Music Within Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
Experience a movie that will make you believe anyone can change the world.
The True Story Of Richard Pimentel, A Brilliant Public Speaker With A Troubled Past, Who Returns From Vietnam Severely Hearing-Impaired And Finds A New Purpose In His Landmark Efforts On The Behalf Of Americans With Disabilities...
| Ron Livingston | Richard Pimentel |
| Melissa George | Christine |
| Michael Sheen | Art Honeyman |
| Yul Vazquez | Mike Stoltz |
| Rebecca De Mornay | Richard's Mom |
| Hector Elizondo | Ben Padrow |
| Leslie Nielsen | Bill Austin |
| Ridge Canipe | Young Richard |
| Paul Michael | Joe |
| Clint Jung | Richard's Dad |
| John Livingston | Mr. Parks |
| Glen Baggerly | D.J. |
| Alexander Baird | Mr. Parks student |
| Doug Baldwin | Supervisor |
| Steven Sawalich |
7.40 out of 10 (1728 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Great Movie!! Great story!
posted on 30 Aug 2009Fantastic script quirky at times and heart wrenching at others. Fantastic Cast and great acting across the board,, Everyone should watch and enjoy this great movie and story!! Yul Vazquez character is right on, and the character of "ART" what a fantastic job congratulations to Micheal sheen. Ron Livingston is absolutely spot on throughout. Melissa George does a great job,, but the list of cast members in this movie is absolutely great from top to bottom they all were wonderful. To put it in just a few words the storyline is great and brilliantly written, you will laugh, cry and come away from it with a new point of view, and Im not sure if it was in theaters or not but it absolutely SHOULD BE!!
Yeah, this is a pretty good movie based on a true story. The ADA is passed in 1990.
posted on 30 Aug 2009The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against qualified people with disabilities in employment, transportation, public accommodation, communications, and governmental activities. This act was passed in 1990.Ron Livingston is Richard Pimentel, born in the late 1940s, and who always had superb oratory skills for his age. He is widely credited with being instrumental in having the ADA established. Richard had been in Viet Nam and there had his hearing destroyed by a close-range blast. Trying to "find his own voice" in life, his own "music within", he eventually realized that it was to help the masses of disabled veterans and then all persons with disabilities.Rebecca De Mornay is good as Richard's Mom, who suffered from numerous miscarriages and ended up in an institution. Hector Elizondo is good as Dr. Padrow, the professor that told Richard as a young man, go out and find out what you really believe in. Australian Melissa George is good as Richard's girlfriend Christine who found it difficult to get attention away from Richard's causes.Good movie, well-paced, of a person who has been instrumental in a key chapter of US history, providing equal opportunities for the disabled.
My Review
posted on 30 Aug 2009"Music Within" shows us that you don't have to wear tights and fly through the air to be considered a hero.The movie tells the true story of Richard Pimentel (who was acted perfectly by the underrated Ron Livingston), a man who was unloved in life, but had a knack for public speaking. He even auditioned to a prestigious college for the speech team, but was turned down because he lacked real experience.So Richard enlists in Vietnam, and during the time there he's a victim of a bombing which took away his sense of hearing. Newly disabled, he tries to get a job only to run into continuous roadblocks because of his newfound liability.He forms an odd friendship with Art Honeyman (also wonderfully portrayed by Michael Sheen), a man with a crippling disability that renders his body mostly useless, but still maintains an above-average intelligence. Together they take on the system that has shunned them, and thanks to their persistence and effort, Richard is given the opportunity to run programs that allows the disabled to be hired in government positions.Richard Pimentel is an anti-hero. He drinks, he ignores his girlfriend, and he's volatile...which goes to show that a hero doesn't always have to be perfect...they just have to have a vision and the determination to see that vision come to fruition. A truly inspiring story.
Great true story, poorly executed
posted on 30 Aug 2009I was so disappointed in this movie. I don't know much about the true story, so I was eager to see it play out on film and educate myself about a little slice of history. With such a powerful true story and great actors it seemed like a surefire combination. Well, somewhere the screenplay failed them. It was so scattered - is this movie about his childhood? his love life? his own disability? his speaking ability? his passion for the disabled? I'm sure there is a way to incorporate all of those things into a good story, but this movie wasn't it. I was left cold watching characters that were unlikable not because of their disabilities, but because of their personalities. Other small gripes: 1. The heavy-handed soundtrack. It's the seventies - WE GET IT ALREADY! 2. If he's such a phenomenal public speaker, why weren't we treated to more than a snippet here and there - and even then mostly in montages?
