Fame (2009 film)

Fame is a 2009 American musical film and is a loose remake of the 1980 film of the same title. It was directed by Kevin Tancharoen and written by Allison Burnett. It was released on September 25, 2009 in the USA, Canada, Ireland and the UK.

Plot

Freshman year

Students learn on the first day of classes that their teachers expect them to know everything. In dance class, Ms. Kraft is worried about Kevin's dancing, but is easily impressed by Alice. In acting class, Jenny feels uncomfortable to let loose and be crazy like everyone else. In music class, Mr. Cranston gives Victor pointers, while Denise plays the music perfectly on the piano. In the lunchroom, everyone practices their major and they all get up and dance (This Is My Life), while Denise and Malik escape the madness and they talk to each other, Denise saying that her parents thinks that the school is "people sitting around, practicing cello all day", and that they would die if they saw this. Malik reveals that his mom doesn't even know that he is coming to the school. Just before freshman year ends, it shows Malik at his apartment, his mom finding his report card, making it clear that he goes to P.A. She is angry but he continues to go to the school. The year closes after she goes to work and leaves Malik standing alone.

Sophomore year

As the new school year begins, it shows the dancers all practicing in a circle, but once it is Kevin's turn, he is out-shined and is forced to go back in his original spot. Victor is having trouble sticking to the right music, and adds his own spin on whatever he is playing, which doesn't sit well with Mr. Cranston. Malik, in theater class, talks about his dead sister, Iana, causing Mr. Dowd to ask questions that he refuses to answer. Malik then leaves, stating that he's going to be famous, no matter what anyone else says. Denise is playing her classical piano, but then starts to sing, assuming she is alone. (Out Here on My Own) When she leaves it is revealed to the audience that Malik was watching the whole time. He brings her to Victor and convinces her to sing for the album that they are producing. She agrees to it, as long as her strict father doesn't find out. At a Halloween party, Malik plays the song, but says the vocals are "anonymous", upsetting Denise, which confuses Malik. Joy is in the park, drinks beer, gets up and does a rap, vomiting at the end of it. Neil captures this in his documentary and presents it to the class. Marco asks Jenny out on a date (though not for the first time). She agrees to go with him to dinner at his dad's restaurant, where she convinces him to play a song and sing on the piano. He does (Try), and she gives him a money tip. The sophomore year portion of the movie ends with them kissing.

Junior year

Joy has another audition, but is annoyed, because the other girls against her always seem to get the part. Neil says that he is meeting with a producer for a short, independent film he wrote and hopes to direct himself. Marco and Jenny go to a party, where Jenny sees a boy name Andy Matthews, a former P.A. student who is now a professional actor and known player. He tells her that he can have her meet with his agent, and the naive Jenny gives him her number. Marco leaves, having seen the last part, and Jenny runs out after him. They have a minor fight, but she promises that she will never talk to Andy again, and they go back to her house. Victor, Malik, and Denise meet with a man from a record company, who says that their demo is interesting, and he will play it at the next meeting and get back to them. Victor and Malik are overjoyed, but Denise is still hesitant. At the next meeting, the producer tells them that Denise is the reason he was interested in their music. He tries to persuade her to stay. Joy tells Jenny and Neil that she got a part-time acting job on Sesame Street and is very excited about it. Ms. Rowan, the voice teacher, takes some of the students to a karaoke bar where she ends up singing as well. Jenny goes to meet Andy despite what she said to Marco. When she arrives, Andy tells her the director is out sick. He comes onto her, but she stops him and angrily leaves. She tells Marco, and he asks if Andy tried anything, saying that he knew this would happen and that if fame was really that important to her then he hopes she gets the job. He then leaves her sobbing his name on a rooftop. Neil tries to get his equipment for the movie, but when he tries to find his producer, he is discovered to be gone, along with the $5,000.

