Bravery Is Rewarded

Film: Raise Your Voice
Director: Sean McNamara
Written by: Sam Schreiber
Produced in: 2004
Stars: Hilary Duff, Jason Ritter, Oliver James, Lauren Mayhew, David Keith and Rita Wilson.

Raise Your Voice is an American drama that was first released on 2004 (Wikipedia). The setting is in Flagstaff, Arizona, where Terri Fletcher is from and Los Angeles where the music school is. It tells of a teenage girl named, Terri Fletcher, played by Hilary Duff who wants to go to Los Angeles for the summer to take part in a performing arts school. This movie was written by Sam Schreiber and directed by Sean McNamara.


It is the last day of school and the excitement is creeping into everyone. Terri and her family are putting on a celebratory BBQ for her older brother, Paul Fletcher, played by Jason Ritter, before he leaves for college. The tension is high, when Paul is slightly late and Terri kicks off about wanting to take part in the summer music school. Paul and his dad, played by David Keith, have their usual difference in opinion and it ends with Paul being grounded.
Terri felt slightly bad about this whole scenario and later follows him up the stairs. Meanwhile Paul has snuck out to the garden to post a DVD of Terri singing, in an attempt to get her accepted into the music school. When Paul comes back he finds Terri in his room, and has he shock of his life when his sister breaks the news that she has bought tickets for Three Days Grace, their favourite band! Paul honestly admits that he can't go because he has been grounded and the concert is that night. However with the slightest persuasion Terr changes his mind and they sneak out of the side window and into the car. Their Aunt Nina, played by Rebecca De Mornay is watching them and chuckles to herself, as it reminds her of what it was like to be a teenager again.
The siblings arrive at the concert after the talk they'd had in the car, Paul warned Terri that it was now or never to escape from their dad and do want she wanted to do for a change. They start to get into the spirit of things and open up, singing and cheering along with the band.
After the concert is over the pair set off home and are still singing and talking about the thrill of meeting their favourite band. Then, suddenly, BAM!! A car had come out of the blue with their headlights on full beam, Paul stared in panic. I thought this was very original and unexpected because the tragic events normally happens towards the middle or end not right at the beginning. Terri wakes up to find that she is in hospital and Paul is dead!
She blames herself for his death, forcing him to come out that night and torches and bright lights bring everything back.
Terri’s mum, played by Rita Wilson wants to do what is right for her child and sets up a plan where it looks like Terri is going to go and stay with her Aunt Nina, but is really going to Los Angeles to the music school. This fools her dad, and she is soon on her way.
When she arrives in her new destination she isn’t given the warmest welcome by Jay, English actor Oliver James but nevertheless gets on with things. She tries to settle in to her new room and get to know her roommate, but it doesn’t go to plan when her roommate simply states that she doesn’t want to get close to anyone in this fierce competition as she needs the money the most. The winner gets a $10,000 sponsorship.
The tutors are surprised with the depressed and quiet teenager they have on their hands and shows Terri the DVD Paul had sent in of her being her usual cheerful self. This turns out to be all too much for the girl and she storms out, finding a shoulder to cry on in Jay, who is with Robin, played by Lauren Mayhew. He supposedly dumps her but Robin doesn’t seem to quite understand it. Terri catches them out whilst she was about to practice for the final night along with Jay, as a team. However she isn’t pleased with what she finds and feels betrayed. When Terri finds Jay at her door, in a bad state she spends all night with him on the roof, making sure he doesn’t do anything stupid. He wins back her trust and they continue practicing for the final night. The pair attempt to try out their music in front of an audience at a local bar, but the bright lights are all too much for Terri.
Will she be able to pull it together for the final night? Will her dad smell a rat? Watch the film to find out, and trust me, it is worth it!!

This movie went to the top of my list because it was so emotional and the chemistry between the characters was remarkable, it seemed so real!! I cried in some parts, like when Paul died, aged 18. Also the music was so well timed into the scenes, like when Johnny Maglone, played by Nick Wald, plays Amazing Grace in the opening sequence in perfect rhythm on the recorder. It is simple things like these that really make a difference to whether you watch the movie or not, I personally think that it is a MUST to go and watch it!!
Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed reading it!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raise_Your_Voice