Stars: Kate Hudson, Leslie Odom Jr, Maddie Ziegler, Mary Kay Place, Hector Elizondo, Ben Schwartz, Beto Calvillo | Written by Sia, Dallas Clayton | Directed by Sia
Let me stop you for one quick second before we get into this… If you have clicked on this review to see another critic tear Sia apart for her ill-advised casting choices, then you may as well jog on because that discussion has no place here. I completely understand the argument and why people are having a go; I have my opinions on the matter but, unlike 90% of the internet, I don’t have much interest in expressing them here. This right here is a review of the movie and the performances therein.
With that little bit of housekeeping out of the way we can get into the directorial debut of Sia with Music, a movie I knew very little about until the trailer dropped.
Let me stop you for one quick second before we get into this… If you have clicked on this review to see another critic tear Sia apart for her ill-advised casting choices, then you may as well jog on because that discussion has no place here. I completely understand the argument and why people are having a go; I have my opinions on the matter but, unlike 90% of the internet, I don’t have much interest in expressing them here. This right here is a review of the movie and the performances therein.
With that little bit of housekeeping out of the way we can get into the directorial debut of Sia with Music, a movie I knew very little about until the trailer dropped.
- 2/16/2021
- by Kevin Haldon
- Nerdly
Why? It’s a question that almost every baffling minute of Sia’s ill-conceived “Music” inspires you to ask in some form or another, often with a different inflection but always with the same urgency.
Why, against the advice of virtually every living human and the last vestiges of whatever common sense modern civilization has left, did she cast her able-bodied, neurotypical teenage muse Maddie Ziegler as the nonverbal autistic girl whose name lends the story its title? Why does the script feel like an inspirational Instagram post that was brought to life by a witch’s curse? Why don’t any of the film’s stultifying dance sequences even try to advance the plot or allow its characters to meaningfully express how they feel inside? Why do all of them look like rejected Target commercials from a dystopian back-to-school campaign that was commissioned for the kids in “Logan’s Run...
Why, against the advice of virtually every living human and the last vestiges of whatever common sense modern civilization has left, did she cast her able-bodied, neurotypical teenage muse Maddie Ziegler as the nonverbal autistic girl whose name lends the story its title? Why does the script feel like an inspirational Instagram post that was brought to life by a witch’s curse? Why don’t any of the film’s stultifying dance sequences even try to advance the plot or allow its characters to meaningfully express how they feel inside? Why do all of them look like rejected Target commercials from a dystopian back-to-school campaign that was commissioned for the kids in “Logan’s Run...
- 2/10/2021
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
“Music,” the feature film directorial debut from Sia, is finally hitting the big and small screen.
The musical drama — starring Kate Hudson, Maddie Ziegler and Leslie Odom, Jr. — will play in select Imax theaters for one-night only on Feb. 10. It will then be released on premium video-on-demand platforms on Feb. 12.
Co-written by Sia and Dallas Clayton, “Music” follows Zu (Hudson), a free-spirit estranged from her family. After her grandmother dies, she finds herself the sole guardian of her half-sister, played by Ziegler, a teenager who is nonverbal and on the autism spectrum. With assistance from their neighbor Ebo (Odom), they learn how to navigate life’s obstacles.
“I’m going to help her just like she helps me,” says Hudson’s character, who struggles to stay sober over the course of the newly released trailer. “I’m actually learning how to love because I love her.”
Sia wrote 10 new songs for the movie,...
The musical drama — starring Kate Hudson, Maddie Ziegler and Leslie Odom, Jr. — will play in select Imax theaters for one-night only on Feb. 10. It will then be released on premium video-on-demand platforms on Feb. 12.
Co-written by Sia and Dallas Clayton, “Music” follows Zu (Hudson), a free-spirit estranged from her family. After her grandmother dies, she finds herself the sole guardian of her half-sister, played by Ziegler, a teenager who is nonverbal and on the autism spectrum. With assistance from their neighbor Ebo (Odom), they learn how to navigate life’s obstacles.
“I’m going to help her just like she helps me,” says Hudson’s character, who struggles to stay sober over the course of the newly released trailer. “I’m actually learning how to love because I love her.”
