And in a case of opposites attract, it turns out that Ramsay and Meghan have a little bit of a romance going on, but theyre trying to keep it low-key. Working with living legend Lumley was a dream come true for Macdonald, a fan. Culture Audience:Falling for Figaro will appeal primarily to fans of co-star Joanna Lumley and to people who like lightweight but appealing romantic dramedies. In Europe, film distribution rights were given to Twelve Oaks of Spain, Splendid in Benelux, Investacommerce in former Yugoslavian states, and Entertainment Film Distributors in the United Kingdom. How children should be raised has Damien Chazelle's Babylon isn't a film for everyone. Being musically gifted is a refrain that runs through several of Macdonalds movies, from her breakthrough hit playing a New Jersey rapper in Geremy Jaspers 2017 hit Patti Cake$, to stepping into the leather boots of revered rock journo Lillian Roxon in Unjoo Moons Helen Reddy biopic I Am Woman. setTimeout(function () { Danielle has lost more than 30 pounds along the way. We were, 'We got it. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Millie (Danielle Macdonald) is a brilliant young fund manager, who leaves her unfulfilling job and long-term boyfriend to chase her lifelong dream of becoming an jQuery(wrapper).css('top', jQuery(window).height() * 0.4 + wrapper.width() + wrapper.css('padding').replace('px', '') * 2); Let our Endless Summer collection of films at SBS On Demand warm you up. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. Im willing to do this, with or without your help., Patricia recommends that Millie get her training from an opera instructor whom Patricia knows named Meghan Geoffrey-Bishop (played by Lumley), who is based in the Scottish Highlands small town of Drumbuie. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. Danielle Macdonald Gives Falling for Figaro Something to Sing About. Composer: Cezary Skubiszewski WebMacdonald's charm and talent, and natural ability to sing, plus MIllie's two simmering romances and Joanna Lumley as her witheringly honest coach make Falling for Figaro an Meghan acts like such a domineering mother to Max that viewers might think that at some point there might be a reveal in the story that she really is Maxs mother, but that doesnt happen. Thankfully, the outcome of that contest isnt as predictable as most people might think it is. id: "captainform_js_global_vars", Instead, she opts to take a year to follow her lifelong dream of singing opera . Unschooled, but not undeterred, Millie heads to the Scottish Highlands to seek tutelage from an unorthodox teacher and former diva, Meghan Geoffrey-Bishop (a droll, withering Joanna Lumley ). And its not just because her boss happens to be her live-in boyfriend. textContent: 'var frmRef=""; try { frmRef=window.top.location.href; } catch(err) {}; var captainform_servicedomain="app.captainform.com";var cfJsHost = "https://";', Undemanding rom-com fans and, to a lesser degree, opera lovers, should take some mild pleasure in Falling for Figaro, although the humor isnt of Gilbert and Sullivan proportions. She also relished shooting darkly comic thriller The Tourist alongside Belfast lead Jamie Dornan, in the majestic surrounds of South Australias Flinders Ranges. ", Macdonald recalls sharing a stirring scene with Dornan that found the two completely locked into one another as they filmed. And I think we were literally cross-shooting a scene and it was an emotional scene, and we had a take each," she said. The way that Max takes the rejection indicates that he might be interested in Millie for more than professional reasons. Her characters are always measured whether they be a shy beauty contestant in Dumplin, an assault victim in the criminally under rewarded limited series Unbelievable, or proving herself as a rapstress in Patti Cake$. var popupParams = { Falling for Figaro is a 2021 romantic comedy film written and directed by Ben Lewin, and starring Joanna Lumley, Danielle Macdonald and Hugh Skinner. All rights reserved. Danielle Macdonald often plays formidable characters. In her new, light-as-an-aria rom-com, "Falling for Figaro," Macdonald plays Millie, a fund manager living in England with her boyfriend Charlie (Shazad Latif of " Profile "). When she is offered a big promotion at work, she turns it down, claiming it is not who she wants to be. