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"
Paris 36 (2008)
6.6/10
Director: Christophe Barratier
Starring: Gerard Jugnot, Clovis Cornillac, Kad Merad, Pierre Richard, Nora Arnezeder
A working-class district in the Paris of 1936 is in upheaval following the closing of the local music hall. Ex-stage hand Pigoil fears he will lose cu... Read more
Cadillac Records (2008)
7/10
Director: Darnell Martin
Starring: Adrien Brody, Jeffrey Wright, Gabrielle Union, Columbus Short, Cedric The Entert...
The compelling true story of the Chicago record label that brought the world such legendary artists as Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter and C... Read more
Repo! The Genetic Opera (2008)
6.7/10
Director: Darren Lynn Bousman
Starring: Alexa Vega, Paul Sorvino, Anthony Head, Sarah Brightman, Paris Hilton, Bill Mose...
A uniquely bizarre, gory, sci-fi, musical horror, and pet project of 'Saw' sequels director Darren Lynn Bousman. The year is 2056, and following an ep... Read more
Flight of the Conchords: Season 2 (2008)
8.6/10
Starring: Jemaine Clement, Bret McKenzie, Rhys Darby, Kristen Schaal, Arj Barker
Bret and Jemaine came home to Wellington to write new material for the second season of their hit HBO show; shorter than the first, it is rumoured to... Read more
Elvis on Elvis (2008)
Starring: Elvis Presley
Think you know all there is to know about Elvis Presley? Think again! Featuring rare and never-before-seen footage and interviews, this release presen... Read more
Camp Rock (2008)
5.1/10
Director: Matthew Diamond
Starring: Demi Lovato, Joe Jonas, Meaghan Jette Martin, Alyson Stoner, Maria Canals-Barrer...
Teen sensations Demi Lovato and the Jonas Brothers team up for this Disney flick about a working class girl determined to make it as a singer. Her dre... Read more
Mamma Mia! ( Blu-ray ) (2008)
6.4/10
Director: Phyllida Lloyd
Starring: Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgard, Julie Walters, Dom...
Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth may not be the first names that spring to mind for an Abba musical, but whoever thought of throwing them... Read more
Mamma Mia! (2008)
6.4/10
Director: Phyllida Lloyd
Starring: Amanda Seyfried, Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgard, J...
Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth may not be the first names that spring to mind for an Abba musical, but whoever thought of throwing them... Read more
Hollywood Singing and Dancing - A Musical History (2008)
7.7/10
Starring: Shirley Jones, Shirley MacLaine, Liza Minnelli, Mickey Rooney, Debbie Reynolds
A celebration of song and dance in the movies, beginning with the first musicals in the Busby Berkeley era through to the Oscar-winning fare of 'Chica... Read more
Once ( Blu-ray ) (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