Senior year

Kevin has a meeting with Ms. Kraft, the dance teacher, because he asked her to write him a letter of recommendation. She says she can not write him the letter, because she believes he is not talented enough to become a professional dancer. Meanwhile, as they talk, Alice is dancing to (Black and Gold) practicing her jazz piece. This conversation with Ms. Kraft causes him to attempt suicide by stepping in front of a subway car. Joy, Rosie, and Jenny are there to stop him. Victor is told by his girlfriend, Alice, that she is going on a world tour next week. He asks if she will visit him, but she says that after P.A. couples usually go their separate ways. Joy drops out of school before graduation because she is working on Sesame Street full-time now and her grades have suffered. Malik talks with Mr. Dowd about his father, which leads to Mr. Dowd telling him about breaking down his walls. Victor, Malik and Denise put on a hip-hop concert at a club at which her parents are at, but Denise told them it was classical jazz because of her fathers wishes for her to pursue classical piano and not vocals. Despite this, she goes on anyway and wins over her mother during the performance. Marco, along with Neil, Joy, and Rosie, is there to watch but when he sees Jenny come in, he says he has to go. Jenny stops him from leaving, saying that she's been thinking a lot about him, and that it kills her that she hurt him. Later, during the concert, he puts his arms around her and they smile at each other. When Denise leaves with her parents, her dad is outraged and tells her that he is pulling her out of P.A., even though she is about to graduate. Her mom stops him and says that if Denise wants to sing, she should sing.

Graduation

Before graduation, Jenny gives a speech about success to the graduating class, saying that she felt it when she was in the school. Kevin tells Joy that he is moving back to Iowa, and that he is going to be the best damn dance teacher there's ever been. During the graduation performance, everybody participates (Hold Your Dream), with Denise as the main singer. It ends with all the characters followed graduating (except Joy and Alice).

Cast

The main cast is featured on the official website.

Naturi Naughton as Denise Dupree

Kay Panabaker as Jenny Garrison

Collins Pennie as Malik Washburn

Asher Book as Marco Ramonte

Paul Iacono as Neil Baczynsky

Anna Maria Perez de Taglé as Joy Moy

Paul McGill as Kevin Barrett

Kherington Payne as Alice Ellerton

Walter Perez as Victor Taveras

Debbie Allen as Principal Angela Simms

Charles S. Dutton as Mr. Alvin Dowd

Bebe Neuwirth as Ms. Lynn Kraft

Megan Mullally as Ms. Fran Rowan

Kelsey Grammer as Mr. Joel Cranston

Debbie Allen as Principal Angela Simms

Kristy Flores as Rosie Martinez

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was released to stores and digital outlets on August 25, 2009. It features a blend of American standards and new pieces, written specifically for the movie. Included from the original movie are the piano ballad "Out Here On My Own" and the title theme (both sung by Irene Cara for the first film).

Track listing

#"Welcome to P.A." - Raney Shockne #"Fame" - Naturi Naughton #"Big Things" - Anjulie #"Ordinary People" - Asher Book #"This Is My Life" - Hopsin, Ak'Sent, Tynisha Keli & Donte "Burger" Winston #"Out Here on My Own" - Naturi Naughton #"Street Hustlin'" - Raney Shockne feat. Stella Moon #"You'll Find a Way" (Switch & Sinden Remix) - Santigold #"Can't Hide from Love" - Naturi Naughton & Collins Pennie #"Black & Gold" - Sam Sparro #"Back to Back" - Collins Pennie feat Ashleigh Haney #"I Put a Spell on You" - Raney Shockne feat. Eddie Wakes #"Get On the Floor" - Naturi Naughton & Collins Pennie #"Try" - Asher Book #"You Took Advantage of Me" - Megan Mullally #"Too Many Women" (Damon Elliott Remix) - Rachael Sage #"Someone to Watch Over Me" - Asher Book #"You Made Me Love You" - Raney Shockne feat. Oren Waters #"Hold Your Dream" - Kay Panabaker, Asher Book & Naturi Naughton

Additionally, a More Music From Fame and a solo album by Naturi Naughton titled Fame Presents Naturi Naughton as Denise: Didn't I Tell You? were released in February 2010.

Charts

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Chart ! Peak Position |- | 2009 | Australian Albums Chart |align="center"|59 |- |}

Reception

Critical

}} The film has received generally unfavorable reviews from critics. Rotten Tomatoes reported that 27% of critics gave the film positive reviews based on 103 reviews with an average score of 4.5/10. For its general consensus, they conclude that "Fame is ultimately undone by its choppy editing, its incomplete characterizations..."

Box office

The film opened at #3 behind Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and the newly released Surrogates with approximately $10,011,682. The film has grossed $22,455,510 domestically and $50,930,003 in the foreign market making an international gross of $73,385,513.

References

External links

Category:2009 films Category:American films Category:English-language films Category:Film remakes Category:Lakeshore Entertainment films Category:United Artists films Category:MGM films Category:Directorial debut films Category:2000s musical films Category:Teen films