The High Note

The High Note also boasts a pretty amazing supporting cast. Zoe Chao is Maggie’s roommate, who tirelessly attempts to keep Maggie’s dream of producing music in front of her mind. Her father, Max (Bill Pullman), represents the safety of home and guides her love of the classic sounds of rock and Motown. June Diane Raphael plays Grace’s house manager Gail, in one of the most ironic characters of the film. It’s brilliant. There’s even Eddie Izzard in an effective, yet all-too-brief, cameo.

Stories like The High Note aren’t new, but it’s fresh. It leans into the natural conflicts of Maggie and Grace’s personal and professional relationship. Maggie is indeed inexperienced, but talented, but how can she show off that talent without the experience. On the flip side, it’s no question that Grace can still belt out those tunes, but can she create for a new generation of music lovers, or is it best to play it safe for the rest of Grace’s career.

“It leans into the natural conflicts of Maggie and Grace’s personal and professional relationship.”

The best decision filmmakers made with The High Note is playing it as a straight drama—no over-the-top comedy or overplayed dramatics either—no one ugly cries their problems. I love the subtlety of every performance. Dakota Johnson is particularly good. Her character choices of late have been variations of herself, which is this relatable every-woman that can take on any challenge placed before her. Traci Ellis Ross is also brilliant at portraying that balance between the successful artist and the person ultimately responsible for the direction of her career.

Also, films about singers and musicians always shoot themselves in the foot by having really lousy songs that everyone sings. It’s so hard to get the music right. Thankfully the music is exceptional, and Tracee Ellis Ross can actually sing…like it was in her genes.

The High Note is a fun, feel-good, and inspirational movie. It hits all the right notes from a production standpoint. Honestly, looking back, the film really needed a moment to catapult it into greatness. Instead, it’s just a B+ movie. That said, The High Note is sadly missing a theatrical release though it desperately deserves one.