The Last Five Years

I have always really loved this musical, and was more than excited to see it be made into the film. Like "Rent", this is a story that really doesn't contain any pauses between the music and the script. But what really amazes me about this particular piece is that this was all done without the fancy autotune. Both actors sung the entire film on set, mostly in one shot, without ANY music in the background!! The instrumentals were then added much later in the editing process. If knowing this while you're watching it for the first time, you can't help but be impressed by the sheer talent these two young people have.**SPOILERS**The storyline for those who are wondering is that it begins at two separate points of view in two separate ends of the timeline. Kathy (Anna Kendrick) begins the movie from the end of her five year relationship with Jamie (Jeremy Jordan), while Jamie begins telling his side of the story from the beginning.The scenes alternate between Jamie and Kathy as we see how the relationship began, how they fell in love, to how things fell apart. The love interests meet up in the middle of the story when they do a duet about getting engaged and married before the timeline ultimately forces them to separate once more.In the end of the final song (which is also a duet), Kathy is singing to Jamie from the beginning point in her relationship; expressing her love for Jamie and saying "I will be waiting for you". Jamie on the other hand has decided to end the marriage, and sings in sad reply a sorrowful goodbye.All in all, this is a wonderful musical with an interesting plot reveal. A must have for any true broadway fan, or sappy romantic.

To tell a story entirely in music while playing with time isn't something done easily but Jason Robert Brown gets the credit for this love story of a five year relationship in which her story moves backwards and his forward. They meet in the middle for the wedding and we know from the start how the story begins and ends.But this is a piece about character and that's what sustains this piece. Brown is a composer/lyricist of the highest calibre, managing to reach an emotional level that Sondheim does not.Jason Robert Brown is influenced by rock n roll piano men: Billy Joel, but better. Everything he writes has a different sound from this to the Tony Award winning "Parade", Broadway's best piece of theatre since 1998.Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan are actors first though their ability to sing is remarkable. Within five minutes we're not aware that it's all music and we're enraptured by the characters and seeing how each character copes with the implosion of their relationship. An emotional highlight is Jordan's "Nobody Needs to Know" in which the skill of writing and acting confuses us about fidelity.Whether or not you're into musical theatre, this is a good film. It's not for children but it will touch everyone who has been in love and had a break up.

This is a musical in every sense of the word, probably 95% singing (more than I've seen in any other musical except France's "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg"), even everyday sentences in some instances, though every single song is sung only by its two main stars (Anna Kendrick and/or Jeremy Jordan, as "Cathy" and "Jamie," respectively, with no backup singers or group singing) so first and foremost, you must be a fan of musicals and of Kendrick and Jordan for full effect. Without giving away too much, Cathy and Jamie sing about, well, the last 5 years in their relationship, though it's not always a storybook or fairy tale, not picture perfect, but therein lies its strength as being different and fresh, in a class by itself in many ways, not only as a film in general but also as a musical. The many New York sites, both indoors and outdoors, are also welcome embellishments to a lively and rewarding movie-going experience, though preteens may not go for it or, again, non-musical fans. Jordan ("Newsies") and Kendrick ("50/50") are enthusiastic, energetic, and engaging, especially the multi-talented Kendrick, who more than proves that she has the vocal stylings to go along with her already well-established acting talent, making an Oscar seem inevitable in her future.

What a terrific tribute to a lovely little show. There are a few minor variations between the movie and the show that upon the first viewing, I found distracting, but the more I thought about it, and went back to watch a second time blossomed into something I truly enjoyed about the movie. If you are not familiar with the show (or the concept of the show) it the five year journey of this couples relationship told from each perspective. His from the beginning to the end, and hers from the end to the beginning. Because of this you see fights juxtaposed with love scenes which can be confusing if you're not ready, but Anna Kendrick plays Cathy beautifully and your heart is with her all the way. Jeremy Jordan is the perfect Jaime in his exuberance and carefree attitude. The couple pop when they're on screen together. This will be a film that people will watch in 10 years and say, "How did I not know about this film?" The music is delightful and you'll walk away humming any number of tunes.

This musical is thought-provoking, funny, and heart-wrenching. If you love Jeremy Jordan, Anna Kendrick, and the music of Jason Robert Brown, then is is definitely for you! I have watched it dozens of times and listened to the album in the car. It's beautiful and I am so glad I own a copy so I don't have to rely on streaming services to have it.

It's the demise of a relation ship. One shows from demise to beginning. The other is revealed from end to beginning. In that sense it is like "13 Conversations About Nothing". It's a musical, but you really have to think your way through it an watch it a couple times.. WELL WORTH THE TIME... Was another Broadway Musical.