'The Last 5 Years' Comes to Life in New Trailer
Nora Dominick ‘17 / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer
The Last 5 Years tells the story of a five-year relationship between Jamie (Jeremy Jordan), a rising novelist, and Cathy (Anna Kendrick), a struggling actress. Although this seems like another classic love story, it has a bit of a twist. The story uses a form of storytelling in which Cathy’s story is told in reverse, beginning with the end of the couple’s marriage and her trying to move forward. While this is happening, Jamie is telling the story in chronological order, starting just after the couple first meets.
The musical was written by Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown and was produced Off-Broadway in 2002 with Broadway veterans Norbert Leo Butz as Jamie and Sherie Rene Scott as Cathy. The production went onto win the 2002 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music and Lyrics as well as receiving Drama Desk Award nominations for Outstanding Musical, Actor, Actress, Orchestrations and Set Design.
The trailer doesn’t try to mask the fact that it’s a musical movie; it is almost entirely made up of the film’s musical numbers. The trailer opens with Cathy singing the heartbreaking and emotional opening number, “Still Hurting.” Kendrick seems to have put everything into the performance as fans see her stripped of almost all make-up and sobbing. Pretty powerful opening for a trailer.
In the musical, Cathy and Jamie don’t actually share any scenes together until their modes of storytelling cause them to intersect during the wedding song. By looking at the trailer, the film is not taking this route for obvious reasons. It may work for a musical for the audience to imagine the other characters presence in the scenes however; it would make one boring movie if all viewers saw were Kendrick and then Jordan all alone.
Although the storytelling is different, the music remains entirely in tact. In the trailer alone, fans can hear snippets of some classics like “Moving Too Fast,” “A Summer in Ohio,” and the emotional duet “Goodbye Until Tomorrow.” Musical theatre fans are sure to be in for a treat, especially with the two talented actors taking the leads.
Although Kendrick is known for her work in film, she actually received her start on Broadway. At the age of 12, Kendrick starred in the Broadway production High Society as Dinah. The role earned her a Theatre World Award and a Tony Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical, making her the third-youngest Tony Award nominee in history. Since her big splash on Broadway, Kendrick was nominated for an Academy Award for her work in the film Up in the Air opposite George Clooney. Kendrick has not slowed down despite all of the success. She has been a part of numerous independent films and box offices hits like Pitch Perfect.
Jeremy Jordan is also no stranger to the spotlight. He has been involved in several Broadway productions including Bonnie and Clyde opposite Laura Osnes and ART”s most recent musical Finding Neverland as J.M Barrie. He also originated the role of Jack Kelly in the Broadway smash hit Newsies, for which he was nominated for a Tony Award. His career also expanded to television when he was cast in the second season of NBC’s musical hit, Smash. Both Kendrick and Jordan have their fair share of musical and film experience to elevate this story to new heights.
The trailer also gave musical theatre nerds their own slice of heaven when several members of the creative team and cast from past productions of The Last 5 Years made appearances. Jason Robert Brown, who wrote the book and the music/lyrics for the musical, can be spotted in a scene when Cathy auditions in “Climbing Uphill.” He is quietly at the piano doing what he does best, cranking out some truly amazing music. Also seen in the trailer, is Broadway vet Betsy Wolfe as Cathy’s former stripper roommate in Ohio. Wolfe starred as Cathy in the 2013 Off-Broadway revival of the musical. Not seen in the trailer but scheduled to make an appearance is Sherie Rene Scott, the original Cathy.
The film is scheduled to be released on February 13, 2015 and fans are already eager to see it. Until then, Emertainment Monthly and every musical theatre fanatic on this planet will be playing this impeccable trailer on repeat.