Musicals
As soon as sound was introduced to the movies, the movie musical was born. The musical was one of the most popular movie entertainments from the 1930s through to the 50s, before falling out of favour at the end of the 60s for audiences now being weened on Vietnam, race riots, political assassinations, flower power and psychedelia. The musical still continued onwards, albeit in a different form, with various efforts such as "Cabaret", "The Rocky Horror Picture Show", "Grease", "Hair", "All That Jazz" and "The Blues Brothers" appearing over the next decade. More recently, "Moulin Rouge" and particularly "Chicago" hark back to the glory days of the musical.
Right: Liza Minnelli does "Cabaret"
Once (2007)
7.9/10
Director: John Carney
Starring: Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova, Hugh Walsh
This stunning musical chronicles the relationship that develops between a struggling Dublin street busker/vacuum cleaner repairman and a poor Czech im... Read more
Marigold (2007)
5/10
Director: Willard Carroll
Starring: Ali Larter, Salman Khan, Nandana Sen, Ian Bohen, Gulshan Grover
A demanding American actress (Ali Larter) heads to India in order to shoot a low-budget Hollywood film, only to find herself stranded in Bombay with n... Read more
La Vie en Rose (2007)
7.6/10
Director: Olivier Dahan
Starring: Marion Cotillard, Sylvie Testud, Pascal Greggory, Emmanuelle Seigner, Jean-Paul...
An epic portrait of iconic French singer, Edith Piaf, rooted in a maginificent performance from Marion Cotillard who channels the legendary performer... Read more
Welcome (2007)
6.8/10
Director: Anees Bazmee
Starring: Anil Kapoor, Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Paresh Rawal, Nana Patekar, Feroz Khan
Writer/director Anees Bazmee says he 'takes comedy seriously' and it shows in this accomplished farce featuring Bollywood's finest. Beautiful Sanjana... Read more
Hairspray (2007)
6.7/10
Director: Adam Shankman
Starring: Nikki Blonsky, John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Amanda Byne...
An adaptation of the stage musical which was itself an adaptation of the 1988 John Waters film. Overweight high school student Tracy Turnblad dreams... Read more
Men Shouldn't Sing (2007)
4/10
Director: Sarah A Higginson, Michael Bell
Starring: Jennine Bailey, Lynn Booth, Scott Koorey, Lucy MacVicar, Gary Miller, James Nati...
A sci-fi comedy musical? Why not! In a New Zealand film industry first, CPIT Jazz School graduate Michael Bell has created a stunning line-up of org... Read more
High School Musical 2 (2007)
4.9/10
Director: Kenny Ortega
Starring: Zac Efron, Vanessa Anne Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu, Mon...
Those perky teens are back, and school's out for summer! Troy gets a job in a country club, thanks to Sharpay, and then pays it forward to all his bu... Read more
Music and Lyrics (2007)
6.5/10
Director: Marc Lawrence
Starring: Hugh Grant, Drew Barrymore, Brad Garrett, Kristen Johnston, Scott Campbell, Hale...
Hugh Grant plays aging '80s boy band icon Alex Fletcher, desperate to re-invigorate his now non-existent career. When hot young thing Cora Corman (Ha... Read more
El Cantante (2006)
5.5/10
Director: Leon Ichaso
Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony
Pop icon Marc Anthony steps into the role of Salsa superstar Hector Lavoe in this biopic that follows the singer from his early career success as a Pu... Read more
Vitus (2006)
7.7/10
Director: Fredi M Murer
Starring: Teo Gheorghiu, Bruno Ganz, Fabrizio Borsani, Julika Jenkins, Urs Jucker
A compelling domestic drama showing the family dynamics and ambititions surrounding child prodigy Vitus. A piano master by age six, Vitus' future seem... Read more