From director Nisha Ganatra (Late Night) comes this enjoyable, if a little by the numbers crowd-pleaser. The filmmaker moves from east coast talk show to the glitzy west coast music biz for a film revolving around an assistant, played by Dakota Johnson, who wants to move from the shadow of her superstar singer boss to become a producer on her own merit.
Maggie Sherwoode (Johnson) seemingly has the dream job, an assistant to the legendary singer Grace Davis (a dazzling Tracee Ellis Ross) in the sun soaked city of Los Angeles. However, the twenty-something has bigger aspirations – to become a music producer and move up the ladder in the headey world of the modern music business. She’s clearly got integrity too, offering occasional, if largely unwanted advice to her boss amongst her army of ‘people’ essential to the continuing success of her unwavering career. However, a chance meeting with a massively talented young musician named David Cliff (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) in a grocery store has the potential to change her own career trajectory after he agrees to let Maggie look at some of his raw material and the potential opportunity to produce him.
The High Note is a film that comes from the stable of Working Title Films, one of the industry’s most successful production houses with the likes of Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill and the more recent Yesterday amongst their glowing back catalogue. The High Note has all the hallmarks of those releases – think of it as Notting Hill meets a contemporary Almost Famous and you’re almost there. It is a thoroughly enjoyable affair, mostly due to its likable cast and excellent performances – especially from the likes of Tracee Ellis Ross and the superb Kelvin Harrison Jr who continues his knockout year following scene-stealing turns in the likes of Luce and particularly the exceptional Waves. Dakota Johnson too delivers a likable turn as Maggie and there are scene stealing turns from Ice Cube, Bill Pullman and Eddie Izzard lurking in the supporting roles also.
A difficult third act lets down things a little, particularly a late twist in proceedings which is a little hard to take in, particularly if you hadn’t already guessed it by that point.
That said, it’s a lot of fun and hard to dislike. While it doesn’t quite hit all the right notes, it stays in tune with its audience throughout. Like with Late Night, Ganatra delivers a solid, well-toned and paced film that will ensure that most will walk away upbeat and satisfied – and at the moment, that’s no bad thing.
Bonus features were not available to review.
The High Note
Summary
The fine performances and a good story will ensure this 90-minute trip into the LA music business is an enjoyable one – even if it is a little predictable in places.
The High Note is released on DVD on 31st August.
