95 out of 99 people found the following review helpful:

fabulous!

wrinkleboy from , 28th June, 2009

I can't wait for this film to be released.Hope it does not disapoint.It has a great cast and the sound track is amazing! If the trailer has anything to go by, i think it will be a hit.

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41 out of 43 people found the following review helpful:

I know nothing

chenny from , 26th November, 2009

And yet I feel fully qualified to write a long, turgid review, expressing my puppy like excitement for something which I have never seen. Is this just me being a stickler for the rules, and a misanthrope, or would we all be better served by people who actually know what they're talking about.
Come on people.

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30 out of 33 people found the following review helpful:

A musical more suited to film than stage?

ChattyLady from , 1st September, 2009

This is more of a preview than a review but I am anxiously awaiting this film. Rob Marshall (Chicago, Annie), unlike Burton, is as uncompromising with his casting as he is with his film making. With a successful career directing on Broadway he is accostomed to working with top performers and knows how to cast a show that delivers as well as it sells. A-list actors will have to sing and dance as well as the Broadway performers that back them up. Marshall's directorial eye is most convincing for film in the concept musical like this one and Chicago where the musical numbers diverge from the storyline to illustrate the theme of the story or the 'essence' of the setting. This is made for film which is an illustrative medium that fares less well with chronological, dialogue-driven musicals. The story is based on the autobiographical film 9 1/2 (Nine and a half) by 60's Italian director Federico Fellini whose career is as full of womanising as it is directing. Daniel Day Lewis will have to top previous and recent performances by latin actors Raoul Giulia and Antonio Banderas in the part of Guido Contini. It will be interesting to see if he goes for the Italian accent, but he did learn to speak Italian and is now, allegedly, fluent. He got the part over Javier Bardem on the basis of his singing. The music by Maury Yeston is best in the principal roles where it REALLY sparkles. The chorus music is a bit cliched and mostly forgettable so may be largely trimmed for film. For trivia buffs, Dame Judy Dench, who plays Contini's close confident and costume designer, was Sally Bowles in the original London cast of Cabaret. This is a musical which should realise its potential more in film than on the confines of stage because of its need for location movement and time jumps. Rob Marshall, more than anyone else at the moment, is best suited to this type of film. Can't wait!!!

P.S. Contrary to the statement of one critic, the musical is NOT based on a previous Italian musical. It is entirely an original work by Maury Yeston and based solely on the Felini film.

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8 out of 8 people found the following review helpful:

superb............................

williamsgwynfa from , 4th December, 2009

this film is a musical based on Arthur Kopit's book of the same name. The film stars Daniel Day-Lewis, Dame Judi Dench, Nicole Kidman, Marion Cotillard, Penélope Cruz, Sophia Loren, Kate Hudson and Grammy winner Fergie. Having reached the age of fifty, director Guido Contini (played by Daniel Day-Lewis) is facing a midlife crisis that is stifling his creativity and leading him into a variety of complicated romantic involvements. As he struggles to complete his latest film, he is forced to balance the numerous women in his life, including his wife Luisa (played by Marion Cotillard), his mistress Carla (played by Penélope Cruz), his film star muse Claudia (played by Nicole Kidman), his confidant and costume designer Lili (played by Judi Dench), an American fashion journalist called Stephanie (played by Kate Hudson), a prostitute called Saraghina from his youth (played by Fergie), and his mother known as Mamma (played by Sophia Loren). Well worth watching !!!

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Poor

A Customer from London, 10th February, 2010

There are few redeeming features in this film and they certainly aren't the script, the music or Daniel Day Lewis's accent.

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pompous but beautiful

dannnnny from , 8th February, 2010

Very well made study of the contrast between the emotions of real life and of the 'show'. Interesting metaphors and comparisons made, but overall an overly simple storyline means that this film drags and feels insubstantial.

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Be Italian!!!

Mariah from , 30th January, 2010

What an enjoyable movie this turned out to be. I only wish there had been more singing and dancing. It felt more like being in the theatre than watching on the big screen. Daniel Day Lewis plays Guido, a film-maker who is extremely troubled and has run out of ideas. The film focuses on the various women in his life and the influence they have each played in his life. This is a film with a hugh cast. Penelope Cruz plays the mistress and performs an extremely sexy song and dance. But for me Fergie stole the show with a fantastic performance. Her song 'Be Italian' is definately one to look out for. Who would have thought you could do so much with a bit of sand and a tamborine. The song performed by Kate Hudson is also one to remember. I had no expectations when I saw this movie. But I'm glad I did and would definitely recommend it.

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Not a Bob Fosse

crackfox from , 28th January, 2010

Saw this at the cinema with high hopes but unfortunely the songs and story were a let down, The acting was great and the sets but the songs are easily forgetable and the dance scenes all anti climaxed as did the story. They were trying to hard to be Bob Fosse numbers but not achieving it. I would avoid this film

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