Friday, May 23, 2008
Cabaret
Has anyone seen this recently? I watched it last night and found it a little cheesier and Liza a little less compelling than I remembered. Granted, I was a kid when I saw it last — I must have been because I had totally missed all the homo clues between Brian and Max and I imagined Liza was a great singer. Liza is just doe eyes with fake lashes, really. Hehe. The story is still good, but, man, would it be terrific as a remake! With a less silly Sally and a more appealing Kit Kat Club cast and an even darker look at the Nazis. I found Joel Grey as the master of ceremonies a little hard to watch. I even fast-forwarded through some of his numbers. I sort of wonder how authentic that was as a 1931 Berlin nightclub act — the sense of bawdiness in the film seemed a tad dreary and unsophisticated.
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16 comments:
No, I haven’t seen “Cabaret” for a very long time, but I remember it fondly. Are you suggesting that perhaps I shouldn’t watch it again?
A remake is a most interesting idea, though. There are so many directions one could go. For instance, would you like Baz Luhrmann of “Moulin Rouge!” and “Romeo and Juliet” to do it? (Kc, have you seen his R+J yet?) The Kit Kat Club would be fantastic, but I don’t know how he’d do with the Nazis.
On a slightly related note, about six or seven years ago I saw a filmed production on PBS of a revival of “Jesus Christ Superstar” where they ditched the hippy/student-radical set-up in favor of a stylized 30s fascist theme. The sets and costumes were fantastic and I remember the show altogether as being quite good. There was an outstanding cabaret number that would be a good model for your remake of “Cabaret”. Maybe the people who did this show should do the remake.
I am not a "Moulin Rouge" fan, but maybe I haven't given it a fair shake.
I think "Cabaret" mainly needs a big facelift and an injection of sex appeal. I haven't researched the matter, though; maybe the film's Kit Kat stuff is historically spot-on and shouldn't be messed with too much.
There's a stylized 30s Fascist themed "Richard III," too. Seems to be an era that lends itself to universal truthiness.
Related note: I just ordered "Berlin: Book One," a graphic novel set in the Weimar Republic. Am eager to read!
Well I am a “Moulin Rouge” fan and I’m not sure I can defend it. I just like it. Well, one thing I can say on its behalf is that it achieves a fairly rare thing: CGI that is actually cool.
That fascist theme in “Richard III” impressed me in how it suits the tone of the play and I’d like to think that Shakespeare would consider it a good example of what we should be doing with his work.
Musicals and westerns are probably my least-watched film genres. Not on purpose, but they seem to be where I fall short. I've always meant to see "Cabaret." I'll make a point of watching it soon.
I tend not to pick out musicals, but I’ve liked many that I’ve seen.
I want to watch “Topsy-Turvy” by Mike Leigh. I’m a big Mike Leigh fan
"Hair" might be my favorite musical on film, although I am also a big "Mary Poppins" fan.
I really liked "Chicago," too. I have a weakness for that sort of thing — women in prison who can dance. Hehe. Cl, was it you that hated this movie?
I liked “Chicago” too. I would have really liked to have seen some of Bob Fosse’s original stage productions including both “Chicago” and “Cabaret”. And speaking of Fosse’s films, what about “All that Jazz”?
Yes, kc. I loathe Renee Zellweger, which was a lot of it. And I think ran too long.
Ooh, what do you loathe about her? (I loathe how she's always doing that sex kitten pose every time she goes out in public).
Well, it looks like I’ve found a Zellweger fan club. Charming.
I just haven't seen her with anything I really like. I have meant to see "A Price Above Rubies," which I suppose was a turnabout from the comedy leads she takes. In "Chicago" you have to pair that vapidity with the Betty Boop/Santa Baby voice I have told -- NAY! -- warned you I hated so much, and it just makes me crazy. Post forthcoming on OK film elevated by great acting.
Hmm. I don’t know a thing about “A Price Above Rubies”. If you look through Zellweger’s filmography, it’s not the most impressive list of films, is it? Anyway, I’m always amused when somebody has a loathing for something or someone and I just don’t see it. That’s much easier to put up with than when somebody go gaga over something or someone insipid. “Chicago” offered a role that I thought was good for her. Now as for having a sequel to “Bridget Jones”, I don’t really want to ponder having to watch that....
You could say that she didn't have me at hello.
Hehe, cl.
It's been ages, but I saw "A Price Above Rubies" and remember liking it. Funny, though, that I did not remember her being in it. I was confusing it with the Ashley Judd movie "Ruby in Paradise."
“Ruby in Paradise” is good.
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