In cinemas May 6th!
After missing her at this year's academy awards, but with a couple more films under her
belt, Meryl Streep is back with another outstanding performance in 'Florence Foster Jenkins'.
Set in the 1944 New York, this movie tells the story of the eccentric and extraordinary life
of Madame Florence Foster Jenkins. During a time of hopelessness and fear, what madame Florence wanted to do was bring joy and colour to everyone's life. Always a lyrical music devotee, Florence Foster Jenkins didn't want to just be a spectator anymore. Her greatest dream was to perform for an audience and become an acclaimed opera singer.
Motivated by her desire to create art and mostly pushed by her devoted husband to showcase her hidden talent, Florence will start to finally take the big step from private singing lessons to recording a vinyl and finally performing on the big Carnegie Hall's stage. However, a strong deep passion for music doesn't always mean having a great voice, no matter how many music lessons you take.
belt, Meryl Streep is back with another outstanding performance in 'Florence Foster Jenkins'.
Set in the 1944 New York, this movie tells the story of the eccentric and extraordinary life
of Madame Florence Foster Jenkins. During a time of hopelessness and fear, what madame Florence wanted to do was bring joy and colour to everyone's life. Always a lyrical music devotee, Florence Foster Jenkins didn't want to just be a spectator anymore. Her greatest dream was to perform for an audience and become an acclaimed opera singer.
Motivated by her desire to create art and mostly pushed by her devoted husband to showcase her hidden talent, Florence will start to finally take the big step from private singing lessons to recording a vinyl and finally performing on the big Carnegie Hall's stage. However, a strong deep passion for music doesn't always mean having a great voice, no matter how many music lessons you take.
As a biography, the film is based on real events, however, they are romanticised to appeal the audience. In movies it always seems difficult to combine two polar opposite genres. However, in 'Florence Foster Jenkins' there is the perfect marriage between comedy and drama and those
two characteristic make this biographical movie a well made and entertaining piece of art. The film's flow is timed mostly by great humour and comic scenes that almost verge to insanity. However, the comic relief is much needed to balance out the dramatic aspects of the movie in order to both lighten the mood while still making the audience pause for thought.
The cinematography portrays perfectly New York's society in the 1945, or at least the wealthy portion of said society. The colours are bright and vivacious. The details in the costumes are astonishing and they recreate that atmosphere so distinctive of that time. The cast ensemble is perfectly balanced and it works together beautifully in supporting Meryl Streep. Once again the always brilliant Meryl shows how it is done. She embraces her character and deeply understand every single aspect of her.
Her Florence Foster Jenkins is not only a determined woman, extremely devoted to art and her husband, she is also vulnerable and fragile. Her entire world is based on the illusion of her vocal talent, an illusion that is fed by her husband St Clair Bayfield (Hugh Grant) who wants to protect her and indulge her every desire, not for selfish reasons, but to see her happy. Meryl Streep brought to the screen a well rounded character by highlighting both her extravagances and her frailty while still capturing the comic essence of this extraordinary woman. Hugh Grant is committed to his role and he supports Meryl's performance gracefully, showcasing Bayfield's affection for his wife until the end.
Among them, Simon Helberg, who plays pianist Cosme McMoon, isn't as convincing as them. His performance has highs and lows, however, he still managed in the end to redeem himself during the great finale in the film. In this movie, music is key not just to the story, but also in creating the right atmosphere to make the audience immerse in the time frame. Along with the cameos from many famous composers, the soundtrack accompanies the story and uses the right rhythm to capture the audience.
two characteristic make this biographical movie a well made and entertaining piece of art. The film's flow is timed mostly by great humour and comic scenes that almost verge to insanity. However, the comic relief is much needed to balance out the dramatic aspects of the movie in order to both lighten the mood while still making the audience pause for thought.
The cinematography portrays perfectly New York's society in the 1945, or at least the wealthy portion of said society. The colours are bright and vivacious. The details in the costumes are astonishing and they recreate that atmosphere so distinctive of that time. The cast ensemble is perfectly balanced and it works together beautifully in supporting Meryl Streep. Once again the always brilliant Meryl shows how it is done. She embraces her character and deeply understand every single aspect of her.
Her Florence Foster Jenkins is not only a determined woman, extremely devoted to art and her husband, she is also vulnerable and fragile. Her entire world is based on the illusion of her vocal talent, an illusion that is fed by her husband St Clair Bayfield (Hugh Grant) who wants to protect her and indulge her every desire, not for selfish reasons, but to see her happy. Meryl Streep brought to the screen a well rounded character by highlighting both her extravagances and her frailty while still capturing the comic essence of this extraordinary woman. Hugh Grant is committed to his role and he supports Meryl's performance gracefully, showcasing Bayfield's affection for his wife until the end.
Among them, Simon Helberg, who plays pianist Cosme McMoon, isn't as convincing as them. His performance has highs and lows, however, he still managed in the end to redeem himself during the great finale in the film. In this movie, music is key not just to the story, but also in creating the right atmosphere to make the audience immerse in the time frame. Along with the cameos from many famous composers, the soundtrack accompanies the story and uses the right rhythm to capture the audience.
All in all 'Florence Foster Jenkins' is a biographical tale of an extraordinary woman that, by not taking itself too seriously, equally entertains and moves the audience.
Review by Federica Roberti.
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Rate the film and why not write your own review in the comments?
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