Sara Bareilles - Brave Enough: Live at the Variety Playhouse

Sara Bareilles - Brave Enough: Live at the Variety Playhouse is a captivating music concert feature that plunges you into the awe-inspiring world of indie music as created and presented by Sara Bareilles. Released in 2013, the film is a musical spectacle that serves as an enthralling document of Bareilles’ live performance at the Variety Playhouse.

Arriving during the peak of her career, the movie compiles the dynamic and emotive performances from the acclaimed and highly talented singer-songwriter, Sara Bareilles. With her powerful and expressive voice, the film solidifies Bareilles' place in the contemporary music landscape, allowing audiences an intimate, raw, and riveting experience of seeing her perform in a live setting.

The Variety Playhouse, a well-known indie music hub situated in Atlanta, managed to encapsulate Bareilles' bubbling energy and raw passion for music that night. Providing a backdrop of historic and beautifully distressed brick walls, the stage took on an almost magical quality under the tasteful and dreamlike lighting. This authentic setting perfectly mirrors Bareilles' folk-pop aesthetic and indie sensibility, forming an alliance with her performances that is truly unforgettable.

The movie takes you on a seamless journey of Bareilles' rich and diverse repertoire, reading like a discography of her greatest hits. With her tracks spanning from soft, melodic tunes to fervid and more upbeat songs, the movie presents the full spectrum of Bareilles' vocal power, musical eloquence, and songwriting prowess. Interlaced with the music are candid moments of storytelling, revealing the motivations and inspirations behind some of her most iconic songs.

Despite being a concert film, it cultivates a rare sense of proximity and connection between Bareilles and the audience. There's a rawness to it, an emotional resonance that is echoed through her storytelling and heart-rending performances. This film does a remarkable job in stripping away the layers of stagecraft to showcase Sara Bareilles - the artist, as much as the human, in all her complexities.

Sara Bareilles - Brave Enough: Live at the Variety Playhouse finds its strength in simplicity. Besides the highly energetic yet intimate performance of Bareilles herself, the film is significantly devoid of any extra frills. Instead, it opts for a straightforward direction and stable camera work that keeps your focus locked onto the singer and her passionately delivered performances.

The film also offers glimpses into Bareilles' humorous side, providing an appealing contrast to her deeply heartfelt performances. Demonstrating her spontaneous and lively stage presence, Bareilles genuinely engages with the audience, sharing jokes and bantering in between songs, which only adds to her relatability and charm.

Spectacularly edited, the movie beautifully synthesizes different tones and colors to capture the moods of Bareilles' performances. The cinematography is visually immersive, capturing Bareilles' movements, expressions, and responses to the crowd. While it leans towards the traditional concert film format, it also manages to uniquely balance intimacy, entertainment, and the overall concert experience.

One of the highlights of the film is the live rendition of her hit song "Brave," which brings the audience to their feet. With its anthemic chorus, this fan-favorite performance clearly demonstrates Bareilles' prowess as a live performer. Other notable performances include "Love Song," "Gravity," and "King of Anything", each exhibiting Bareilles’ extraordinary talent.

Sara Bareilles - Brave Enough: Live at the Variety Playhouse is a visual and musical treat for all fans of Sara Bareilles, as well as for viewers who are just getting to know her. The film offers an immersive music experience, leaving you feeling as though you were right there in the front row, amidst the cheers and applauses.

In conclusion, this movie stands as an immaculate testimony to Sara Bareilles' talent and her distinctive musical style. It’s more than just a concert film, it’s a deeply moving encounter with a beloved artist and her musical journey. It captures the essence of who Bareilles is, both as a musician and as an individual, and makes for a riveting viewing experience for anyone who appreciates genuine music and ground-breaking artists.