With a cursory viewing, this movie appears to be a good film. Certainly, the director is a respected director, and the producer has produced some fine movies. Upon a cursory view, it's a wonderful costume drama, great music, absolutely believable acting and performance.
So why did it bother me as I watched it? Why has it stuck with me to a point of critiquing it?
The movie had little dramatic conflict. The whole point of it - Sullivan has a need to do serious work, be known for something besides the confection that are the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas -- is solved with a dolly push. Really. That's it. After all the belly aching, the overly dramatic moments of his deciding never to write for the Savoy again... Suddenly, apparently, upon a new story presented by Gilbert, all is well. We never see him have to be convinced to do the Mikado. He complains about the rehashed "topsy turvy" premises of Gilbert's librettos, yet the Mikado is another such story.
Many plot points are touched on then never returned to - as if the script was a draft shy of complete, or that the movie was significantly trimmed to a mere 2:45!! - A hint that a leg might be gangrenous is never returned to. A potential problem with an unwed singer having a child is also never realized. A heroin using Tenor - nope, didn't do that either. In fact, none of the little sub-sub plots are worked out. The movie becomes a "behind the scenes" if you will, of the staging of an operetta - with very little of the dramatic tension that is the opera world.
Quite boring.
In the end, the movie is too "precious" for it's own good.
So -- with some of the melodies stuck in my head, I must give this movie a 4.
So why did it bother me as I watched it? Why has it stuck with me to a point of critiquing it?
The movie had little dramatic conflict. The whole point of it - Sullivan has a need to do serious work, be known for something besides the confection that are the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas -- is solved with a dolly push. Really. That's it. After all the belly aching, the overly dramatic moments of his deciding never to write for the Savoy again... Suddenly, apparently, upon a new story presented by Gilbert, all is well. We never see him have to be convinced to do the Mikado. He complains about the rehashed "topsy turvy" premises of Gilbert's librettos, yet the Mikado is another such story.
Many plot points are touched on then never returned to - as if the script was a draft shy of complete, or that the movie was significantly trimmed to a mere 2:45!! - A hint that a leg might be gangrenous is never returned to. A potential problem with an unwed singer having a child is also never realized. A heroin using Tenor - nope, didn't do that either. In fact, none of the little sub-sub plots are worked out. The movie becomes a "behind the scenes" if you will, of the staging of an operetta - with very little of the dramatic tension that is the opera world.
Quite boring.
In the end, the movie is too "precious" for it's own good.
So -- with some of the melodies stuck in my head, I must give this movie a 4.