, Dm6 " - these lyrics and guitar-chords are starting an impressive scene of loneliness performed by "Montgomery" (Paul McCrane), visualized by a meagre illuminated window in a Manhattan skyscraper's nightly front, free of any orchestral noise, guitar pure. This movie (1980) of Alan Parker constructed little aesthetic units, which gave influence to advertising concepts and maybe later TV-channels like MTV. The straightness of his short, topic-centered scene-ideas indeed is remarkable - and gave food for many following 7 a.m.-TV-soap-operas, adding the musical-theatre-version "FAME" and movie-hits alike "Flashdance", "Footlose" and so on. "Like when I hear your name, or see a place that you've been, or see a picture of your grin, or pass a house that you've been in..." - if hetero-, bi- or homo-sexual - everybody, who lives, will remember pictures of his past looking at the screen of his inner eye, listening to lyrics like these. In this manner the script of Alan Parker clever mixes up spectators own experiences of friendship and fear, love and hope with projections upon the movie-characters: The shy, domineered-by-mother Doris (Maureen Teefy) gives an existentialistic advice to the juvenile audience, not to stick too long at mom's apron. The dare-devil girls like Coco (Irene Cara) are admonished not to follow guys, who say, they would be film-directors - it all ends up in tiny suspicious rooms (but I don't think, parents should forbid their children to consume this DVD, putting this one-second-nudity-sequence on an moral index). The ingenious single-minded private workers (Bruno, played by Lee Curreri), sitting in front of a mountain of synthezisers, are taught not to forget team-spirit. Analyzing the pedagogical pathos (Anne Meara), floating over "the body" Leroy (Gene Anthony Ray), this genuflexion-pedagogic vassal-style, making petitions to the knife-armed and nearly illiterate Leroy to join the school, though he sometimes likes to demolate the glass-cupboards in the floor - this enthusiastic pedagogic pathos maybe in the past 25 years has diminished - confrontated with amuck-runs, violence and vandalism, confrontated with extending seperated, not integrated neighborhoods, lately overtrumped by shooting- or bomb-attacks. In the year of 1980 pedagogical hope has been high and not been disillusioned. They nearly all believed in schools as important instruments of social evolution [take a look at this agreeable piano-teacher Mr. Shorofski (Albert Hague)]. Today maybe it's only a nostalgic reminiscence, but one, that soothes the vulnerable daily television-news-experience: A young generation loving brutal street demonstrations or even kamikaze bomb-attempts isn't really able to subordinate to a 4-year-school-discipline of a school. Times are a-changing. Director Alan Parker, by the way, before he made this hommage to the Manhattan "School of Performing Arts", - before that he directed the movie "Midnight Express", giving an insight view to a Turkish Prison. Maybe he badly needed a compensating factor - and so FAME was born as a counterpoint.
Movie Review: Underrated Movie Gets a Shining Treatment
Summary: 5 Stars
Forget the new reality show that is scuzzing up the good name of this movie. Forget the lackluster live stage show that uses the plot as an outline for a show that is less effective. Forget Fame L.A. which never tried to be anything but soap opera. Even forget that original TV show that, while entertaining, didn't have that edge that this film has.Those expecting a big glitzy musical will be disappointed in this, the ultimate in late 70's and very early 80's young filmmaking. The honest story about performers that the film of A Chorus Line failed to be, possessing the urban edge that cheap films like Breakin' and Fast Forward, Fame has really stood the test of time in its message and mission.
Seeing the film again on DVD was another eye-opening experience. Too often these films get dumped by the studios that made them in cheap packaging with no extras. Warner Brothers went the extra mile with this release. Some have said that they did it to capitalize on the new show's expected popularity -- that's bunk. This is one of those classic films that many people tend to overlook. It deserves to have this treatment and the honor is long overdue. (I do have to say I HATE Warner Brothers still sticking with those terrible DVD cases...the covers can get scratched and dented so easily!)
