[Extended Cut]
I loved Tom Hanks’ That Thing You Do! so much that it’s definitely a new favorite film of mine. The 60’s vibe was executed so well, the soundtrack is insanely catchy, there’s so many iconic shots and scenes. I now understand why La La Land director Damien Chazelle loves this film so much.
The film follows a 60’s teenage pop band “The One-ders”, who take their town of Erie, PA by storm with their track “That Thing You Do!” written by lead vocalist Jimmy. A manager approaches them and gets their track on the radio. When their song blows up, they upgrade their manager with Mr. White (Tom Hanks) of Play-Tone Records. Booking them for tours, radio shows, making them a global sensation. But like as the case for many bands, they slowly realize they’re entering one-hit wonder territory, which further heightens already boiling tensions between the band members.
I wish Hanks directed more, I was thoroughly surprised with the sauce here. The way the drumming was shot and edited was clearly an influence for Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash. There’s a scene when they first hear their song on the radio, and it’s one of the most well-crafted moments of pure joy I’ve seen put to screen.
That Thing You Do! is definitely entering my ever growing list of favorite films, and is definitely in comfort watch territory. I said already and I’ll say it again, I loved this film so much.
Fun fact: Main character Guy Patterson was played by Tom Everett Scott. His last big role was actually in Damien Chazelle’s La La Land as Mia’s future husband. Chazelle hired him because of his love for this film and how it influenced the film, along with his other works like Whiplash and Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench.
[Extended Cut]
I loved Tom Hanks’ That Thing You Do! so much that it’s definitely a new favorite film of mine. The 60’s vibe was executed so well, the soundtrack is insanely catchy, there’s so many iconic shots and scenes. I now understand why La La Land director Damien Chazelle loves this film so much.
The film follows a 60’s teenage pop band “The One-ders”, who take their town of Erie, PA by storm with their track “That Thing You Do!” written by lead vocalist Jimmy. A manager approaches them and gets their track on the radio. When their song blows up, they upgrade their manager with Mr. White (Tom Hanks) of Play-Tone Records. Booking them for tours, radio shows, making them a global sensation. But like as the case for many bands, they slowly realize they’re entering one-hit wonder territory, which further heightens already boiling tensions between the band members.
I wish Hanks directed more, I was thoroughly surprised with the sauce here. The way the drumming was shot and edited was clearly an influence for Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash. There’s a scene when they first hear their song on the radio, and it’s one of the most well-crafted moments of pure joy I’ve seen put to screen.
That Thing You Do! is definitely entering my ever growing list of favorite films, and is definitely in comfort watch territory. I said already and I’ll say it again, I loved this film so much.
Fun fact: Main character Guy Patterson was played by Tom Everett Scott. His last big role was actually in Damien Chazelle’s La La Land as Mia’s future husband. Chazelle hired him because of his love for this film and how it influenced the film, along with his other works like Whiplash and Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench.
