September 2022: Musicians in Movies
Expectations are low for musicians-turned-actors, but sometimes their performances sing. Here are a few of our favorites.
Chris’ Rec
10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
Daryl Mitchell, aka Chill from the 1980s rap trio Groove B. Chill, had a slow but memorable transition to acting throughout the 1990s, culminating in two outstanding performances in 1999: Galaxy Quest and 10 Things I Hate About You. I could have gone with either for this month’s theme, but I chose the latter because I never think of 10 Things without fondly remembering Kat’s English teacher, Mr. Morgan. He’s the teacher we all wanted in high school - cares deeply about his subject and his students while simultaneously hating his job. For such a small part, and among so many other amazing performances from this perfect film, Daryl deserves an A+ for making us want more Mr. Morgan scenes. Sadly, Daryl Mitchell was paralyzed from the waist down in 2001 after a motorcycle accident, which has slowed his acting career but thankfully hasn’t ended it.
Stephanie’s Rec
2 Fast 2 Furious (2001)
In the follow-up to its first feature, the Fast and Furious franchise brings in singer Tyrese Gibson to breathe freshness into the crew as Roman Pearce. Roman is Brian O’Conner’s (Paul Walker’s) childhood friend who had served jail time and is currently under parole. Roman and Brian are offered a once in a lifetime opportunity to clear their records. Shenanigans ensue and Tyrese is now a mainstay in the FFFamily.
Dylan’s Rec
A Star Is Born (2018)
Before I’m an American, I am a Little Monster. And even then when they announced the casting of A Star is Born, I was worried for Gaga because her range of performance starts at “drag queen” and only goes up. Instead we got an incredibly detailed and grounded performance that still maintains the star quality of Lady Gaga without going into Drag Race acting challenge territory.
Kirk’s Rec
Dancer in the Dark (2000)
You already know I just HAD to choose Björk in Dancer in the Dark. I mean, it’s my favorite performance of all-time. Not only are the songs she wrote for the film devastating, but her performance is a master-class of feeling your way through a role. The copious amounts of torture her character has to go through is horrific but there’s a triumphant hope lingering behind her eye. If the ending doesn’t make you bawl your eyes out, you’re a monster.
Jesse’s Rec
Moonstruck (1987)
Moonstruck occupies an outsized presence in my personal cinematic universe as for years, by some coincidence of categorization, it was the first VHS on the featured shelf waiting to greet customers at my local Blockbuster. Despite my incidental familiarity with Cher’s arms spread across a giant moon over the Manhattan skyline, I never saw her Oscar-winning performance until three years ago and was completely blown away. Her performance is uncommonly funny, dramatic, impassioned, heartfelt, and carries the movie in ways that offers opportunities for her ensemble (namely a beautifully insane Nicolas Cage) to shine. Moonstruck is now officially part of my comfort food film rotation and when I open up my own highly profitable video rental business, it will once again serve the first title welcoming customers as they enter the store.