“The Last Five Years” movie musical is about to debut in Philippine cinemas this February 18 starring Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan. This adaptation of the hit Broadway musical of the same title ‘The Last Five Years’ is a musical deconstruction of a love affair and a marriage taking place over a five year period.
Jamie (Jeremy Jordan), a young, talented up-and-coming Jewish novelist falls in love with Cathy (Anna Kendrick), a Shiksa Goddess and struggling actress. The film, told almost entirely through song and a beautiful pop music score, portrays an honest, heartbreaking, often funny, exploration of love and its consequences on individual identity.
Their love story is told using an intercutting timeline device where all of Cathy’s songs begin at the end of their marriage to the beginning of their love affair, while Jamie’s songs start at the beginning of their love affair to the end of their marriage.
“The Last Five Years” movie opened to warm acclaim citing that Kendrick belts her way through Cathy’s songs with strong vocal technique and owns every note. Likewise, Jeremy Jordan is a vocal powerhouse who soars through the score. Both actors bring the emotional weight when it’s required but also the perfect amount of young energy and sexual passion to their characters thanks to LaGravenese’s direction.
Anna Kendrick has a slew of projects that showcase her impressive range of talent. She was the lead in the hit comedy-musical, “Pitch Perfect.” The song Cups, which she performed in the film has gone multiplatinum, and is one of Billboards top songs of 2013.Recognized for her work on screen and stage, Anna Kendrick was nominated for an Oscar in her breakout role in “Up in the Air.” For her role as “Dinah” in “High Society” on Broadway, Anna Kendrick was nominated for a Tony Award (second youngest ever), a Drama Desk Award, and a Fany Award (best actress featured in a musical). Her spectacular performance landed her the Drama League and Theatre World Award.
Tony Award nominee Jeremy Jordan starred in NBC’s musical drama “Smash” as Jimmy Collins, a music composer who is creating a current-day rock musical along with his music partner Kyle Bishop (Andy Mientus) in Brooklyn. At Ithaca College, he earned a BFA with honors in performance theatre. In 2009, he got his professional start in New York as the understudy to the lead in Broadway’s “Rock of Ages.” Jeremy then went on to star as ‘Tony’ in Broadway’s revival of “West Side Story.” In 2011, Jeremy starred as ‘Clyde Barrow’ in the new Broadway musical, “Bonnie & Clyde” by Frank Wildhorn and Don Black at the Schoenfeld Theatre. Further, Jeremy starred alongside Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton in the Warner Bros. film “Joyful Noise,” (2012) directed by Todd Graff. He also originated the role of ‘Jack Kelly’ in the Tony-nominated Broadway show, “Newsies.” Jeremy was nominated for ‘Best Actor in a Musical’ for his leading role in the Disney musical.