Sia wrote 10 new songs for the movie,...
- 1/15/2021
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Pop singer/songwriter Sia is facing criticism on social media following the release of the trailer for her directorial debut, titled “Music,” on Thursday. In the inspirational musical drama, Sia casts her longtime collaborator Maddie Ziegler as an autistic teenager, and Twitter users were quick to knock Sia for not placing an actually autistic person in the role, accusing the Grammy-nominated singer of ableism.
“Several autistic actors, myself included, responded to these tweets. We all said we could have acted in it on short notice. These excuses are just that- excuses,” tweeted one user. “The fact of the matter is zero effort was made to include anyone who is actually autistic. #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs”
“Maybe you’re just a bad actor,” Sia wrote in response.
Directed by Sia, “Music” is co-written by the pop icon with Dallas Clayton, with Sia writing and performing all of the songs. It’s set for a...
“Several autistic actors, myself included, responded to these tweets. We all said we could have acted in it on short notice. These excuses are just that- excuses,” tweeted one user. “The fact of the matter is zero effort was made to include anyone who is actually autistic. #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs”
“Maybe you’re just a bad actor,” Sia wrote in response.
Directed by Sia, “Music” is co-written by the pop icon with Dallas Clayton, with Sia writing and performing all of the songs. It’s set for a...
- 11/20/2020
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Sia has announced Music – Songs From and Inspired By the Motion Picture, a new album out February 12th via Monkey Puzzle/Atlantic.
Ahead of the release, the Australian singer dropped the upbeat “Hey Boy,” accompanied by a lyric video featuring smiling food faces — including donut eyes and chocolate grins.
The album was written for and inspired by Music, Sia’s upcoming directorial debut out February 2021. Co-written by Dallas Clayton, the film is based on a short story Sia wrote in 2007.
The teaser for the film features Kate Hudson as Zu,...
Ahead of the release, the Australian singer dropped the upbeat “Hey Boy,” accompanied by a lyric video featuring smiling food faces — including donut eyes and chocolate grins.
The album was written for and inspired by Music, Sia’s upcoming directorial debut out February 2021. Co-written by Dallas Clayton, the film is based on a short story Sia wrote in 2007.
The teaser for the film features Kate Hudson as Zu,...
- 11/19/2020
- by Angie Martoccio
- Rollingstone.com
As a performer, Sia has long been known for her dazzling visuals — from the fantastical wigs she wears to her sublime music videos — ideas she comes up with both in her waking hours watching television and in her dreams. One of those visions, Sia’s first movie, “Music,” was 15 years in the making. Looking to be released in 2021, her directorial debut will be brought to the American Film Market.
Speaking at Variety’s Power of Women event in October, the Grammy-nominated artist said the tale of Music, a teenager with special abilities — specifically nonvocal autism — started as a short story. “Over the years, I had this fantasy of making it,” said Sia, adding that she didn’t have the confidence to helm a movie.
While Sia had dabbled in directing — she was a co-director on her 2014 hit music video “Chandelier” alongside Daniel Askill — but her uncertainty nagged as she questioned,...
Speaking at Variety’s Power of Women event in October, the Grammy-nominated artist said the tale of Music, a teenager with special abilities — specifically nonvocal autism — started as a short story. “Over the years, I had this fantasy of making it,” said Sia, adding that she didn’t have the confidence to helm a movie.
While Sia had dabbled in directing — she was a co-director on her 2014 hit music video “Chandelier” alongside Daniel Askill — but her uncertainty nagged as she questioned,...
- 11/9/2020
- by Shirley Halperin and Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Sia first announced her plans for her directorial debut, “Music” at the 2015 Venice Film Festival. But the story germinated over fifteen years ago when she penned the short story, still the “Chandelier” singer tells Variety’s Executive Editor of Music Shirley Halperin that she never saw herself as a director.
Speaking as part of Variety’s Power of Women: Conversations, presented by Lifetime, Sia talked about how fellow screenwriter Dallas Clayton helped her find the confidence to direct. “I thought, ‘How hard could this be, it’s like making a music video but every day for 40 days?'”
