Is Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench worth the money?
The Short Answer: No (unless if you are an upcoming filmmaker)
Copyright infringement is unintended. This is meant for review.
If you were like me when I first opened the DVD case you thought Guy and Madeline was going to be another masterpiece by Damien Chazelle. Then, you (like me) would have been pretty wrong. The movie is far from perfect, and it is very hard for movies to be that way. That being said though, Guy and Madeline seems to be not as entertaining, tense, and vibrant as it was made out to be in its trailer.
The story’s highlight is the conciliation between a jazz trumpeter and a tap dancer who find trouble in trying to look for partners to fill their empty void. You see the problem does not lie in it’s premise; it’s within it’s execution. The best parts of the film are the musical scores and scenes which are filled with many of the director’s sweeping shots dowsed with high octane energy that you feel when you want to get up and dance. The characters’ passion brimming with each moment with each moment. But that’s only half of the movie.
The other half is mostly just the main duo going through the motions looking for partners. There are a few relationships but they are not done in a very charming way. They seem like a normal relationships but not the interesting parts. It feels very realistic but also very restrained. And while this may been what he was going for as the director wanted to make a mumblecore story where the character’s feelings were held back instead being open. But that just made the movie more boring as the interactions in the film were not as satisfying as the crazier moments in the film.
Though, to be fair, as a directorial debut from one of my favorite directors, this is not a bad watch. If anything Guy and Madeline might have been the story that made him find his footsteps as a director, as his direction becomes more prominent with his later films and the quality goes up as well. Many upcoming filmmakers should pay attention to because this might be an inspiration to the films they might want and they can learn to do and not to do when making a film.
But if you still want something from this film to keep as a souvenir. Buy the soundtrack or listen to it on Milan Records USA channel or their Soundcloud. It’s probably best thing about the movie and it’ll be worth your money. Man, whenever soundtracks never seem to fail. Do they?
Now let me give you the links:
BTW: Spoilers down below for my favorite scene
Best Music from the Movie:
Boy in the Park
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvNkqBp4T3Q
Love in the Fall
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KMPPiF2CMo
Link to Soundtrack:
https://www.amazon.com/Madeline-Bench-Original-Soundtrack-Album/dp/B01NCZ8S0T
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/guy-and-madeline-on-a-park-bench-original-soundtrack-album/1209657486
https://open.spotify.com/album/2vrQxEu79wQEr3EAuDBHyc
(You need to log in for the last one)
Trailer:
SPOILER
This was my favorite scene from the movie: What’s yours?