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The Music Within (2008) DVD Review
The Music Within (2008) DVD Credits:
The Music Within (2008) Directed by:
Steven Sawalich
The Music Within (2008) Written by:
Bret McKinney, Mark Andrew Olsen, Kelly Kennemer
The Music Within (2008) Cast:
Ron Livingston, Mellisa George, Michael Sheen
The Music Within (2008) Released by:
Articulus Entertainment, Quorum Entertainment, The Music Within LLC
Region:
1
The Music Within (2008) DVD Release Date:
7th April 2008
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The Music Within (2008) Synopsis:

The Music Within is based on the true story of Richard Pimentel, who after overcoming his own personal disability becomes a catalyst in passing the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The Music Within (2008) DVD Review:

In a year of dark, depressing films, The Music Within is a refreshing change of pace. It’s hopeful, cheerful, and maybe too sweet for its own good. What holds this film back (and possibly prevents it from being memorable) isn’t how it’s directed or acted, but the lack of drama to hold the plot up.

The Music Within is based on the true story of Richard Pimentel. After a rough childhood, with a mother who was completely inactive in his life, Pimentel enlists in the Army to afford college. However, disaster strikes in Vietnam, and Pimentel returns home deaf. Despite this disability, Richard attends Portland State University and becomes best friends with Art Honeyman, a genius with cerebral palsy. Richard is able to overcome his disability and quits his top-notch job to help other veterans and disabled citizens obtain jobs. The governor of Oregon is so impressed that he enlists Richard to create a program to help employers hire the disabled. Richard’s work becomes a catalyst in passing the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The film was directed by Steven Sawalich and written by the trio of Bret McKinney, Mark Andrew Olsen, and Kelly Kennemer. But out of all the crewmembers, the music department deserves the most credit for making the film work. The use of period music not only sets the time period, but the mood. All of the song lyrics used fit in perfectly within their scenes, without feeling like a music video.

As for the actors, Michael Sheen is the standout. His performance as the CP genius, Art Honeyman, is painfully accurate. Though at times his character’s actions slow down the pacing of the film, they are accurate representations of the disease. There are two actors who play Richard Pimentel: Ridge Canipe as young Richard, and Ron Livingston for the remainder of the film. The Music Within spans sixty-one years and for the college scenes Ron Livingston seemed a bit old for the part. A third actor may have helped the transition in age. Melissa George’s performance as Christine is forgettable, but so is her character. There is no back-story for Christine, Richard’s love interest. I sort of wanted to know why a British student was in Portland. It could be this type of writing that holds back many of the actor’s performances. Characters, such as disabled vet Mike Stoltz (played by Yul Vazquez) disappear for over half an hour without reason. The audience is unable to enjoy performances by the likes of Rebecca De Mornay, as Richard’s mom, or Hector Elizondo, as a professor, due to little screen time.

In fact the writing, as I said in the beginning, is also what prevents the film from being memorable. Any obstacle put in Richard’s way is too easily overcome. There is little drama or conflict. Also, when characters do die, there is no mourning and very little emotional impact upon the other characters. Richard’s actual goal isn’t clear until fifty-two minutes into the film and there are numerous plot holes. The script does, however, contain a fabulous voiceover. I’m not a fan of voiceovers myself, but Ron Livingstons performance is full of character and vigor. The writing for the voiceover is ironic, stylized, and adds more to the visuals than just commentary. The darkly comedic tone of the voiceover is the only consistent mood kept throughout the film.

The special features for The Music Within contain commentary by the director, one of the writers (Kelley Kennemer), and producer Brett Donowho. Also on the special features are numerous deleted scenes along with an actual speech by the real Richard Pimentel. A Making of the Music is a misnomer. This featurette is merely a behind the scenes about The Music Within, a rather big disappointment because the music is of great importance to the film.

It’s nice to have an uplifting film every once in a while. But even light-hearted, feel good films, need conflict.

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The Music Within (2008) DVD review written by: Lyz Reblin

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