WKNC 88.1 FM - North Carolina State University Student RadioWe like movies too
CONTENT WARNING: This review, film and/or soundtrack contains themes of religion, race, sexuality, suicide and violence.
As I have mentioned before, I am not a huge fan of musicals. However, I have been persuaded to review this one. “Jesus Christ Superstar” is a dramatic rock opera about the life and journey of Jesus Christ before his death. While the film itself is about Jesus Christ, the film is not overly religious in tonality.
CONTENT WARNING: This review, film and/or soundtrack contains themes of war, sexual expression, illicit drugs and racial inequality.
Musicals: some love them, some hate them. I can’t claim to be a big fan of musicals until we get to the specific category of old musicals. “Hair” would fall under this category.
“Hair” started as an off-Broadway musical in 1967 and moved to Broadway the following year. Later the musical was released on film in 1979 with the same title. This story is an anti-war drama with comedy sprinkled in and follows a good ole’ Oklahoma boy being shipped off to Vietnam as he spends his last couple days in New York City. There, he meets a group of four hippies: Berger, Jeannie, Hud and Woof. They turn everything upside down for him and change his perspective.
*Some spoilers ahead, read with caution*
How does it feel to be getting another music biopic? A little tiring, to be honest. The genre is a sturdy, tried-and-true staple in awards conversations every year.
Even the less successful ones are likely a box office draw and conversation starter for older filmgoers. In 2024 alone, we had films dedicated to the lives of Bob Marley, Amy Winehouse and Robbie Williams.
Easily the most well-regarded attempt at spotlighting an artist’s life from 2024 is James Mangold’s “A Complete Unknown.”
Helmed by the eager Timothée Chalamet, the story is a snippet of the enigmatic Bob Dylan’s life–specifically his transition to electric.
Welcome to America.
In the world of filmgoing, a phrase tinged with nostalgia tends to pop up frequently in conversation: “they don’t make them like they used to”. Like it or not, movies have changed.
Gone are the days where a sentimental, middlebrow-but-still-touchingly-original drama like “Dead Poets Society” could gross over $200 million, as these standalone stories have largely been replaced with multiverses, franchises, spin-offs, etc.
When I was a teenager, every year my mom and I would embark on a fun challenge–seeing every Best Picture nominee at the Academy Awards. Although we were not always successful in completing these lists, the films I did get to see opened my eyes to what cinema had to offer.
Up until that point, my favorite movies consisted of whatever Pixar had released, and “Forrest Gump.”
Exposure to works from auteurs like Tarantino or Scorsese really opened my eyes to what movies could offer.
Since then, I have endeavored to keep this challenge going. My taste in movies has obviously developed since I was a young teen, so I don’t necessarily agree with the Academy’s yearly lineup. Nevertheless, the challenge always leads to me finding new favorites I wouldn’t have otherwise sought out.