Beystiman
It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.
CrawlerChunky
In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.
Clarissa Mora
The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.
josemedeirosforsenate13
Wow, how could I have missed this movie's release at the theaters? I just found the "Music Never Stopped" on Redbox and thought I would rent it, and it is such a heart warming movie, that I put in the category of, "Forrest Gump", which is one of my favorite all time movies.What I really enjoyed about the movie is how a father who had a fall out with his only son 20 years prior over the 1960's rock and roll music he listened too and so loves, is reunited when his son has surgery to remove a tumor, and loses his memory.His father soon learns that music allows his son to bring back memories, and he soon learns why his son loves music by artists, Bob Dylan, the Grateful Dead and Buffalo Springfield, by actually taking the time to listen to the lyrics, and his son on the events that took place that inspired music artists to write such songs.
retro75
Love J.K Simmons, loved 'Awakenings'......mix the two and I thought 'yeah, this might just be worth a watch'. Worth a watch it certainly is but alas just like Gabes beard, the film is thin, patchy and could have looked a good bit better with just a little more detailing.JK is as always, a pleasant watch and a likable character. His support in the form of Cara Seymour was excellent & Lou Pucci did his best with a think script and thin beard. I could go on and on about that f*cking beard but shall neglect to other than to say WHY IN THE NAME OF GOD!!! It was a cliché too far and unrequired!....Would I recommend this film, yes but only if Awakenings wasn't available. That said this film touches on a more social connection than Awakenings and one which many father of lost teenage boys could maybe learn something from. Heck we could all learn something from this film........don't judge other peoples likes against your own as nobody will win!7/10 (and a generous 7/10)
AudioFileZ
Like the father and son in this music I too share the love of music that was bequeathed to me by my father. And not unlike Gabriel (the son) and Henry (the father) in "The Music Never Stopped", I and my father were from two very different generations as my father was 45 when I was born. Still there was a very tangible connection we both shared that goes on till this very day whenever I indulge daily in that love. But, how powerful is music? Can it bridge bigger things it has no right to? Absolutely! The power of something that stirs the emotions inside can never be diminished and therein lays the power that so few experiences in life bring.With that as "rock" (pun definitely intended) solid premise "The Music Never Stops" weaves an utterly heartwarming story told expertly to ring true; it doesn't condescend into trite maudlin territory. It's a beautiful piece of work about a "lost" son, who with catastrophic loss of memory due to a brain tumor who is able to reconnect for periods of time with his dad when they share the magic of music embedded in his psyche. The father's love of his son allows him to transcend the generational difference as he becomes a "Deadhead". Much can be read into what occurs in the story and each viewer will have their own moments of the soul stirring emotions bound by a certain soundtrack. There is a great universal truth here and it is presented with economy which serves to elevate this as, perhaps, one of the best independent films of this year (2011), or any other for that matter.See this movie because it deserves your attention. You will see a tour De force by much beloved comedic character actor J.K. Simmons; witness him as you've never imagined him. I have total respect for this man after seeing his light touch bring the father, Henry, to life. Combine that with the amazingly nuanced and deft acting of Lou Taylor Pucci in a difficult role exposing the brittle nature of mental illness and alienation of the son Gabriel. What you get is pure synergism of these two great performances in a sparse but highly moving script. I can't give higher praise except that the music used was some of the best that we will ever witness. Highly recommended!
Tony Heck
"Music elicits measurable responses in the brain's activity" After Henry (Simmons) has a fight with his son Gabriel (Pucci), he decides that home is no longer for him and leaves. 20 years later Gabriel is found with a brain tumor that eliminates long term memory. After thinking he is still in the sixties his parents struggle to find a way to communicate with him. When a therapist discovers that music is the answer his parents have to adjust their lives to get their son back. This is an amazing movie. Much like "Barney's Version" and "Trust", this is a movie that didn't get the advertising that this deserved and will not be seen by the audience it should have. An extremely touching movie that deals with a strained father and son relationship, and the struggle to reconnect. There is not enough good things I can say about this movie. Much like "Trust" this is a movie that has the possibility of helping people and can become much more then just a movie. I cannot recommend this enough, do yourself a favor and watch this movie. You will be moved to tears and be left with an absolutely satisfying feeling. Why can't more movies be this way? Overall, one of the best movies in the last 10 years, and next to "Barney's Version" the best movie of the year. I easily give it an A+.Would I watch again? - Absolutely.*Also try - Barney's Version & Mr. Holland's Opus
