Pitch Perfect 3 (2017)

The whole gang are back again to bring this moderately successful franchise to its conclusion. Well, the girls at least.

The Barden Bellas we know from the first two films have all graduated from college and gone on into their own individual lives. Although Emily (Hailee Steinfeld) is still in college, as she is younger than the others.

Beca (Anna Kendrick) is working as a producer, which is what she has wanted to do for a while. Her flatmate, Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) is a street performer. Chloe (Brittany Snow) is a veterinary nurse, and all the others have their own careers in progress, too.

After Emily gets them all back together for a reunion, they reminisce about the days when they used to sing together, and Aubrey (Anna Camp) suggests they have one final fling together as a group. Her father works in the military, and she comes up with the idea that they can all perform in a USO show to entertain the troops in Europe.

The Bellas.

And so they all head off to Spain, pursued of course by John (John Michael Higgins) and Gail (Elizabeth Banks), who are filming a documentary - or d’aca’mentary.

When they arrive, it turns out there is a ‘competition’ of sorts: DJ Khaled is looking for an artist or group to be his support act on his latest tour, so the Bellas must prove themselves - taking on three other hugely successful groups - and everyone wants the prize, so it isn’t going to be easy.

On top of all that, Amy’s father Fergus (John Lithgow, with one of the worst Australian accents I’ve ever heard in a film) wants to reconnect with his estranged daughter, and has followed her to Europe in hopes of winning her back.

The screenplay, by Kay Cannon and Mike White, is actually quite clever. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing right up to the end. The characters are just the same as they have been in the previous two films, and still as funny as ever. In particular, I love the banter between John and Gail, which is certainly some of the film’s funniest dialogue.

John (John Michael Higgins) and Gail (Elizabeth Banks).

The film does have a very small amount of original music, written by composer Christophe Lennertz. The majority of the music in the film is of course the musical numbers and performances by the Bellas, and to a small extent, the other bands featured in this third instalment. As far as the Bellas’ music goes, these are vocal arrangements of existing popular songs, and these arrangements are absolutely fabulous. Of course, they come to life when performed by the cast, all of whom have incredible singing voices, and harmonise together very well.

The performances of the cast are, for the most part, brilliant. This is perhaps to be expected by this point, as most of the cast have been playing their characters through three films now. As mentioned above, John Lithgow’s Australian accent leaves a lot to be desired (it’s not as bad as Meryl Streep’s, but it’s not much better, either).

The standout performances would have to be those of Kendrick and Wilson, who also by now, have such a good rapport with each other, and complement each other in such a brilliantly comedic way.

Fergus (John Lithgow).

There is plenty of comedy in this film, but there is also plenty of drama, and mild thriller elements, too. Of course, the true star of the film is the music, both in the skill of the arrangements, and the skill of the performers.

Director Trish Sie has made an incredibly entertaining film. While this film may be the perfect conclusion to the trilogy, it is not - at least in my opinion - the best film of the trilogy (that honour goes to the second film). It is a shame that there won’t be another Pitch Perfect film, but if this is how it had to end, I for one am satisfied with the direction it took.

If you haven’t seen it yet, definitely give it a chance. I’d advise you to watch the first two films first, just so you know who everybody is.

7 out of 10.

True Grit (2010)

Just a quick note before we begin: This is not the 1970 film starring John Wayne, but rather the more recent remake. It is based on the same novel by Charles Portis, and is similar enough to the original, but is its own separate film.

Fourteen year-old Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld) is a young girl on a mission. Initially sent into town simply to recover the body of her recently deceased father, she quickly formulates a greater plan: to bring her father’s killer to justice, albeit her own particular brand of justice.

Enlisting the assistance of bounty hunter Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), she sets off on a cross-country trek into Indian territory to find the man she knows as Tom Chaney (Josh Brolin) and kill him.

Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld).

The two of them are accompanied by Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (Matt Damon), who is pursuing Chaney for several other crimes.

Cogburn is not the slightest bit interested in Mattie’s plan - he has more humane plans for Chaney - but Mattie is incredibly stubborn, and will not be easily swayed.

The screenplay - written by brothers Joel & Ethan Coen, who also both directed the film - is masterfully crafted and expertly written, as those who have seen any other film by the Coen brothers will appreciate. The characters are all very clearly defined, with plenty of internal and external conflicts to keep things interesting and the plot moving forward. The characters of Mattie and Cogburn are - in particular - very well written and constructed.

Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges).

Of course, writing great characters is only half the battle. And in the hands of brilliant performers, Steinfeld and Bridges, these characters truly come to life. In fact, both of them were nominated for Academy Awards for their performances - awards they sadly did not win - and it is not difficult to see why.

The score, by Carter Burwell, is perfectly suited to the film’s genre and many tropes. The majority of the music is based heavily on Christian hymns - especially ‘Leaning on the Everlasting Arms’, among others - though the instrumentation changes every time they are heard.

Roger Deakins’s cinematography provides a true masterclass to any student of filmmaking, with plenty of exterior night shoots throughout the film. His use of lighting, and also significant and frequent use of the contrast between light and dark, provides plenty of teaching moments to anyone hoping to pursue such a career.

