Did the genre begin in 2000 and peak in 2001? In 2001 we not only got the cult fav Hedwig and the Angry Inch, but we also got Moulin Rouge!
The latter being a spectacular reinvention of the musical, and the former being an amazing adaptaion of John Cameron Mitchell’s stage play.
But a year before that we got Lars Von Trier and Bjork bringing us the brilliant and criminally under rewarded Dancer in the Dark. At least the French got it right giving it The Golden Palm (Best Picture) and Best Actress at Cannes.
Why does it seem that the movie musicals that have come out since ( Dreamgirls, The Producers and others) just seem, well, uneventful? Sure Chicago won Best Picture, but for me it didn’t hold a candle to these 3 outstanding examples of how this medium can transport our imaginations (Hedwig), our emotions (Dancer in the Dark) and even physically place us in another world (Moulin Rouge!). I guess Hollywood needs to learn a lesson from all of this. Keep the production budget small and be inventive. For example Moulin Rouge with its amazing costumes and set pieces cost $50,000,000 (what was so amazing about all that in Dreamgirls?). Hedwig only cost $6,000,000 and Dancer $12,000,000. Goes to show, passion and love can over come having no money.Lets hope that with the upcoming Sweeny Todd, Tim Burton and co. can breathe life into this genre again.
I will leave you with a montage from Dancer in the Dark by brianlilith
over at You Tube. Enjoy.
2 comments:
I totally agree-musicals that are credible are a rare breed. Dancer in the Dark was a great concept and the music fitted not only the story but the whole mood of the movie and the emotions of the characters. Dreamgirls on the other hand was more like '....ok we have beyonce lets make a musical!!!' It reminded me of a feature length episode of 'kids from fame' but not as much fun. I would rather have seen the whole movie from effie's point of view and make it all about her-not all about the beyonce. It did have some great songs but they just appeared to pop up from nowhere... J-Hud should be proud for outshining every other cast member and Eddie Murphy should be saying (like the rest of us) 'Why did I get an Oscar nomination??'
I know, disappointing
Post a Comment