Movies and Musicians

[Guest]

Apologies if this appears to only go out to the instrumentalists,

but is it just me who cringes at movies which involve actors being confronted with the role of a professional musician but struggles to pull it off? For example, the movie The Last Quartet? the way the instruments are being handled and 'played' just does not appear authentic. I realise the difficulties- but Tom Hulce pulled it off beautifully in Amadeus and in Hilary & Jackie it was managed. I realise there is the Paganini film-the Devils violin- which is all very 'real'- but, personally speaking, bad for lots of other reasons.

is there a way of looking past this? I really seem to struggle to enjoy a movie when this happens.

[pastoralguy]

I suppose it's true of all movie subjects where viewers have specialised knowledge. I always cringe when I watch hospital programmes have staff who NEVER wash their hands or have arguments in operating theatres over unconscious patients! Perhaps it's too much to expect actors to be able to accurately replicate actions that real practitioners have didn't a lifetime mastering.

[The_Student]

That is such a good point! especially when they wear their hair down, or wear excess jewellery-whilst open heart surgery is being performed.

Its just such a shame, that so much effort is put in to constructing realistic sets, writing the parts with access to a professional for guidance (say a speech coach for example), but then you'd also think that an actor would be given opportunity to get used to an instrument.

take the questionable film-The Black Swan- the actress in this Ballet film, took 12 months (approx) worth of dance lessons in order to fulfil the role-it was quite successful-in that department (shame about the rest).

Could they not offer something similar?

[pastoralguy]

I seem to remember that Emanuelle Beart in 'Le couer en hiver' spent a long time 'mastering' the fiddle for her role as a concert violinist. Alas, even after all that effort, she still looked stiff and awkward. Mind you, she made up for it in other ways...

[The_Student]

the polar opposite for The Devils Violin- David Garrett is obviously a very accomplished violinist-but his actual acting skills were appalling in a cheap and badly made movie

but I agree, if the rest of the film is very well done, with overall goo acting and good looking actors/actresses then it helps!

[Richard Tarleton]

The film A Late Quartet is discussed in the link in the opening post in this thread........ here's the link to the actual discussion, with members of the Emerson and Belcea Quartets.....

[pastoralguy]

the polar opposite for The Devils Violin- David Garrett is obviously a very accomplished violinist.

Well, OK. But he's no Heifetz!

[The_Student]

yes I agree- I overstated there. But would it be rude to put him in a drawer with Rieu?

[The_Student]

The film A Late Quartet is discussed in the link in the opening post in this thread........ here's the link to the actual discussion, with members of the Emerson and Belcea Quartets.....

Thank you! that will be interesting. I am new to the forum, apologies if I'm repeating!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Ethan Hawkes' early scenes in Born to be Blue looked a bit awkward - I did wonder if his miming was going to really undermine the film; but after the operation he looked remarkably convincing (to a viewer who doesn't really know Trumpet fingering).

[Richard Tarleton]

Thank you! that will be interesting. I am new to the forum, apologies if I'm repeating!

You're very welcome - there's lots of good stuff buried in the Forum's collective memory, and there are some tracks we've been round before, sometimes more than once!

[jayne lee wilson]

Not much wrong with this one...
unless you look really closely...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tkh5I9w4ySY#t=16.740218643

Devastation amid the devastation....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K-mw4CSfnI

Love this cool groove (spot the blink-or-you'll-miss-it WHIPLASH reference....)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WCRAuIcjsc

[Richard Tarleton]

This film was quite notorious - for various reasons - but yes those really are Richard Chamberlain's hands, they're in shot with the rest of him, he learnt the moves apparently for maximum verisimilitude

[The_Student]

This film was quite notorious - for various reasons - but yes those really are Richard Chamberlain's hands, they're in shot with the rest of him, he learnt the moves apparently for maximum verisimilitude

yes just watched it and he kind of pulls it off.
has anyone seen Madam Sousatzka? thats an interesting one!

[The_Student]

Ethan Hawkes' early scenes in Born to be Blue looked a bit awkward - I did wonder if his miming was going to really undermine the film; but after the operation he looked remarkably convincing (to a viewer who doesn't really know Trumpet fingering).

yes I agree, I find it more difficult to watch strings being played -piano is easier to cover up-just don't show the hands. I have little knowledge of brass so probably wouldn't be able to spot any mistakes!