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. } function resize7726056403a392e5660(wrapper){ It doesnt take long for Millie to confess to Charlie that shes going to take a big risk in her life to pursue a longtime dream of hers: She wants to become a professional opera singer. Oscars 2023: Just How Many Oscars Will Everything, Everywhere All at Once Win? var captainformDomReady = captainformDomReady || function(e){var t=!1,n=function(){document.addEventListener? window.addEventListener('resize', function(){ Which at first puts her in the bad books with Max, who feels shes treading on his toes. Culture Representation:Taking place primarily in Scotland and briefly in England, the romantic comedy/drama Falling for Figaro features a predominantly white cast of characters (with two people of Indian heritage and one black person) representing the working-class and middle-class. Max works at the Filthy Pig to supplement his income as he trains to become a professional opera singer. [20], Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter wrote "Undemanding rom-com fans and, to a lesser degree, opera lovers, should take some mild pleasure in Falling for Figaro, although the humor isn't of Gilbert and Sullivan proportions". It's just nice having that.". var captainformThemeStyle = {}; And I was mesmerised by her.. Falling for Figaro hits all the predictable beats of a romantic comedy/drama about a woman who goes outside her comfort zone and ends up finding true love. jQuery(wrapper).find('a').removeAttr('href'); captainform_create_form_popup(popupParams); } Of course not. Source: Paramount Pictures Australia. 2023 Oscar Predictions Who Are the Oscar Voters? You know where this is going, of course. In Australia and New Zealand, the film is distributed by Umbrella Entertainment and Paramount Pictures. [9] The production of the film was funded by Screen Australia, Screen Scotland and Film Victoria[3] and took only two winter months to make (DecemberJanuary). Thanks to a charming performance from Danielle Macdonald, the movie is slightly better than the usual schmaltz. var wrapper = jQuery('#captainformForm772605EmbedPopup6403a392e5660'); Its surprising that opera isnt more at the center of romantic comedies. No, thats a lie, there was Hairspray oh, look, theres one movie for me to see myself on screen, and its this really talented singer which I could never be, because She suggests that Max and Millie work on a duet together. A talented cast makes this movie mostly enjoyable to watch, because most viewers will know how this movie is going to end. A decades-long secret love affair between two older women is severely tested in Italian director Filippo Meneghettis moving tribute to loves ability to overcome all obstacles. [18], On 9 December 2020, the deal was reached between UK and other distributors. [5] It was screened at several film festivals in 2021, including the Film by the Sea Film Festival in Vlissingen, Netherlands, the Cinfest Sudbury International Film Festival,[11] the Berkshire International Film Festival[12] and the Sedona Film Festival. "That's a really nice thing to have. I do love music, so anytime something like that comes along, I want to say yes, because it really influences me in my life, Macdonald says. The romantic comedy seems like an artifact but this aria of a film is a lovely escape and something worth celebrating. 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(document.removeEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",d),window.removeEventListener("load",d)):(document.detachEvent("onreadystatechange",d),window.detachEvent("onload",d))},d=function(){t||!document.addEventListener&&"load"!==event.type&&"complete"!==document.readyState||(t=!0,n(),e())};if("complete"===document.readyState)e();else if(document.addEventListener)document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",d),window.addEventListener("load",d);else{document.attachEvent("onreadystatechange",d),window.attachEvent("onload",d);var o=!1;try{o=null==window.frameElement&&document.documentElement}catch(a){}o&&o.doScroll&&!function c(){if(!t){try{o.doScroll("left")}catch(d){return setTimeout(c,50)}t=!0,n(),e()}}()}}; var popupTrigger = jQuery("#captainformForm772605EmbedPopup6403a392e5660"); He has such good energy, and that is hard in high-pressure situations like [shooting a film] but hes really great.. It looks amazing in the film, but theres no way they could capture on camera just how breathtaking it was in person., Indeed, while her back was to the Loch as an incredible backdrop to a scene in which her former hedge fund manager turned