#1
Posted: 12/25/09 at 10:25pm
(Yes, I am aware there are existing threads discussing the topic. I am prepared for snarky comments questioning the need for my own thread.)
THIS FILM WAS WRETCHED. I was thoroughly disappointed.
I saw a minimalist production of NINE last year at the Southeastern Theatre Conference community theatre festival. It won first place. They cut the show down to less than 60 minutes. At the end, I was in a mess of tears. It presented the heart and soul of the story with incredible acting and little production elements. It was a gem. Perfection.
That is ALL I know about the show. I am only familiar with the songs they left in that production. Regarding the film, I do not know what songs were added or cut except that "Cinema Italiano" is new and "Getting Tall" was cut.
The film left me emotionless. I didn't sympathize with Guido. I didn't care if he made his movie or not. The only thing I cared about was Marion Coltiard's character. And we never know if she finds happiness.
The individual numbers were OK. "Be Italian" was the best staged production number I have seen in recent movie musical history.
I don't know what the point of the film was. The ending could have made a statement but the film didn't set the ending up for what it could have been.
The film also looks and feels way too contemporary. It's too sharp. The colors don't seem right. The music is also too contemporary-sounding.
And one final thing to nit-pick, during the dinner scene where Guido's wife has a solo song...she stands up from the table and everyone else is frozen. The cigarette of Judi Dench's is emitting smoke while everything else remains still, except for his wife. If it's intentional, I don't understand why. It was distracting and contrasted to the device.
Those are all the stand-out thoughts I can remember after seeing the film.
What a disappointing evening.
THIS FILM WAS WRETCHED. I was thoroughly disappointed.
I saw a minimalist production of NINE last year at the Southeastern Theatre Conference community theatre festival. It won first place. They cut the show down to less than 60 minutes. At the end, I was in a mess of tears. It presented the heart and soul of the story with incredible acting and little production elements. It was a gem. Perfection.
That is ALL I know about the show. I am only familiar with the songs they left in that production. Regarding the film, I do not know what songs were added or cut except that "Cinema Italiano" is new and "Getting Tall" was cut.
The film left me emotionless. I didn't sympathize with Guido. I didn't care if he made his movie or not. The only thing I cared about was Marion Coltiard's character. And we never know if she finds happiness.
The individual numbers were OK. "Be Italian" was the best staged production number I have seen in recent movie musical history.
I don't know what the point of the film was. The ending could have made a statement but the film didn't set the ending up for what it could have been.
The film also looks and feels way too contemporary. It's too sharp. The colors don't seem right. The music is also too contemporary-sounding.
And one final thing to nit-pick, during the dinner scene where Guido's wife has a solo song...she stands up from the table and everyone else is frozen. The cigarette of Judi Dench's is emitting smoke while everything else remains still, except for his wife. If it's intentional, I don't understand why. It was distracting and contrasted to the device.
Those are all the stand-out thoughts I can remember after seeing the film.
What a disappointing evening.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
