Fans of the Oscar-winning film SHINE and the 1990s Richard Dreyfuss film MR. HOLLAND’S OPUS will certainly want to check out the brand new Sir. Patrick Stewart / Katie Holmes offering LIFE WTH MUSIC.
For Sir m Henry Field (Stewart), the joys of playing a classic concerto on a top-notch Steinway in front of thousands has returned him to the stage after a prolonged absence. but even the most natural talents in the world can suffer a relapse – and so it proves with Field, who has been suffering since the death of his wife a while ago.
His agent and representative, Paul (Giancarlo Esposito) , does do his best and seems to have some hold on ensuring Field gets his work presented to the world. However, balance and calm is afoot in the form of a New York music critic, Helen Morrison (Holmes), who despite her more challenging line of questions for artists like Field is keen to do a brand-new interview with Field to discover what it is that makes him the true talent that he is.
Morrison is a former Julliard student who never quite made the grade the way Field did, but whom remembers a speech during one of his past masterclasses at the school that seemingly gave her much inspiration and reflection. However, when Field suffers a panic attack during a major concert, Morrison becomes the bond that he needs to continue…..
Part of the joy of watching a film like this is seeing two talents like Holmes and Stewart in a contrast to what we expect them in, especially Stewart who reminds us that he is a classically-trained acting veteran – and more than just part of two key blockbuster franchises in the STAR TREK and X-MEN Universes. Holmes demonstrates a maturity in her acting and a return to the focused talent that has defined her in her earlier work on screen and offers good contrast to Stewart in a warmly-realised acting dynamic.
This is a movie that relies on simplicity in plot and complexity in performance to make its’ point – and the only criticism I have of the film is that Holmes and Stewart are not on screen enough to heighten what works pretty well.
Still, it has its’ moments – and thanks to the main leads has a lot of appeal to audiences in a film that reflects on the joys and the emotional connection we all feel towards music on all levels. Esposito is also good and compliments the cast as well.
