I've been a fan of J.K. Simmons for as along as I can remember. I find him especially funny in some movies. He's what drew me to this movie. I found this movie to be quite enjoyable. The acting in this movie is quite good, and the music played in it is great! The story shows how much music can make a difference in someone's life. The medical side of the story is relatively muted, and it's really about a father connecting with his son. There are flashbacks early on in the film, and it's a little back and forth, showing the 60's and the present, but then the film stabilizes and stays in the present, which is easier to follow. I feel like the cast were picked wonderfully, and you really believe these people in their roles. I really liked the mother, who went through a range of emotions, and became stronger. This is a wonderful film, showing a building relationship that is wonderful to witness. When it was over, I wanted to watch more. Highly recommended!

I saw myself in the character of Henry Sawyer - which was superbly acted. The pinnacle of J.K. Simmons career. But don't watch it for that reason. Watch it if you've ever struggled to understand your son or let your child make their own mistakes. Or if you've ever had a child with a life- changing accident or disease. Or if you were that child. Or a child who struggled with their parents. OR if you've stood by while your husband improperly lashed out as his children. Or if you were that husband and you wish you weren't. I was. The movie made me cry. When I think about it, I'm still moved to tears by several scenes. No movie ever had that kind of an impact on me - the next two are probably Fireproof and Forest Gump. I pray this movie will help me change. Don't push them away. Don't push away this move. Push play!

Oliver Sacks, M.D. is a physician and professor of neurology and psychiatry at the Columbia University Medical Center. In 2007, he was named the first Columbia University Artist, in recognition of his contributions to the arts. THE MUSIC NEVER STOPPED is an adaptation (by Gwyn Lurie and Gary Marks) of "The Last Hippie", a short story/essay from Sacks' "The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat", a collection of case history stories. Dr. Sacks is a neurologist who has spent his career diagnosing, evaluating, and treating a variety of neurological disorders (and the oftentimes the profound personality shifts that resulted in brain injury or trauma). This information provides a bit of reality ground to the film and makes it all the more important to see and respect. As directed by Jim Kohlberg, this film is a quiet, reverent, at times disturbing exploration of the many aspects of brain function and malfunction and an example of adaptation to these challenges. Gabriel Sawyer (Lou Taylor Pucci) was a bright youngster in the 1070s when the Vietnam war was altering the nation's perception of right and wrong as expressed in the music of Bob Dylan, the Grateful Dead, Cream, the Beatles, etc. Longing to be a professional musician he foregoes his parent's wishes that he attend college and with regret leaves his girlfriend Tamara (Tammy Blanchard) and takes off for New York's Greenwich Village. Fast forward to 1986 and Gabriel is hospitalized for an enormous brain tumor, surgically removed, but leaving Gabriel without the ability to remember. At this point Gabriel's parents are located and his father Henry (J.K. Simmons) and mother Helen (Cara Seymour) visit him in the hospital, longing to reconnect with the son that has been absent for fifteen years. The lack of memory emphasizes the schism between Henry and Gabriel and Henry's depressed state results in his being placed on sick leave from his successful job to deal with the trauma of his family. Music having been so important to Gabriel as young man introduces the music therapist Dianne Daley (Julia Ormond) who meticulously follows the cues form Gabriel's attention span and is able to open the doorway to his memory loss through his love of the music of his time. Henry latches on to this and decides the only way he will be able to rebuild the broken fence of his relationship to Gabriel will be through music and together the two find connection despite the neurological blockades. The cast is exemplary: J.K. Simmons is splendid as the father, Cara Seymour makes the mother wholly credible, Julia Ormond gives a selfless, fine performance, and Lou Taylor Pucci brings life to the long injured Gabriel. The music is by the recordings of the period with special music supplied by Paul Cantelon. Stephen Kazmierski's camera work allows almost unbearably touching close-ups of each of the actors that open the story for us. This is a film based on a true case history, but this is also a story that is immensely touching and uplifting simply from the way it has been written, directed and acted. Grady Harp

I enjoyed this movie last night at the Foster Theater inside of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum...J.K. steals the movie in a dark-horse Oscar performance - but there is absolutely nothing wrong with the rest of the cast. (some production $$$ lacking, i.e. perhaps the worst fake beard ever) The STAR of this movie was *music* - not the soundtrack (although Deadheads will be thrilled), but the emotions and memories that music engenders. The way a song can change your mood, serve as a bridge to your memories. The movie has back-beats about father & son, husband & wife, a mother fretting over her son, Korean vs. Vietnam Wars, even lost love - but the hook is *music*...*that* song you heard when you met your best girl, *that* song playing when you first had sex, when *music* meant something to you on an emotional and visceral level.The movie harmonizes a teenager of the early 1950s as the father of a teenager of the late 1960s, showing how their mutual love of *music* manages to bring them back together across the generational gap - and the tumor-induced memory gaps of the son.If you've ever heard your parents say "turn that crap down", if you've ever said that to your own kid - this movie is for you. You will laugh, you will cry. You will leave the theater wanting to listen to some of your parents' music, and being a little more tolerant of that noise your kid is listening to...