Such a great musical on stage but somehow it seems wooden cutesy and Forced As a film . It's a movie musical paint by numbers sort of thing . It is just there aand it doesn't work. More meandering and long then the stage version and Gillian Lynnes' choreography can't compete with Onna White who choreography on Broadway.It is just a vapid movie musical
Reviews
11 Reviews
A Life in the Theatre
(1993 TV Movie)
A LIfe in Ennui
25 March 2007
Many posts say that lovers of theatre and actors will love this film. I am an actor and Professor of Theatre and I find this film uninvolving, pretentious and wordy. If I wanted my students to fall asleep or hate theatre, I would show this film to them.
Over time, these two actors, the old one and the young one take subtle pot shots at each other and the result is just an eye rolling who cares? The play references are obscure at best and Mamet's dialog simply lacks wit and ingenuity.
Lemmon will say something about the theatre and Broderick will say "yes." Then Lemon will say something else about the theatre and Broderick will say "yes" again. Ad nauseum.
Of course Mametphiles will say "brilliant... what subtext." I say mametshit.
Broderick and Lemmon play parts that don't change a hair in the course of the film. In the beginning of the film, Lemmon's character is sad and pedantic and Broderick a sponge. By the end of the film, Lemmon is sad and pedantic and Broderick a sponge. A colossal waste of time. If I as a theatre lover found it a yawner, I can't imagine anyone finding interest in this tawdry yak-fest.
Want a good film on the life in theatre? Stick to All About Eve, The Producers, Shakespeare in Love, Stage Door, Centerstage, Amadeus, and even The Bandwagon.
Over time, these two actors, the old one and the young one take subtle pot shots at each other and the result is just an eye rolling who cares? The play references are obscure at best and Mamet's dialog simply lacks wit and ingenuity.
Lemmon will say something about the theatre and Broderick will say "yes." Then Lemon will say something else about the theatre and Broderick will say "yes" again. Ad nauseum.
Of course Mametphiles will say "brilliant... what subtext." I say mametshit.
Broderick and Lemmon play parts that don't change a hair in the course of the film. In the beginning of the film, Lemmon's character is sad and pedantic and Broderick a sponge. By the end of the film, Lemmon is sad and pedantic and Broderick a sponge. A colossal waste of time. If I as a theatre lover found it a yawner, I can't imagine anyone finding interest in this tawdry yak-fest.
Want a good film on the life in theatre? Stick to All About Eve, The Producers, Shakespeare in Love, Stage Door, Centerstage, Amadeus, and even The Bandwagon.
Merry Andrew
(1958)
Merry Merry Angeli, Kaye, Kidd, Baccaloni and Rall!
3 December 2006
First off-- this is probably the review of a child, as I fell in love with this movie at 10 years old. Still, whenever its on TV, i can't help grinning from ear to ear. It is lively, colorful, sexy, tuneful and filled with wonderful actors. (First off, who doesn't dream of running away from oppressive relatives and joining the circus? Well that's what happens to archaeologist Danny Kaye who of course falls into lots of misadventures and falls in love with the wonderful Selena played by a gorgeous Pier Angeli. Pier Angeli is the charismatic and likable film actresses of the fifties and she steals your heart. (Learning later that Angeli killed herself in real life just always amazed me. What a waste.) Then there is Selena's father, and ringmaster, played by the larger than life Salvatore Baccaloni! Who couldn't fall in love with that name let alone that big bouncy actor? As Pier's Brother, there is the always wonderful Tommy Rall. And the whole thing is directed by choreographic (and way under-appreciated) genius Michael Kidd with his usual athletic fare. I love his choreography of Lil Abner, Guys and Dolls and 7 Brides for 7 Brothers! I give it two merries and hope it comes out on DVD one day..And let me explain the sexy comment. --Pier Angeli is a goddess! Her brothers in tights are hot too) Where do I sign up?
Annie Get Your Gun
(1957 TV Movie)
Mary shoots a bull's eye!
7 November 2006
I didn't expect much. Uusally when I see Mary Martin, she plays a version of Mary Martin. In this case, she acted the hell out of Annie Oakley. She was charming, funny, believable and totally committed to this role. She was incredibly believable as a hillbilly. I think this is a role she was born to play. I think she was better than any other Annie-even (dare I say it as an Ethel lover) Ethel Merman. If you can, see this performance- see it! . It shows why Mary was the beloved stage star she was. I also think the judicious trimming of Annie Gets Your Gun works in its favor. Always a treat to see Rita Shaw in a musical and she doesn't disappoint as Dolly. John Raitt is good too. A delight. Wish they'd re release it on DVD
A Prairie Home Companion
(2006)
The Altman Home Companion:Robert Altman Hits or Misses. Usually a Miss.
