Everybody's Talking About Jamie

I'll start by saying I'm a huge fan of live musicals and I really think West End and Broadway actors are some of the most talented performers around! I'm so sick of musical adaptions where it's such a priority to cast famous actors even when they can't sing (Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd, Beauty and the Beast, the list goes on). To compensate they have to auto-tune the living daylights out of every song so it sounds like you're listening to some kind of tone-deaf, mechanical monster or, when even that fails, they have the actors basically speak the songs (cough Emma Watson cough). I also don't know who decided that James Corden is the musical star du jour but I'd like to know how we get them to cease and desist. It also upsets me when they brutally cut loads of the songs for no apparent reason and/or add in new songs that are clearly just tacked on for unfathomable reasons (a la Aladdin and pretty much every movie musical I've already mentioned).

Anyway, enough moaning about other movie musicals. Given the movie's title, I shall join everybody else talking about Jamie. I like that it's not a carbon copy of the musical (otherwise why not just do an awesome Hamilton-style stage recording) but instead acknowledges that this is a new and different medium from the stage and uses this to its full advantage. All of the cast are talented actors and singers. Max Harwood is the perfect Jamie: sweet, naive and endearing with the most gorgeous voice. His performance is very different from John McCrea's but equally beautiful. All of the other actors do a great job making this as heartwarming, enjoyable and moving as the live musical with a beautiful and meaningful message about encouraging people to be their true and honest selves.

I've no idea who is giving low ratings to this but I'd really encourage everyone to watch it and make up their own minds.

It is hard to combine two potentially opposite things. To be yourself and to fit in. Much harder if you happen to be a teenager. "Everybody's talking about Jamie" is a fairytale. Based on real people, but nevertheless a fairytale. Young, effeminate, gay 16-year boy, abandoned by his father, with hopes and dreams and the grim reality of Sheffield, industrial city in southern Yorkshire. Not the greatest starting point for an aspiring drag queen. But then, aren't the starting points way overrated. Charming fairytale for our, all but charming, depressing times.

This is a well made musical biography. The story is touching, uplifting and powerful. The songs are good, the visuals are colourful. The film lifts you up through the great songs.

I watched this cautiously as I had not seen the musical on stage, and somehow I felt I was too old to be interested, and I was wrong!! This is a tremendous film and the plot no doubt has been explained over and over again. Jamie is the 16 year old who realises he is a part of Gay History, and that drag queen which he wants to be had also been a cornerstone of that History. The key scene was when Richard E. Grant sings a homage to the 1980's and 90's when drag queens died of AIDS and there is heart wrenching footage of Princess Diana visiting hospitals and hospices. It all made sense; the whole purpose of the film in showing those aspects of Gay History that still many choose to forget. Jamie takes on that continuing History of bullying, mockery, as well as help at home and in school. Sarah Lancashire is moving as his devoted mother trying to hide him from the fact that his father wants to disown him as his son, and despite all the songs that vary in quality I love this film for its bravery in showing us that a 16 year old can be a part of the revolution, which is the perhaps never ending legacy of Gay History, and for every supporter there is a homophobe who wants to destroy that History. A film for all ages and a welcome breath of fresh air. A perfect film for the children of the future in any country that is hostile towards homosexuality that I can think of. A deserved 10.

I've missed Broadway musicals, I love heartfelt movies, and drag, AND cameos with my favorite drag queen Bianca, so this was all around fantastic for me. The singing was top notch, couple songs weren't the best, but the story touched me, and I shed a few tears.

Plus if you love dancing and singing, you don't want to miss this movie!!!