“Music,” stars Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner Kate Hudson. The film also stars Tony and Grammy Award winner Leslie Odom Jr., alongside Sia protégé and breakout star Maddie Ziegler (the upcoming “West Side Story”).
Hudson plays the free-spirited Zu estranged from her family, who suddenly finds herself the sole guardian of her half-sister,...
Speaking as part of Variety’s Power of Women: Conversations, presented by Lifetime, Sia talked about how fellow screenwriter Dallas Clayton helped her find the confidence to direct. “I thought, ‘How hard could this be, it’s like making a music video but every day for 40 days?'”
“Music,” stars Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner Kate Hudson. The film also stars Tony and Grammy Award winner Leslie Odom Jr., alongside Sia protégé and breakout star Maddie Ziegler (the upcoming “West Side Story”).
Hudson plays the free-spirited Zu estranged from her family, who suddenly finds herself the sole guardian of her half-sister,...
- 10/28/2020
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Soundtrack to include 10 new songs by Australian singer-songwriter.
UK-based HanWay Films has boarded international sales on Music, the debut directorial feature from pop icon Sia that stars Kate Hudson and Maddie Ziegler.
The film was written by Australian singer-songwriter Sia (full name Sia Furler) and Dallas Clayton, based on a short story by the former. It will include 10 new Sia tracks performed as musical numbers by the cast.
Music centres on a woman estranged from her family who suddenly finds herself the sole guardian of her autistic teenager half-sister, who is called Music.
Hudson and Ziegler play the two lead roles,...
UK-based HanWay Films has boarded international sales on Music, the debut directorial feature from pop icon Sia that stars Kate Hudson and Maddie Ziegler.
The film was written by Australian singer-songwriter Sia (full name Sia Furler) and Dallas Clayton, based on a short story by the former. It will include 10 new Sia tracks performed as musical numbers by the cast.
Music centres on a woman estranged from her family who suddenly finds herself the sole guardian of her autistic teenager half-sister, who is called Music.
Hudson and Ziegler play the two lead roles,...
- 10/12/2020
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
HanWay Films is handling international sales, distribution and marketing for multi-Grammy Award nominee and pop superstar Sia’s feature directorial debut “Music,” starring Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner Kate Hudson.
The film also stars Tony and Grammy Award winner Leslie Odom Jr., alongside Sia protégé and breakout star Maddie Ziegler (the upcoming “West Side Story”).
Hudson plays a free spirit estranged from her family, who suddenly finds herself the sole guardian of her half-sister, played by Ziegler, a teenager on the autism spectrum, who learns that life’s obstacles can be made easier with a little help from their neighbour, Leslie Odom Jr.
HanWay Films managing director Gabrielle Stewart said, “Sia’s debut film ‘Music’ surpasses every expectation and she uses to extraordinary effect her own original music and dance sequences to present a bright alternative reality for her lead character Music, who is played with incredible delicacy by the talented Maddie Ziegler,...
The film also stars Tony and Grammy Award winner Leslie Odom Jr., alongside Sia protégé and breakout star Maddie Ziegler (the upcoming “West Side Story”).
Hudson plays a free spirit estranged from her family, who suddenly finds herself the sole guardian of her half-sister, played by Ziegler, a teenager on the autism spectrum, who learns that life’s obstacles can be made easier with a little help from their neighbour, Leslie Odom Jr.
HanWay Films managing director Gabrielle Stewart said, “Sia’s debut film ‘Music’ surpasses every expectation and she uses to extraordinary effect her own original music and dance sequences to present a bright alternative reality for her lead character Music, who is played with incredible delicacy by the talented Maddie Ziegler,...
- 10/12/2020
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Sia has released “Together,” the first single from her upcoming joint album and motion picture, Music. Sia wrote and directed the film — which stars Kate Hudson, Leslie Odom Jr., and Maddie Ziegler — and penned 10 original songs for its soundtrack.
