Singaporean films are always trying to keep abreast in local cinemas, competing with Hollywood and the like. please help us keep WONDERBOY in theatres as long as we can. catch it as soon as possible, and if you (genuinely) like it, tell your friends <3 we've worked real hard to get this to you.
I went to the premiere of the movie Wonder Boy which is based on the three formative years of Singer-Songwriter Dick Lee's life with no expectations either way.
On the one hand, Singapore movies are sometimes good, but none of them have moved me or inspired me much. On the other hand, anything that Dick Lee does is either good or excellent, so I knew that it was most probably going to be a nice evening.
Little did I know that I was going be inspired by Dick (again), moved to tears (until my handkerchief was soaked) and imbued with a booster shot of pride to be a Singaporean musician.
It is without doubt that Dick Lee is a National Treasure. What the public knows about his talent is only the tip of the iceberg, with many people oblivious to the immense depth of genius that lies beneath the surface. Listening to his early songs in the movie, one can see and hear that his abilities and talent as a songwriter were already almost fully formed in his mid teens. And he only got better.
We all know of his defining song Home, which to me and many others is the one National song that bypasses the intellect and goes straight to the core of our collective heart as a people, that part of our hearts where we are one. What his song "Home" does is connect every single Singaporean one to another, regardless of race, language or religion. It does what no other song has done so far; it has planted the seed of National identity in the hearts of Singaporeans. Other songs may have galvanized the morale or magnified the pride of Singaporeans, but to me, no other song actually has hit "home" like Home.
The cast was brilliant, even the first time actors were natural and impressive.
Dick as Director and Co-Director Daniel Yam did an impeccable job with pacing, continuity, tension and release of emotions, poignancy, seriousness and humour. Sets were lovely, cinematography was impressive. That one 1.5 second overhead street scene with old cars driving down the road near the school totally grabbed me out of my seat and transported me to 1973.
I even enjoyed the melodramatic moments because they were relevant to the story and because these moments were successful in getting me to reach for my hankie time and time again.
The underscore of the movie is world class and provided the perfect backdrop and sheen to the movie. Composer Sydney Tan, on his first outing scoring a movie (although he is a prolific composer, arranger and producer who has done countless other things like National Day parade and worked on many albums etc etc) has basically shown that he can take on any kind of project as composer, arranger or producer and do it with class and finesse.
All of you who read my posts know that as much as I am expressive, I do not exaggerate. Much. And I am not exaggerating when I say the following.
The Dick Lee and Daniel Yam movie Wonder Boy is not only my favourite Singapore-made movie.
It is one of the best movies I have ever watched in my life. I highly recommend it and is a movie that you simply cannot miss.
Congratulations to my big brother Dick Lee and all involved.
Showtime Jazz
