Song and Dance Man

Author(s): Al
Location: NY

"Song and Dance Man"

Directed by Sam Mendes
Written by Charlie Kaufman
Original Music by Duncan Sheik

Main Cast

Harry Stanton: Nicolas Cage
Sarah Parker: Toni Collette
Thomas Lane: Christopher Walken
Jonathan Brenner: Patrick Wilson
Kevin Liber: Paul Rudd
Sophia Raven: Jane Krakowski

Tagline: "N/A"

Synopsis: Harry Stanton began his career with acclaimed but oft-seen Off-Broadway shows. When his most-praised work, the intimate musical "Never-Ending", moved to Broadway, Harry hit it big. Never-Ending swept the Tony awards and made a lot of money, as Harry became a big name in the theater world.

But things aren't going so good for Harry anymore. His follow-up, a pretentious and expensive epic, flopped only 2 weeks after it opened, and Harry fell from grace just as quickly as he had risen. His longtime companion and muse Sarah, who gave a tour-de-force performance in "Never-Ending" has left him for Jonathan, her debonair costar in her new show. Disillusioned with the bright lights of Broadway, Harry sinks into alcoholism and contemplates a move to Boston to be a college professor.

Offered a second chance, Harry is enlisted to write a sappy adaptation of an animated kid's movie for producer Thomas Lane and openly gay director Kevin Liber. Harry hates the source material, but decides to do it to pay the bills. He is on the way to a meeting with Lane when he's hit by a car while crossing the street. Unconscious, he is rushed to the hospital.

When he wakes up after a couple days knocked out, the doctors tell Harry that he will be fine. The only problem is: they do it while singing. Harry realizes that something happened to him in the accident, and now he hears everything anyone says to him as a song. But not only that-he can hear what they are thinking…the music of their hearts. His newfound inner music gives Harry the inspiration for a new musical, and a chance to rediscover himself.

What the Press would say:

For years, critics have mourned the death of the movie musical. While innovative, contemporary, intimate little-shows-that-could like "Rent" and "Spring Awakening" revolutionized Broadway, we are still stuck with old-fashioned, sappy, bursting-in-to-song epics like "Phantom of the Opera", "The Producers", and yes, even "Rent". Yes, the very successful "Chicago" and less so "Dreamgirls" were supposed to give the film musical a renaissance, but so far all they've done is make money and bait Oscars.

But now, there is an uprising. "Song and Dance Man" is far from a by-the-book musical. It tells the story of a down-and-out, cynical composer whose life changes dramatically for the better-through song. This rebirth of the soul is obviously an allusion to the rebirth of this genre that the film's makers hope to engineer. The film is unique in that, unlike other recent film musicals, the switch from dialogue to song isn't jarring for the viewer. On the contrary, it flows. No character breaks into a dance number, or delivers a tongue-twisting couplet…it all blends together to fit the theme of "ordinary life becoming a musical". Duncan Sheik, the composer and lyricist of Broadway's "Spring Awakening" crafts great music that sounds more like alternative rock than showtunes, fitting well into the movie.

Charlie Kaufman's quirky script gives us deep characters and witty dialogue, but more importantly it shows us just why people break out into song in musicals. They have feelings that they can't express-strong ones-and a heavy melody amplifies those emotions. This is seen when the main character Harry, masterfully played by Nicolas Cage, hears the inner song of the people around them; what they are feeling inside. It does it quite well. It's intimate, thought-provoking, and heartfelt. And above all, it doesn't feel like a "movie musical"…it just feels like a movie with music.

This movie would be nothing without its talented cast, all of whom deliver in great performances. Nicolas Cage, of course, is great with his sarcastic but vulnerable playwright, and Toni Colette is genuine and stunning as his ex-girlfriend who may still have feelings for him. Christopher Walken is also biting and wickedly cool as a ruthless producer. Most people know Jane Krakowski from her numerous TV stints, but she's also a Tony-winning Broadway actress. Her talents shine through here as the ditzy star of the new musical. She provides some at times much-needed comic relief. Also noteworthy is longtime B-actor Paul Rudd, who is quickly coming up through the film ranks. His performance as a conflicted gay theater director here is believable and heartfelt as he questions his career and the path his life has taken.

"Song and Dance Man" isn't an epic. And it isn't a showstopper. But it's a well-made, intimate movie that just happens to be a musical. And that's all it needs to be. Will it bring the second coming of the film musical? Let's cross our fingers.

Best Picture – AMPAS
Best Picture (Musical/Comedy) – HFPA
Best Ensemble - SAG
Best Director: Sam Mendes
Best Original Screenplay: Charlie Kaufman
Best Actor: Nicolas Cage
Best Actress: Toni Colette
Best Supporting Actor: Paul Rudd
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Walken
Best Supporting Actress: Jane Krakowski