This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.
Portraying perhaps one of Denmark's most famous music families is a challenge - how do you find the balance between being as realistic as possible, creating a compelling film, while at the same time allowing the audience to mirror themselves in the characters? Kasper Gaardsø makes his debut as a feature film director here, and succeeds with a well-rounded film.
The film also features great acting performances, with Anders Matthesen in particular succeeding in creating a warm and human Tommy…
This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.
Timothée Chalamet is phenomenal in this film. Without being a Dylan expert, Chalamet delivers a believable lead performance. On top of that, his musical talent is equally impressive, both vocally and instrumentally. You can feel that the songs are performed live—one great example is the very first time we hear Chalamet sing as Dylan in a hospital scene. The guitar playing is fragile, the delivery of the song is slightly off-time, and the guitar buzzes against the frets—but it’s these small imperfections that make the film feel so authentic and present. You want to follow Dylan’s journey, and the 2 hours and 20 minutes fly by.
A Beautiful Life is a sweet film about music and relationships. The script is severely lacking, and some lines are overly direct and clumsy. Furthermore, there are certain things that simply don't make sense: Why does the producer Lilly speak with a Norwegian accent when her mother is Danish and her father doesn't appear to be from Norway either? The film is singer Christopher's debut in a leading role. He does well and delivers a mostly natural performance. The portrayal…
A poetic film that, while keeping a light storytelling tone, encourages to deep talks and reflection.
Impressive that this is a debut film. Definitively worth watching in the cinema.
