serge-33

It's more than worth it to see this movie with its just bearable plot: the acting, both in the prequel and the sequel parts is deliciously sweet, vibrant and sometimes emotional; the Abba renditions are so fresh (special kudos to Amanda Seyfried, I loved 'I've been waiting for you', and 'One of Us' (Dominic Cooper is a Super Trouper). Then, of course, Fernando, (only Cher is allowed to render that next to Frida), but for me the real surprise was the lovely arrangements (like Chiquitita, Hasta Manana and even Hole in Your Soul). All songs are featured very lovingly. I'm just glad that I was warned about the biggest spoiler, otherwise watching the film would have been a real bummer. Won't tell, just let me say that Meryl in My Love, My Life and Super Trouper is Abba-esque and a pity that the Day Before You Came is only on the album (wow to all who have a very different reading of its lyrics). Now I'll just swoon at the thought of the 'boys' and the 'ladies' publishing their new songs...

Amazing cinematic experience guaranteed! Saw Manifesto yesterday as part of the Holland Festival cultural event. This is now a movie. I saw it as an installation of screens with short scenes and words spoken, based almost exclusively on famous and lesser known art scene manifestos. It could have been pretentious, but, director Julian Rosefeldt and the amazing Cate Blanchett turned this work into a flowing movie with connecting dots. In the installation there is some synchronicity in the screens, in that the 12/13 characters sing part of their text simultaneously. You may actually figure out some of the background surrounding the manifestos (such as Dadaism,Dogma). It was joyful and intense experience. One thing is sure, Cate Blanchett is the most prolific,daring, energetic, chameleon, dedicated, fun actor around.

Let me start by saying that: (i) I am a total Streeper; (ii) I love Abba and hated Lloyd's Mamma Mia, and (iii) I was not a Thatchterite, but found her rather amusing.

IMHO Lloyd and Morgan are being berated unfairly for script and direction choices made. This is a human rather than a heroic or political portrait of MT, and in this respect it does justice to her as a person; obviously the viewer knows it is fiction, as everyone knows her late husband Dennis appears to her throughout the movie. It is a smart choice and perspective. DT gives MT a human face and the humor that makes the Iron Lady very enjoyable. Her looking back at her life and the much criticized flashbacks (and flashes they are) enable the viewer to get a sense of what she did as a politician and how it affected her as a human. One objection was that, had she been a man, she would not have been portrayed in a fragile, contemplative state. Nonsense. It has nothing to do with her sex, rather with her being alive. Another objection was that they show her as a crazy old thing. Unfair. Of course Meryl Streep totally pulls this off and through the present loneliness and sometimes confusion, the strong and persistent iron lady remains clearly visible. The political angle - either she is not shown as the monster that the left says she was, or not as the hero the right says she was. Irrelevant. Whatever choices would have been made, this criticism would have befallen the makers. Indeed, we see her as very conservative, irreverent, tough, yet also - as I remember her too - as being consistent, clear and (almost) unbreakable. I was never bored or confused during the screening. I found the Dennis angle highly enjoyable and functional and thought the actress who portrayed the young Thatcher brilliant. This is a movie about reflection, about looking back. In that sense it is complete. And I understand the facts are correct (there was silly criticism about the opening scene, where MT elopes to purchase milk. The whole point was that she eloped from the security guards). Finally, Streep. I don't care that she deserved Academy Awards for here roles in Out of Africa, The Hours, Silkwood and Adaptation. And with all due respect to Viola Davis, who does a super job in the Help, and Michelle Williams, this performance is what we, the audience live for. It is amazing and it deserves to win. The only other performance that comes near is Tilda Swinton in We need to talk about Kevin. But I say with many more on this site: give the girl her third Oscar. Now.