MovieChat Forums > Mr. Church (2016) Discussion > 8/10: Life as Jazz.

8/10: Life as Jazz.

posted 8 years ago by shide_85
5 replies | jump to latest

8/10
Recommended.

In short: This is a feelgood movie with a soft backdrop. The plot is somewhat unoriginal though it does not come through (quite the opposite). This is reminiscent of the gems that used to come out of UK (and in less amount other European nations) that simply made you appriciate cinema again. This is not an action or a Hollywood monster, this is cinematic jazz where you are invited into that close bubble that exsisted when integrity was still a normal thing to possess.
It will most likely leave you with a warm and reinvigorating feeling for life.

In long: Cinematographically speaking this is similar to the Italian movie La vita é bella (1997) with Roberto Benigni in one of his best roles. It drags you in close eliminating the pain of the story through safety and love. The bubble that the viewer get an invitiation to is almost magical these days. The language that is spoken with up close shots and focusing on elements to empasize the perception of the characters is dead on. UK used to make these types of movies now and then (moreso than other nations).

When it comes to the leading actors all three are basically spot on and makes strong performances. Murphy successfully tones down, which reviewers are often surprised of (but this is something alot of comedians have done) but realising that it's finding joy in pain that makes alot of comedy fun makes it easier to understand why som many comedians do this shift so smoothly.
Regarding the subplot/subtext it's all about jazz taking a clear front seat, which is also revealed towards the end.
Sound and soundtrack complements it perfectly with soft and qualitative attributes (any audiophile will most likely be somewhat pleased to hear it).

* Take note of the shot of a radio towards the end, that is movie magic in a frame.

Pro's
• Cinematography
• Lead actors
• Direction
• Depicting unextraordinary life warm and fluently

Con's
• It does not hit the emotional high's as high as you could have wanted, with not much change at all it could have pushed it a little further. It risks tearing the idea to illustrate comfort through itself after pain.

End notes: Maybe a more accurate description would have been; Jazz comes to life as this builds the movie in a similar fashion to the drama Mikra Anglia (2013) (which built the plot in harmony with the sea and not jazz).

Do not read the following until you've watched it (it will impact viewing experience): Another user on IMDb mentioned it as a partial mix with Forrest Gump, which seems to be accurate - lending inspiration from several great movies to weave something inches from a masterpiece.

Ignorance is only a bliss if you haven't reached awareness.
My imdb posts are getting altered.

[–] mj7796-386-393455 8 years ago

Less is more. You should take a writing class. The first thing you will learn is keep it short and simple.

Basically you said: This is a small, quiet movie beautifully performed. Murphy's toned down performance was amazing as well as the jazz.

You are not going to receive a scholarship or job offer from submitting work on a web site such as this.

[–] shide_85 8 years ago

I have an "In short" and "In long", if you choose to ignore them that is down to you but that won't stop me from writing.

You are also the third account criticising me for my language (in this particular language), in the past I've had one brigading attempt (that failed) and someone who did not like that i exposed too much of the meaning of a movie criticising me for that (I always point out or warn for spoilers IF i write them).

I am not part in any of the larger informal interest groups and as such I believe that freedom of information is a good thing - when I try to illuminate a subject it doesn't end with a strong bitter ironical taste.
That means i post what i can deduce and induce and let people judge for themselves - if you do not like that it's down to your judgement.

And no, your summarisation is not accurate, try re-reading it. With an account called "mj7796-386-393455" I've even got a really hard time taking you serious. Don't ask me for a link but high numbered accounts have been used to turf.

So no I will not conform to put it blunt.

[EDIT]
One of those were one review that from the beginning was indeed complicated (which was stated by myself aswell as a take it or leave it), and that one I did indeed simplify the layout for - if you have not viewed the movie some of it might still not make sense http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2392672/board/flat/248493274

Another one was here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5724616/board/flat/257681034?d=257681034#257681034. But this contained the same message (paraphrased), which is another complicated movie.

I've done alot of posts and i did a wave of removing quite a few posts when IMDb was deciding they would collect information etc and sell (usually I am like everyone else and don't read those messages but about this there was information on other places aswell), anyway back to the point; I exspect that anyone can point out spelling errors etc but the way you have put it is very much in line with those "lone" three posts in the past.

Your critique is not on point for me, the comment about jazz is regarding structuring of the cinematography as in shoots, colorscheme, did you even note how the sound was qualitative (allmost like a vinyl at points) note how the sound in the movie and the plot comes together and is echoed in how jazz comes to life.

[EDIT 2] The removed sentence was pertaining to another example.

Ignorance is only a bliss if you haven't reached awareness.
My imdb posts are getting altered.

[–] mj7796-386-393455 8 years ago

It's actually "up" to me to read the long and short. Not "down". Down would be used when eliminating people as in an election.

Your reply made less sense than the first post. I'm guessing you are using Google Translate.

Take the advice of posters, especially since you state I'm the third person who has provided feedback about your language and lengths.

Happy posting.

[–] shide_85 8 years ago

It's idiomatic (written how it can be expressed).
And it made sense, your reply moreso as it is clear that you are someone from the past.

Don't make a strawman, i take advice when they make sense. When they do not, I don't - that is clear from my posting history.

You are in no way the third person to provide feedback overall, you are the third person to express it the way you did with that same negative inclination.

Ignorance is only a bliss if you haven't reached awareness.
My imdb posts are getting altered.

[–] phelix-josie 8 years ago

I loved your insightful review, and the short one made me want to read the long one. I'll never understand some people's need to parse and demean.

As for use of language, your critiquer clearly doesn't understand that figures of speech differ from region to region.

Glad you're here and sharing your insights simply for the joy of doing so. Much like the spirit of this movie :)