The High Note

What a great movie and I cannot believe we never saw any advertising for it. I’ve watched it 5 times in 2 days. Sharing it with everyone I know. Storyline was great. Everyone played their part fabulously. Loved the songs, lyrics, cinematography, acting, comedy. So glad we happened upon this movie.

Not sure why it took me so long to watch this movie but it was great! Already downloaded songs from the song track! Definitely recommend!

Best movie I've seen in a long time. Great cast, great music. Don't miss.

Oh holy night! The stars on the walk of LAAAAAAAAAME! Don't you just feel like singing a song when Tinsel Town dishes out another flop fresh off the assembly line and then tricks you into calling it the "Number one film of the year?" Well, that's exactly what everyone here, including my girl, Tracee Ellis Ross, does in this movie. I plead guilty to being one of many people who looked at those TV spots expecting the story of a megastar who tires of her current path in music, takes a well-earned rest, and goes on a journey of self-rediscovery. [That's right. I said RE-discovery!] And then along the way finds, and learns to be true to, her own groove. BUT...when I saw the product, I got nothing of that kind. I even found that all the big talk surrounding the flick was just like that surrounding another popular movie from Disney: Everything for absolutely nothing!!!! What I find amazing though is how with every lie told with and in this movie, one or two truths slither to the surface. For instance, Grace Davis (Ross) is clearly opinionated. She could raise her voice to the guys at her label at any time. But what does she do? She clams up. SHE [bleeping] CLAMS UP! The truth revealed in this is how certain voices and the words spoken by such fall on deaf ears! Then, there's the highly unnecessary personal assistant, Maggie Sherwood (Dakota Johnson). When she tells David Cliff Jr. (Kelvin Harrison, Jr.) the "story" of her before-and-after, you can tell right away that nothing she says is true. Maggie, of herself, reveals the truth of herself being a nobody. IN the character, however, the truth is she is so much of who-knows-or-cares-what, that it barely needs saying...or showing at all. Finally, there's the manager, Jack (Ice Cube). While Jack practically gives the truth about the industry straight up and not on the rocks, he lies about...well everything. The hidden truth here, again within the character, comes in the form of the unseen, "I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHY I AM HERE RIGHT NOW" button. But let's not give the characters all of the credit for their hidden honesty and crappy lies. The writers and the director of this film deserve props too! In writing another cheesy underdog story, and lying about the relationships that spring forth, the writer admits that Grace's and Maggie's entire world is a ghost world. They're both surrounded by idiots. And the director. He practically directed the otherwise creatively stand-up gal, i.e. Tracee, to keep all of her opinions to herself; and the ever-popular Dakota to run her mouth. In his direction of dishonesty, he unintentionally reveals the truth about how little our society knows each other. How even littler about each other our society knows or is willing to learn. Of course, I cannot say this hidden honesty alone contributed to the absence of creative chemistry and cohesion among the rest of the cast. Where exactly do these directors and writers, and other crew learn their craft anyway? On second thought, let's not explore that area. Let the little pipsqueaks knock themselves out. THE HIGH NOTE is getting higher. Too bad you can't practice getting taller, boys and girls!

To think that even a part-time movie guy can't keep himself entertained this day in age. And, oh the lies that theatrical trailers and tv spots tell and get away with. Like me, you think that the musical "icon" Grace Davis (Tracee Ellis Ross) was carrying this picture, challenging an aspiring producer she's met round the way, Maggie Sherwoode (Dakota Johnson), to try something different the same time she does. Defying the gravity of fans' expectations and executives' & promoters' illusions. Right? WRONG, SIRS AND MA'AMS! WRONG!!! Instead, Grace Davis is only there to make the help, Maggie, look better. The 'icon' plays back[stage] to the 'nobody'. What's more: The characters are single-faceted. The plot is passe--just a softened-up 'All About Eve' special. Results: An unevent sleigh ride for manager Jack (Ice Cube); a bogus start and a flat family reunion for David Cliff, Jr. (Kelvin Harrison, Jr.); and a not-so-lucky catch old Max Sherwoode (Bill Pullman). At the center, again, is not Grace--who doesn't act as smart and opinionated as she is--but big-headed (self-assured) wannabe Maggie. [You want make up for that abomination FIFTY SHADES OF GREY? Go to school, and/or GROW UP (acting-wise) QUICKER!!!] Plus, the soundtrack makes up for nothing this flick has squandered. Not even that empty anthem "Love Myself (The High Note)". If you're expecting a comeback/innovation tale that breaks, or at least, shakes the mold, you're out of luck. It's another underdog story. It's no-show. (And not necessarily because it's been steered in the "white" direction.) Sorry, Bill, Ice, Kelvin, Eddie Izzard, and especially you, Tracee. But with the final arrangement of this concert, you'd have been better off sitting it out. Here's to the high note--the HIGH-ON-SLOTH-AND-POLITICS note.

Beautifully acted. Great singing. Seamless directing. Believable every step of the way and makes you wish this were a true story. Maybe it is?

Ross is phenomenal. I purchased this expecting it to be okay and was blown away. Her and Dakota are amazing, individually and together. And her singing! I watched this 3 times in one week and I’ve been jamming to the sound track daily since.

We enjoyed the story and music.

Such a good movie. Also nice to see a film directed, written, edited and scored by female artists

A great feel good movie.