The Last Five Years (The Movie, The Thread)- Page 3

[seahag2]

Posted: 2/15/15 at 7:11pm

Okay this is probably done but what is Jamie talking about when he says "No, that one's Jerry Seinfeld
That one's John Lennon there.....etc" ? I never understood that in the cast recording, never saw a stage production, and the film didn't clear it up for me.

Also, I was really hoping for more dialogue in the film. It always bothered me that Cathy mentions all of his 'little girlfriends' but the two don't seem to address the issue of cheating in depth. A straight scene regarding that problem would have been nice.

[thebeautyis3]

Posted: 2/15/15 at 7:25pm

Okay this is probably done but what is Jamie talking about when he says "No, that one's Jerry Seinfeld
That one's John Lennon there.....etc" ? I never understood that in the cast recording, never saw a stage production, and the film didn't clear it up for me.

I haven't seen the film yet, but in the stage show, Jamie and Cathy are supposed to be in a boat in Central Park, and he is pointing out the famous buildings. In many cases, the buildings are identified by the famous people who live/have lived in them (hence Jerry Seinfeld, John Lennon, etc.).

Updated On: 2/15/15 at 07:25 PM

[Magalamb]

Posted: 2/15/15 at 8:13pm

He's responding to the statements she makes at the end of the song. They're in Central Park, talking about the surroundings.

Cathy: Is that one John Lennon?
Jamie: No, that one's Jerry Seinfeld. That one's John Lennon there.
Cathy: That's the San Remo
Jamie: No, the Dakota. The San Remo is up a few blocks
Cathy: Isn't that the Museum?
Jamie: Have you been inside the Museum?
Cathy: Can we go see the dinosaurs?
Jamie: We should go, meet the dinosaurs

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 2/15/15 at 9:31pm

Jamie was more likeable to me - and the film made the breakup seem more of Cathy's fault for being needy to the point where she can't be supportive

See, I thought that Cathy's whole diatribe before "If I Didn't Believe in You" makes her seem more sympathetic. According to her, he just brings her to those parties to ignore her and flirt with other women. She says she just sits there at the bar all night and no one talks to her. And Jamie never addresses that, but instead jumps to "You're just jealous of my success!" Why does it matter to him so much if she goes to every single party, anyway? Not like he visited her a lot in Ohio. After they were married and supposedly happy, they have that scene where he blows her off when he sees Alise (apparently that's how it's spelled, btw) looking all hot in her party gear.

Jeremy Jordan did this interview where he points out that Cathy and Jamie's biggest problem is lack of communication, and I totally see that now. That's why they were always singing to no one (or to someone who doesn't get their own real response in the movie), they weren't even listening to the other person. I always thought the separate timeline was because they were at different places in their lives and careers and never on the same page in their relationship, but I really think now it's about the communication. Of course, you guys probably had figured that out already!

Updated On: 2/15/15 at 09:31 PM

[Broadwaynz]

Posted: 2/15/15 at 9:41pm

I really loved it.

I have never seen this production on stage and only knew one song (which I love: I'm Still Hurting). The movie, I felt, was excellent, really great directing and I loved the performances.

The finale with aforementioned *SPOILER* (Jamie in the Present and Cathy in the Past singing to each other) was really powerful, quite emotional.

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 2/15/15 at 10:41pm

Just watched this film without any prior knowledge of the musical and I will most definitely be purchasing the cast album. This made me a fan.

[adamc728]

Posted: 2/15/15 at 10:58pm

"..And by the way, was she auditioning in front of the set of "Avenue Q"? It looked like it. "

I noticed this too and in the credits the producers thank the "set of Avenue Q". My guess is that they used this as the off-Broadway show Cathy is auditioning for??

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 2/15/15 at 11:28pm

We just caught this in a movie theater in West Hollywood-- I had seen the recent Off-Broadway revival but my husband and our friend were newbies.

SO glad they made a movie of this show. It wasn't prefect (atrociously ugly cinematography in parts, overdecorated rooms one after the other, insane costume choices for Cathy), but how extraordinary to get that much excitement on screen from a stage piece that I found basically a static cabaret concert. The movie had plot, momentum, heartbreak, crazy-funny humor, and a sense of two disparate people hurtling in opposite directions no matter what steps they took to try to change their own stories. The dialogue was entirely welcome-- amazing to read that it was wholly improvised onset.

I'm a big fan of Kendrick's, but contrary to most other posters here, this time I thought Jeremy Jordan outshone her by a mile. Beyond the gorgeousness of his voice, he seemed to be LIVING his songs, living his character's joy or pain or douchie-ness. Anna somehow always seemed like an actress acting out her choices rather than a real person. Where Jeremy's songs ALL felt live-sung, Anna's ALL seemed to be coming from the playback console. Wonder why that was....?

