Música

A creative and clever movie about a different kind of guy, Musica shows us what it's like to live with synesthesia, hearing rhythm in everyday sounds.

Musica is filled with bright colors, percussive movement and beautiful music. It's a coming of age film that shows Rudy struggling through life and love as he strives to be himself. And yes, there are puppets.

This is a sweet story of a young man finding his way in the world. Rated PG-13 you could watch with your mom and not be embarrassed for a moment.

Anyone from an ethnic family - any ethnicity - will get the nuances of the family relationships, the ties to the neighborhood, and always being asked if you've eaten.

I highly recommend this entertaining and lovely movie.

This movie was very beautifully done. The cinematography, editing, and directing choices were on point.

Cami Mendes is gorgeous and she steals the movie. In addition, there were funny moments with the puppet.

However, there is something missing about this movie. It felt a bit boring at times. I think there needed to be more work on the conflict or building more character development in relation to the conflict in the story. Personally, I needed more buy in to what he was going through.

Overall, I enjoyed it. I've always like Rudy's shorts, and I think the years of creating short videos has really paid off.

So, Rudy Mancuso wrote and directed 'Musica', and in it he stars as Rudy, a person with synesthesia, a perceptual phenomenon in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway. In this movie Rudy mostly experiences this in everyday sounds, kids playing ball, cooks tapping their utensils, bus and subway sounds, those sorts of things. But to him they are rhythms and music.

In real life this is Rudy Mancuso. In real life he is an accomplished musician, he is a puppeteer, so this movie is mostly autobiographical. The fictional part is having a 'gringa' for a girlfriend and realizing that they weren't really a good fit for each other.

Then one faithful day Rudy is picking up fish at the local market and gets hit on his face with a fish thrown by one of the workers. In that process he meets fellow Brazilian, Camila Mendes as Isabella. Continuing the reflection of real life, Rudy and Camilla met during the making of this movie and now, in real life they are a couple.

It also appears that Rudy's movie mother, Maria, is played by his real mother, Maria, although I can't find out anything about her.

All that aside, is it an entertaining movie? Yes, it is. While the bare-bones rom-com story follows a mostly familiar formula, the way the movie is made is unique and quirky. It was refreshing to watch a movie presented in a totally different manner.

My wife and I watched it at home, streaming on Amazon Prime.

The movie at times can be generic yes, however I noticed them film is shot almost like someone has experience with directing a stage performance.

I could tell with the transitions with physical set dressing and using staging making the locations also part of the movie.

The movie itself I feel like it has some great moments, I do think the weakest park is probably the script as it was lacking emotion that you would usually find in a romcom.

With that in mind, I am happy it didn't run with the by the numbers "Musician is talented but lost the will to do the things he loved until a woman come into his life". Instead he is what he is and continues to push forward.

I love this movie. Especially the good music and a fresh perspective. The creative portrayal of synesthesia was fun. I can see how it could wear on you hearing music all of the time. It would be distracting for me and irritating to others.

I appreciate the courage to address racism and mental health in a healthy, more relaxed way; without making it overly dramatic or angry or losing the focus of the film. This is a rom com.

I enjoyed Rudy's sense of humor and seeing how he engages with people in different relationships and situations. He is a sweet guy and a good man. Now I only wish he had a single uncle to send my way! LOL.