Unfortunately, our screening began late because the DGA had rented out the theater for a SAG screening of Inglorious Basterds just before us - and Brad Pitt and the cast were there doing a Q&A and it was a madhouse, pure bedlam. So, I had to bolt right after the movie as I had a dinner to go to. I had a friend who stayed, though, and she said Rob was charming and fun - and knowing him as I do, that is, I'm sure, quite correct.
I cannot comment about whether the film works better than the stage play because I've never seen the stage play and have only heard the various cast albums - frankly, I don't even know the score as well as I should. It seemed like My Husband Makes Movies is complete, but I just don't know it well enough to say. I went into the screening hoping to love it - I didn't. I certainly liked aspects of it, though. But that's just me. I don't like the insanely quick cutting in the musical numbers (despite being told here that the clips aren't necessarily indicative of the way the numbers are in the film, they are, in fact, very indicative), and after a while they all start to feel relentlessly the same - Rob is really talented and I just wish he'd trust the material more, but then again, his producers may be precluding that. Be Italian starts as the Fellini film does and I thought - GREAT - at last a number not filmed on the soundstage of Guido's imagination. A number from his memory, yes, but not like all the others. But in twenty seconds we're back on the soundstage with a full chorus of gals in garters basically doing Mein Herr. We've seen that, we've seen the concert-style lighting, and all that jazz. But I also have to say that the Fellini film is one of my all-time favorites - I find it intensely beautiful, mysterious, and very touching and that probably colors my feelings to a certain extent.
I liked most of the cast very much, and the last shot of the film is really lovely and I wish there were more like it. Whether this will appeal to mass audiences I don't know - it will be interesting to see. I hope for Mr. Marshall and the producers that it does. I'll probably see it again. I wish that the people who make musicals today weren't so afraid of just letting characters sing - they did in Sweeney Todd and the audience accepted it because it was set-up and well done. I'm just a little over everything having to be in a character's imagination or head to be a musical number. They think the audiences won't sit still for anything else, but they will if it's set-up and done well.
And those are a few of my thoughts for whatever they're worth. And if I had to be pinned down, because maybe it will give my thoughts some context, I liked this better than Chicago and I liked it better than Sweeney Todd because the singers are a lot more musical here.
Updated On: 11/23/09 at 02:33 PM