Following the lives of several students at the NY High School of Performing Arts from Auditions through Graduation, Fame is inspirational to any performer/person even 23 years later. What I liked about this film is the 'slice of life' aspect of it. The film starts at auditions and ends at the final note of the graduation ceremony. That's it. The singing comes from a natural performance place...this is what these people do. The Hot Lunch Jam in the cafeteria, the lonely songwriter performing at a bare window, and, of course, the title song forever immortalized in the streets of NYC.
The performances are first rate with many unknowns and soon to be knowns flying across the screen. What a far cry from Dr. Romano is Paul McCrane's Monty!
I LOVED the cast commentary. Getting the chance to see these people all these years later and hearing their memories of their time working on this film and since is genius. I wish more studios got these kind of video/audio commentaries together. (Warner Brothers also did this with The Goonies...another treasure DVD). Alan Parker's commentary is interesting but a little repetitive. He'll say something and then repeat it several times...as if he's trying to keep talking until he can think of something else to say.
Thank you Warner Brothers for doing this film justice. 23 years later it has been restored to pristine condition, you packed on the necessary features without going overboard, and you've unleashed the film at a time when we need to remember that there was a time performers didn't all look like Greek Gods/Goddesses but we still loved, listened to, and aspired to be like them for true reasons. That's why you remember their names - Leroy, Doris, Coco, Bruno, Hilary, Monty, Ralph, Lisa, even Shirley Mulhullen...
Movie Review: Underrated Movie Gets a Shining Treatment
Summary: 5 Stars
Forget the new reality show that is scuzzing up the good name of this movie. Forget the lackluster live stage show that uses the plot as an outline for a show that is less effective. Forget Fame L.A. which never tried to be anything but soap opera. Even forget that original TV show that, while entertaining, didn't have that edge that this film has.Those expecting a big glitzy musical will be disappointed in this, the ultimate in late 70's and very early 80's young filmmaking. The honest story about performers that the film of A Chorus Line failed to be, possessing the urban edge that cheap films like Breakin' and Fast Forward, Fame has really stood the test of time in its message and mission.
Seeing the film again on DVD was another eye-opening experience. Too often these films get dumped by the studios that made them in cheap packaging with no extras. Warner Brothers went the extra mile with this release. Some have said that they did it to capitalize on the new show's expected popularity -- that's bunk. This is one of those classic films that many people tend to overlook. It deserves to have this treatment and the honor is long overdue. (I do have to say I HATE Warner Brothers still sticking with those terrible DVD cases...the covers can get scratched and dented so easily!)
Following the lives of several students at the NY High School of Performing Arts from Auditions through Graduation, Fame is inspirational to any performer/person even 23 years later. What I liked about this film is the 'slice of life' aspect of it. The film starts at auditions and ends at the final note of the graduation ceremony. That's it. The singing comes from a natural performance place...this is what these people do. The Hot Lunch Jam in the cafeteria, the lonely songwriter performing at a bare window, and, of course, the title song forever immortalized in the streets of NYC.
The performances are first rate with many unknowns and soon to be knowns flying across the screen. What a far cry from Dr. Romano is Paul McCrane's Monty!
I LOVED the cast commentary. Getting the chance to see these people all these years later and hearing their memories of their time working on this film and since is genius. I wish more studios got these kind of video/audio commentaries together. (Warner Brothers also did this with The Goonies...another treasure DVD). Alan Parker's commentary is interesting but a little repetitive. He'll say something and then repeat it several times...as if he's trying to keep talking until he can think of something else to say.
Thank you Warner Brothers for doing this film justice. 23 years later it has been restored to pristine condition, you packed on the necessary features without going overboard, and you've unleashed the film at a time when we need to remember that there was a time performers didn't all look like Greek Gods/Goddesses but we still loved, listened to, and aspired to be like them for true reasons. That's why you remember their names - Leroy, Doris, Coco, Bruno, Hilary, Monty, Ralph, Lisa, even Shirley Mulhullen...
