Topsy-Turvy made me tipsy. Especially rehearsal scenes and tour de force actings of Timothy Spall and Jim Broadbent are irresistible. All kudos to Mike Leigh, both as director and writer.
Famed libretto composers Gilbert & Sullivan are at a creative crossroads in Topsy-Turvy, their most popular (nautical) work behind them and in a rut neither man is happy with. Director Mike Leigh takes an awful risk spending a long portion of the film in this era, because even though the production design is lavish, the spotlit musical numbers are, per force, stale and thin. But he uses that time to set up a large cast of characters (which include families and theater company) that will pay off, some resoundingly well, once Gilbert hits on the idea of The Mikado. That's really where the film picks and starts moving, where the numbers sing, and the theater procedural takes becomes most comical and dramatic. Lesley Manville, as Gilbert's ignored wife, is impressive and touching. The theater folk feel quite authentic (if you know actors and technicians anyway...), with Shirley Henderson showcasing talents I didn't know she had. I'm not sure if the film would have worked as well without all the foregrounding, but a lot of it is just texture detail that a more ruthless director would have jettisoned. Like the almost-cut Mikado song, it stayed in, and it's up to us to decide on its value. Since the movie got me in the end, and got me good, I guess I've got nothing to complain about.
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Comments 1 - 5 of 5
demet
Topsy-Turvy made me tipsy. Especially rehearsal scenes and tour de force actings of Timothy Spall and Jim Broadbent are irresistible. All kudos to Mike Leigh, both as director and writer.-1flb2-
Excellent acting and music. Enjoyable to see all the behind scenes work needed for a successful musical. Great direction and screenplay.GodPepper
Fantastically entertaining.Siskoid
Famed libretto composers Gilbert & Sullivan are at a creative crossroads in Topsy-Turvy, their most popular (nautical) work behind them and in a rut neither man is happy with. Director Mike Leigh takes an awful risk spending a long portion of the film in this era, because even though the production design is lavish, the spotlit musical numbers are, per force, stale and thin. But he uses that time to set up a large cast of characters (which include families and theater company) that will pay off, some resoundingly well, once Gilbert hits on the idea of The Mikado. That's really where the film picks and starts moving, where the numbers sing, and the theater procedural takes becomes most comical and dramatic. Lesley Manville, as Gilbert's ignored wife, is impressive and touching. The theater folk feel quite authentic (if you know actors and technicians anyway...), with Shirley Henderson showcasing talents I didn't know she had. I'm not sure if the film would have worked as well without all the foregrounding, but a lot of it is just texture detail that a more ruthless director would have jettisoned. Like the almost-cut Mikado song, it stayed in, and it's up to us to decide on its value. Since the movie got me in the end, and got me good, I guess I've got nothing to complain about.Shingwauk
Definitely not my type of film but I dredge through it. So I can't comment on whether it is good or not so good.