28 October 2006
I always thought I'd remain a Robert Altman Fan. Nashville was one of my all-time favorite movies and it introduced me to Altman. I then ran out and saw Brewster McCloud. BM has hysterically funny for the first five minutes of the film-- a great great opening and then plummets into stupidity becoming unwatchable.
Movies Altman has done since Nashville seem to be rambling and unfocused. Yes I know he lets his actors improv and this one is another big old unfocused rambling mess. .
Felt the same way about Gosford Park not to mention that mess of a movie called Popeye. Sorry But this is but yet another Altman miss. Other than Nashville, I have yet to like an Altman Film. Please find me one that is watchable.
Movies Altman has done since Nashville seem to be rambling and unfocused. Yes I know he lets his actors improv and this one is another big old unfocused rambling mess. .
Felt the same way about Gosford Park not to mention that mess of a movie called Popeye. Sorry But this is but yet another Altman miss. Other than Nashville, I have yet to like an Altman Film. Please find me one that is watchable.
Mighty Aphrodite
(1995)
A Masterpiece from beginning to end
23 September 2006
This is one of my favorite films. It is touching and hysterically funny all at the same time. It is literary, witty and succeeds on so many levels.
It is a modern day New York Comedy juxtaposed with the elements of Greek tragedy complete with a Greek Chorus in an old ancient Greek Theatre and actors. The Greek tragedians keep commenting and interacting with the modern action and the result is amazing.
It also compares the Oedipus Rex story with the modern day story of Lenny Weinrib who is searching for the mother of his adopted child. After much searching, he finds her and discovers she is a prostitute.
Graciela Daniele (renowned Broadway choreographer) stages the Greek Chorus who sometimes anachronistically burst into musical numbers.
Mira Sorvino won an academy award as the prostitute/ mother. This is a must see and one of my favorite films.
It is a modern day New York Comedy juxtaposed with the elements of Greek tragedy complete with a Greek Chorus in an old ancient Greek Theatre and actors. The Greek tragedians keep commenting and interacting with the modern action and the result is amazing.
It also compares the Oedipus Rex story with the modern day story of Lenny Weinrib who is searching for the mother of his adopted child. After much searching, he finds her and discovers she is a prostitute.
Graciela Daniele (renowned Broadway choreographer) stages the Greek Chorus who sometimes anachronistically burst into musical numbers.
Mira Sorvino won an academy award as the prostitute/ mother. This is a must see and one of my favorite films.
Dancing Pirate
(1936)
Funny Frank Morgan and Unknown Charles Collins
22 September 2006
I got this out of the 50 musicals set. It said it was in Technicolor but it the print was curiously in black and white. The Plot-a dancing master gets kidnapped to be a galley worker on a pirate boat. He ends up in Calfornia near Monterey which at that time was populated with Mexicans. At first they arrest him, but he charms the whole town. This was an entertaining little musical. Not perfect and not a classic but definitely worth a look for Charles Collins and Frank Morgan.
It had a lead I have never heard of... Charles Collins who was quite a talented dancer-singer-actor . He kind of looks like Kevin Kline. Amazed the man didn't have a more illustrious career as he had all the makings of what constituted a star back then. Quite an interesting discovery. Frank Morgan (the wizard of oz) is quite funny as the bumbling mayor. The film was quite enjoyable.
It had a lead I have never heard of... Charles Collins who was quite a talented dancer-singer-actor . He kind of looks like Kevin Kline. Amazed the man didn't have a more illustrious career as he had all the makings of what constituted a star back then. Quite an interesting discovery. Frank Morgan (the wizard of oz) is quite funny as the bumbling mayor. The film was quite enjoyable.
Adam & Steve
(2005)
Funny Boys
10 April 2006
Hilariously off beat from beginning to end. Laughed harder than any movie in years! Ridiculously funny. Hit just the right funny bone. Craig Chester grows on you with that winning geek like smile. Malcolm Gets is the right touch of gay prince charming. Parker Posey is relentless in her misguided attempts at stand up comedy. And don't get me started on the Bernstein Curse! Okay parts were over the top and unbelievable but who cares! Funny Funny Funny. Kudos to Craig Chester-writer, director - actor. and the cast. Great to see Julie Hagerty, Paul Sand and Melinda Dillon in smaller parts. Love the 80's flashbacks to the club scene and Goths! Parker Posey in the fat costume is worth the price of admission.
The Producers
(2005)
A Valentine to the old Movie Musical; Hysterical To Boot.
