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Post by bren on Jan 17, 2017 18:03:38 GMT
Oh my.
I am genuinely astonished by some of the response to this movie. It is not the best movie of the year. It is not even the best movie I've seen this month. Perhaps it's the way it's been hyped- maybe it just couldn't live up to that. It is probably the most ambitious thing I've seen this year (and that is to be applauded) but that doesn't mean it works.
First things first- I adore musicals.I was off on Friday and was so excited when I went to see it at the midday showing but I found it to be extremely disappointing.
The opening of the movie is stunning but it goes downhill quickly. For me, it felt like two movies meshed together, and neither were executed very well. It seems afraid to be a full blown musical and it does not work very well in the more dramatic moments either.
There are some high points. It has moments of absolute beauty where everything works very well- music, visuals, choreography. Though sometimes I felt that the set pieces were trying to emulate moments from Moulin Rouge etc and coming up short. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone are charming and beautful leads but the material is so flat at times. There are visually superb moments but these are as many dull moments. I thought the pacing was just dreadful and I even considered walking out at one point. I heard a number of people making this point afterwards.
The score is brilliant towards the beginning but I felt it petered out for the rest of the movie and I found much of the score later on to be largely forgettable.
I was hoping for this glorious, sumptuous, mesmeric movie and it just isn't what I hoped for at all. I feel that they sacrificed what could have been a superb musical in favour of a sub par melodrama with a few songs interspersed. It all felt very disjointed. I did enjoy the ending of the movie as it was unexpected and deserves kudos as I imagine it won't be to everyone's taste. I have a habit of seeing shows and movies I like a number of times but I just would not sit through this again. I'm not sharing my thoughts with friends as I don't want to influence their view but I will wait with baited breath for their reviews.
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103 posts
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Post by bren on Jan 17, 2017 17:36:49 GMT
I saw this in Dublin last week. I found it very enjoyable overall and the crowd certainly adored it.
Adrian Zmed was the weakest link for me- he fluffed a few lines and I found him cringey overall. I didn't find the relationship between him and Zsa Zsa to be believable at all.
There's lots to recommend, though. Wonderful staging, sumptuous costumes and great choreography. John Partridge was superb and gave his all.
As a show, I am not sure if it would be one of my favourites- there are only a few songs that I really love and this production felt a little pantomime at times. Still, I would say it's worth seeing for sure.
Have people here seen the trailer?
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103 posts
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Post by bren on Jan 17, 2017 17:28:26 GMT
Seeing this on Friday... please forgive my ignorance but does anyone know if this is a brand new cast or are there familiar names in this production?
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103 posts
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Post by bren on Jan 10, 2017 23:57:54 GMT
Yes, I rather enjoyed it too. Don't know much about the show (although one of my best friends has been in it and keeps raving about how good / cheesy it is, so we'll definitely be seeing it! ) but enjoyed the performances. Loved Jon Robyns doing Music Of My Soul too (obviously I'll never be over Memphis!). Nice of them to show it on Facebook live for those of us who couldn't be there! Jon is extremely likable- really enjoyed him in Sister Act, so I'm looking forward to catching him in this. Nadia Forde is a bit of a bizarre addition for the Dublin dates, I trust she only has a small role.
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103 posts
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Post by bren on Jan 10, 2017 23:55:25 GMT
Interesting to hear stuff about whether she's a nice person or not. I don't know her, but I can offer a first-hand view. I went to see her in The Bodyguard at the Adelphi with a friend who is a personal friend of Alexandra's. There were probably about 5 or 6 of us as a group. After the show, we went to the stage door and our entire group was allowed up into her dressing room where Alexandra was, with a load of her friends and family who had also seen the show that night. She was one of the loveliest people I have ever met. She was totally warm and welcoming, funny, incredibly down to earth, generous, offering up all the food & drink in her room around to all, whether we knew her personally or not. We stayed there for ages and not once did it feel like an act or anything. Just lovely, like she'd welcomed us into her home. That's all I can say on the matter! Are you sure she didn't spike your food?
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103 posts
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Post by bren on Jan 10, 2017 21:58:24 GMT
^ I have to say I disagree with the above.