Deaf Within
posted on 30 Aug 2009Generally I enjoy writing comments, but there are two situations where it carries some substantial qualms. One is when a filmmaker sends his/her film to me for commenting. The risks of this are obvious, because I have two audiences: my regular readers who look for something interesting and ideally illuminating, and the filmmaker who I want to encourage.The other case is when I have a bad film of a real life, presumably a noble life. I've watched two recently, both true stories of broken boys who died in the wild. Here we have something different: a living man, who I assume is considered to have done worthy things. I also assume that major facts are more or less true.But its a disaster as a movie, and because it has no value reflects badly on a life. The basic problem of course is that what makes this man worthy of a film cannot make a worthy film. But the problems are deeper.Its at least three films. One is about his relationship to his mother which is filmed in a fantastic and stylized manner with voice-over narration. A second is about his love affair. As with most such stories, this depends on the various attractions of the actress. Here it is a pretty girl, who is unique in being an Australian actress who cannot act. But she is pretty and sexy. This story works against the biography because even with her deficiencies (both as actress and character), she outshines her man.The third movie is about the guy and his work, annotated by his friendships with the "handicapped," plus his own handicap.In a better film, these three stories (plus the handicapping) would be integrated. They would weave into and enhance each other, warping suggestive texture and opening lacy opportunities for us to relate our own urges/lives.But this doesn't.Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.
Pretty good movie, and a great performance by Michael Sheen
posted on 30 Aug 2009Very interesting biopic about Richard Pimentel, a disabled Vietnam vet who helped bring about the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act.The storyline was compelling, and Michael Sheen, as the friend with cerebral palsy, was phenomenal. I wish I could say the same about Ron Livingston, who portrayed the film's main character, but I thought he was terribly miscast. A great deal of the movie centers around a fairly young Richard Pimentel--from late teens to maybe early 30s--and seriously, Livingston always looked like he was fast approaching 40. Plus, I was underwhelmed by his acting, especially after I saw the real Richard Pimentel on the DVD extras--the real Pimentel conveys a wit and intelligence I just didn't get from Ron Livingston.In the DVD extras, I learned that they had to cut out a lot of footage of events in Richard's childhood, because audiences had a hard time believing it could have been so bizarrely bad. I wish they'd left some of that footage in, because I would have liked a better sense of what drove Pimentel, and clearly some of that was due to his childhood. As it was, the childhood portion of the movie seemed rushed, I guess in order to get to the "meat" of the story.I think there were a few other things--such as Richard's relationships--that would have benefited from more screen time, especially given that the movie only clocked in at about an hour and a half. Had it been a two-hour movie, perhaps Richard's character, or some the events that informed it as an adult, could have been fleshed out a little better.That said, it was still a nice little movie that reminds us that those "handicapped" bathroom stalls we take for granted, and the ramps in front of building entrances, weren't always there.
Livingston? Livingston?
posted on 30 Aug 2009*** CONTAINS SPOILERS*** *** CONTAINS SPOILERS*** *** CONTAINS SPOILERS***This movie might have been halfway decent had they put an actor in the lead role. To be clear, an "actor" is "one who acts". Ron Livingston reads lines. Big difference.What am I talking about? Oh, nothing much, just a total inability for Livingston to display emotion. Just consider all the scenarios in which Livingston's character fails to express any real emotion: He loses most of his hearing and has an awful, maddening case of tinnitus. No emotion. Someone calls his friend a "retard". No emotion. He wakes up with the girl he just slept with and finds another man in the house, who the girl also sleeps with. No emotion. A restaurant kicks him and his friend out (and has them arrested!) for being disabled. No emotion. He realizes he alienated his girlfriend by putting his career first. No emotion. His girlfriend tells him she is leaving him. No emotion. He finds the dead body of one of his friends. No emotion.And so on.
