MovieChat Forums > The Last Five Years (2015) Discussion > The last 90 minutes of my life - Gone. T...

The last 90 minutes of my life - Gone. This was a muchos Terrible!

posted 9 years ago by joey-tribbiani
11 replies | jump to latest

What was great about this was obviously Anna Kendrick. Great singing and great acting, she played a great role but beyond that, the story, the dialogue and the other people in the film were just low and pointless.

The film seemed to drag out for ages. It could be boiled down to the simplicity of a five year relationship ending on the most common ground of differences and incompatibility. Not sure why this was so over-glorified so it could be a film. Maybe this is all that cosmopolitan existences have these days to justify a life.

Nonsense. Sad that people were involved in the making of this.

[–] SallahTours 9 years ago

This is one of my favorite musicals, so i am a little biased. I feel that Jeremy Jordan did a FANTASTIC job. Both were incredibly genuine in their performances and nothing seemed forced. I have see a couple different productions of this, once in a blackbox with about 50 seats, again in a 250 seat theatre. Every time something was different that made me rethink the characters. One thing that was different here was Jamie cheating with multiple women. It definitely added to you hating him more.

Most of the dialogue was added for this movie. The source material has ONLY Jamie and Cathy, and there are a couple of short monologues (mostly phone conversations by Jamie). It only runs about an hour and 20 mins without an intermission. In order to make it work on film, they had to add people in the background. I think what most people enjoy most is the plot device of one perspective from start to finish while the other moves backwards. But like I said, I am incredibly biased. This show premiered when I was in HS (I'm 30 now) and it is in my regular listening cycle.

[–] jenwithapen 9 years ago

Not that I begrudge anyone a favorite, but out of all the musicals of all time... this is your favorite?

Miss Saigon? =D =D =D =D Joseph and the Amazing?? Heck even Hair? =D

I feel like.. even if it was moralistic and not just for the fluffy (Cats? =D), like Rent or something??

Flawed romances? Phantom? Beauty and the Beast? -grin-

[–] SallahTours 9 years ago

I didn't say favorite, I said one of my favorites :) Of the musicals you listed, HAiR (a show I performed in and changed me as a performer)and Beauty and the Beast are two that I really enjoy. The only ALW musical I like is Jesus Christ Superstar, I love a good rock opera :) And telling the Passion from Judas' perspective is a great choice.

I also like Chess, The Music Man, The Wild Party (Lippa), A Year with Frog and Toad, and Promises, Promises. As you can see, my tastes vary widely. Haha.

[–] jenwithapen 9 years ago

They sure do! So many there that you've listed that I've never even HEARD of! I will have to check them out! =DD

Music Man, big love! =DDD -squeeze chest- I also love Promises, Promises!

[–] k-imdb-3 9 years ago

Oh yes, thank you. I thought I was the only one. I walked into the cinema and saw a full house: "Oh good, this will not disappoint." Then there were 60 minutes of struggle: "Is this a cult film?" "Am I the only one not getting it?" My wife hit me couple times. First it was probably just to wake me up lest I started snoring. The second was pure revenge for bringing her this torture. And then I had to self-administer several therapy sessions. First, a dose of La bohème: Si, mi chiamano Mimi; and then a dose of The music of the night. Later, for good measure, I dreamed a dream by Anne Hathaway. And I finally restored my confidence that there was nothing wrong with my ears or that of my wife's.

Ok. I am being totally unfair. Anna Kendrick is a great actress. I love her acting and she has an amazing voice. I even get what the story line is trying to convey. I was patiently waiting for 60 minutes to uncover the gem that brought in the full house. Movies get made without a single song sung and without any action scene and they still manage to captivate. The script was ok. The cast was ok. The singing was ok. So what went wrong?

[–] BestOfAllPossible 9 years ago

If your brand of musical theatre is Phantom of the Opera and Led Miserables, then this isn't for you. Jason Robert Brown writes for a different ear.

[–] jenwithapen 9 years ago

Explain, if you will, what ear that is. Because I love modern theatre, and I love classic theatre, and I love comedic theatre, and kitschy theatre, and tragic theatre! But this. Boy, this. I just don't even see the point in the writing, honestly.

I am missing something, here, and I'd really love to know what it is! Thanks! =D

[–] BestOfAllPossible 9 years ago

Jason Robert Brown writes with a different sensibility and for a different ear than Andrew Lloyd Webber writes for. Among your favorite musicals that you mentioned about were Joseph, Cats, and Rent. Three musicals I can't stand.

You couldn't see the point of this, and I think it's haunting and intelligent and moving. I also find the score to Parade similarly moving and smart, though Parade is more lush. Then on the opposite end of the spectrum, I thought Honeymoon in Vegas was one of the best new scores to open on Broadway last year. Brassy and showbiz-y, but with his patented brand of wit, charm, and pathos.

Clearly he writes for a different ear. I'm not saying it's impossible for someone to like JRB and Webber, because of course plenty of people do. But there's always been a Webber/Sondheim rift, and JRB comes from the Sondheim school of composition.

[–] Chason_S 9 years ago

Sad that people were involved in the making of this.

Well I'm sure they are sorry for "wasting 90 minutes of your life". 
Don't be sad for them, though - because they made a great, incredibly moving and profound movie - and if you didn't "get it" then it's your loss - not theirs.

[–] benman46 9 years ago

If only it was the last 90 minutes of your life. Then you wouldn't have to post your demented wittering.

[–] Chason_S 9 years ago

If only it was the last 90 minutes of your life. Then you wouldn't have to post your demented wittering.

  Exactly.