aspiring opera singer Millie has a heart-to-heart with fellow hopeful Max (Fleabag star Hugh Skinner), she couldnt wait for Lewin to call cut. Honestly, there was one scene in there where Im sitting by the lake and Im wearing this orange jacket. captainform_preload_form_popup(popupParams); [10] The film's post production was in Melbourne, Australia, in February. var readyStateOverflowInterval; if('' == 'floating') { } All of which meant a lot of hard graft to get the look of opera singing right, even if the actual vocals for her performance were recorded back home by Opera Australia luminary and Australian-Mauritian soprano Stacey Alleaume. WebSalon spoke to the actor about her new film with Joanna Lumley, "Falling for Figaro" and performing music & comedy Ben Lewin directed Falling for Figaro and co-wrote the movies screenplay with Allen Palmer. An entrancing adaptation: 'On Chesil Beach' review. captainForm772606PreloadInterval6403a392e54a0 = setInterval(function(){ By Frank Scheck September Millie, an American fund manager, realises one day that her life-long dream is to become an opera singer. Its surprising that opera isnt more at the center of romantic comedies. captainformCustomVars['772605'] = ''; Thats why weve pulled together this snappy little list of 90-minute or less films that will hit the spot. IFC Films released Falling for Figaro in select U.S. cinemas, on digital and VOD on October 1, 2021. var captainformCustomVars = {}; It's really kind of special when you can come in and just connect instantly. However, in the past, she weighed around 200 pounds. And so, off Millie goes to Scotland with big dreams, a lot of hope and the expected amount of fear that she might end up failing. The films heroine, Millie (Macdonald, of Patti Cake$ and Dumplin), is an American working at a London finance firm. [15], Falling for Figaro was released by various distributors almost all over the world. Absolutely Fabulous co-star Joanne Lumley, who has been typecast as portraying cranky battle-axes with an acerbic wit, does more of the same type of performance in Falling for Figaro. However, Lumleys fans should enjoy how she embodies the role with such comedic commitment that viewers will wonder what foul and mean-spirited things will come out next from this characters mouth. Up until Millie comes along, Max was the only student of Meghan, who is very choosy about which people she wants to train. He falls asleep during the performance. Unfortunately, my plaudits for Falling for Figaro mostly end there".[23]. Are we asking for revelations from Falling for Figaro? Millie impulsively gives it all up to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming an opera singer. Advanced warning: I've never read Emily Bront's now-classic gothic novel Wuthering Heights. And thats why the main appeal of Falling for Figaro is with Millies character, thanks to Macdonalds relatable and grounded performance in a movie that largely follows a fairytale formula. Producers: Philip Wade, Judi Levine, Arabella Page Croft Top Gun: Maverick, Banshees of Inisherin, All Quiet on the Western Front Win at MPSE. [5], On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 73% based on 26 critics, with an average rating of 6.5/10. No, Im not over Tuff Love missing out on an Oscar nomination. Danielle Macdonald (pictured) as seen in Stan's mystery thriller series The Tourist 'I'm not a confident singer in any way, shape or form, but I did have to sing on set for this,' she said. Is The Last of Us The Walking Dead For Smart People? By Tania Hussain if(typeof cfJsHost != 'undefined'){ The grand goal is to compete in career-making competition, Singer of Renown. elementType: "script", Production companies: Such Much Films, 5 Name Films, Black Camel Pictures, Southern Light Films That the veteran actress manages to inject some fresh notes into her portrayal is a testament to her steadfast professionalism. If you would like to talk to Joey about cheese, corgis, or Julianne Moore, follow him on Twitter or Instagram. Take a Charlie thinks that Millie is making a mistake to pursue a career as an opera singer. }, 10); Millie (whos in her early 30s) and Charlie (whos in his mid-to-late 30s) met when he interviewed her to work at the company. Cast: Danielle Macdonald, Hugh Skinner, Joanna Lumley, Gary Lewis, Shazad Latif, Rebecca Benson I will never forget that ever.. The formulaic storyline fails to sustain interest, not helped by the sluggish pacing and predictable gags and