Some issues with the film that I cannot seem to get past

What puzzled me is that St Francis was kept from closing because of the choir right? yet they were seniors, they would have graduated by next year's competition.What if the next choir and music teacher were crap?

***Spoilers***








@ A scribe. You are spot on about so many things here!

The piano playing was a bit inconsistent especially with the soloist having been given several cues to began with the intro. The last time he played and she started singing, notice how unlike the other times, he played a suspended chord then she miraculously snapped into motion. Yeah I know. She was supposed to be petrified by her Mom's presence but still.

Good points especially the one about the choral competition itself. Generally choral competitions remain within the same or similar genre....Gospel music at gospel competitions, formal with formal, etc. There are some exceptions to this rule but for a competion of this magnitude and prestige, especially on a secondary school level, it would be extrememly rare that a group that dances would even be allowed to participate, let alone win. This is true of most puplic schools but things may be a little different if it is comprised of and sponsored by administrators within those private schools. It takes at least 30 minutes to an hour for the rating results depending on the number of adjudicators, the number of groups performing and if or not they have been in keeping with the performance schedule. Specific times are often allotted for warm-ups, the actual performance and in some cases, sight-reading.

It is most appropriate for only the choral director to accept the award. Again, it may be different depending on the guidelines set forth by the board.

I always thought that old man Crisp did not like her because he did not trust her to be a real nun (which ultimately he was correct! LOL)

Not sure about the retirement issue. As I recall, he wanted to retire and was going to but they made him an offer he could not refuse by making him look as if he was responsible for the positive outcome of the school being saved. In other words, his ego kept him from retiring but not the system. I could very well be wrong on this though.

You must do the thing you think you cannot do. Eleanor Roosevelt

Ok so, we all accept that this film is pretty much a watered down version of the original. It's mindless fun but I still have a couple of issues that I can't get by.



That's more than a little sad.




The one that has always bothered me was the singing competition:

First of all, when Whoopie's chorus is singing, we see a piano player but hear a techno background. Last time I checked, chorus competitions didn't allow that kind of mixing because they wanted to focus on the talent of the singers.


>>>There isn't anyone actually playing the piano after the intro, does it? Also, when I was in high school choir, most performances allowed instrumental background.



Second, the awards are announced like the SECOND the last group finishes singing. Doesn't it take a little time before scores are tallied?


>>>Yeah, it usually takes at least an hour.



Finally, Whoopie's school wins first place...big surprise. Predictable, but not something I have issue with. What bothers me is that the second place school is announced and only the choral director comes out to accept the award. Considering how hard they worked, doesn't it seem logical that the actual students would get to come out and accept their award? Instead, we just get the conductor for like 2 seconds...what a GYP.



>>>Did you see the size of that choir? Do you really think the whole group would go up? In most competitions, the director is the representative.



In terms of other issues...Mr. Crisp. Why does he hate Mary Clarence so much? I mean, how can she possibly keep him from retirement? Nobody can stop someone from retirement, especially if they put 30 years in at a post! The ending was absolutely nonsensical...he did well so they refuse to let him retire? PLEASE.



>>> Mr. Crisp doesn't like Sister Mary Clarence because her determination to keep the school open by doing the choir competition would keep him from being able to sell and retire early.


>>> How have you not mentioned the professional costume changes? They're all in t-shirts and jeans, with the robes, standing in the wings during the introduction. They decide to lose the robes and come on stage about 8 seconds later in different clothes, accesories and a few of the girls had their hair fixed differently.

How in the heck did Delores make so many costume changes in her opening scene in Vegas? Especially when she dressed as a nun and put the harness on. That would take longer then 5 seconds. Maybe there's some secret ritual I don't know about.

Having been a Catholic School student myself, I don't understand why all the Kids were going to the school for free. There could not have been that many Scholarship students. I know the elementary school I went to charged huge tuition, but there was no mention of tuition costs in the film. No wonder the Archdioces couldn't keep it going.

The nuns kept mentioning that it was the only school in the neighborhood, yet it was a private school. In a city the size of San Fransisco, I would think there would be a public high school near by.

"Second, the awards are announced like the SECOND the last group finishes singing. Doesn't it take a little time before scores are tallied?"

It's a movie. They could have just skipped over the time between that and cut to the time when the votes were tallied already.

Your analysis of this movie reminds me of people that watch horror flicks and ask "Why doesn't she get out of the house?" when it's clear to the watcher that a grisly fate awaits the victim. GEEZE it's supposed to be a feel good flick. Stop trying to make sense out of everything in it and accept it for what it is - a feel good story with a message - that being anything is possible if you have faith and believe!

Get a job

"Second, the awards are announced like the SECOND the last group finishes singing. Doesn't it take a little time before scores are tallied?"

True, but would you have added another 30-60 minutes to the movie to show everyone waiting around?