by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
After all these decades, can filmmakers still offer up something fresh and different when it comes to musicals? This genre is as old as sound in cinema. Once we were able to hear what was being displayed on screen, we wanted to show off the music too. For a few decades, musicals were just big budgeted and robust in scale. This was one of the strongest reasons for people to head to a theater. You wanted to experience those musicals on the biggest screen possible.
But what does writer-director Malachi Smyth offer up in terms of their latest film, The Score? This is one of the most unique musicals out there. When was the last time you heard of a crime thriller being a musical? This intimate tale of two crooks meeting up at a small off the grid café is something that is different for a genre most known for its scale. When these two crooks show up, one of them becomes quite smitten over a waitress. Love story… now that is not unique for a musical. But when this love bitten crook (Will Poulter) butts heads with his colleague (Johnny Flynn, who also wrote the music for the film), things get a little messy to say the least.
What is the most unique and enticing aspect of Smyth’s new musical? Well… the music of course. Flynn is the leader of a band called Johnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit, giving him plenty of experience with music outside the realm of movies. He writes the songs in the film, and there are quite a few jams to enjoy. There is an interesting mix of cool and folksy rock to the music that gives the film a unique personality. One song really grabs your attention while the film wraps up and a couple of characters ride off. The whole cast does a great job with their singing bits, making for a believable and enjoyable musical experience.
Speaking of… what about the cast? Poulter offers up a strong leading man performance that incorporates his physique and physicality, while highlighting his casually cool singing voice. He is charismatic enough and his character is relatable enough to connect with the audience. We do feel for him and his growing feelings for Gloria (the waitress). Naomi Ackie is equally charismatic and gives a performance that matches up well with Poulter. They make for a satisfying pair on screen. Flynn, on the other hand, is a rugged and charming rogue, perfect for a heist film like this. He is too cool to hate, but too much of a jerk to gravitate to. He falls in that perfect middle ground to act as a quality antagonist.
But where is the film lacking? The unique creative juices must have been drained out after all the music and acting, as the screenplay is a bit too generic. Nothing is going to really surprise you when “twists” occur and people’s allegiances reveal themselves. The story hovers around this small location, and without the musical numbers would probably have been stale and repetitive. The love story is also straightforward without too much depth. The script is serviceable, and luckily the other elements of the film help it rise.
Does The Score balance out to offer a truly worthwhile musical experience? Honestly, the music is worth the price of the admission. The actors do such great jobs with their parts, bringing Flynn’s songs to life. There is a great atmosphere, and it is refreshing seeing a musical more akin to Once than the big bloated musical approach that so many of the genre take. You can get past the shortcomings to enjoy this low key musical.
Grade: 7/10
You can follow Shane Conto on Twitter, Instagram, and Letterboxd