“Together,” co-written and produced by Jack Antonoff, is accompanied by a music video starring its three principle cast members, along with a troupe of dancing children, all wearing outfits themed after clouds and rainbows. The one-take visual sees Ziegler leading a high-energy dance around a technicolor room, culminating in a wild game of musical chairs.
“Together,” co-written and produced by Jack Antonoff, is accompanied by a music video starring its three principle cast members, along with a troupe of dancing children, all wearing outfits themed after clouds and rainbows. The one-take visual sees Ziegler leading a high-energy dance around a technicolor room, culminating in a wild game of musical chairs.
- 5/20/2020
- by Claire Shaffer
- Rollingstone.com
Kate Hudson has been working hard to keep her new buzz cut under wraps.
The 38-year-old actress was spotted Wednesday on the Los Angeles set of her new movie Sister wearing a cream-colored dress, tie-dye cardigan, Adidas slides and a backwards camouflage baseball cap to hide her new do.
Hudson shocked fans in July when she shaved those off for a role in the new movie, which comes from Australian singer/songwriter (and writer and director) Sia.
Since then, the How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days alum has mostly hid the cut from photographers — covering it up with...
The 38-year-old actress was spotted Wednesday on the Los Angeles set of her new movie Sister wearing a cream-colored dress, tie-dye cardigan, Adidas slides and a backwards camouflage baseball cap to hide her new do.
Hudson shocked fans in July when she shaved those off for a role in the new movie, which comes from Australian singer/songwriter (and writer and director) Sia.
Since then, the How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days alum has mostly hid the cut from photographers — covering it up with...
- 8/16/2017
- by Dave Quinn
- PEOPLE.com
Kate Hudson continues to keep her new buzzcut under wraps.
The 38-year-old actress stunned fans in July when she shaved off her famous long blonde locks for her role in the new movie Sister, which comes from Australian singer/songwriter (and writer and director) Sia.
Since then, Hudson has mostly hid her new ‘do from photographers, covering it up with a long blonde wig days later and on Aug. 6, a fedora while stepping out in Los Angeles.
The cut was once again shielded from sight on Monday, as Hudson headed out to film her next set of Sister scenes in Pasadena,...
The 38-year-old actress stunned fans in July when she shaved off her famous long blonde locks for her role in the new movie Sister, which comes from Australian singer/songwriter (and writer and director) Sia.
Since then, Hudson has mostly hid her new ‘do from photographers, covering it up with a long blonde wig days later and on Aug. 6, a fedora while stepping out in Los Angeles.
The cut was once again shielded from sight on Monday, as Hudson headed out to film her next set of Sister scenes in Pasadena,...
- 8/15/2017
- by Dave Quinn
- PEOPLE.com
Kate Hudson showed fans how to lose your hair in 10 seconds on Tuesday, when she was spotted sporting a new buzz cut on the Los Angeles set of her new movie, Sister.
The 38-year-old actress shaved off her famous long blonde locks for the flick, which comes from Australian singer/songwriter Sia — who also wrote and is directing the project.
It’s the most drastic haircut Hudson has had since she found breakout success in 2000’s Almost Famous.
It also makes the Fabletics mogul look even more like her mother Goldie Hawn, who rocked a longer pixie cut in the...
The 38-year-old actress shaved off her famous long blonde locks for the flick, which comes from Australian singer/songwriter Sia — who also wrote and is directing the project.
It’s the most drastic haircut Hudson has had since she found breakout success in 2000’s Almost Famous.
It also makes the Fabletics mogul look even more like her mother Goldie Hawn, who rocked a longer pixie cut in the...
- 7/26/2017
- by Dave Quinn
- PEOPLE.com
Amazon’s six new kids pilots are now available for streaming in the U.S., UK and Germany. Four animated pilots, The Adventures Of Knickerbock Teetertop, Lost In Oz, Lily The Unicorn, and Bear In Underwear; and two live-action pilots, A History Of Radness and The Kicks are now available on Amazon Instant Video. The pilots come from a roster of creative talent including Dallas Clayton (An Awesome Book), David Babcock (Brothers & Sisters, Gilmore Girls), Andrew Green (Hannah…...
- 6/26/2015
- Deadline TV
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