The Music Never Stopped (2011)

65% of critics liked it
(49 reviews)
84% of users liked it
(1,837 ratings)

An overly critical father gets a unique opportunity to reconnect with his estranged son, if he can only embrace the music that once divided them in this uplifting family drama inspired by Dr. Oliver Sacks' case study "The Last Hippie." Forbidden by his conservative engineer father, Henry (J.K.… More An overly critical father gets a unique opportunity to reconnect with his estranged son, if he can only embrace the music that once divided them in this uplifting family drama inspired by Dr. Oliver Sacks' case study "The Last Hippie." Forbidden by his conservative engineer father, Henry (J.K. Simmons), from attending a Grateful Dead concert back in 1967, Gabriel Sawyer (Lou Taylor Pucci) packs his bags and runs away from home. Twenty years later, Henry and his wife, Helen (Cara Seymour), receive word that Gabriel has been diagnosed with a benign brain tumor that requires delicate surgery to remove. Though the operation is successful, Henry and Helen soon learn that the part of their son's brain responsible for creating memories has been damaged by the long-neglected tumor, and that as a result, Gabriel will find it difficult to distinguish the past from the present. As communication grows increasingly difficult, frustrated father Henry becomes staunchly determined to make up for lost time by forming a solid father-son bond with Gabriel, and begins researching treatment for brain injuries. It isn't long before Henry's inquiries lead him to music therapist Dr. Dianne Daly (Julia Ormond), whose innovative methods have yielded impressive results in the past. When Dr. Daily exposes Gabriel to the rock & roll music that he loved as a youth, something incredible begins to happen: Gabriel finally finds the words to express himself, and he regains the ability to have meaningful conversations. As his own health begins to take a turn for the worse, Henry determines to let go of his loathing for the music that has awakened his son's consciousness, and embrace the joy of loving the child he once drove away. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 45 min.
Directed By: Jim Kohlberg
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Mar 18, 2011 Limited
On DVD: Aug 2, 2011
Studio: Roadside Attractions

Critic Reviews

Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post
A wounded and hopeful take on generation gaps and the wider, nearly unbridgeable chasms created by neurological disaster.
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Kohlberg is determined to manipulate your emotions; he succeeds.
Ty Burr, Boston Globe
It's sentimental, yet so honest and eccentric that it rises above schmaltz.
Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News
The Music Never Stopped is often static and follows a familiar trajectory. Yet it has power, partly because Simmons does a fine job of showing how hurt Henry is that his taste didn't imprint on Gabe beyond grade school.
Andy Webster, New York Times
Presumably intended as an inspirational medical drama, this dated effort congeals into stale nostalgia. Mr. Simmons deserves better.
Lou Lumenick, New York Post
It sounds like TV-grade schmaltz, but it isn't, thanks to expertly astringent work by Simmons...
Prairie Miller, Long Island Press
This loosely adapted biopic drawn from the Dr. Oliver Sacks case study, The Last Hippie, resonates with the emotional power of music back in time to heal and awaken broken lives.
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
It's really for anybody who loves their music -- whatever that music is -- so much that hearing it is enough to transport them to another time and place.
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
.. it's curious that a film essentially about the healing power of music can be so tone deaf about some of the particulars, this is a movie that some ...baby boomers will absolutely adore. Others should approach with caution.
Kelly Vance, East Bay Express
This heartily maudlin character study is sort of a crash course in Boomerology.
Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald
This fact-inspired story from the physician who gave us Awakenings mostly plays like a Lifetime movie.
Jonathan W. Hickman, Paste Magazine
The treatment of the music alone makes the movie worth seeing, but the sophisticated nature of the narrative builds well on the musical foundation.
Austin O'Connor, AARP the Magazine
Simmons has never been better than he is here, as he transforms Henry from a guy burdened with regret to one bursting with hope.
Jim Lane, Sacramento News & Review
... radiates good intentions and bland professionalism without ever becoming as moving or inspiring as it seems to want to be.
Matt Brunson, Creative Loafing
Some will collapse in tears over this story. Others will remain stone-cold. And still others, like me, will land somewhere in the middle of these extremes.
Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle
The Music Never Stopped offers up a fairly predictable medical melodrama.
Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
A medley of "Memento," "The King's Speech" and "Hair," "The Music Never Stopped" is sentimental pop packaged as a profound rock opera.
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul), St. Paul Pioneer Press
No matter what, Simmons is worth seeing.
Ted Fry, Seattle Times
The sentiments are real without succumbing to exaggerated sentimentality, thanks in large part to that big lovable lug, J.K. Simmons.
Graham Killeen, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Director Jim Kohlberg misses a few beats, but more amplitude would have been appreciated.

