⭐⭐⭐ (Three Stars)
Soon to be streaming on VHX, Moment By Moment brings Alexander Sage Oyen’s song cycle to the screen. A series of song vignettes performed by ten individuals in New York City without any scenes or spoken dialogue, this one-hour musical feature film manages to capture emotion and character commendably. However, the lack of plot or wider context as to why we’re meeting these characters leaves the viewer feeling somewhat unsatisfied.
Oyen’s songs feel universal in their relatability, and yet for the most part avoid veering into the generic. The cast of West End stars performing in this song cycle film comprise Cassidy Janson, Chloe Saracco, Cleve September, Colette Guitart, Jarnéia Richard-Noel, Jordan Donnelly, Katie Tonkinson, Lois Morgan Gay, May Tether and Ross Harmon. Even though we don’t get to spend much time with each character or see much development due to the nature of the song cycle format, we get a sense of distinct character from each, thanks to the work of the actors in collaboration with director Louis Rayneau. While each performer is given the opportunity to showcase their strengths in individual musical numbers, the most powerful moments in the song cycle are when several characters sing together, such as in the titular number “Moment By Moment”, as well as “The Bro Duet” and “Girl’s Night Out”. Furthermore, Rachel Sargent’s choreography, woven throughout the film in cut-away moments from the more naturalistic sung performances, adds an extra layer of emotion to the piece and is executed effectively by a strong dance chorus.
Translating material from the stage to the screen, it can be difficult to maintain the inherent theatricality. However, James Anthony and Lyndon Johnson have achieved artful cinematography in Moment By Moment. In particular, colour is used to great effect throughout the film, with most of the film in black and white while colour is reserved for moments of heightened emotion or atmosphere. Another choice that works well is the depiction of the characters’ social media feeds at the start of the number “Girl’s Night Out”.
Overall, Moment By Moment works best when appraising each vignette individually, with strong acting through song performances, dance and cinematography. However, when combined, the songs don’t link effectively to convey any narrative or development of themes, making the film feel like you’re watching a series of unrelated music videos rather than a single coherent piece.
Moment By Moment is available to stream on VHX from 23rd October.
Behind the scenes photos provided by publicist without credit