marrzzie Reviews

Chicken with Plums (2011)

What a shallow ,horrible empty man!

[1/10 · 31 August 2013]

I kept watching this film. Waiting for our hero to be redeemed . Much to my disappointment , that never happened . What a waste of film . A heroine , too weak for true love , and a hero who won't accept the love of his wife and children. I feel tainted having invested time in watching. Boo! I had hoped to find a story of romantic love ,not an excuse for crappy husbands and fathers ! I felt NO sympathy for out "hero". I wished for him ,more ill than befell him. A cowardly heroine , and a nasty , distant "hero"? Thank you, I'll pass. How Roger Ebert gave this a favorable review must have something to do with karmic debt , or some other misguided impulse, but I can't get on board. For anyone expecting a sweet, redemptive "Chocolat " type experience , look elsewhere. You won't find it here .

Man of La Mancha (1972)

This is a Musical! No One In This Film Can Sing!!!

[1/10 · 1 June 2013]

This is one of the best musicals ever written! But did they cast ANYONE who could. Carry a tune? No! The Impossible Dream , a fabulous song , spoken? Really? Aldonza/Dulcineas songs . All but destroyed. The closest thing to a singer they had was James Coco? Really? They 'looked' the part ,so Dub them if you won't hire singers! They did it for Natalie Wood ,Deborah Kerr and Audrey Hepburn , so do it again . I hate when they destroy a musical, hello, Little Night Music, and it is then doomed forever? Man of La Mancha is a very difficult musical vocally. This is no easy operetta. This requires some true vocal chops to perform. But this movie decides that beautiful voices should take a back seat to Hollywood image. This needs to be redone, and done well. For the sake of the music and Cervantes. DO OVER,PLEASE.

Smash (2012–2013)

This Show Was ,Unfortunately Doomed From The Start.

[7/10 · 5 May 2013]

I like it ,but McPhee ,though pleasant enough to look at ,an an adequate singer,doesn't have the pipes for live theatre and has the stage presence of a potted plant. Hilty,who they positioned for the audience not to like,stole the show. But the real problem is they underestimated the stupidity of American audiences. They might have just as well done a show about classical pianists. The American audience has been dumbed down with reality TV ,and a dwindling PBS type presence ,as well as the republican party putting forth a distrust of anyone or anything that is smart ,or intellectual. This show could have succeeded on HBO or Showtime,a few sex scenes and a Sex in the City meets The Great White Way angle. They would have found their audience. But don't compare this to Glee. It resonated because everyone has been in high school,even stupid people, and they use pop music. Few people have ever performed live to a paying audience. This show couldn't draw on the sheer commonality that Glee can. In all,I'm sad to see it go. It could have been wonderful.