Hey, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab.
I love this film's first soundtrack CD. I say "first" because there's evidently enough music that isn't on the CD to fill a second soundtrack sometime after the film opens. I was irritated about people seeing this in CANNES until I realized that it's opening here three weeks before the rest of the country. I think I can wait. But juuuuuuuuust barely. In the meantime, I'll have to make do with reviews like Todd McCarthy's in VARIETY or this one from our man on the spot, FROGGY...
Hi Harry
You may remember me.. I broke one of the first reviews of CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON from Cannes under the nick FROGGY about a year ago. Go back and check it out - I think I nailed it pretty good! Anyway, here is my MR review:
Bonjour from france!
it es moi, le froggy, reporting for duty the morning after the premiere of MOULIN ROUGE.
Let me just say that I think Todd McCarthy from Variety has rocks in his head if he thinks this film isn't going to be a worldwide smash, because it will be. Here are five short reasons why.
1. It gives moviegoers something that they so desperately crave: THE NEW! THE BRAVE! THE UNEXPECTED! THE AUDACIOUS! Forgive the caps, I'm just getting into the hyper-spirit of the movie...
2. Ewan McGregor is a fucking great singer. Anyone who saw VELVET GOLDMINE knows that he's a rock star waiting to happen, but here he's like Frank Sinatra.
3. Nicole Kidman is (luckily for her) now a Movie Star with a capital S, completely in her own right. She finally gives a performance that engages you emotionally, for the first time since DEAD CALM. (though I have to admit I thought she was great in PORTRAIT OF A LADY). She's not the world's greatest singer, but there's a truth to her voice that breaks your heart.
4. This film's script is ingenious. The play within the play within the play... my head is still spinning
5. People are going to be talking about this movie. Everyone is going to have an opinion on it. I can't see anyone hating it - it's just a case of degrees of appreciation, enjoyment, or all-out-love (in my case)
6. It's a fucking great movie. I think it will be remembered in a year from now (the word is that the Hollywood Foreign Press went apeshit for it.) The audacious of it takes my breath away, and the visual opulence is just fucking breathtaking.
Kudo to Baz and everyone involved in the film. I had a blast, and I think most AICNers who go in with an open mind will too.
all out for now
FROGGY
p.s. THE FABULOUS DESTINY OF AMELIE is also a perfect movie jewel. More later.
