Friday, June 20, 2008

Behind the Show

Author(s): Harry / Ryne
Location: Colombia / Portland

"Behind the Show"

A Miramax Pictures Release
Produced by Rob Marshall
Directed by James Mangold
Written by James L. White
Music by John Kander
Editing by Paul Hirsch

Musical

Main Cast

Regina King (Monique)
Kevin Spacey (George)
Alicja Bachleda-Curus (Katherine)
Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Vince)
Penélope Cruz (Esperanza)
Matthew Broderick (Dick)

Tagline: "Onstage, life is a comedy. Offstage, life is drama"

Synopsis: It was the height of the “Roaring 20s” in Broadway when the show “Lady Liberty” stunned the city of New York. I can vividly remember the huge crowds of wealthy businessmen and their families entering the theater and expecting to have a splendid time. The lights dimmed and the curtains opened. The show began with Jack, the lead character, beginning his opening monologue. The audience laughed at the different comedic jokes and enjoyed the music that accompanied it. The audience might think that making a show was the most enjoyable thing in the world. But to be honest, the different actors had to endure a dreadful time during our different rehearsals.

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Monique and I am an immigrant from the English Union of South Africa. When I first arrived to New York, the only job I could find was taking a part in the musical production of “Lady Liberty” on 42nd street. The owner of the show, George Hunter, was a tyrannical and racist man with many luxuries in his life. He only gave us 10 dollars every month to maintain ourselves. When we began the rehearsals, the different actors and I had to overcome a great deal of adversity from George. He treated us like trash and often beat us.

As the days passed, I began to meet the different actors in the show. Katherine, a depressed woman from Poland, was the hardest working dancer of the cast and the best one in my eyes. She became a drug addict after her boyfriend left her and struggled to hide it. There’s also Vince, a young man who left college early to sell rum in underground bars, but got fired for keeping some of the rum for himself. I also knew Esperanza, a Spanish woman who secretly joined the show to help sustain her family. Finally, there’s Dick, a former member of the circus who usually saw the bright side of everything. I always knew during the tough times that his jokes would brighten everyone's day.

We experienced many troubles together and even faced some of our greatest fears. We began to confront George instead of cowering whenever he treated us poorly. He started to respect us as individuals and ended his oppression of us when our show, "Lady Liberty", was released.

What the Press would say:

Rob Marshall presents the latest accomplishment in the musical motion picture genre, “Behind the show” a delicious, original and emotional portrait of the New York musical scene during the 1920s. James Mangold, the acclaimed director of “Walk the Line”, directs this film with enormous energy and an amazing attention to detail. His musical sequences, like the show-stopping "Big Boss Man", make you want to get up and dance whereas the dramatic parts, like the heartbreaking "My Life", are full of emotion and will easily make you shed a tear or two. Narrated in first person, writer James L. White (Ray) creates a brilliant dialogue and impeccably develops his characters. John Kander composes the music and lyrics directly for the screen. The film also avails itself with its all-star cast. The underrated Regina King simply shines on the screen with her stunning intensity and witty charm. She completely incarnates her character and makes the audience believe that she is Monique. Kevin Spacey plays the film’s iniquitous villain. From his subtle facial expressions to his ways of speaking, the audience will simply want to punch him in the face. However, at the end, you want to embrace him for new reconciled nature. Matthew Broderick portrays the comic relief of the film. Dick, sometimes the heart and soul of the film, is a genuinely gracious man, who always tries to give hope to the other members of the show. And last but not least, there’s foreign actress Alicja Bachleda-Curus in a groundbreaking performance as the drug-addicted Katherine. She shows an array of emotions that even the most veteran actors struggle to attain. Alicja, without a doubt, has the best voice and dancing abilities out of the whole cast. All in all, “Behind the show” is not only an enjoyable musical but also a reflexive film against racism and other important themes. It is a breathtaking cinematic experience that will never be forgotten.

Awards:

Best Picture: Rob Marshall
Best Director: James Mangold
Best Actor: Kevin Spacey
Best Actress: Regina King
Best Supporting Actor: Matthew Broderick
Best Supporting Actress: Alicja Bachleda-Curus
Best Original Score: John Kander
Best Original Song: “My Life” by John Kander
As well as other technical categories

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