JOYFUL NOISE

US, 2012, 118 minutes, Colour.
Queen Latifah, Dolly Parton, Jeremy Jordan, Keke Palmer, Kris Kristofferson, Courtney B. Vance.
Directed by Todd Graff.

Joyful Noise has two grand ladies of the American music tradition, Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton. For most of this film acting as rivals, but eventually there is peace in the town, and the choir, among the families.

The setting is Georgia, a small town, a large African-American? population, but collaboration between black and white members of the community. There are scenes of the two families, that of Vi Rose, Queen Latifah, whose husband has joined the army and has not returned home. She also has an ambitious granddaughter who has musical talent, Keke Palmer. On the other hand there is G. G., played by Dolly Parton, looking rather renovated for her role, especially when she wears the choir robe, taking it in at the waist, not letting it hang like the others. She is married to Kris Kristofferson, the conductor of the choir, but he dies by the end of the credits. However, he does have a fantasy opportunity to appear later in the file and dance with his wife.

There is trouble when the pastor names Vi Rose as the new director of the choir rather than G. G. However, Vi Rose is very traditionalist, in her choosing of the music and in its presentation. The pastor, Courtney B. Vance is on her side.

However, the younger generation, G.G’s grandson, Jeremy Jordan, falls in love with Keke Palmer, joins the choir and advocates new styles of singing, music, movement.

Arriving choir is discovered to have cheated giving the local choir the opportunity to compete, doing a rather spectacular finale, which we did not seem them practice very much, a surprise success.

1. The joyful noise, music, song? Secular songs, religious songs? Competitions?

2. The familiar plot, rivalries, old-fashioned music, the need for change, singing competitions?

3. The Georgia setting, the locations, the town, homes, the church? The world of music? The particular world? The African-American? focus?

4. The credibility of the plot, Bernard and his conducting, his leadership, his collapse and death? The choir and its devotion to him? The role of G. G. And her life with Bernard? Bernard and the discussions, reactions about the choir, his later appearances, dancing with his wife, a presence throughout the film?

5. The competition, the selection of music, Vi Rose and tradition? The pastor, providing funding, his traditional approach? The issue of the new leader? G. G and the rivalry with Vi Rose? The selection and the reaction? Vi Rose and her dominance? G. G. And her sulking?

6. The two women, Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton, two strong actresses, music traditions and singing? The appointment, the issue of the repertoire, the challenge to the decision, determination to win the competition?

7. The pastor, his leadership, love of the choir, wanting to win, making the appointment of the conductor, his idea of the selection, his disapproving of the change? Threatening to withdraw all the funding?

8. Randy, his story, the grandson coming home, a life of trouble, his attraction to Vi Rose’s granddaughter? place in the choir, her talent, leadership? Age and experience? The attraction to Randy? Going out, the decision to go to find Randy’s grandfather, visiting the army centre, meeting the officials, the discussion with the grandfather, his motivations for leaving? Randy at the practice, different music, different routines?

9. The granddaughter, her mother, a young woman, singing, modern, at practices, going out, accompanying Randy? The concern of the people, assumption that they had run away?

10. Vi Rose and her stubbornness, at home, the memories of her husband, her attitude towards him, her having to change because of the choir and its wanting to be more modern?

11. The choir, the personalities, the women, the men, individuals, their role in the town, contributions to the choir, black and white? Individual performances of songs? The large lady who thought that she had no hope, her relationship with Chinese man, his death?

12. Randy and his application online to be a minister, his threats to sponsor the choir, the reaction of the pastor?

13. Performances, the choir and cheating, the success of the group?

14. The year later, the wedding, the return of the grandfather, happiness all round?

15. The American style, sentiment and tone, extroverted emotion? Music? For non-Americans?