17 December 2005
This is a valentine to the old movie musical. It's old fashioned in tone with a new fashioned hilarity. Marvelously politically incorrect insulting every ethnic and sexual group to a hilarious end. I haven't heard audiences laugh out loud in a movie theatre like that in a long time.
I don't believe these critics who don't see it as a filmed valentine. What is wrong with them? No, it's not realistic or reinvented for the cinema. What you got is a faithful adaptation of a Broadway Masterpiece--gloriously stagy like an old time musical! I loved it.
Lane and Broderick recreate their Broadway roles with hilarious affect and aplomb. For star power there is Will Ferrel and Uma Thurmond. Will is quite good and Uma pulls it off.!
On the negative side, I did miss the number King of Broadway although cutting it does move the plot along. The little Old Lady Number didn't work as well as it did on Broadway. It probably needed some reinventing for the screen. I miss the trampolines.
There was some odd lighting during the "That Face" number. . And Andrea Martin is there in the chorus of Little Old Lady number with her part obviously on the cutting room floor. But these two negatives are nit-picky
Ignore the critics; go see this film. Prepare to laugh at the outrageousness and political incorrectness of it all, and the sheer fun. This is a crowd pleaser.
I don't believe these critics who don't see it as a filmed valentine. What is wrong with them? No, it's not realistic or reinvented for the cinema. What you got is a faithful adaptation of a Broadway Masterpiece--gloriously stagy like an old time musical! I loved it.
Lane and Broderick recreate their Broadway roles with hilarious affect and aplomb. For star power there is Will Ferrel and Uma Thurmond. Will is quite good and Uma pulls it off.!
On the negative side, I did miss the number King of Broadway although cutting it does move the plot along. The little Old Lady Number didn't work as well as it did on Broadway. It probably needed some reinventing for the screen. I miss the trampolines.
There was some odd lighting during the "That Face" number. . And Andrea Martin is there in the chorus of Little Old Lady number with her part obviously on the cutting room floor. But these two negatives are nit-picky
Ignore the critics; go see this film. Prepare to laugh at the outrageousness and political incorrectness of it all, and the sheer fun. This is a crowd pleaser.
Darling Lili
(1970)
A Musical Comedy Buff's undiscovered Dream! Mary Poppins turns German Spy
15 December 2005
Even a bad Julie Andrews Musical is worth watching and this isn't bad! In fact it's quite entertaining. Actually it's a fascinating study on trying to manipulate a star's personae.
To break Julie's "goody two shoes mold" she plays a German Spy/English Musical Hall Actress. She subsequently went on to take her top off in the movie S.O.B. and play a drag queen in Victor Victoria and other not so goody girls usually under hubby Blake Edward's direction.
The movie is admittedly problematic It is hard to feel for her character because she's a German Spy. We want to love Julie but she's on the wrong side of the law. Probably this is why this movie flopped. Julie as a German Spy? Our Mary Poppins? our Maria Van Trapp suddenly a German Spy?
The romance seems to happen overnight and come from nowhere. But never mind, it's a musical and it has Jullie. Oh and did I mention hunky Rock Hudson is in it too?
Julie gives a glowing wonderful performance that any musical comedy buff should not miss. Great WW 1 Songs and nice tunes by Mancini.
Yes the film has plot holes and at times doesn't seem logical. For example, why is Julie and her uncle suddenly pursued by the Germans when a minute ago she was spying for them.
But on another note, who cares? The musical numbers are fun and exciting. The costumes and scenery extraordinarily lavish. The cinematography quite on the mark.
It has the annoying idiot detectives that Blake Edwards puts in all his movies. (Yawn)
But it has Julie- trying desperately to change her image. (You can imagine dinner with Blake and Julie - Julie: "Blake we need to change my image."
Blake: "I Will make you a German Spy, then we will take your clothes off in another movie and then play a transvestite in a another movie. They won't recognize you. It will be the death of Maria Von Trapp"
Fascinating study on changing an image. Wonderful Julie. A must see for musical comedy buffs. Much more entertaining than Star!
To break Julie's "goody two shoes mold" she plays a German Spy/English Musical Hall Actress. She subsequently went on to take her top off in the movie S.O.B. and play a drag queen in Victor Victoria and other not so goody girls usually under hubby Blake Edward's direction.
The movie is admittedly problematic It is hard to feel for her character because she's a German Spy. We want to love Julie but she's on the wrong side of the law. Probably this is why this movie flopped. Julie as a German Spy? Our Mary Poppins? our Maria Van Trapp suddenly a German Spy?
