Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

Almost from the very beginning I wondered what on earth possessed Dustin Hoffman to become involved with this turkey. Most of the time he seemed bewildered. There was nothing in the script to explain his character's change from horrible to kindly. The script was generally awful. From a music teaching point of view it was cringeworthy. I watched it to the end for the music, but even then I wished some of the pieces were performed complete instead of cut off in the middle. That's 1 hr 45 mins of my life I won't get back.

I recently caught this movie on VoD - and was really glad to have found it. While I agree with the other reviews here that the script and storyline are fairly predictable, what really makes this movie worth watching (and watching again) are two things : the music, and the performances. Talking of performances, Dustin Hoffman delivers a brilliant performance as expected of him. Particularly a few key moments really shine through with his under-toned delivery - like the scene in the school boardroom. Kathy Bates plays the perfect spoil to the uptight staff at school - and it is a joy to watch her. Equally brilliant is Debra Winger - who has perhaps just a few small scenes - and yet delivers a performance that adds to the movie. While I am no expert in music, the music slowly pulls you into the story, and really helps build the emotions in the story as we go along. I have watched this movie again - and the music itself forms a key character in the movie - I guess the credit goes to the Director to integrate the music so seamlessly. Overall it is a pleasant and uplifting - if sometimes light and cheesy - experience.

Last night we watched the Boychoir starring Dustin Hoffman. As musicians it was so terribly clear that most everything was wrong! As often in Hollywood films they don't seem to make as much an effort to understand music as they do to have the correct decors, regional accents etc. Dustin Hoffman doesn't seem to even be able to keep time in the Hallelujah Chorus in the Messiah! Scenes that make the choir director (Dustin Hoffman) seem more like a football coach than a musician! Who would talk incessantly while rehearsing? Also with complicated polyphonic music such as the Tallis it would be very very RARE that the choir director conducts with NO SCORE! On top of this how corny to think the absolute summit of choral victory is the Messiah by Handel? This is the best in choir music? So sad that the US is so far behind in classical music compared to Europe. The final concert shows once again Hollywood's totally illiterate in classical music. Two arias end on the dominant, this is in terms of cinema cutting the film of brutally just before the solution to the plot! In our modern world of 2015 we have made such perfections in images, sound etc but we are at a kindergarten level in music. Too bad that Plato's ideal of society where music has an equal level with the rest of education has been so terribly missed by most Hollywood producers. Shame on you! Next time you make a movie about a boy's choir maybe you should study one or two before writing your script.

I saw the movie yesterday. I liked the french movie 'the chorus' so I expected something like that.I felt it difficult to focus on this movie because of a few things:1. Failed to develop the main characters Yes. The boy is troubled but the deep emotions that he goes through has not been clearly depicted. At first, he fights with his schoolmate. This has made me think that the boy is angry and sad but why he thinks music is important to him has not been explained. Does he like singing? And if yes, why? How did the school principal find out about his talent? Is he singing just to be recognized by people including his dad? The movie just shows that the boy is talented. And the story goes on as if that is enough. The great teachers at the school have lacked in characteristics. Maybe there were too many teachers and the movie was too short to understand what they are after. Just passionate about music? Why is it so important that their choir should be on the top? Because of pride? 2. The high 'D' I did not like the scene when the three teachers visit Carvelle's. The scene was made just to increase dramatic effect. But it was unnecessary and out of place. All I could think was they look very cold standing outside. And why high 'D'?? Famous musicians are recognized for their talents because of their ability to sing music beautifully not because they can reach high note. Pavarotti was famous because he could sing high notes well and powerfully but every music lovers know that people loved to hear him singing because of his ability to sing sincerely and true to emotions. I think the last concert in the movie was a disaster. The modification to the great music 'Messiah' was simply not beautiful although the boy's voice was beautiful. I wish they had sung music that could emphasize his voice.3. The lives of students at the school The students at the school probably live very different lives from other teenagers. They must be going through lots of troubles knowing that their voices will be gone at some stage and they need to live up to expectations from their parents, etc. I think it could have been better if the movie has focused on the lives of the students more. It could have enhance the dramatic aspects of the movie.