Page 1 of [VIDEO] Eurovision Song Contest - the movie, not the show.

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[VIDEO] Eurovision Song Contest - the movie, not the show.

Pete-MK (Elite Donator) posted this on Monday, 6th July 2020, 23:11

Will Ferrell's an odd one. Genuinely nice bloke, sterling actor when he pushes himself, referees for his kids' soccer team league, and thanks to Graham Norton's introduction, a massive fan of the ESC, so he wrote a movie about it.

For blimey-knows what reason, I found myself watching this Saturday night, and it's pretty OK.

Will & Rachael McAdams play an Icelandic musical duo with dreams of winning Eurovision, but their isolated location, as well as opposition from Will's father, played with a startlingly authentic Icelandic accent by Pierce Brosnan seem to be major barriers to them getting anywhere near their dream.

By sheer luck, their demo tape is chosen to make up the numbers for the regional competition, and other factors in play cement their position in the actual competition itself held, for some reason, in Edinburgh (which would mean that the UK won it the previous year, despite one of the characters joking that the UK never wins the Eurovision).

And here's the thing, a lot of reviewers seem to be taking this film far too seriously for what it is, and pointing out factual errors about the film's depiction of the contest's rules & regulations. Seemingly oblivious to the long-held reality that Eurovision is a joke. It's a campy farce only taken seriously by the few countries who think it's a serious competition. Also, Rachel is supposed to be about 50 according to the timeline, but she looks bloody good for it.

At its heart, it's a love story between Will & Rachel (Lars & Sigrit), trying to chase their individual dreams that are more intertwined than they realise. The staging is great, having been filmed during last year's ESC in Israel, so they had an audience on standby. And the songs are actually pretty good. Well, a couple are anyway.

Naturally, former winners get a look in, Conchita's there, as is Netta, who very nearly made me punch my screen during the few seconds she was polluting it with her presence.

There's cringe moments, but it's a Ferrell vehicle, so it's to be expected. But overall it's a solid 7.75/10. Don't look at it too deeply, enjoy the farce and the obvious affection on display, enjoy the music, but above all, don't p*** off the elves.

I'll post this, even though it's a partial spoiler


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This item was edited on Tuesday, 7th July 2020, 00:51

RE: [VIDEO] Eurovision Song Contest - the movie, not the show.

admars (Elite) posted this on Tuesday, 7th July 2020, 07:39

Scott Mills has been talking about this a bit on the radio, and enjoyed it, he says though that the film is probably aimed at Europeans, as most Americans won't have a clue who Graham Norton is, or what Eurovision is, so won't get it :)

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[VIDEO] RE:Eurovision Song Contest - the movie, not the show.

RJS (undefined) posted this on Tuesday, 7th July 2020, 08:17

Another review:




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RE: [VIDEO] Eurovision Song Contest - the movie, not the show.

alfie noakes (Elite) posted this on Tuesday, 7th July 2020, 11:01

I have seen this, I am not a Eurovision fan. It's absolutely an OK film. A bit odd, but entirely fine.

The songs are supposed to be caricatures of Eurovision songs but would absolutely not be out of place in the real thing. 

The most ludicrous notion in the film is that the contest is being held in Edinburgh, meaning that a UK act must have won in the previous year. Ridiculous.

One of the Icelandic Eurovision comittee is played by Ólafur Darri Ólafssonan (a real Icelandic person) He plays the boyfreind of Maria Bamford's character in the brilliantly mad sitcom Lady Dynamite. This is of no interest to anyone but me but I just had to say it out loud...

Quote:
Pete-MK says...
"thanks to Graham Norton's introduction, a massive fan of the ESC, so he wrote a movie about it."

Ferrell's wife is Swedish so this may also have a lot to do with it. I know he goes to Sweden a lot. Sweden take Eurovision quite seriously.

This item was edited on Tuesday, 7th July 2020, 11:05

RE: [VIDEO] Eurovision Song Contest - the movie, not the show.

bandicoot (Elite) posted this on Wednesday, 8th July 2020, 12:02

Can someone tel me why Israel and recently Australia are in the Eurovision contest. I am sure both countries are not in the Euro zone 

RE: [VIDEO] Eurovision Song Contest - the movie, not the show.

alfie noakes (Elite) posted this on Wednesday, 8th July 2020, 13:22

Quote:
bandicoot says...
"Can someone tel me why Israel and recently Australia are in the Eurovision contest. I am sure both countries are not in the Euro zone"

Because it's not a European only song contest. It's a European hosted song contest. They can invite anyone they want into it. It never was only open to European countries, this is a perennial  misinterpretation.

Thanks from: admars

[VIDEO] RE:Eurovision Song Contest - the movie, not the show.

bandicoot (Elite) posted this on Wednesday, 8th July 2020, 22:14

I still think the best eurovision song of all was a 'Father Ted' spoof song, and impossible to get that tune out of your mind 

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