FORMAT: DVD
Reflects on the creative process, as such, especially the frequent problems posed by running out of ideas when bills are regular but inspiration is not. The solution found here is a common one in Western culture - appropriate ideas from other cultures.
Gilbert & Sullivan’s Mikado is here created in an effort to solve the problem of the inability to ring the changes from stale plots and implausible stories that the successful duo had fallen into. This is an amusing-enough conceit, but contains few real insights into creativity, in general, nor about Gilbert & Sullivan, in particular.
This movie could have been a delightful study in contrasts between the sensual Sullivan and the emotionally-repressed Gilbert, but offers neither explanation as to why they became the way they were nor as to why two such opposites should be attracted to one another. This makes the movie the kind of comic opera they wrote, with only hints at the darkness of drug addiction, narcissism, solipsism & all-round luvviness. Much of the humor comes from the cattiness of the overgrown actors (kids, really) presented, as well as the undeniably-fine popular music and song - given as much prominence as the characterization.
It is not Cabaret nor Amadeus - because it deals with somewhat trivial issues - but it is fun and rather beautiful to look at. And the performances from Jim BROADBENT and Alan CORDUNER are as excellent as those of the rest of the cast. (The attempt is made to mimic bad acting because of the excessive vanity of so many of the performers represented. But, fortunately, since vanity is a theme here, this never tips over into actual bad acting.)
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