The Unexpected Opera Music of ‘The Upside’

A review of the film The Upside and the unique opera music that is featured throughout the movie.

Introduction

It’s not often that you hear opera music in a film. But in The Upside, the new comedy starring Kevin Hart and Bryan Cranston, opera plays a key role.

The film is based on the true story of Philippe Pozzo di Borgo, a wealthy French businessman who was left paralyzed after a paragliding accident. Philippe hires Driss, an ex-con from the projects, to be his live-in caregiver.

Driss is initially unwilling to take on the job, but he eventually comes to appreciate Philippe’s love for life – and opera. In one scene, Driss even takes Philippe to see an opera performance at the Paris Opera House.

While opera might seem like an odd choice of music for a comedy, it actually works quite well in The Upside. The soaring melodies and dramatic voices help to add an emotional depth to the film. And, of course, it’s always fun to hear classical music in a modern context.

The Unexpected Opera Music of ‘The Upside’

The scores for The Upside were written by composer Rob Simonsen and feature a mix of opera and modern pop music. The opera music in The Upside was unexpected but worked well with the film. It added an element of drama and sophistication to the film.

What is Opera?

Opera is a form of theatre in which music has a leading role and the parts are taken by singers. Opera combines singing with acting, dancing, and scenery to tell a story. The word opera comes from the Italian word opera, meaning “work”. Opera is part of the Western classical music tradition.

Opera originated in Italy in the 16th century and soon spread throughout Europe. It reached its height of popularity in the 19th century. Today, opera is enjoyed by people all over the world.

Opera is usually written in Italian, German, or French. However, it can be written in any language. Most operas are based on stories from mythology or from history.

The Use of Opera in ‘The Upside’

Who would have thought that the straight-to-Netflix film The Upside would feature not one, but two operatic arias? In a movie that’s ostensibly a dramedy about the unlikely friendship between a wealthy white man with paraplegia (Bryan Cranston) and his African American ex-con caretaker (Kevin Hart), the use of opera might seem like an odd choice. But upon closer inspection, it makes perfect sense.

In the film, philanthropist Philip Lacasse (Cranston) is a huge fan of opera, and his love for the art form is evident in the way he talks about it and the joy it brings him. He even has an entire room in his lavish apartment dedicated to opera, complete with a grand piano and posters of his favorite singers. So when he meets Dell Scott (Hart), who knows nothing about opera, Philip takes it upon himself to educate him.

One of the first things Philip does is play Dell an aria from Verdi’s La Traviata. He explains that opera is all about conveying emotions through music, and this particular aria is all about unrequited love. As Dell listens to the beautiful music, he slowly begins to understand what Philip is talking about.

Later in the film, when things are getting tough for both men, they find themselves singing another operatic duet: “O mio babbino caro” from Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi. This time, there’s no need for explanation; the music speaks for itself. It’s a moment of pure joy and connection between two people who have found unlikely common ground in their shared love of opera.

The Upside is by no means a perfect film, but its use of opera provides some unexpected emotional depth. It’s a refreshing reminder that there’s more to life than what meets the eye – and that sometimes, the most unlikely things can end up being exactly what we need.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the opera music in The Upside is both surprising and effective. It adds an element of sophistication to the film that is unexpected but welcome. The choice of opera pieces is also clever and well-chosen, each one lending a different mood to the scenes in which they appear. The overall effect is one of refinement and elegance, two qualities that are not often associated with comedies. If you’re looking for a funny film with a touch of class, The Upside is definitely worth a watch.