I met Alexandra before one of her shows in the Bord Gáis theatre in Dublin a few months back. I randomly bumped into her with my boyfriend in a supermarket nearby. She was dressed down, no makeup, was wearing a woolly hat and was buying snacks for 'after the show'. She chatted away for a little while and was incredibly gracious and sweet. We wished her well for the show. She thanked us and said she hoped we enjoyed it- she seemed genuinely grateful.
I also know one of the staff at the theater and they said she was kind and professional throughout. Also have read comments on social media from the Bodyguard crew praising her. I've never got the sense that 'all she cares about is herself'.
I would be interested to know in what capacity the person worked with her as it's directly opposite to my experience.
Maybe don't believe everything you hear, Hayley!
As for her unfollowing a fan on twitter, if the person is bothering her via direct messages etc, then it's understandable. Nobody has the right to a direct line to anyone on social media.
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103 posts
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Post by bren on Jan 10, 2017 21:42:40 GMT
I'm seeing this on Thursday and will report back. The promotional photos look quite good.
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103 posts
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Post by bren on Jan 10, 2017 21:38:57 GMT
Is sarah Harding still in this? Hopefully not.
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103 posts
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Post by bren on Dec 22, 2016 14:02:14 GMT
I saw this during the week and it far exceeded my expectations. I hadn't seen the movie so I can't compare with that, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Jay McGuinness and Diana Vickers are both very likable leads. Diana in particular impressed me. Her vocals were ropey once or twice, but overall she was great in the role of Susan, who is quite an eccentric character. She has some lovely solo vocal moments in the show- I particularly liked 'Dancing All The Time.' Jay is very charming and engaging in the role.
There is some terrific choreography. It's visually very strong, with some fantastic sets and clearly a big financial investment has been made. There are some great songs- some more 'instant' than others. I didn't particularly like one of the child actors but that's a minor quibble. There was a technical fault in the second half which caused a five minute delay but the audience didn't seem phased. Huge standing ovation at the end.
I should say that our tickets were discounted- Usually they go for €60 or so, but the theatre released a batch of discounted tickets to get bums in seats- at €25 a go, which is excellent for stalls seats. They did so for the Mon-Weds evening shows this week.
Hopefully audiences will get on board for the rest of the run (six week run overall I think), and for the rest of the tour, as it's a super show.
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103 posts
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Post by bren on Nov 16, 2016 18:59:16 GMT
I caught this last night in Dublin. I have to say, I was a little nervous given the variety of opinions here. I booked my tickets when the tour was announced initially and before Alexandra was cast as Deloris.
For me, it was a real treat- probably one of the more enjoyable nights I’ve had in the theatre in a long time. I went in ‘blind’ as it were, having not seen it staged previously but I do know the score from the London Cast recording.
Alexandra Burke was marvellous. She has great stage presence. Her voice is exceptional but it was her acting that really surprised me. It’s clear that she puts her absolute all into the performance and it was a huge step up from her role in the Bodyguard, which was a little bland for me. She undoubtedly plays the role in an exaggerated manner, but it fits in with the rest of the production and I really found her very funny throughout. She did well in the softer moments too, in Act II. For me, she is a great example of ‘stunt casting’ done right.
The sisters are brilliant, I particularly liked Susannah Van Den Berg as Sr. Mary Patrick and Sarah Goggin is charming as Sr. Mary Robert. It was a relief when the choir eventually found their ability to hit the right notes!
Jon Robyns is hugely likable as Eddie, and he has good chemistry with Alexandra. He’s charming and I really enjoy the tone of his voice.
The staging is quite simple, but very cleverly put together. Good use of lighting throughout and I appreciated the glitter ball!
The blocking in one or two of the scenes was a little clumsy, but I actually really liked the staging of ‘The Life I Never Led’ and ‘Fabulous Baby, Reprise.’ Curtis’s stooges are terrific, particularly Sandy Grigelis who plays T.J. He drew some of the heartiest laughs from the audience.
Maybe it’s just the Bord Gáis theatre (which is wonderful by the way), but the sound was crisp and the dialogue was perfectly audible throughout.
The cast seemed to be having the time of their lives, which is infectious, and it’s quite something to experience such a talented bunch onstage.
There was a full standing ovation, followed by a sea of smiling faces as we departed. I might try and see if I can get tickets for Belfast when it comes back next year.
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