I give Richard Lagravanese huge props for conceiving some brilliant scene stagings, particularly the final sequence, but also the symmetrical shots to frame the Central Park scene. Those places where we could focus on concurrent arcs at once were total goose bump moments. For that reason, it was twice at frustrating to face the Cathy audition sequence, where BOTH Cathy and Jamie were singing-- NOW whose arc are we supposed to be within? Once the rules are set up, don't know why Lagravanese had to muddle them up.

That said, yay for giving us a Last Five Years that far surpasses the stage show, and adds another worthy entry to the list of good tiny movie musicals. We'll take every one we can get.

Updated On: 2/15/15 at 11:28 PM

[seahag2]

Posted: 2/15/15 at 11:56pm

Cathy's first audition scene in the room with show posters and green wall paint (where she doesn't get a dance callback) gave me flashbacks of broadway web series from the late 2000s. Billy Green, anyone?

[ggersten]

Posted: 2/15/15 at 11:58pm

A 15k screen average for the weekend is pretty darn good in the abstract, but 45k ticket sales is reality.3 screens is really a "limited" release.
15K Average

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 2/16/15 at 1:12am

HOLY SH*TTTT.

"carbohydrates processing asshole!"

My fav.

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 2/16/15 at 9:04am

People seemed to enjoy my review for Into the Woods, so I decided to post my review for The Last Five Years. :P Let me know what you think. :)
MurphyBoy Reviews "The Last Five Years!:

[Jamie Pierce]

Posted: 2/16/15 at 9:38am

I think we got the best possible film that could be made of this piece, which is not an obvious choice for movie adaptation nor does it immediately translate into the medium. But there are some truly glorious, inspired moments and the performances really nailed it for me. I just find Anna Kendrick to be such a confident performer, you can throw anything at her. I really hope she continues to do musicals despite the concerns she’s addressed and the possibility of limiting her career.

I’ve loved this musical for years. Watching it now, I think the moral of the story is: don’t get married in your early 20's. Or if you do, don’t expect it to last because you still have a lot to discover about yourself and a lot of mistake yet to make with much to learn from them all. Jamie and Cathy will be wonderful spouses to whomever they marry next because of this growing experience.

Updated On: 2/16/15 at 09:38 AM

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 2/16/15 at 2:43pm

I have a question, speaking of muddling the timelines. When Cathy sings "When You Come Home to Me" during "A Miracle Would Happen," is that during her timeline or Jamie's? I always thought it was during hers, but the movie confused me.

Updated On: 2/16/15 at 02:43 PM

[SayitSomehow]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 12:25pm

Was Norbert in the movie? I only saw Sherie and Betsy

[notalwaysontime]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 4:15pm

"Was Norbert in the movie? I only saw Sherie and Betsy"

Sadly, no. He was supposed to be, and he really wanted to be, I think he was supposed to be in the same scene as Sherie, but he was out of the country on vacation, the trip had been planned I guess for a LONG time, and they tried to make the filming work, but they way things fell, they just couldn't do it

[SayitSomehow]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 4:19pm

Ahh good to know - thanks for the intel!

[lovebwy]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 5:49pm

I enjoyed it. Though found it depressing.

Jordan and Kendrick were perfectly cast. And I've seen this story play out in real life over and over. The guy bites off more than he can chew, commitment-wise. Also, he marries someone on the plain side, and suddenly finds himself tempted. She starts to sense it and becomes irrational and unfun to be around. He leaves, feeling very guilty over how much he's hurting her, but that doesn't stop him. And she is just a wreck for months on end.

It was almost too real to watch comfortably, which is part of why I liked it. It is devastating when she is doing the "John Lennon, Seinfeld, Museum" thing back to him, and you can tell he's no longer invested in her.

[LYLS3637]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 6:02pm

lovebwy-- that's not what the end of "The Next Ten Minutes" signifies. It's just Cathy's half of the conversation that started the song-- indicating the criss-cross of their timelines.

Updated On: 2/17/15 at 06:02 PM

[lovebwy]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 6:29pm

Thank you for clearing that up for me. I looked at the lyrics and you're exactly right and my interpretation was way off.

I still find it movie very depressing. haha.
Updated On: 2/17/15 at 06:29 PM

[buddy5]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 8:49pm

What is with all this anti Jordan business...In two successive days I saw him in two diametrically opposing parts: Parade and Last Five Days...Great range, great looks...great talent...Biily Bigelow soon?

[buddy5]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 8:49pm

What is with all this anti Jordan business...In two successive days I saw him in two diametrically opposing parts: Parade and Last Five Days...Great range, great looks...great talent...Biily Bigelow soon?

[lovebwy]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 11:06pm

Jordan is HOT and was perfectly cast in this movie.

[lovebwy]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 11:06pm

Jordan is HOT and was perfectly cast in this movie.

[tazber]

Posted: 2/18/15 at 8:51am

Great interview with Lagrevenese from AICN
Link