A Celebration of Life and the Music Within Each of Us
posted on 30 Aug 2009A Celebration of Life and the Music Within Each of Us, April 14, 2008 By Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviewsThe life of the extraordinary survivor Richard Pimentel is a fine biography that manages to explore the many phases of a unique man's life with humor, tenderness, and bravado. Though barely recognized in its theatrical release, MUSIC WITHIN should hopefully find a wide audience in the form of this well constructed DVD. There are many significant lessons to be learned from this story (written by Bret McKinney, Mark Andrew Olsen and Kelly Kennemeras) as well as a large dose of entertainment from some superb actors directed by Steven Sawalich (credited with the original idea for the film). Richard Pimentel (Ron Livingston) entered the world as one of the survivors in a series of miscarriages by his mother (Rebecca De Mornay), a deeply disturbed woman who surrendered her only living child to a Catholic orphanage at birth. From there Pimentel grew up with bizarre circumstances, raised by his Chinese father who dies from a working accident. Desperately needing to belong and to recognized, Pimentel became an expert public speaker, but his efforts to gain admission to college were thwarted by college speech professor Ben Padrow (Hector Elizondo) who admired Pimentel's technical abilities on the stage but says he needs to live life to find his 'music within' before he can succeed in college level oratory. Out of need for employment and guarantee for a college education Pimentel joins the military, is sent to Vietnam, where a blast of incoming explosions disables him with deafness. Released from the military without the benefits of Veteran funds, Pimentel deals with his inability to hear, meets Art Honeyman (Michael Sheen) disabled by cerebral palsy and the two strike up a warm friendship: the two can understand each other and form a bond stronger than the critical eye of the 'normal world'. Pimentel meets the beautiful Christine (Melissa George) and soon they bed only to have Pimentel discover the Christine shares her bed with another man. From this point the story picks up a pace that is breathless as Pimentel gains his education and a good job, only to join a group of disabled veterans, and eventually devote his life to fighting for the rights of the disabled. And this is all true! Livingston finds the right balance between dark humor and ambition to create change in a world that views the disabled as 'ugly', and together with Michael Sheen's impeccable performance as the multifaceted cerebral palsy stricken Ken, the spot-on actors transcend the 'docudrama' genre and offer us unforgettable characters that provide a richly entertaining story as well as a plea for understanding the plight of the disabled. The features included with the DVD are full of interviews with the real Richard Pimentel and the actors' and director's responses to the formation of the American Disabilities Act that resulted from this amazing young man's struggle to find his music within. It is a wild ride of a comic film with a very tender message. Highly recommended. Grady Harp
One of the best movies
posted on 30 Aug 2009What an absolute gem of a movie-I thought the production, direction and acting were superb.This moving portrayal of disabled people and their champion is one the most sincere that I have ever seen; and as I myself am not disabled.I could only give this work of art a 10,despite the fact that NOTHING is perfect in this world, but for for me it was almost so! I recommend this movie to anyone who has a heart and can feel for others.As a rejoinder, I have to say that I was perturbed by those who marked this between 1 and 4! Keep up the good work. I am sorry, but I have run out of words to say; and I do not know how to make this any better. Sorry to have been a trouble in getting this comment right.I would prefer to have the pseudonym "jainso.UK" used as author as opposed to my my real name -if that is possible please.
Wonderful movie - certain irony.
posted on 30 Aug 2009As a mother of a disabled actress with Cerebral Palsy who is heavily involved in advocacy within the disabled community we were thrilled with this movie. My daughter met Mr Pimentel at a Youth Leadership Conference in Sacramento and his speech motivated her tremendously and she was excited to hear lines spoken in the movie that she heard from Mr Pimental. Ron Livingston did a great job portraying Mr Pimental and, of course, Mr Michael Sheen was incredible - no one with any knowledge of CP would have guessed that this gentleman did not have CP. Having said all this - I did find it horribly ironic that although this movie was all about inclusion and disabled rights, the main disabled characters were portrayed by able bodied actors. Was it impossible to find a good deaf actor and a good actor with cerebral palsy? One of my daughter's goals in life is to get people to accept actors with disablities playing a variety of roles on screen - believe me they are capable. Once again - we loved the movie and all it told and hope that the disabled community will continue to be seen and heard.
Every crowd has a silver lining
posted on 30 Aug 2009I watched this movie last night. I prefer to think myself as an avid movie's collector and most of my all time favorite movies are movies like this one. This movie had everything a great storyline, exceptionally good acting, humor (both dark and light), and above all it was based on a true story. I was particularly moved by Michael Sheen's performance, which should be Oscar worthy by all standards. Ron Livingston was great too. What made me really appreciate the movie was its dialogs. Most of the situations were too heavy in terms of the sheer drama surrounding the characters, yet the dialogs were just very down to earth and sometimes even mixed with a unique humor to augment an already perfect setting. Writers did not pull any punches when it came for a character to shine in the spot light, yet most of the lines delivered were very humble and didn't, in any way, make the situation more dramatic....hence complementing the scene by cushioning the throbbing emotions of the people involved rather than over stating and pushing things over the edge.Start of the movie was really great and Ron's brand of narration just rightly set the tone for the events to come. My interpretation of the movie was just the whole deal with disabled people until it came to that point when Ron's character drew the parallel between him and "them". The highs and lows to follow, did the story quite a lot of justice.The ending was just absolutely breath-taking. It was soft and just concluded this ride with a whimper, but measured bang on the rechter scale.This movie is here to win hearts of viewers and unlike many movies that i have watched lately, it is here to make a winning statement with perfection. Watch it and buy yourself a conscious, if you don't have one already.
