The story tells of Sam who went from a successful businessman to a drunk living on a boat due to losing his son Josh two years ago. Josh shot and killed six fellow students before killing himself on his campus. Sam begins to listen to Josh's songs when his ex-wife decides to share Josh's personal effects. One night he sings one of those songs at Trill's Tavern, which impressed Quentin. Quentin gets close to Sam and manages to persuade him to start a band to sing the songs, with only Sam knowing the songs' origin. The band turns out to be quite a hit. But one night, Kosh's ex-girlfriend Kate comes and says that it's wrong to sing Josh's songs.
Sam and the band keep on playing gigs until one day they got a shot a a big break gig. Right before they're up, Kate shows and reveals the songs' origin to Quentin, who then agrees with her and decides to quit the show. Sam make amends with Josh's past by visiting the memorial place of the shooting, giving Josh's songs to his ex-wife for her to listen, and spiriting up Quentin to go back doing music. Lastly, Sam sings one of Josh's songs one last time, acknowledging the song's origin and telling Josh's message through the song.
The story really is that simple that I can make a relatively shorter synopsis compared to other reviews I made. But the development in the screenplay is rather nice that it develops into a screenplay with enough detail thus, including all the songs, extending its duration to 1 hour 40 minutes. It sure does contain a lot more emotional content scattered here and there; on the story premise, the dramatization, and especially the poetic songs.
Somewhere over the midway point of the movie, the story will feel like it kind of stray away from it's starting line. But the story immediately finds it's way back to the starting premise, and that makes quite an emotional blow that the viewers can really relate to.
Being the fifth musical movie I've seen so far this year after Get On Up (2014), Frank (2014), God Help The Girl (2014), and Begin Again (2013), Rudderless is truly the first non-biography musical that has the story stands out with significant moral value as its message. While others only have stories heavily focusing on the characters' musical development with less dramatic story, this movie tells of a rarely mentioned topic of school shooting. The story develops well enough on the father's grieve that leads him to be creative.
The acting overall is a good one. Billy Crudup, despite having his emotions quite without variation, can decently depict the emotional turmoil of a father losing his son. Anton Yelchin, also lacking in expressions, quite nailed the talented yet timid musician with a poor past. Laurence Fishbourn and Selena Gomez can really give this story more color despite having minimal on-screen duration.
For me a 7 out of 10 score is worthy enough for Rudderless (2014). A recommendation is quite a yes, although I'll say that it shouldn't make your top priorities. Yet its emotional drama content is nicely presented without having to put to much tears on screen.
Sam and the band keep on playing gigs until one day they got a shot a a big break gig. Right before they're up, Kate shows and reveals the songs' origin to Quentin, who then agrees with her and decides to quit the show. Sam make amends with Josh's past by visiting the memorial place of the shooting, giving Josh's songs to his ex-wife for her to listen, and spiriting up Quentin to go back doing music. Lastly, Sam sings one of Josh's songs one last time, acknowledging the song's origin and telling Josh's message through the song.
The story really is that simple that I can make a relatively shorter synopsis compared to other reviews I made. But the development in the screenplay is rather nice that it develops into a screenplay with enough detail thus, including all the songs, extending its duration to 1 hour 40 minutes. It sure does contain a lot more emotional content scattered here and there; on the story premise, the dramatization, and especially the poetic songs.
Somewhere over the midway point of the movie, the story will feel like it kind of stray away from it's starting line. But the story immediately finds it's way back to the starting premise, and that makes quite an emotional blow that the viewers can really relate to.
Being the fifth musical movie I've seen so far this year after Get On Up (2014), Frank (2014), God Help The Girl (2014), and Begin Again (2013), Rudderless is truly the first non-biography musical that has the story stands out with significant moral value as its message. While others only have stories heavily focusing on the characters' musical development with less dramatic story, this movie tells of a rarely mentioned topic of school shooting. The story develops well enough on the father's grieve that leads him to be creative.
The acting overall is a good one. Billy Crudup, despite having his emotions quite without variation, can decently depict the emotional turmoil of a father losing his son. Anton Yelchin, also lacking in expressions, quite nailed the talented yet timid musician with a poor past. Laurence Fishbourn and Selena Gomez can really give this story more color despite having minimal on-screen duration.
For me a 7 out of 10 score is worthy enough for Rudderless (2014). A recommendation is quite a yes, although I'll say that it shouldn't make your top priorities. Yet its emotional drama content is nicely presented without having to put to much tears on screen.