A cinematic week

[nineveh_uk]

Having missed Spectre, and put off Carol until the Christmas break, I finally managed to get myself to the cinema not only once this week, but twice, indeed on successive days.

Bridge of Spies When I say that this was an excellent old-fashioned film, I mean that in the best way. It was possessed of such old-fashioned virtues as a strong script,

Comments

[sonetka]

The Nutcracker! I never saw it until I was in Russia and able to get tickets to things I was interested in (my parents dislike ballet and thought it was a waste of time) and I loved it. The plot really is kind of, uh, obligatory, but I've seen a number of different productions and even if the first act isn't so inspirational the second is always a riot. Until this year, the Seattle production was designed by Maurice Sendak and was a Darker and Edgier version which I quite liked but which was undercut a little but the Rat King being played by a gigantic wooden cutout. The menace just wasn't there. Then you got to Act II, and who cared anymore? They're switching up the production design this year, so we'll see what ensues.

I've been seeing lots of praise of Bridge of Spies, and think I may see it now -- I hadn't originally planned to. Not that the subject isn't interesting, I just wasn't in the mood for Spielbergian Serious Drama About History, but if it's that good I'll have to check it out.

[nineveh_uk]

I was entirely unable to feel menaced by the Mouse King. Its - a guy in tights with a mouse head on, and the dancing isn't scary enough.

Bridge of Spies doesn't feel like Spielbergian Serious Drama. The subject itself is serious and considered very thoughtfully, but It's 2 hours and 15 minutes, and there's quite a lot of humour in it (though also some very non-humourous moments), and I'd characterise it as fundamentally a character drama: what can this man do in this situation?

[philomytha]

I saw that one Christmas at the ROH, quite a few years ago, and I remember having the same impression, that the plot was basically pointless and it got much better in act 2 when they gave up on plot and just did fantastic dancing in elaborate costumes.

[nineveh_uk]

I could see act 1 being popular with children, and a lot of the cinema audience seemed to like it judging by the interval chat, but I just felt it was quite a lot of hanging around to get to the real thing.

[adina_atl]

I see what you mean about the cape twirling! Wow! (And, er, the passionate love for his nephew.)

[nineveh_uk]

He could actually get the cape flying out from his shoulders completely horizontal, but there seems to be no picture of that.

[adina_atl]

No, but the trailer showed that in motion. Apparently the maker of the trailer was as enthralled by the cape-twirling as the rest of us, because it includes at least two (three, maybe?) scenes of it in motion.

[nineveh_uk]

So it does! I had forgotten. A worthy inclusion indeed.

[mobile_alh]

I'll never think of the Nutcracker in the same way...but yes, the second act with all the gorgeousness is worth the price of waiting out act 1.

[nineveh_uk]

You'll think of it as better ... :-)

[lareinenoire]

I have a deep nostalgic love for The Nutcracker and used to see it every year as a child, but I totally agree that it lacks anything resembling a coherent plot. It was funny taking J to see it some years ago because I was in throes of nostalgia and he was just confused as to why people liked something so utterly pointless. I fully expect to be the one in charge of taking Lexa when she's old enough--we'll see which of her parents she takes after!

[sonetka]

I never saw it until I was an adult but then I loved it, pointlessness notwithstanding, so maybe it's genetic :). I will say that I can never watch a production without wishing I could go to a Christmas party like the Stahlbaums'. It always look so incredibly lavish (except that there's never any food in sight, which keeps it from being totally perfect).

[nineveh_uk]

I loved the Christmas party set, and would love to go to a Christmas party like that. However watching it on stage just made me think of Fanny & Alexander, and that Bergman's take on the family party would be much more interesting!

[nineveh_uk]

It turns out that I like my ballet with lots of plot (which can be interrupted for dancing) or without plot, but not a half-way house. This also explains why I was so annoyed by the third act of Sleeping Beauty.

Being the one on ballet duty sounds like a fate you might live with ;-) Just make sure you catch her young.