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Movie Review: Young@Heart
by Bill Wine
A group of singing senior citizens from New England rehearse and perform songs by youthful contemporary artists
RATING: PG
GENRE: Documentary
RELEASE DATE: April 9, 2008
RUNNING TIME: 109 minutes
VIOLENCE FACTOR: None
BAD WORDS: A few along the way, but they're mild and in passing
RACY? Nope
OTHER THINGS TO KNOW: This may not seem like a life-or-death movie, but let's just say that it contains elements of both.
GRANDS:
CRITIQUE:
You're used to seeing movies with your grandchildren just because they want to see them, right? Well, in honor of a very special new movie, let's reverse the procedure. Here's one for them to see with you just because you want to see it and you want them to see it with you.
Take them to Young@Heart, even if they protest, kicking and screaming, while looking around for the latest animated attraction. And see if they don't (a) enjoy it in spite of their initial reservations; (b) fall in love with the folks in it just as you do; (c) come away with a new appreciation of what the latter stage of life is like, including yours; (d) shed a tear or two along the way; or (e) all of the above.
Young@Heart is an extraordinary documentary (hey, if it makes them feel more comfortable, just tell them that it's reality TV on a larger screen) about a group of grandparents in Northampton, Mass., ranging in age from their early seventies to their late eighties, who are members of a spirited chorus, an ongoing singing group.
They're rehearsing for a concert in which they will perform a series of songs. Classical ballads, perhaps? Gershwin tunes? Not a chance. Theirs is a repertoire of rock and punk songs by Sonic Youth, James Brown, Coldplay, Bob Dylan, Talking Heads, David Bowie, The Ramones, Radiohead, The Sex Pistols, and The Clash.
Their demanding leader, Bob Cilman, pushes them through difficult lyrics, past various ailments, and around dispiriting tragedies, and we seem them appearing in music videos, performing at a local prison, and consenting to candid interviews conducted by director Stephen Walker.
Fictional movies should be so entertaining and moving.
The aptly titled Young@Heart is funny, inspiring, heartbreaking, charming, and life-affirming. Don't you and yours dare miss it.
GP Rating System:
Three Grands = Bravo, don't miss it.
Two Grands = Good enough, don't dismiss it.
One Grand = Okay, even if we dis it.
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