Sunday in the Park with George

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Rating: B

This is the film of the Steven Sondheim musical.  It is the fictional story of Georges Seurat and the characters he painted in his painting “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte”.   The first half focuses on Georges Seurat and his “girlfriend” Dot.  The second half focuses on Seurat’s Great-grandson, George, who is also a struggling artist.

If you are into musicals, this one is a gem.  Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters are wonderful.  This isn’t a typical musical of recent (pop hits strung together as a musical) but the music is beautiful.   Warning:  It is 2.5 hours long.

Technorati Tags: Sunday in the Park with George,Mandy Patinkin,Charles Kimbrough,Bernadette Peters

Mamma Mia!

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Rating:  B-

Premise:  A young girl is about to get married and invites the three men that could possibly be her father.  Her mom freaks out.

Recommend:  Yes, although if you miss seeing it in the theater and have to rent it – you won’t be missing anything.  Like all movie musicals, this is a little over the top.  Meryl Streep is great as are the men (who all have fairly terrible singing voices) but everything else seems a little forced.  Like “look at how much fun we are having”.  The ending seems a little rushed and pieced together.  Stay through the beginning of the credits.

 

Technorati Tags: Mamma Mia, Meryl Streep, Julie Walters, Christine Baranski, Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgard

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

Rating:  A

This is the story of the former Benjamin Barker who had his life taken from him by an evil Judge.  When he returns to London after a 15 year imprisonment, he is so focused on revenge that he can't see what is right in front of him.

I thought this was wonderful and disturbing.  The volume of blood had me with my fingers over my eyes.  Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham-Carter were wonderful.   Such a haunting story.

Technorati Tags: Sweeney Todd, Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham-Carter, Alan Rickman

Calamity Jane

Rating: B+

Musical adaptation of the life of Calamity Jane.  Centered around her time with Bill Hickok in the city of Deadwood.  Doris Day makes a great, if not too pretty, Jane and Howard Keel plays a definitely too pretty Wild Bill.  This movie won an academy award for the song "Secret Love".

The musical is delightful

and should be a must see.

Technorati Tags: Calamity Jane, Secret Love, Doris Day, Howard Keel

Hairspray (2007)

Grade:  A

Premise:  A stocky teenager aims to appear as a regular on the Corny Collins show.  With a little help from her friends, she makes that dream come true and, in the process, integrates the dance show.

Recommend:  YES YES YES!  This is such a fun movie.  John Travolta and Christopher Walken steal the show - they are hysterical.  The music has you practically dancing in the aisles.  Fantastic!  Amanda Bynes has a surprisingly good singing voice and was adorable as Penny. 

Technorati Tags: Hairspray, John Travolta, Christopher Walken, Nikki Blonsky, Amanda Bynes

The Producers (2006)

Grade:  B-

Premise:  Based on the musical that is based on the movie.  Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom produce a musical that they are certain will be a flop.  They go into financial ruin (and jail) when the musical, "Springtime for Hitler", is a hit.

Recommend:  Yes and No.  I have not seen the actual musical so I have nothing to compare it to - but I enjoyed the first 2 hours of this movie.  The last 15 minutes killed this movie for me - it just seemed very bizarre.  So watch it, but shut it off when Leo and Ula go into the courtroom for Max.  Uma Thurman was surprisingly good.

Technorati Tags: The Producers, Matthew Broderick, Nathan Lane, Uma Thurman, Mel Brooks

Dreamgirls (2006)

Rating:  B

Premise:  Musical that tells the story of a girl singing group's rise to fame.

Recommend?:  Probably.  There were a few songs that I had to fast forward through and the second half is much better than the first.  Jennifer Hudson deserved her award as she was the only actor that had a character with any emotion.   Eddie Murphy was great and should have won the Academy Award.  Everyone else was just so-so.

Technorati Tags: Dreamgirls, Jennifer Hudson, Beyonce Knowles, Eddie Murphy, Jamie Foxx