MovieChat Forums > Music Within (2007) Discussion > Things I learned from the music within

Things I learned from the music within


Thoughts

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Just saw it last night, so I'll bite. *edit- incidentally, I thought it was an awesome film :)

I learned that... Ron Livingston could easily play Elvis now :)

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I was pleasantly surprised by the film, really quite good. For some reason when I read it was 'Ron Livingston' in the movie, I pictured in my mind (some other Ron actor), but it was cool to see the Office Space guy.

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I know many people will sharply criticize any film that does not make it to Oscar status and I am partial to this film because I worked on the set as a background extra actor.

Of the five scenes I played in, one was up close with Ron Livingston (but you may never notice me in the film) The scene where he goes to visit his ailing mother played by Rebecca De Mornay in the rest home, I play the administrator walking by him in the hall as he enters. On set, it brought me to tears because it seemed so real, as our mother had just passed away a couple years before. Also an all night filming of a mocked Jefferson Airplane concert was a great experience in a downtown bar in Portland Oregon. Everyone on set was dressed to emulate the 1970 era with laser lights, beer and smoking the weed in the standing room crowd, an impersonation of the group singing Somebody to Love is hardly seen after the final editing, all the women in miniskirts in the audience, (all faked but the appearance was so real) I wished that they had allowed the editing to show more of this as it gave the feel of being there in the era. The movie actually spanned over 30 years time so the wardrobe was very critically controlled.

The roller skating rink scene was also a memorable experience all night as we filmed at Oaks Park Roller Rink; I skated for the first time in 20 years and I did great! Michael Sheen was phenomenal as an acting role playing the paraplegic. When I first saw him on set across the rink, I thought he was really suffering the condition he acted. I realized that this is not an easy part to play.

There are further messages in the film about how we can all do more with our lives. The speech that Livingston gives in a presentational speaking contest, a real dramatization of the Viet Nam vet from Oregon, was very inspirational. I think everyone on the set did a superb job in the acting. The story is a true dramatization and should be understood as such.

I believe that everyone will come away with a deeper respect for others if they see this film. It is underrated and deserves some good reviews. We need to see more film making like this today.

Mark Seibold, Retired Artist-Astronomer, Portland Oregon

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