Cast: Dakota Johnson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Kelvin Harrison Jr.

Directed By: Nisha Ganatra

My Take: Life is what we make of it. And music does heal. 

‘The High Note’ is a fun feel-good movie that talks about the music industry and its facets, albeit in a light-hearted manner. The soundtrack of course underscores the soul of the film, with its ‘pop’-y yet Motown feel and the story holds together a cast that is determined to portray their characters with heart. 

One cannot and should not compare Tracee Ellis Ross to her mother, as she brings Grace Davis to life through her own personal understanding of the character because of her being the daughter of Diana Ross. Grace is not the quintessential caricature of a diva. And neither are she and Dakota Fanning’s character Maggie enemies. They’re human. With flaws. And insecurities. And women in a male-dominated profession. And yet both women ultimately stand for what they believe in. 

Maggie’s trivia spouting is adorable. Her continuous optimism for her place in the world is heartwarming. And the fact that she has an ear for what works in music just strummed too deep a chord within me. 

While the movie centers on the two women, they never dominate any of the others around them. Nisha Ganatra’s direction makes the entire world a stage for every actor and every small concept touched upon. 

The film evaluates each character unflinchingly, shows the music industry honestly, and embraces insecurities and wrong-hoods to weave a story that brings satisfaction and maybe even a little hope. 

If you love music, if it makes you happy, and you just want to feel good about something, 'The High Note' is a refreshing breath without being too taxing on your emotions or intelligence or wherewithal and like any great musical piece, it is a grand happy escape. 

Language: English

Release date: May 2020 (US)

Genre: Music, Drama, Romance

Duration: 113 minutes

Distributed by: Universal Pictures

Rating: 3.5/5

By Ayesha Dominica

A fiercely independent freelance writer, Ayesha Dominica has been published regularly since age 13 in community magazines and newsletters, including an international social justice magazine ‘The Axe’. Her 6 years at the Express Group saw her work published in most of the group’s newspapers and syndicated across a number of languages. When she's not intimidating strangers with her love for polysyllabic words, she works as an artist manager for DJ Russel and curates events. She is prone to withdrawal symptoms if distanced from her books and can also be easily distracted by the colour yellow.