#26
Posted: 6/15/15 at 11:52am
It doesn't look funny. I feel like that should be the first requirement...
Julie Taymor's Midsummer Night's Dream Reviews — Page 2
#27
Posted: 6/15/15 at 11:54am
Do you think it's worth it to see the Fathom Events version?
I've never been, am curious how well they're able to capture the scope/feel of the production?
#28
Posted: 6/22/15 at 11:04pm
Just back from the movie theatre. We three mortals of varying age (adult, 20 and 14) all greatly enjoyed it. Visually - it is impressive. The camera work overall was excellent. I don't know how many cameras were used - but there is quite a variety of shots and close-ups. (I did feel cheated though when the end credits indicated there was a re-recording person and foley artists). Taymor is credited as the director of the film, too, so she has come a-ways since Across the Universe.
There was a short bit before the movie with Taymor explaining her vision and how she came to it. I think Taymor has a unique way of seeing the stage - and no matter how audacious, it may be - she gets her visuals to work. And, she was not above making fun (or paying homage?) to herself. The multiple use of the sheet - the bamboo - the elevators - the pillows! - the making of the acting troupe as a bunch of Brooklyn or Bronx guys.
I thought the acting was uneven. The young actress playing Hermia, Lilly Englert, has what appears to be a lisp and it was really offputting. I sort of got used to it. (I have no idea if it is real or affected) The actors playing Lysander and Demetrious were ok - and were best when puffing up against each other when both are entranced by Helena. Mandi Masden's Helena was fairly one-note - teetering on the edge of hysteria - but I enjoyed her performance.
David Harewood was a magnificent Oberon. Max Casella was an hysterical Bottom.
And Kathryn Hunter's Puck is Puck as I've never seen Puck - or imagined Puck. Just entrancing throughout.
This was a Midsummer Night's Dream as I have never seen nor imagined. And for that alone - it was a fine evening at the movies. Although, it was not nearly as insane as the trailer made it out to be.
#29
Posted: 6/23/15 at 1:33am
Julie Taymor sucked the life out of The Tempest; looks like she did the same with A Midsummer Night's Dream. The play's language means nothing to her, so she goes into visual overload. She should have thrown out the text and done an all visual production.
I saw a production in the late 1990s the created the feeling of dream/nightmare with simple powerful visuals and the actors knew how to speak the text.
To this days, people still speak about Peter Brook's white room production from the 1970s. I doubt this will be true of Julie Taymor's mess!
#30
Posted: 6/23/15 at 5:49am
A Director, did you see Taymor's production?
#31
Posted: 6/23/15 at 8:41am
The language got plenty of attention -- this production wasn't as over-loaded with visual gimmickry as I was expecting it to be. Taymor even seemed to be working hard to concentrate on the actors at the expense of the settings -- there were actually times when I wanted her to pull back so I could get a fuller view of the set/projections. This was as much an actor's production as a designer's production. The big fight between the two couples was handsomely brought off, and Casella's Bottom was a tasty surprise.
I'll cop to some disappointments -- particularly the Pyramus & Thisbe section, which fell a little flat, except for the marvelous Wall and Moon.
Overall, lovely, funny and genuinely moving. I hope it'll make it to home video at some point.
Not to spoil anything, I particularly enjoyed one little bit of costume-related self-parody on Taymor's part.
"If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers." Thomas Pynchon, GRAVITY'S RAINBOW
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Philip K. Dick
My blog: http://www.roscoewrites.blogspot.com/
Updated On: 6/23/15 at 08:41 AM
#32
Posted: 6/23/15 at 11:49am
I agree Roscoe…I really thought there would be a lot more artsy Julie visuals! What she presented was restrained and not over done. In a way…lol…I think I wanted more because that is what I really thought she was going to do based upon the trailer I watched. Yes the fight between the two couples was really well done. I wanted to cheer them on to keep going - keep ripping everything off!
I didn't love it. I enjoyed it though. Glad I saw it. I believe this might have been more impressive in person in the round.
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