The romance seems to happen overnight and come from nowhere. But never mind, it's a musical and it has Jullie. Oh and did I mention hunky Rock Hudson is in it too?
Julie gives a glowing wonderful performance that any musical comedy buff should not miss. Great WW 1 Songs and nice tunes by Mancini.
Yes the film has plot holes and at times doesn't seem logical. For example, why is Julie and her uncle suddenly pursued by the Germans when a minute ago she was spying for them.
But on another note, who cares? The musical numbers are fun and exciting. The costumes and scenery extraordinarily lavish. The cinematography quite on the mark.
It has the annoying idiot detectives that Blake Edwards puts in all his movies. (Yawn)
But it has Julie- trying desperately to change her image. (You can imagine dinner with Blake and Julie - Julie: "Blake we need to change my image."
Blake: "I Will make you a German Spy, then we will take your clothes off in another movie and then play a transvestite in a another movie. They won't recognize you. It will be the death of Maria Von Trapp"
Fascinating study on changing an image. Wonderful Julie. A must see for musical comedy buffs. Much more entertaining than Star!
Rent
(2005)
Vapid and Hokey
3 December 2005
Warning: Spoilers
I didn't understand the fuss over the Broadway Musical and I don't understand this film. Does anyone realize that the whole mess is lacking in credibility? Why should anyone let Bohemians live rent free in New York? Why should anyone live rent free? And who are these people? These characters aren't developed. They are simply the drag queen, the lawyer lesbian, the performance artist lesbian, the rock singer and why should we care about them? Simply because the majority is HIV positive?
I think it's great that there are inter-racial couples and lesbians with the same jealousy problems as heteros. I think it's great that there is an interacial gay couple. I think it's great that the well to do black family sponsored a commitment ceremony for their lesbian daughter. But these characters are not developed and I care not a wit for any of them.
The music is bland and uninspired. The choreography with one exception worse. The only number that worked was the dream sequence of the Maureen Tango. It went escapist like Chicago andthere was a moment I though it was going to take off. Then it crashed landed in vapid gritty reality called Rent.
As for honesty, the only honest moment in the film when after a fight between Maureen and Joanne, Maureen's Mom comments to her ex-boyfriend "Now you two can get back together?" It was also the only funny moment.
There is all that to do about Mimi breaking into the rock musicians window. She sluttily tries to seduce him and he puts her off and throws her out. Then he apologizes to everyone around him for being such an asshole last night. Well... some slutty woman breaks into your house and offers you sex and you say no and you have to apologize?? And not just to her, but to your roommate? Get real!
Then Mimi seems to die but comes back to life because she as she says, she saw the light and the drag queen Angel was there and he told her to go back to the boy who was singing. Hokey.
Then the drag queen dies and I feel nothing for him. I don't know him. He is a character (like all of them) that is undeveloped. Then I have to hear each person give a eulogy to this undeveloped character. Vapid and hokey.
And that is the problem. For all it's supposed gritty realism, it's not really. Your'e HIV positive and so am I; let's fall in love. Isn't that just vapid!
When i think of Rent, only one word comes to mind. Vapid. Oh and Hokey.
I think it's great that there are inter-racial couples and lesbians with the same jealousy problems as heteros. I think it's great that there is an interacial gay couple. I think it's great that the well to do black family sponsored a commitment ceremony for their lesbian daughter. But these characters are not developed and I care not a wit for any of them.
The music is bland and uninspired. The choreography with one exception worse. The only number that worked was the dream sequence of the Maureen Tango. It went escapist like Chicago andthere was a moment I though it was going to take off. Then it crashed landed in vapid gritty reality called Rent.
As for honesty, the only honest moment in the film when after a fight between Maureen and Joanne, Maureen's Mom comments to her ex-boyfriend "Now you two can get back together?" It was also the only funny moment.
There is all that to do about Mimi breaking into the rock musicians window. She sluttily tries to seduce him and he puts her off and throws her out. Then he apologizes to everyone around him for being such an asshole last night. Well... some slutty woman breaks into your house and offers you sex and you say no and you have to apologize?? And not just to her, but to your roommate? Get real!
Then Mimi seems to die but comes back to life because she as she says, she saw the light and the drag queen Angel was there and he told her to go back to the boy who was singing. Hokey.
Then the drag queen dies and I feel nothing for him. I don't know him. He is a character (like all of them) that is undeveloped. Then I have to hear each person give a eulogy to this undeveloped character. Vapid and hokey.
And that is the problem. For all it's supposed gritty realism, it's not really. Your'e HIV positive and so am I; let's fall in love. Isn't that just vapid!
When i think of Rent, only one word comes to mind. Vapid. Oh and Hokey.
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