characterizations. He is a proud member of GALECA, Critics Choice, and HCA. And it really was because we spent five months together. I practised every single day in LA and while shooting another movie in Canada before I came to Scotland, and then every single day when I got there, she says. Danielle Macdonald as an opera singer in Falling for Figaro. Clad in flowing caftans and sporting a welcome frown, Meghan takes on coaching Millie with the nimble cruelty that Simon Cowell took behind the desk on those first few scenes of American Idol. var readyStateOverflowInterval; Patricia warns Millie about Meghan: Shes a little unorthodox. A more accurate description of Meghan is, Shes a little crazy and very rude.. Not surprisingly, Meghan rips into Millie not just for her performance but also to personally insult Millie. captainform_create_form_popup(popupParams); else if ('' == 'right') (In other words, hes nosy.) My voice didnt sound good, but you have to do it technically right, like the breathing, the notes, the saying of words the right way, because theyre all in different languages. [22], Other critics were less positive. Moving to America, halfway Theres just nothing like it in the world. } In her latest work, Falling for Figaro, Macdonald is given her first starring role since Patti Cake$ in the story of Millie, a brilliant young American fund manager living in MOVIE stars Hugh Skinner and Danielle Macdonald took to the streets of Glasgow city centre to film scenes for the upcoming romantic comedy Falling for Figaro. Millie says defiantly in response to this skepticism, Patricia, Im not that old, and it is not too late. I could never hit those notes! It was really terrifying but Jen was like, Okay Ill go first, and she does it Even though Millie is on the fast track to a big promotion at her job, shes actually bored and frustrated with her career choice. Millie describes Charlie as her significant other. Maxs response: It doesnt exactly sound like a love match. Meanwhile, Meghan sees that theres some friction between Max and Millie. [2], Guy Lodge of Variety called Falling for Figaro "A corny, cute-enough carpe diem comedy",[21] while Roxana Hadadi of RogerEbert.com said "The performances are what make Falling for Figaro an entertaining distraction, even as the film plays out exactly as you would expect". In the case of Millie Cantwell (Danielle Macdonald), an affluent London fund manager who turns down a major promotion to become an opera singer, shes able to Settling in at the towns sole hotel, which also contains its only pub, Millie soon discovers that she has a competitor in Max (Skinner, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! No, I dont sing Do you know how high Dolly Parton sings? There are no flashbacks in this movie. else if ('' == 'right') captainformThemeStyle['772606'] = ''; jQuery(wrapper).css('top', jQuery(window).height() * 0.4 - wrapper.outerHeight()); ), another long-suffering student of Meghans who has competed numerous times in the contest without success. The Tourist finds Macdonald's overly kind and thoughtful probationary constable tasked with helping Dornan's mysterious character, known simply as The Man, retrace his steps after waking up in hospital with amnesia following a menacing truck driver chasing him off the road. Its a very beautiful place, Scotland., Max (Hugh Skinner) and Millie (Danielle Macdonald) are both training to enter an opera singing competition. The song features the former president reciting the Pledge of Allegiance while alleged members of the mob that laid siege to the Capitol on January 6, 2021, sing the national anthem. Millie and Max, whose facial expression never deviates from glum, become instant rivals. I learned to rap and performed for "Patti Cake$," but because it's spoken word, it terrified me less. People who love opera will die for it, and Ben Lewins Falling For Figaro is a sweet escape featuring another lovable turn from Danielle Macdonald. If they are not taught well, will they be able to lead the way? The first scene in the movie shows Millie and Charlie on a date together at an opera performance. jQuery(wrapper).find('a').removeAttr('href'); Oscars 2023: Preview and Predictions + Contest! But somehow, Millie and Charlie have worked it out and are open about their personal relationship while keeping things professional at work. Millie declines his offer and seems a little insulted because she thinks Max is being condescending to her. He is a Rotten Tomatoes