This year’s awards season is fast approaching, and two musicals are expected to feature heavily.
Steven Spielberg’s "West Side Story" remake, and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s
tick, tick…BOOM!" have both received positive reviews and prompted many to test the patience of their loved ones with their own attempts to mimic the impressive vocals of Andrew Garfield, Rachel Zegler, and co.
Whether you love them or hate them, there are plenty of musicals to help get you through this next week, and here are our recommendations.
La, La, Land, 2016
As cinematically impressive as it is catchy, La, La, Land follows two endlessly driven characters looking to make it big in Hollywood. Seb, played by Ryan Gosling, is a young jazz musician dreaming of a bygone era when jazz clubs lined the streets and ‘real music’ was truly appreciated. A chance encounter between him and aspiring actress Mia, played by Emma Stone, results in an initially unlikely friendship.
Both driven by their insatiable appetites to reach their artistic goals, the two spur each other on towards eventual success – straining their relationship in the process as their paths drift apart.
La, La, Land is driven by Justin Hurwitz’s outstanding score which melts together seamlessly with Damien Chazelle’s direction and Linus Sandgren’s cinematography to create a realistic and yet dreamlike environment.
Don’t be that someone in the crowd that hasn’t seen La, La, Land which can be watched via subscription on Hulu or for rent Amazon.
Moana, 2016
Musicals are, more often than not, attributed to notions of romance and other such boring grown-up things.
However, musicals are a medium for all ages – and 2016’s Moana is a prime example.
Moana follows the story of its namesake, voiced by Auli’I Cravalho, as she ventures to explore the wider world in order to save her home island of Motunui, helped along the way by a demigod named Maui, voiced by Dwayne Johnson, and her pig Pau.
Directed by John Musker, this coming-of-age movie is driven along by a soundtrack, written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mark Mancina, and Opetaia Foa'I, that children and parents alike won’t be able to refrain from singing in the coming weeks.
Moana is available to watch via subscription on Disney+ or for rent Amazon.
You’re welcome.
Wizard of Oz, 1939
If you’re going to embark on a musical binge, where better to start than (close to) the beginning?
The Wizard of Oz was cutting edge for its time, blending together black and white footage with the sometimes headache-inducing Technicolor.
The movie follows Judy Garland’s Dorothy as she travels along the yellow brick road, in search of the wizard himself in the hope he can help her find her way back to Kansas. During her travels, she meets the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and the Scarecrow who join her on her trip to Emerald City.
A timeless classic if there ever was one, Victor Fleming’s (who also directed Gone With the Wind that same year) Wizard of Oz is a must-see for…. well, everyone.
Make sure to don your ruby slippers for this one, which you can watch via subscription on Sling TV, HBO Max, or for rent on Amazon.
Grease, 1978
Sticking with the classics, Grease is inspired by the 1950’s ‘Greasers,’ depicting THE stereotypical high-school romance between Danny and Sandy, played by John Travolta, and Olivia Newton-John – both of whom were very much not high schoolers by this point but we’ll gloss over that.
After they enjoy a dream-like summer romance, the two unexpectedly end up attending the same high school the following semester. However, the two must maneuver the troublesome social constructs of a stereotypical 50s boy-girl relationship in order to rekindle their romance.
Grease, which also lives up to its name in its judicial use of hair care products, was directed by Randal Kleiser and has potentially the most recognizable musical soundtrack to date.
A one of a kind movie like dip da-dip da-dip doo-wop da doo-bee doo, Grease is available to rent on multiple streaming services including Amazon.
Schmigadoon!, 2021
Moving over to TV, and Schmigadoon!
Melissa, played by Cecily Strong, and Josh, played by Keegan-Michael Key, are medical professionals stuck in a flatlining relationship when they decide to head off on a retreat to strengthen their bond. After getting lost in the woods, they stumble into a larger-than-life town called Schmigadoon. A surreal and sickly sweet place, the couple finds themselves in a Hollywood Golden Age-Esque romantic musical - complete with painfully fake foliage, spontaneous musical numbers, and picture-perfect people.
This self-aware comedy follows the couple as they attempt to find their true loves in order to be able to return home.
This charming fever dream of a comedy can be watched via subscription on Apple TV.
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