One of the most inspiring movies I've ever seen
posted on 30 Aug 2009What a masterpiece this is. I luckily got to see it and boy, the first thought that came to mind after seeing this movie is 'this ain't any less than The Shawshank Redemption'. Undoubtedly one of the most (under-rated) inspiring movies I've ever seen. The direction by Steven Sawalich is excellent and three lead characters Ron Livingston (Richard Pimentel), Melissa George (Christine) and Michael Sheen (Art Honeyman) did full justice to their roles. Special mention of Michael Sheen who played Art Honeyman in this movie is fantastic. In the very first scene of his, he catches your attention when he tries to open the Coke bottle. His characters is way too funny with perfect one line dialogs, for example when Richard gives Art the draft of the book he has written (to read and comment), Richard asks in between (while Art is reading the book in the toilet) "What page you're at?" to which Art replies "I'm at the page shut the f*** up". This also shows the kind of special bond shared by Richard and Art. I rated this movie a perfect 10/10. Do your self a favor, watch this masterpiece.
Excellent unusual biopic: VERY funny, and very smart
posted on 30 Aug 2009Music Within is simply in turns hilarious, moving, and a really great way to mix a great message with a very entertaining film.Superb performances throughout - Livingston carries this lightly and easily - and Martin Sheen is absolutely unrecognizable from his role as Tony Blair in the Queen and does a very good job.This true story of the fight for rights for disabled citizens is not a heavy diatribe - it truly will have you laughing and cheering along.Nice doses of cynicism, nothing too saccharine, and a great job by all involved.Highly recommended.
I was at the "Music Within" premiere at Ft. Hood.
posted on 30 Aug 2009How can I get a copy of "Music Within" to show to my soldiers? LT Eddy Cavanagh Edward.cavanagh@us.army.milI found the Premiere for the seven o'clock showing on the way home from duty. Ironically, I was still in uniform. I was able to meet Jon Livingston and Richard Pimentel and discuss my views with them.This would be an inspirational movie for the troops at Ft. Hood.Maybe it can be shown at Sergeant's Time training which is mandatory training every Friday?Can this movie be downloaded off a payment link or provided via the DVD medium?
Eye and mind opener
posted on 30 Aug 2009Mr. Pimentel took many steps in the direction of helping people challenged with day to day tasks. We're all aware of wheelchair ramps, larger toilet stalls and wider, more convenient parking places for the handicapped. I was not as aware of the intolerance dealt with every day by the public. The ignorance shown by the waitress first encountered in the pancake house seems to be prevalent even today. Here in San Diego a man with a service dog was refused service not once but twice a a local McDonalds. "Please leave your dog outside" doesn't work for a sight-challenged gentleman, yet in two separate incidents that was the request. I say have these young people watch the movie to help open their eyes to the world around them they may choose not to see. Thank you for entertaining and teaching us in the same film. I hope this work receives recognition as the art it truly is and captures awards near and far.
Livingston gives a stellar performance and Sheen shines in this well-meaning biopic
posted on 30 Aug 2009THE MUSIC WITHIN (2007) **1/2 Ron Livingston, Melissa George, Michael Sheen, Yul Vazquez, Rebecca De Mornay, Hector Elizondo, Leslie Nielsen. Livingston gives one of his best performances to date in this biography of Richard Pimentel, whose deafness resulted in Vietnam lead him to speak out on behalf of those discriminated for their handicaps and led to the Americans With Disabilities Act. While the film feels like a Hallmark TV Movie the acting is sublimely uniform – Sheen is memorable as Pimentel's cerebral palsy afflicted best friend – and the direction by newcomer Steven Sawalich keeps the story straight forward without being mawkishly maudlin.
