MÚSICA – A Review by John Strange
Música is based on a true story. Rudy is a Brazilian man in the Bronx who hears the sounds around him as a musical note. This means that he is constantly getting distracted which is rough on his dating life, and, well, life in general. His mother (whom he lives with) is determined to “help” him find a Brazilian woman to marry and grow old with (after having grandkids for her).
The film was co-written, directed, and stars Rudy Mancuso. His choices for the tempo and style of the film are unlike anything I expected. The condition the lead character (Rudy) experiences is brought to life in the film with production numbers that give us a visual and aural experience that is unbelievable. The music has a definite Brazilian flavor with a jazz beat thrown in occasionally.
This is a very interesting film, but you have to pay attention to keep up with the story! The chapters of the story are titled with musical terms like “Tempo” and “Dynamic” in keeping with the music that is so deeply embedded in the story. This is more than a love story, it’s a “getting right with life” story with an amazing musical score!
Watching this film is a bit like watching a Bollywood film with all of the musical numbers breaking out in the oddest places, like subway trains. Kudos to the choreographers for some very amazing dance moves!
Música, captions and all, is enhanced by not only the music of his imagination and the artists playing around him but by his doodles and drawings that gradually gain a larger part in the production. And I LOVE his puppet. And his momma. She is a great mother!
Director: Rudy Mancuso
Cast: Rudy Mancuso, Camila Mendes, J.B. Smoove, Francesca Reale, and Maria Mancuso
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for some strong language, suggestive references, and brief violence)
Selig Rating: 4 Stars
Runtime: 91 Min.
Release Date: 04/04/2024
Release Location: Amazon Prime Video
Language: English, Portuguese (with English captions)
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Trailer: MÚSICA Official Trailer
The Selig Rating Scale:
5 Stars – Excellent movie/show, well worth the time and price.
4 Stars – Good movie/show
3 Stars – OK movie/show
2 Stars – Well, there was nothing else…
1 Star – Total waste of time.
