Wow! Such a good movie.

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Don't listen to the negative reviews

Admirable film.

That does seem to be the general consensus regarding 'The Choir' and cannot disagree. Just for the record, these are my own thoughts written in this review, having read no reviews prior to seeing 'The Choir' and reading very few afterwards.Considering the cast, which is a great one (who can argue with Dustin Hoffmann and Kathy Bates?), 'The Choir' had real potential to be great, and should have been. Plus classical/choral music is very much prominent, and as somebody who adores both classical music and choral music and who has a lot of experience singing in choirs (having sung in professional-standard choirs since the age of 12 and featuring in eight recordings with various choirs over twelve years) that was a real treat for me.It is a shame that 'The Choir' didn't live up to the potential it had. Not a bad film by all means, but it could and should have been much better. The best thing about it is the music which is absolutely exceptional, so much so that it is what makes up more than one star of the average rating given by me.Lovely use of "Pie Jesu" (usually sung by a soprano but suits a treble just fine too) from Faure's 'Requiem', one of the masterworks in the choral repertoire. There is also a nice and healthy dose of Handel and brief but interesting use of Tallis' "Spem in Alium", a very long and difficult piece, 40 parts with 8 choirs with 5 voice parts in each, and when performing it with London Bach Choir it only just about came together in performance.Garrett Wareing is surprisingly good in the lead role, instead of being over-eager or overly cute he underplays while still being engaged it in. Dustin Hoffmann's character is underwritten but he brings gravitas and dignity, which is more than the character deserved. Eddie Izzard is in a role far removed from his usual stuff and does remarkably well, he is remarkably subtle when he could have over-compensated and makes much of what he has. The best lines and meatiest material belongs to Kathy Bates, and she clearly enjoys it and herself too. Debra Winger is finely dependable. Again, while the cast deserved better the actors do so well with what they had that they too bumped up the rating more than one star.A visually lovely film too, not expansive or cinematic but beautifully shot and with settings that suit the film perfectly.However, Giraud's direction while competent is routine, could have done much more with a great setting that could have been unique if done with more confidence. The story and script let things down considerably, like the music and cast each bumped up the average rating by more than one star the story and script each bumps it down one than one star. Personally do think that the over-familiarity and predictability of the story is a big problem, maybe it was hard not to be given the subject matter but there is nothing new here, with every plot twist sign-posted, and the emotional elements are often over-egged.Honestly, to me, it was like Giraud or the writers didn't have their hearts in it, which means that despite the music and the efforts of the cast that the film story-wise is nowhere near as interesting as ought and instead feels both rushed and dull, especially in the last 30 minutes. The last half and hour could easily have been inspiring, moving and uplifting but was neither, being too contrived and over-sentimentalised, the subplot adds nothing and can be seen from miles away.Frequently, the script is half-baked, underwritten and under-cooked and doesn't develop the characters at all in any point in the film. Hoffmann's character is particularly wronged, and in good hands it was a character that even when stereotypical could have been interesting, that it was amazing that Hoffmann actually managed to do anything with it, signs of a great actor, something that he has proved many times over the years.Renditions of the music varies. "Pie Jesu" is suitably angelic, while on the other end of the spectrum the "Hallelujah Chorus" is butchered with a lot of flatness and lack of unity, though the editing of the piece does deserve a huge part of the blame too.Overall, the cast and music, and to a lesser extent the production values, are very well, but the story, script and development of characters are severely wanting. 5/10 Bethany Cox

I recently caught this movie on VoD - and was really glad to have found it. While I agree with the other reviews here that the script and storyline are fairly predictable, what really makes this movie worth watching (and watching again) are two things : the music, and the performances. Talking of performances, Dustin Hoffman delivers a brilliant performance as expected of him. Particularly a few key moments really shine through with his under-toned delivery - like the scene in the school boardroom. Kathy Bates plays the perfect spoil to the uptight staff at school - and it is a joy to watch her. Equally brilliant is Debra Winger - who has perhaps just a few small scenes - and yet delivers a performance that adds to the movie. While I am no expert in music, the music slowly pulls you into the story, and really helps build the emotions in the story as we go along. I have watched this movie again - and the music itself forms a key character in the movie - I guess the credit goes to the Director to integrate the music so seamlessly. Overall it is a pleasant and uplifting - if sometimes light and cheesy - experience.

I absolutely loved this movie. It's beautiful! I though about it the entire week after I saw it and I cried when I watched it. Its very beautiful and the music is incredible. A piece of me will will forever be changed because of this movie. I feel inspired and happy whenever i watch it. I strongly recommend that you watch this movie, you'll love it. The story if about a young, rebellious boy with an amazing voice. The only thing he responds to is music. When his school headmistress shows him The Amarican Boychoir and lets him audition for them he bails but soon he's there again, now auditioning for their international school. During the movie you get to follow his life from the bottom to the absolute top. A wonderful story about a boy who has the talent to change his own life for good. Truly, this movie is the best thing I have ever seen and the most beautiful movie i have witnessed.

This movie, released in 2015, had a brief run recently at Princeton's nonprofit movie theater. It's the story of the fictional "National Boychoir School" and features the singing of students from the local, real-life American Boychoir School. ABS has fallen on hard financial times, and if it needed an infomercial to stimulate a really big donation, this is it. The movie stars Dustin Hoffman, Kathy Bates, Debra Winger, and Eddie Izzard in the adult roles, but director François Girard and writer Ben Ripley demand little of their talents. The story dwells mostly on the boys, and one particular boy (Garrett Wareing)—a misfit who arrives at the school unable even to read music, yet such a vocal prodigy that . . . yes, you can guess the rest. When the credits rolled and it turned out the movie had some affiliation with the Hallmark Hall of Fame, that was one of the least surprising moments in a string of non-surprises. Leaving aside its dramatic shortcomings, the creators' generosity with the music lifts the whole production. Actual ABS students are used in the production, according to a local news story, and director Girard said of the school, "It was extraordinary to see them at work. What they accomplish goes way beyond music." A good movie for kids and a pleasant, if unchallenging interlude for grownups, too.