approved critic, and he has also appeared in Xtra Magazine. For her audition piece, Millie sings Voi Che Sapete from The Marriage of Figaro. Shes nervous and stumbles in her vocal delivery because during the audition, Max has been working on some plumbing nearby, and the loud noise is very distracting. Macdonald plays Millie, and American living in London and working as a fund manager. } Skinner and Lumley play those roles accordingly. In Lumleys hilarious claws, Meghan is Maria Callas meets Miranda Priestley. popupTrigger.click(function(){ }, true); Sign up for a chance to win prizes (such as free gift cards) and get priority alerts or invitations to the hottest lifestyle/culture news, discounts and promotions. } Max as a love interest is a little bit on the bland side, while Meghan can be a little too over-the-top with her cruel comments. Source: Paramount Pictures Australia. The distributor for Taiwan will be Central Motion Picture Corporation, while people in the Middle East will enjoy it via Phoenicia Pictures. She works at a corporate job as a fund He doesnt seem too pleased when he finds out that Millie has a boyfriend back home. } [7], Falling for Figaro was screened for industry professionals in the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival's Industry Selects section, but was not made available for viewing by the general public. }, 10); }, true); var captainformCustomVars = {}; The Touristpremieres on HBO Max on Thursday, March 3. }); "[You think], 'This is going to be so easy.' Its still crazy to me, honestly, but shes very warm and welcoming, and so instantly, you just feel connected to her because she brings you in., A country mile away from the bullying tactics of her character Meghan, Lumley does, however, share her pointed wit. Birthplace: Australia. Attica Review: A stirring, devastating, and definitive documentary account of the 1971 prison uprising. formId: '772605' The movie, which also stars Joanna Lumley, tells the story of a young fund manager who chases a dream of becoming an opera singer. Viewers will learn nothing about how and why she ended up living in the United Kingdom and what kind of family background she has. It has all come down to this, friends. Review: Emma Mackey Soars To Dizzying Heights in Emily, Sundance Catch-Up: Slow Tingles With Possibility and Longing. Meghan goes on a rant that includes saying haughtily to Millie, I havent finished telling you how worthless you are! Meghan warns Millie that if Millie becomes Meghans student, Meghan will make Millies life miserable. Macdonalds current weight is 74 kg (163 pounds). Max tries to make Millie feel inferior by telling her that hes been training with Meghan for so long, he can help Millie with some vocal techniques. Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. captainformDomReady(function() { function resize7726066403a392e54a0(wrapper){ Cast: Danielle Macdonald, Hugh Skinner, Joanna Lumley, Gary Lewis, Shazad Latif, Rebecca Benson. ", She adds how the actor, best known for his roles in The Fall and the multi-award nominated Belfast is a "really funny guy" despite most of his acting credits portraying some very dark and serious roles. For more onTheTourist, Danielle Macdonald and Jamie Dornan, stick to PopCulture.com for the latest. I can tell you that after 22 years of covering the Oscars that they are mostly meaningless. }); elementType: "script", }, 50); But make no mistake: Falling for Figaro is utterly formulaic in its story arc and structure. Lewin and co-screenwriter Allen Palmer dont exactly raise the dramatic stakes very high. F or the past few years, Danielle Macdonald has appeared on Up and Coming lists. jQuery(wrapper).css('top', jQuery(window).height() * 0.4 - wrapper.outerHeight()); Youre going to rue the day that you hired me.. As Luciano Pavarotti demonstrated in Yes, Giorgio, his woeful attempt at screen stardom, opera and romantic comedy dont necessarily mix well onscreen. One of the waiters at the Filthy Pig is named Max (played by Hugh Skinner), an occasionally sullen introvert in his mid-30s. Culture Clash:A successful fund manager, who is bored with her job and with her life, goes on a leave of absence to train as an opera singer, but she has conflicts with her singing instructor and the instructors longtime protg. [17] According to Arianna Bocco, the newly anointed president of IFC Films, the film is planned to be released in North America in 2021. She works at a corporate job as a fund manager. And that's