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Pitch Perfect could not have arrived at a better time. Its release in 2012 was met with solid reviews and box office figures, but that was just the beginning for the fandom that would ensue. It told the story of the Barden Bellas, an all-female university a cappella group led by Anna Kendrick vying for the top spot at Nationals. Blending Top 40 hits and an underdog narrative was effective. Soon, you could not escape the presence of singing groups and acapella wordplay ("aca-scuse me?").
The arrival of Pitch Perfect 2 in 2015 proved that the Bellas were no fluke. The second film dipped in quality, but was a worthy successor. Now, in 2017, Pitch Perfect 3 is the (supposedly) final installment...
Chris here. Are you ready for another acapella round of pop mashups and "pitch" puns? Anna Kendrick and the rest of the Barden Bellas will be back for a third trip to the stage for this Christmas's Pitch Perfect 3. And we just got out first glimpse of what fun is in store with a first teaser trailer.
Except this trailer looks very little like what we've loved in the past. Instead of musical numbers, we get hints of action sequences and icky jokes at timeliness like Rebel Wilson in a "Make American Eat Again" hat - looks like we might be headed for the pitfalls of "a sequel means we must go bigger" syndrome. Where is the charm? Where is the heart? Where are the TUNES?
Perhaps worst of all, it looks like they will be sidelining Hailee Steinfeld after her young songwriter livened up the second installment with the pop ballad "Flashlight" - I guess the Bellas are back to preexisting music full stop based on what their competition says about them in this trailer. Or maybe the film will just be reliving its global plot points from that last go around.
You can't blame the film for not spoiling the chosen tracks just yet and since that's a major part of the joy of these films, we'll hold out on a full Yes No Maybe So treatment. But needless to say this first look is... suspicious. Have a look for yourself and tell us your thoughts. Also: what musical artist would you like to see the group cover this time?
Still undersung: the great Glynis Johns in "The Ref"
1902 Ray A Kroc, who popularized the McDonald's empire is born. The Founder which is about his business shenanigans/success opens this December (it was already supposed to have opened but we can't have movies for adults in the summer for some reason). 1908 Joshua Logan is born. He later makes famous movies like Bus Stop, Picnic, Camelot and South Pacific. 1923Happy 93rd birthday to Glynis Johns, one of the greats! Her classics include: Mary Poppins, While You Were Sleeping, The Court Jester, The Ref, and Miranda. Why she doesn't have an Honorary Oscar is simply beyond our understanding. She was nominated only once for fine supporting work in The Sundowners 1945 A strike by set decorators turns into a riot "Blood Friday" at Warner Brothers studios. Are you still enjoying our series "The Furniture" on the work of production designers and set decorators? If so please comment and let Daniel know. 1946 The very first Cannes film festival wraps up...
Meryl Streep for President in 2024! We're with her.
In case you missed Meryl Streep's "Grit & Grace" speech at the DNC last night, please enjoy the reappearance of her tacky but adorable American Flag dress and catch up. I thought I'd share it with a little movie angle since it's all about Trailblazing Women...
On this day in history as it relates to the movies...
1916 Disaster epic super producer Irwin Allen is born. (More on him this afternoon) 1919 Stage legend Uta Hagen is born. Though she only ever makes three movies, she originates Tony winning roles on stage that later win Oscars for movie stars (The Country Girl and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?). Also the co-author of "Respect for Acting" and a reknowned acting teacher with 70s legends Pacino & De Niro as students 1928 Oscar winning composer Richard M Sherman (of Sherman Brothers fame) is born. Jason Schwartzman plays him in Saving Mr Banks (2013) about the making of Mary Poppins(1964) 1942 Anne Frank receives a diary for her 13th birthday. She does not live much longer during the horrific events of The Holocaust but The Diary of Anne Frank becomes a key text of the 20th century. The George Stevens film adaptation (of the Pulitzer winning play of the same name by the screenwriters) released in 1959 receives 8 nominations including Best Picture and takes home three Oscars
1946 Oscar-nominated costume designer Maurizio Millenotti is born in Italy. Credits include: Otello, Hamlet (1990 version), Malèna, The Passion of the Christ and Federico Fellini's And the Ship Sails On. 1962 Three bank robbers escape from Alcatraz. The story becomes the Clint Eastwood picture Escape From Alcatraz (1979)
← 1967 The Supreme Court strikes down anti-miscenegation laws banning interracial marriage in the Loving v Virginia case. This year's Oscar hopeful Loving (2016), starring Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton tells the Loving story. There's also a movement to make June 12th, "Loving Day," an official US holiday for celebrating multiracial families. Sadly the movie isn't opening today for this anniversary so we'll have to wait months to see it. Perhaps the 50th anniversary next year, after the story is more widely known with the movie, will help add momentum.
1985 Dave Franco is born 1992Housesitter with Steve Martin, Goldie Hawn and Dana Delany hits theaters 2010 Slow burning hit "Bulletproof" peaks on the US charts nearly a year after its release. Two years later Beca deploys it to fuck up Aubrey's stale act in Pitch Perfect (2012)
Thursday, December 28, 2017 at 12:00AM ;)
