I just finished watching it and it was brilliant from the first to the end. The acting was great and the movie was even better than the stage show. Max Harwood is incredible in the role and I hope his career takes off because of this.
The movie I saw before this was a sneak preview of "Dear Evan Hansen" and that was dreadful. Ben Platt should not have been cast, he has outgrown the role and it showed and it brought the film down. I wonder if Daddy can buy him an Oscar nomination the same way he bought him the film role.
Just finished watching. Mixed to positive feelings about it. I did enjoy how it opened up the stage production and we got to see things we didn't on stage. I like how the songs were presented. It was also neat that they incorporated the documentary that the show is based on.
It seems to lean more on the dramatic side. Maybe because they ramped Jamie down for the film. I felt some of the comedic moments didn't land as well on film. I also didn't care for the change after Jamie and his mom fight. I thought "how would he know to go there". It may have been the setting on my tv but the sound mixing during the songs didn't bring out the voices and lyrics. They were much clearer in the closing credits.
The cast was good. Really enjoyed the cinematography. I also enjoyed the arrangements of the songs. The 80's flashback sequence had me on the verge of tears. It was very powerful and also showed how the drag community was so important and supportive of the gay male community when the AIDS crisis hit. That was beautifully done.
All in all not a bad film. I expected it to be just a bit more upbeat at times but it was still good. It was heartwarming. JMO
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/05
I liked this, but I didn't love it. I was so excited for it, but the movie made Jamie a bit unlikable, and that left me feeling a bit annoyed. There were also parts that dragged a bit. Overall, I definitely prefer the pro-shot version of the West End production.
All of that being said, this was very well performed. The voices were great, and I liked the way they did the musical numbers. Hugo's new song is very touching, and I love the way its grounded in reality, rather than a drag story.
Max Harwood gives a great performance as Jamie, despite coming off as a bit of a dick, but that I blame on the rewrites made for the screenplay. He doesn't have quite the amount of heart as John McRea, but he was quite good.
I love Richard E. Grant as Hugo. He gives a more subtle and nuanced performance than others who have played the role.
It's definitely worth the watch, but if you are able to track down the video of the stage version, do it. It has more heart and more energy, and is generally more fun.
"I love Richard E. Grant as Hugo. He gives a more subtle and nuanced performance than others who have played the role."
i really enjoyed this film version...and the Hugo video of his drag past was very touching and centered the musical for me...it was over all very heart warming and a very positive inclusion story!!
broadwaybabywannabe2 said: "
"I love Richard E. Grant as Hugo. He gives a more subtle and nuanced performance than others who have played the role."
i reallyenjoyed this film version...and the Hugo video of his drag past was very touching and centered the musical for me...it was over all very heart warming and a very positive inclusion story!!
And it also struck a chord in Jamie that made him want to be a part of the drag community even more. It gave him some focus, so to speak, about the drag community. I think it was the best addition to the movie.
"
Really enjoyed this. Saw it in London a few years ago and was enthralled by John McCrea in the role. Happy that he’s now having success with Cruella and loved the meaningful cameo they gave him as the young Hugo in those videos. Much more effective than Hugo’s song in the show. Loco Chanel was a drag (pun not intended) in the musical, but here that whole backstory added depth. Still loved John’s Jamie more than Max’s Jamie, but found Max’s version enjoyable in its own right. Kudos to all involved!
Featured Actor Joined: 6/7/15
Such a heart-warming and authentic film. "This Was Me" was such an important song, in the span of 3 minutes, it manages to capture and celebrate the importance of drag and the LGBTQ community in general. I'm glad John McCrea got to make a powerful cameo as young Hugo/Loco Chanel.
LOVED everything about it! Even better than the stage show. So glad Amazon picked it up! I watched it 3x over the weekend, including 1x with friends. We were bawling throughout! Both happy and sad tears. Don't let anyone here or anywhere else dissuade you from seeking it out and watching.
Watched it last night and really enjoyed it. Don't have the pro-shot to compare it to, but I'm glad I don't because the movie needs to stand on its own, and for the most part, it succeeds. I love that it's not the most high stakes conflict, because it kept the story square on the love story between mom and son. So many LGBT+ films have either exaggerated angel or demon portrayals of the mothers, this one - and kudos to Sarah Lancashire - presented a flawed but caring, portrayal that grounded the film. And considering this is Max Harwood's acting debut, I mean what a stunner. So impressed. Rest of the cast was great also, so many standouts. It felt like an amplified slice-of-life movie and it accomplished that thoroughly, and cleverly.
The 2018 live stream is easily available. Take a look. It’s simply fantastic. I watched it the day before I saw the film. This link will open up on YouTube so it’s a working link.
I'm in a grumpier old man mood here in LA-- the JAMIE film had just opened in real live movie theaters a week ago. We put it off that weekend (opted to see the waste of time that was THE CAPOTE TAPES instead-- ugh.)
Naturally this past weekend JAMIE was already gone from the theaters. Now I'm back to looking forward to seeing it on my dinky 46" living room tv screen. What's wrong with producers giving the audience a chance to find these fragile little films before yanking them and immediately throwing them back into the streaming pit with all the other product? Don't try to appease me--I'm inconsolable.
Broadway Star Joined: 2/16/16
This was cute
Broadway Star Joined: 2/16/16
This was cute
Stand-by Joined: 8/9/10
I thoroughly enjoyed the movie.. couldn't help but compare it to The Prom but it was still entertaining. I agree that Jamie is a bit unlikeable compared to John McCrea's more whimsical stage version but I can see why that might not translate to the screen as Jamie can ham it up and play off of the audience in a theater.
Regarding the music, I really loved the score but did anyone else find all the songs very familiar? almost as if each song had been sampled from a popular song... or is it just that the music follows basic pop/Musical theater formulas?
On two trips to London I caught this fun musical and now on Amazon the film. Well I found it just as enjoyable and Jamie knocked it out of the park. It's a crowd pleaser on the West End and it was done right in this film. Good cast pulled it off.
Are any parts of the melody of "This Was Me' in the stage show at all (with other lyrics, instrumental, etc) ?
I found it to be one of the best musical theatre songs I've heard in a while, to me the best in the whole score.
From what I remember, no it wasn't.
Naturally this past weekend JAMIE was already gone from the theaters. Now I'm back to looking forward to seeing it on my dinky 46" living room tv screen. What's wrong with producers giving the audience a chance to find these fragile little films before yanking them and immediately throwing them back into the streaming pit with all the other product? Don't try to appease me--I'm inconsolable."
During that limited time, it made less than 20k in theaters so....there is your answer a month later.
Tag said: "From what I remember, no it wasn't."
Wow, that was one of the most exciting songs to replace for film in the last little while.
I wonder if we'll see a reimagined stage production when (if?) it comes back to the West End.
For me this was such a well done movie musical. I usually cringe at them and find them overly cheesy, but this some how felt very authentic and look forward to seeing the show in LA.
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