what I love about it. The Filthy Pigs bartender Ramsay Macfadyen (played by Gary Lewis), whos about the same age as Meghan, is the type of friendly person who knows regular customers by their names. Meanwhile, Charlie could care less about opera. [16], The US distribution rights for the film were brought by IFC Films on 7 December 2020. All Rights Reserved. Casting: Simone Pereira Hind, Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. Falling for Figaro is far from a groundbreaking romantic movie, but its a pleasant-enough diversion for people who want the cinematic equivalent of comfort food. var popupParams = { The star of Netflix's 'Dumplin'' Danielle Macdonald talks body Macdonald really did wear her statement-making one piece in front of a 200-person crowd. What isnt so creative is how many of the supporting characters end up being unremarkable clichs. setTimeout(function () { In Japan the film is scheduled to be released via Happinet, while in South Korea, Entermode will become the distributor. The movie has the added benefit of being set in the world of opera competitions, which is a unique context for a romantic comedy/drama. In Falling for Figaro, Macdonald portrays Millie Cantwell, an American living in an unnamed big city in England. Her singing voice was replaced by that of a real soprano when she played an opera singer opposite Joanna Lumleys retired diva in Falling for Figaro, but I was if ('' == 'left') Apparently its accidental. [8], Falling for Figaro was filmed in locations in the Scottish Highlands and Trossachs including Glencoe, Loch Lomond and two theatres in Glasgow. [10], The film includes music from many renowned operas, including The Barber of Seville, The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, Romeo and Juliet, La traviata[10] and Carmen. } Will Millie and Max become lovers, or will she reunite with the still-interested boyfriend she left behind? Director: Ben Lewin And because Millie has no other immediate options, she practically begs Meghan to be her vocal instructor. Executive producers: Donall McCusker, Kieran Parker, John Wade, Timothy White It was so nice to be back in Australia for such a long period of time and to be in the outback. Danielle Macdonald wowed us as a rapper wannabe in Patti Cake$, a beauty contestant wannabe in Dumplin, and now, fall in love with her all over again as an opera singer wannabe in Falling for Figaro. But did the actress sing in the film? And in order to do that, Millie is going to take a year off from her job to go through opera training. clearInterval(captainForm772605PreloadInterval6403a392e5660); Director of photography: Nic Lawson Costume designer: Carole Frasher Ben Lewin, comedy, Danielle Macdonald, drama, Falling for Figaro, Gary Lewis, Hugh Skinner, Joanna Lumley, movies, music, opera, Rebecca Benson, reviews, Scotland, Shazad Latif. Short on time? [14], WestEnd Films announced on 24 September 2020 that distribution rights for the film had been sold to several partners in various international markets. The biggest question is, Will any viewers care? window.addEventListener('resize', function(){ Millis hires Meghan Geoffrey-Bishop as her vocal coach, and she is embodied by the one and only Joanna Lumley. [I] felt super safe with him at all times, which I think is also so important because it means you can really play on-screen and really trust that the other person is going to be there and open with you. Shes featured in Young Hollywood rundowns and has been named One to Watch. His name is Charlie (played by Shazad Latif), and hes proud of Millies success as a fund manager and wants to promote her to a higher position. }); Early on in the movie, she jokingly says to him in private: Im going to make more money than you. HBO Max's highly anticipated six-part series The Tourist makes its North American debut on Thursday, March 3.But while series star Danielle Macdonald couldn't be more excited for audiences to watch the comedy thriller, the Australian actress is particularly happy about the scenes she shares with her co-star Jamie Dornan.In an exclusive with Review: Close Heartbreakingly Captures Adolescents in Angst, The Revolting Children Are Our Future in Netflixs Winning Adaptation of Roald Dahls Matilda the Musical, Babylon: Chazelles Playing It Fast and Loose and All That Jazz, Peter Dinklage Is Cyrano, Here Is the Trailer, 2023 Oscar Nominee: Director Santiago Mitre on Why the Message Behind Argentina, 1985 Remains More Relevant Than Ever.