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Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench2010
A full-fledged song-and-dance, tap-and-jazz musical, Damien Chazelle’s GUY AND MADELINE ON A PARK BENCH boldly recasts the 1940s MGM musical tradition in a gritty, verite style, resulting in an exuberant celebration of romance and music and one of the most critically-acclaimed films of the year of its initial release. Guy and Madeline have been dating for three months but the excitement of first love has faded. When another woman catches Guy’s eye, sparks fly, spelling the end of Guy and Madeline’s romance. But when things don’t work out quite as planned, Guy must decide whether to try to win Madeline back (even if it may be too late). Their story unfolds in a world of jazz and tap, featuring original music composed by Justin Hurwitz and recorded by the Bratislava Symphony Orchestra.
What makes this film worth watching?
An early musical from the director of LA LA LAND: "...a beautifully shot, rhythmically complex, wildly artistic, willfully eccentric quest for authenticity." - J. Hoberman, Village Voice
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Starring
- Karen Adelman - Karen
- Anna Chazelle - Laura
- Bernard Chazelle - Paul
- Gonzalo Digenio - John
- Desiree Garcia - Madeline
- Frank Garvin - Frank
- Eli Gerstenlauer - Eli
- Keith Gross-Hill - Keith
- Kevin Harris - Kevin
- Andre Hayward - Andre
- Sandha Khin - Elena
- Moreen McCarthy - Landlord Maureen
- Jason Palmer - Guy
- Zerek Palmer - Zerek
- Alma Prelec - Alma
- Jerry Quinn - Landlord Jerry
- Willie Rodriguez - Willie
- Elizabeth Tingue - Sophie
- Eddie Wakes - Eddie
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Member Reviews (7)
top reviewer
i don't care
top reviewer
an interestin movie. Not great but fun to watch.
top reviewer
Perhaps if John Cassavetes had made a musical it might have looked a bit like this. The movement through the urban spaces is always forward and optimistic, though, which is why the music can't help but burst out.
top reviewer
disjointed
top reviewer
The story is flimsy and disjointed but the music is fantastic.
It's a true shoestring-budget original. Imagine if Shadows-era John Cassavettes was sent through time to 2010 and asked to direct a musical about lonely people searching for meaning in a big city. Between this and "Whiplash," writer-director Damien Chazelle has proved himself to be the real deal.
beautiful