"The Fantasticks" movie

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/21/08 at 7:54pm

Love it? Hate it?

I'm trying to watch it as a MOVIE, and not as the stage show... and it's much better than I thought it would be.

A lot of it has to do with Jonathan Tunick's gorgeous, lush orchestrations, also the casting. I think Joe McIntyre and Jean Louisa Kelly are terrific. Great voices for this material too. They're not just "getting by." They're really doing it, and in such a charming way.

And the outdoor locations are photographed beautifully. Those big, open skies, with the surreal set pieces. It feels like an old-school musical.

For people who are craving this kind of entertainment... what do you all think?

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 9/21/08 at 7:58pm

There's a great movie in there somewhere. Mostly in the deleted scenes.

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/21/08 at 7:58pm

LOL.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 9/21/08 at 8:05pm

It's true! There's a lot of them and they're mostly very charming. I wish they'd release a directors cut of sorts with some of those scenes restored the way it was supposed to be before the studio decided they were afraid of a musical. Once they tried to "fix" it they sealed it's fate.

[TomMonster]

Posted: 9/21/08 at 8:07pm

I did not hate it...and I spent years with the original off-Broadway production.

It's beautifully shot, great Tunick orchestrations, and doesn't drift too far from the original. I think its a little jarring NOT having "Try to Remember" open the film, but it probably wouldn't have played as well as it does in the stage version.

The authors originally wanted the show to be a "huge" production with lots of cowboys and indians! Hahaha.

[roquat]

Posted: 9/21/08 at 8:12pm

I thought it was just fine, if you needed to make a "Fantasticks" movie. I'm one of the few who actually prefers "Abduction" (lyrics set to the "Rape Ballet" underscoring) to "It Depends on What You Pay."

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/21/08 at 8:13pm

Good to see you here, Tom!

I'm glad they didn't open the movie up TOO far (with cowboys and Indians!)...

I just wish the producing team hadn't been so EMBARRASSED to release a musical movie that was old-fashioned in spirit and intent.

It's actually very charming... even if it's not quite there.

I'm very impressed with the talent of the young leads, particularly.


EDIT: Roquat---I think I agree with you.

Updated On: 9/21/08 at 08:13 PM

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 9/21/08 at 8:33pm

I LOVE the current off-Broadway production, and I was thrilled to enjoy a local production I saw about a year ago. I think it's a wonderful and magic musical, yet I watched the movie before I saw the show live, and I was mostly bored.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 9/21/08 at 10:24pm

I like "Abductions", but I think the Off-Broadway revival really solved the issue with the new lyrics for "It Depends on What You Pay." Now we get the original song and PC lyrics -- it's much more satisfying for me.