"Music is the space between the notes."- Claude Debussy

Walk the Line (James Mangold, 2005), being a biography of Johnny Cash’s life and its realistic elements makes the film very realistic. The smooth editing and directing makes the audience feel they are truly getting an insight into Johnny Cash’s life. It uses classic Hollywood styles and techniques such as the three act narrative structure, known lead actors, and invisible editing. The actors have done a great job with portraying the people in the film. Both Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon's performances are exceptional. Phoenix sounding much like Johnny Cash. Walk the Line is a feel good movie with the Rock and Roll music track, while at the same time exploring the themes of love, drugs and stardom. Even if not a fan of Johnny Cash a great film to see the acting and music.

A Life lived in fear is a life half lived

Baz Luhrman's classic film, Strictly Ballroom (1992), is such a great fun loving, energetic, mood lifting film carried by the music. Luhrman captures the magic of love, passion, comedy and power through the exhilarating music. The editing, in true Luhrman style, is fast paced, stylised, clever and mind grabbing. The audience is held absorbed throughout the whole movie with each well thought out scene showing Luhrman's artistry. The over the top characters and acting along with the bright costumes and sets, once again a Luhrman trademark, captivate and humor the audience from start to finish. At times it can be too over the top but that is what makes the movie so exceptional and more enjoyable and what makes Luhrman's abundance. Strictly Ballroom touches on themes of love, passion, being yourself, breaking the rules and ugly duckling transformation. A great Australian Luhrman film taking him into international fame. An uplifting, fun film with great stylised direction and extravagant characters making Strictly Ballroom a must see film for lovers of music and exaggerated, fast paced direction.

Sex, Drugs and Rock 'n' roll

Bette Midler's first main role, and a different one than what she later became known for in the 1980's, with her run of comedy's, The Rose (Mark Rydell, 1979), is a great showcase for Midler's talents as a singer and actress. Loosely based on Janis Joplins life of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll, Midler plays a successful rock star who has been driven to breakdown and pushes all that try to help her away until she has no one. Her performance is outstanding, keeping you holding on wanting to help but knowing she can't be helped. Her singing voice is amazing and with some great songs, including the hit "The Rose", an outstanding number being sung by Bette Midler rather than her character, Mary Rose Foster, who sings the other great rock songs. I can't help but see similarities between Midler and her performance and Barbara Streisand's A Star is Born role, both great singers and portraying the rough side of stardom.

The dark lit scenes directed by Mark Rydell (later did the classic On Golden Pond), reflects the character of Rose's pain and dark suffering. The film is carried by the star, Midler, a risky thing to put an unknown in the lead, however paid off more than well.

The film comments on issues still present in our society today, drugs, homosexuality, violence and profanity, which must have been quite controversial in it's day, as it still is today. These issues, however, didn't stop the film from becoming a hit with four Academy Award nominations including best actress for Midler. Some say The Rose is forgotten, all in all it is a cultural classic hit, rising a fantastic star with an excellent musical score.