Wednesday, July 17, 2013

'Round Midnight (1986)

Movie (YT): 'Round Midnight (1986). w/ Dexter Gordon (Dale Turner), François Cluzet (Francis Borler), Gabrielle Haker (Berangere), Sandra Reaves-Phillips (Buttercup), Lonette McKee (Darcey Leigh), Christine Pascal (Sylvie), Herbie Hancock (Eddie Wayne), Bobby Hutcherson (Ace). Directed by Bertrand Tavernier. Jazz film based on the lives of pianist Bud Powell and saxophonist Lester Young. The fictional tenorist Dale Turner, who is a musical genius but also an alcoholic, meets jazz fan Francis Borler, who helps him to stay on track. Won an Academy Award Won for Best Music, Original Score (Herbie Hancock). The music for this film was entirely recorded on the set. In real life, Francis was the French author Francis Paudras, who had befriended Powell during his Paris expatriate days and told the story in the memoir/biography 'Dance of the Infidels'. Paints a moving picture of the life of a jazz musician in the early sixties. Acting and dialogs of Dexter Gordon are superb. Music is breathtaking, peaking in the performance of 'How long has this been going on' with Lonette McKee and Dexter Gordon. Overall rating 8 out of 10.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Movie: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012). w/ Ian McKellen (Gandalf), Martin Freeman (Bilbo), Richard Armitage (Thorin). Directed by Peter Jackson. Bilbo Baggins, under the guidance of Gandalf, sets out on a journey to the Lonely Mountain with a group of Dwarves to reclaim their stolen mountain home. Prequel to Lord of the Rings. Shows how Bilbo found the ring. Story too slow. Overall much weaker that LOTR movies, drags on at times. Overall rating 5 out of 10.