Young at Heart
Age is mind over matter. If you don't mind,
it don't matter. Every now and them I will see something that I just won't
to tell everyone about. Sure I get passionate about films as a whole or
I would not do what I do. But there are certain cinematic creations that
just stir me up and I want to go around
and personally invite everyone
to see
it. That is most certainly the case with the new documentary from Stephen
Walker entitled Young at Heart. Many
people I have talked to have heard about
this amazing geriatric chorus group from Massachusetts who put their own
unique spin on rock and pop but few
knew that their story was now on the big
screen. Led by music director Bob Cilman and made up of performers who
range in age from 72 to 88, the Young at Heart chorus rocks. Simple
as that.
What wasn't simple was the creating of
this documentary. Stephen Walker spent hours painstakingly going over the
footage he had captured in order to
bring this story to the state it is now.
His editing style and use of music and real life characters allows you
to get to know these wonderful men and
women while keeping the story and the
facts moving at a decent pace. It was wild to find out that certain chorus
members who I felt dominated the story
only appear once or twice. Walker made
use of every moment and allowed no fluffy filler. Plus, this is real life.
What I love about documentaries is that you cant write anything as compelling
as the human existence. Walker goes back stage into the lives of these
members for a candid look at what drives them to do this at their age.
Overcoming illness and disease and death to press on and go week after
week.
Many may wonder what is so special about
old people singing. They see it every week in their churches and many in
their homes. And that is true. We
should not marvel that someone in their
70's can be in a chorus or have a unique gift and hobby. What we can do
is use this as a reminder that music
touches lives of any age and that just
because we reach a certain plateau in life does not mean that we have to
stop evolving. The man who said you can
never teach an old dog new tricks, never
encountered one of these feisty singers as they tackle the music Cilman
brings to them. The Clash, James
Brown, Cold Play, The Flaming Lips and
Radiohead. Though songs of this generation they have never been more poignant
than when performed by these
seasoned by years.
Young at Heart is
rated PG for some mild language and thematic elements. This is a movie
for every generation and should be viewed by all. You will
laugh along with these characters as the
struggle through lyrics and deal with songs of angst. You will weep too
at the love and emotion that is transformed through their lives and music.
Songs you have heard for years will take on new meaning in this context.
The lyrics are the same. Nothing
has been altered. But when you hear them
from these men and women you will hear them as never before.
I give Young
at Heart a solid 4 out of 5 mosh
pits. Get ready to fall in love with life
and music all over again.
Matt Mungle (4/16/08)
Matt is a member of the North Texas Film
Critics Association (NTFCA) and co-hosts a weekly radio feature, The Mungles
on Movies, with his wife Cindy.
For additional reviews, interview clips
and great DVD giveaways, visit the website www.mungleshow.com
Review copyright 2008 Mungleshow Productions.
Used by Permission.
| Click here
to go behind the scenes and hear one on one interviews with the films director,
plus the chorus director and chorus members! |
|