Movie Review: why did I not see this sooner
Summary: 5 Stars
Fame is a movie about the four years of attending the High School of the Performing Arts in NYC. It starts off at the auditions and moves its way to graduation. Intertwined the students learn their craft, have dreams, and come into realization that the arts may not be all the glamour they thought it was. The extras in the movies are mostly students from the real high school and so there is some exceptionally beautiful modern dancing, music, and worthwhile performances.
There are so many reasons I could give for loving this movie.
First off the music is incredible. Though the title song Fame won the Academy Award, my favorite piece was Sing the Body Electric at the finale. It was amazing with the orchesta and the chorus of students with tambourines. It just makes you feel charged and positive. I admit to hitting scene select to that part just to hear it over and over. Irene Cara who has a part in the majority of the songs (also playing Coco), has the most beautiful voice, plus can really dance and act.
I also love this movie because it hits a note with anyone going through self identity. The way that kids entering high school grow up into themselves. The character (for instance) of Doris demonstrates that a nervous, fearful, and withdrawn girl whose mother is obsessed with her success can blossom into a strong independent lovely woman. Another character I love is Bruno, who hides in his music, but eventually warms up to Coco's (Irene Cara) friendship and affection. I love the scene when she plays on the piano and you can see in his face that he loves her.
The movie is also real in its portrayal of the hardships that these students are facing day to day such as poverty, violence, drugs, death, and sacrificing their health to be better performers. Fame shows the gifts these children have but also how grown up their problems are.
The last thing that I really want to mention is how extrememly talented these kids are. The dancing is sensational. One character is a beauiful ballerina, while another is a sensational modern dancer. The music numbers feature a lot of beautiful choreography that makes your eyes move throughout. Everytime I watch it I focus on another student because there is so much movement to take in. This musical will really waken your creative spirit. It makes you feel young and alive.
Movie Review: Fame is famous!
Summary: 5 Stars
Wow,it has been a quarter-century since the theatrical release of this film! This is one of the Top 5 films of 1980,the four others being URBAN COWBOY,THE BLUE LAGOON,PRIVATE BENJAMIN and the Oscar-winning ORDINARY PEOPLE. This popular musical led to a television series and broadway play as well. Quite a few of the film cast members appeared on the NBC series as well,those being Debbie Allen,Lee Curreri,Albert Hague and Gene Anthony Ray. The film's star,Irene Cara,as Coco Hernandez was concentrating on her singing career when the series premiered in early 1982. Erica Gimpel played Coco although she hardly resembled Cara,facially. Curreri is Bruno Martelli,an aspiring musician studying at the New York School of Arts,filmed at the real-life establishment. Allen(sister of Phylicia Rashad) is Lydia Grant,a gorgeous dancing teacher(she sings as well). Hague is Dr. Albert Shorofsky,an orchestra/band teacher. Ray is Leroy Johnson,a somewhat mischievous student. In one scene,he stubbornly refuses to obey an order from his teacher(Anne Meara). Also in the film are Barry Miller("Saturday Night Fever"),Steve Inwood("Staying Alive"),Paul McCrane and Maureen Teefy("Grease 2"). Teefy played the character that Valerie Landsberg played on the series. The movie soundtrack features Cara performing the title track and in one scene of the film,the song is playing and Coco exclaims,"That's me!". In the middle of Times Square,a large crowd gathers and they all "strut their stuff"!. Coco is standing on the taxicab,which its radio is playing the song. Cara also performs OUT HERE ON MY OWN,which was a Top 20 hit like the title track. She plays the piano on OHOMO as well. Sadly,the good Lord took away Ray,Hague and director Alan Parker. Ray succumbed to complications from HIV and Parker was killed in an auto accident. After NBC pulled the plug on the series in the spring of 1983,production continued on a syndication basis. The soundtrack album was originally released on the RSO label,now available on its sister label,Polydor(the defunct RSO and Polydor are divisions of PolyGram). There should be a 25th anniversary edition with previously unseen footage. But then,I'm sure there are deleted scenes on this DVD.