My Views
posted on 30 Aug 2009I have read posts about this movie; my reply is to a few of them but may not be in order so just extract what ya need!!! Release date should be Oct 26th and glad to see webmaster-2946 that Minneapolis is included in release cities, Minneapolis (Minnesota) is the HQ of Mr Austin's company which was started from nothing to now a world leader… Movie is now showing on our Intranet web site. Forget the links to War or NRA etc. Mr Pimental was doing what his government asked whether right or wrong, now Mr Pimental and NRA are (as I see it) trying to help people who didn't know the damage being done. Guns can be a good sport if used safe and not in hands of nutters and think U.S needs to tighten laws fast, right to bear arms should only apply if your invaded…(politics over now lol)….Mr Austin is trying to help the most people he can… I work for Mr Austin's company in the UK and have met him twice, once in Minneapolis and also in UK facility. Although meetings were brief he seemed a genuine guy dedicated to what he does, he has now passed on control of his company to someone else which gives him more time for his Hearing Aid Foundation Charity work. Leslie Nielsen isn't my favourite actor as I didn't like his comedy movies but I won't knock him until I have seen the film! Why can't he do serious roles again? I'm sure he is happy with his roles as he was working making money and probably enjoyed it all (it may have been his type of humour)……. AS for him only being in the film for a short time (not seen it yet though) This is the movie world, a hearing aid test/fitting would take longer and may require a repeat visit to fine tune but that doesn't make good movie viewing etc. This is only a small part of the movie the main part is how it helps change his life. As for the people who are going on about Mr Pimental being on the phone or wearing headphones??? Are the scenes before or after aid fitting? Doesn't your Hi-Fi have a volume control? Phones are prob turned up for him if no hearing aid. LOOK closer at the telephone there is hearing device fitted to it………etc. etc. Enjoy the film for what it tries to give you. As for hearing aids, new hi end digital aids can now track different sound situations learn and adjust to life style. Also digital voice recordings for hearing appointments, low battery, program choices and others etc. can programmed in all languages (even Welsh) So if your alone and your dispenser didn't tell you! No you're not hearing voices lol it's your aid talking to you…. If you have a hearing aid clean it each night, keep it dry as sweat and moisture kill them one day, clean ya ears as wax will block aid also if you don't then I have to clean it out mmm!!! If your not wearing your aid (mainly in ear type not behind ear) keep the battery compartment closed as the odd time when in for repair we find dead spiders and earwigs in them. Rarely but I have seen it a couple of times, someone has had a live earwig in aid they are fixing…Like Martha this post don't all relate to film but it's big part of it, dig a little and find a massive industry trying to help (and make money that's what business does!)…. Well that's my blarb over whether it makes sense or not. ME… P.s Went to Minnesota in March time man it's too cold but Mall o America was cool…..
An emotional roller-coaster that hits all notes
posted on 30 Aug 2009Wow - I saw this movie at the Dallas Int Movie Festival. It was the Audience Award Winner. This movie had everything. It made me laugh and cry (tried to hide it since Im a grown man). The story was great and really dived in to exploring the main character. Ron Livingston was exceptional. I knew little about the disability act, so this movie really enlightened me to the hardships that disabled people have to go through. We met the director after the movie ... young guy who is going to have a bright career. You have got to see this movie. I see at least 5 movies a week and have not seen a more moving story in a long time. The roller-coaster of emotion was overwhelming. The scene at the end going back to the restaurant ws especially moving.
A Must See
posted on 30 Aug 2009Funny, Gripping, Heart Breaking... This movie has all the elements of Human Nature, both good and bad, and brings them to the Audience in a poignant way. Rich & Art, through their stubbornness and friendship, show that with enough determination 2 people can make a difference. Anyone who has or knows anyone with a disability should appreciate what these 2 men have done for the fellow human being. It also shows what obstacles people with disabilities face and the stigmatizing affects that go with it. It breaks down some barriers of the prejudices that follow the disability community. The Soundtrack is just awesome especially for those of us that remember those times in the 60's & 70's. Top rate acting from some top rate actors.
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This movie is totally insulting and contradictory
posted on 30 Aug 2009I just watched this movie in high definition on television. I am in a wheelchair due to a neuromuscular disorder and like to watch the few films made about those with physical disabilities.At first I found the main character somewhat noble and captivating. His message about the disabled and the life time he spent fighting to have the disabled recognized and integrated into mainstream society's job market is great. And my problem isn't with the real person who did these things. HE was a great man. But this film is completely hypocritical and diametrically opposed to the very message it is preaching, that I found it insulting.First of all, they didn't cast anyone in a title role with an actual physical disability. Sure they were competent actors, but it seems completely dis genuine to preach about hiring the disabled and then not actually HIRING THE DISABLED for anything in the film. Further compounded by the fact that in one scene mid way through the film a man is seen walking to a podium on crutches, appearing to have only one leg. But the CGI in this scene is so apparent it is shameful. What? They couldn't find an actual amputee anywhere for the film? For a 5 second shot it was more financially sound to do CGI effects than to just HIRE an ACTUAL amputee? At that point in the film I found it so fraudulent and completely against the message it was trying to convey that I came here to bitch and whine about it like the pathetic cripple I am.Figure that out.