LaBoeuf (Matt Damon).

I must also mention the production design and costume design, brought to bear by Jess Gonchor and Mary Zophres, respectively. These two elements work hand-in-hand to transport the audience not only to a particular time in history, but also to a very specific place, that of the Old West. Everything about this film - the cinematography and all design elements - look absolutely beautiful on screen (particularly in HD, as I was fortunate to view it for the purposes of this review), and go a long way to making this film the thrill-ride that it is.

The Coen brothers - Joel and Ethan - have made a wonderful film here, that not only showcases their own abilities as true auteurs, but also highlights the talents of their entire cast and creative team/crew. Every time I watch this film, I come away from it having noticed something else about it, and I thoroughly recommend you take every advantage to watch it for yourself.

9 out of 10.

Pitch Perfect 2 (2015)

The Barden Bellas are back for the second instalment of the popular series. And yes, the same cast have all returned (always a good sign with any sequel).

Beca (Anna Kendrick) is now a college senior, and she and her fellow Bellas - including Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson), Chloe (Brittany Snow) and all your favourites from the first film - have three national titles under their belt.

However, at a special event celebrating the President’s birthday (and yes, Barack and Michelle Obama do feature in the scene), something goes terribly wrong, and as well as embarrassing themselves in front of the entire world, the Bellas are told they can no longer continue their ongoing national tour, and can not hold auditions for new members.

The Barden Bellas.

They can still, however, take their place at the World Championships (held once every four years), despite the fact that no one expects them to win, given that an American team have never won.

The favourites to take out the Worlds are Das Sound Machine from Germany, who have also taken over what was to have been the Bellas’ tour.

Beca - who is now dating Jesse (Skylar Astin) - has also started an internship at a recording studio, working for a very difficult boss (Keegan-Michael Key), which is taking precious time out of her commitments to the Bellas.

Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson).

Freshman Emily (Hailee Steinfeld) joins the Bellas this time around, taking advantage of a loophole that secures her a place because her mother (Katey Sagal) had been a Bella years ago while she was at college. Between the Bellas and being pursued by potential suitor and Treblemaker Benji (Ben Platt), she certainly has her hands full.

Kay Cannon’s screenplay is brilliant, echoing the tone and feel of the original (which she also wrote), and the characters are just as fun to watch as ever.

But it is of course the music that makes this film so special. All of the songs performed by not only the Bellas, but also the Treblemakers (the boys’ a capella group at Barden), Das Sound Machine, and many other a capella groups, are absolutely fantastic. The vocal harmonies are so tight, I had goosebumps watching the film, and the cast who perform them are so talented, not only as actors, but as singers and dancers as well.

John (John Michael Higgins) and Gail (Elizabeth Banks).

As with any film that features such an ensemble cast, it is difficult to name a standout performance. All the cast are fantastic in their respective roles, the majority of which are reprised from the original film, so they have been living these characters for a while now. However, a lot of the great comedic moments come from the banter between commentators John (John Michael Higgins) and Gail (Elizabeth Banks), and the majority of these moments were improvised, demonstrating the incredible talents of these two seasoned performers.

Director Elizabeth Banks has made a wonderfully enjoyable film here, suitable for the whole family, particularly if you enjoy music of any sort, predominantly vocal music of course. The film follows the original very well, and in some ways, this sequel is actually better than the original (and that’s not very common).

8 out of 10.

Begin Again (2013)

Begin Again tells the story of newly-out-of-work record producer Dan (Mark Ruffalo) and sometime-songwriter Gretta (Keira Knightley) and their endeavours to record and release an album in the outdoors of New York City, after the record company Dan co-founded refuses to sign her.

In fact, the city of New York actually functions as a character of sorts in the film. We are taken on a journey through the many sights and sounds of the city, in a film that must be described as a 'love letter' to the city itself.

Dan's quasi-relationship with his ex-wife (Catherine Keener) and daughter Violet (Hailee Steinfeld) supports the film also, as a subplot that provides further background into Dan's character, portrayed masterfully by Mark Ruffalo (then again, is there any film in which Mark Ruffalo hasn't portrayed his character masterfully? If there is, I'd be surprised)

Gretta has her own backstory/subplot as well, of course. She has recently broken up with her boyfriend, singer Dave (Adam Levine of Maroon 5 fame), and her previous hurts provide great fodder for her songwriting. She lives with long-time friend Steve (James Corden), who also helps out Dan and Gretta with the album, along with a few other colourful characters sourced from Dan's long list of contacts in the music industry.

This film is a wonderfully pleasant way to spend a couple of hours. Yes, it has its ups and downs, but then again, so does life. This film does an adequate job of portraying one particular slice of life for the characters.

Standout performances come from Mark Ruffalo (as previously stated), Hailee Steinfeld and acting-newcomer Adam Levine, who does a pretty decent job of crossing over to film.

The film has a lot of heart, and a lot of great music (as long as it's to one's taste, I guess!)


7 out of 10.