Read all 22 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Megan S

I didn't even realize this was based on an Oliver Sacks case until after it was over and I thought it sounded familiar.
♥˩ƳИИ &

Cast: J.K. Simmons, Lou Taylor Pucci, Julia Ormond, Cara Seymour, Mía Maestro, Tammy Blanchard, Scott Adsit, Max Antisell Director: Jim Kohlberg Summary: Nearly 20 years after Gabriel (Lou Taylor Pucci) ran away from home, his father, Henry Sawyer (J.K. Simmons), and mother,… More
Cast: J.K. Simmons, Lou Taylor Pucci, Julia Ormond, Cara Seymour, Mía Maestro, Tammy Blanchard, Scott Adsit, Max Antisell Director: Jim Kohlberg Summary: Nearly 20 years after Gabriel (Lou Taylor Pucci) ran away from home, his father, Henry Sawyer (J.K. Simmons), and mother, Helen (Cara Seymour), discover that their no longer young child suffers from a brain tumor that blocks him from recording fresh memories. Desperate to connect with his son at the assisted-living facility Gabe inhabits, Henry realizes the best way to do so is through music -- specifically the classic rock tunes Gabe loves and he despises. My Thoughts: "A beautiful story and a fantastic film. Such great acting from Lou Taylor Pucci, J.K. Simmons, and Cara Seymour. The story was touching and made me shed a few or more tears. The music is amazing in this film and it is what truly brings this family back together. The story is sad, inspiring, touching, and will definitely pull at your heart strings. You can't help but care for these character's and be moved by their story. Brilliant film. Check this one out for the great story, acting, and music. A definite must see."
Cynthia S

Very touching movie based on a true story, apparently. Great acting. Great music. I teared up more than once...
Panta O

Sundance Film Festival is one of the rare ones in the US with some credibility and I love watching movies shown there. This year I saw The Music Never Stopped (directed by Jim Kohlberg), but I waited with the review a little bit. This was Kohlberg's directorial debut from a… More
Sundance Film Festival is one of the rare ones in the US with some credibility and I love watching movies shown there. This year I saw The Music Never Stopped (directed by Jim Kohlberg), but I waited with the review a little bit. This was Kohlberg's directorial debut from a script by Gwyn Lurie and Gary Marks and it started really well but somehow lost the rhythm after a while. If you are a fan of the music from the 60' or 70's this is a must for you... but you'll have to put up with the often static style of directing which follows a predictable trajectory. Based on Oliver Sacks' essay "The Last Hippie", this movie is trying to explore the father-son relationship between Henry Sawyer (J.K. Simmons) and his son, Gabriel (Lou Taylor Pucci), who suffers from a brain tumor that prevents him from forming new memories. Henry, with his son unable to shed light on their strained relationship, must connect with him through music, and the fine performance of J.K. Simmons helped us to understand that dad's taste in music (which used to be "their" music) didn't imprint on Gabe beyond his grade school and that a new "bridge" needed to be built! And the "bridge" was built by the Grateful Dead! Powerful start, good music but somehow the movie never finds its own "soul" and follows mediocre tempo.
Jason R

J.K. Simmons and Lou Taylor Pucci give wonderful performances! When his son Gabriel re-enters his life after being gone for 20-years. Henry Sawyer learns that his boy had gone through life with an undiagnosed brain tumor which resulted in severe brain damage and loss of memory.… More
J.K. Simmons and Lou Taylor Pucci give wonderful performances! When his son Gabriel re-enters his life after being gone for 20-years. Henry Sawyer learns that his boy had gone through life with an undiagnosed brain tumor which resulted in severe brain damage and loss of memory. Through music. The Father and Son learn from the mistakes of the past, and rediscover there love for each other. Wonderfully acted and well-told story! The Music Never Stopped will leave a lasting impression on you. It is just one of those films that hits all the right emotional chords and makes for a very special and enjoyable cinematic treat.

Cast

            J.K. Simmons as Henry Sawyer

            Lou Taylor Pucci as Gabriel Sawyer

            Cara Seymour as Helen Sawyer

            Julia Ormond as Dianne Daly

            Tammy Blanchard as Tamara Ferris

            Mia Maestro as Celia

            Scott Adsit as Dr. Biscow

            James Urbaniak as Mike Tappin

            Peggy Gormley as Florence

            Max Antisell as Young Gabriel

            Ryan Karels as Bernie

            Josh Segarra as Mark Ferris

            Xander Johnson as Weed

            Jesse Roche as Steve

            Erica Berg as College Representative

            Wade Mylius as Activist

            Lance Rubin as Rocker Dude

            Matt McCarthy as Carl

            Rashad Edwards as Police Officer

            James Eason as Hippie Vendor

            Phil Bender as Jerry Garcia

            Richard Campbell as Bob Weir

            Buzz Roddy as Bill Kreutzmann

            Ethan F. Hamburg as Phil Lesh

            Mark Greenberg as Mickey Hart

            Paul Sigrist as Brent Myland

            Martin Moran as Minister
See full cast