Young@HeartDirected by Stephen Walker
Average customer review:
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #187 in DVD
- Released on: 2008-09-16
- Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
- Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
- Formats: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
- Original language: English
- Number of discs: 1
- Running time: 108 minutes
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Get ready to rock out with the most entertaining "golden oldies" you will ever meet, a fun-loving senior citizen’s choir called Young@Heart. To prepare for a show in their hometown that is only weeks away, the lovable seniors must learn a slate of new songs, ranging from James Brown to Coldplay. The chorus’ tireless musical director leads the group through a series of hilariously chaotic rehearsals, proving that hard rock can be hard work — especially when you’re hard of hearing! Climaxing in a triumphant performance that will leave you cheering, their inspiring story celebrates the unbreakable bonds of friendship and the life-affirming power of music!
Customer Reviews
A fine documentary that focuses on the creative process
In the wrong hands, Young@Heart could have been a real mawkish tearjerker. Instead, in the hands of skilled documentarian Stephen Walker and group founder and chorus leader, Bob Cilman, this film is a fabulous look at the creative process. The spine of the production is a batch of new songs Cilman brings to the group at the inception of filming, with the goal of presenting them to the public within a matter of weeks. Cilman's challenge is that for every group member like Joe - who memorizes and rips through the very complex Talking Heads piece "Life During Wartime" in a single day (wow, hats off) - there's the struggle to train members like Lenny, who - weeks in - still hasn't got down the timing nor the words to a single line of James Brown's "I Feel Good".
Of course, group demographics being what they are, mortality intrudes a couple of time during the span of filming. What Walker succeeds in doing is focusing not solely on the pain and pathos, but on what involvement meant to these members and to their families. It might be trite to say "they were doing what they loved," but Walker makes that point gently and effectively.
Despite a glut of documentaries, this one hit the mark with the public: it's grossed close to four million dollars in US box office and is still playing in select markets almost 20 weeks after its April 2008 debut. That might not sound like a lot, but I just reviewed the equally fine documentary Bigger, Stronger, Faster* yesterday, and I made note of its disheartening $308k take. "Young@Heart" deservedly found an audience.
You'll Laugh, Cry, and Maybe Even Dance a Little
I watched this movie today on a Delta flight. I had seen the poster at a local theater, but hadn't heard more about it. Now, I'm really glad I got to see it after all.
The movie's a great opportunity to meet wonderful members of the choir. There's the feisty 92-year old woman, who swears she's 29, and spunkier than some a third her age. A former standout performer shows up tethered to an oxygen tank and pulls out all the stops. He also could have a career as a comedian. He's that funny.
While the scenes with many of the members are funny, the movie is also truly moving. Can you imagine performing less than an hour after hearing one of your fellow choir members has died? That performance - at a local jail - is likely to elicit tears from even the most jaded of viewers. I know it joked me up.
The interesting twist on this elder choir is that this is not a bunch of people sitting around performing old time ditties. They cover everything from James Brown to Sonic Youth to Sinead O'Connor. I'm not sure who has more fun, the performers on stage or the audience members at a sellout concert in town. As an added bonus, the film features the choir members in their own videos - even a Saturday Night Fever takeoff!
The drive to perform and do a great job is truly amazing! One member, who's at the heart of the group, has had enough chemotherapy to kill most people. He's still hoping to make the concert even after a recurrence of cancer. Another vows to come back from a severe heart attack and rejoin the group.
If you want to laugh, cry and maybe even dance a little, you should definitely see young at heart! Not only is it inspirational, it's also motivational. As an audience member says, "I will never complain about being too old again!"
Enjoy!
Don't Watch Without Kleenex
A documentary with so much heart I'm pretty sure it would be impossible to watch without a few moments of blinking back tears. A performing ensemble made up of those in their very golden years, has set out to throw themselves into music and into the entertainment business with a sweet twist and unique takes on a quirky array of songs. Stand out numbers were Sonic Youth's Schizophrenic and James Brown's I Feel Good. The performance of Cold Play's Fix You just about undid me.
There are hilarious moments like a car trip with an 86-year-old at the wheel. Touching moments including a song dedication that didn't leave a dry eye in my house, or the sell out audience for that matter. And in between were the moments that brought life and death to the surface. Those moments shared with dignity and honesty.
Other than a smattering of off-color/suggestive comments (PG rated), Young at Heart is great family viewing.
As with all documentaries, the winding stories and details of life may bore children. If you hate documentaries you might not be won over to the genre by Young at Heart, but you'll also be missing a fascinating and encouraging slice of life if you skip it.
