Jason KingBurlesque (8/10)
January 4th 2011 08:37
:
Christina has the MOST Amazing Voice I Have Heard for Years
Category: Reviews
I had the pleasure of watching this film with fellow Orbler, and long term friend Paul, from Pop Is Not Dead! We wanted a good excuse to catch up and both share a passion for theatre and all things bright and camp, it might be the gay thing hahahaha.
So heading together to the first screening of Burlesque was right up our alley. And what a surprise this film was. I was so so, hoping for greatness but fearing possible Showgirls outcome. Have no fear the film held itself together and provided us with some amazing performances and screened theatre. Long term older film lovers may not like it as much as us and bitch about it not being like the musical films of old but this is the modern version and it is so bright, loud, musical and theatric that I can see it becoming a cult classic. If you ever danced in the Rock Eisteddfod or your school musical then get excited - this may blow your mind!
The Burlesque Lounge has its best days behind it. Tess, a retired dancer and owner of the venue, struggles to keep the aging theater alive, facing all kinds of financial and artistic challenges. With the Lounge's troupe members becoming increasingly distracted by personal problems and a threat coming from a wealthy businessman's quest to buy the spot from Tess, the good fortune seems to have abandoned the club altogether. Meanwhile, the life of Ali, a small-town girl from Iowa, is about to change dramatically. Hired by Tess as a waitress at the Lounge, Ali escapes a hollow past and quickly falls in love with the art of burlesque. Backed by a couple newfound friends amongst the theater's crew, she manages to fulfill her dreams of being on stage herself. Things take a dramatic turn though when Ali's big voice makes her become the main attraction of the venue.
There is nothing new to the story and it follows the "small town girl who takes a chance and makes it big" plot-line like film by numbers but what it offers is some of the best singing and dancing on film for the last ten years. I was no Christina fan prior to this film but OMG I am now - I believe I may be purchasing my first album in a long time - are they still called albums these days or do I just call it an mp3??
There is no doubt about it - this film is all about Christina - her acting is so so and naive but that is what makes her perfect, her character is also so so and naive but when she hits the mark and lets loose to sing and dance the world opens and her talent rips the screen in half. She had me gasping at how insanely good a performer she actually is. Just mind blowing.
Here's a small clip to give you an idea of her performing - by no means then best - the end had me wanting to dance on my cinema chair
Then there is the 64yr old stalwart of stage and screen - Cher - she just goes on and on and I am pretty confident all that plastic surgery has actually turned back time. She brings her usual strength to the screen with some occasional performances to keep all her fans happy. The one song that has been nominated for abundant awards "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me" Cher performed completely live. There is nothing editing that and it's all her singing. I was a bit unsure of the placement in the film and just felt like Cher having her one song to Christina's 10 ten I had to keep reminding myself this is actually a musical and not a film with songs in it. I was also very surprised at the amount of surgery she has had done to herself. I was watching some scenes where she was having difficulty actually moving her mouth while talking and was quite confident her cheeks and neck and lips were preventing her. She is still amazing and incredibly Cher for her age but I do like the ageing gracefully thing, now where the hell is my hair dye?
Here's a small welcome song from Cher to Club Burlesque.
Stanley Tucci is amazing in nearly everything he touches but I could not help but be slightly disappointed in his performance - as great as it was he was his exact same character from The Devil Wears Prada - just in a different job. I still love him but I wanted something new from him. Same goes with Alan Cumming - this guy is spectacular and would normally own this style of film but his role is just too small - I wanted more and more of him.
Then there is Cam Gigandet, who won this role off his other Twilight friends that were all considered. Robert Pattinson, Kellan Lutz and even Taylor Lautner were all considered before this role went to Cam and thank GOD! None of them can pull off the hot guy in burlesqueland as well as Cam. If all the straight ladies and gay men do not get hungry for Famous Amos cookies after this film then they have issues. His relationship with Christina's character was so enjoyable and believable to watch I was very surprised. As was Christina's character's relationship with Cher's. Normally you would expect the old performer being jealous and snarky but instead Cher's character was all support and mutual respect. Loved it!
The costumes, cinematography and lighting all add the atmosphere immensely and they are all award worthy. It creates a theatrical world within a nightclub that is a place you want to go to. Director Steve Antin has done a marvellous job with this film and I look forward to seeing what he is doing next. Antin went from acting as a young child, from things like The Goonies, 21 Jump St and NYPD Blue to Producing the Pussycat Dolls TV shows. To direct this film was a natural progression. He actually came up with the idea for this film after Christina was a guest appearance on one of the Pussycat Dolls episodes. We will not hold it against him that he wrote the screenplay for Gloria starring Sharon Stone.
I love theatre but my brain and memory is a sieve. Paul loves theatre and laps it all up like a sponge. He noticed many references and part "steals" from Chicago and Cabaret. I am hoping people will enjoy these references and embrace this film. It is like going to a fun night at the theatre with some amazing production values and incredible talent. It presents nothing new besides Christina Aguilera at her best and performing on a brilliant canvas plus watching Cher again. Burlesque releases on January 13th and Paul and I both agreed on an 8 out of 10. Be sure to head over to Pop is Not Dead! and check out Paul's review of the soundtrack - see what great Orble teamwork can present
So heading together to the first screening of Burlesque was right up our alley. And what a surprise this film was. I was so so, hoping for greatness but fearing possible Showgirls outcome. Have no fear the film held itself together and provided us with some amazing performances and screened theatre. Long term older film lovers may not like it as much as us and bitch about it not being like the musical films of old but this is the modern version and it is so bright, loud, musical and theatric that I can see it becoming a cult classic. If you ever danced in the Rock Eisteddfod or your school musical then get excited - this may blow your mind!
The Burlesque Lounge has its best days behind it. Tess, a retired dancer and owner of the venue, struggles to keep the aging theater alive, facing all kinds of financial and artistic challenges. With the Lounge's troupe members becoming increasingly distracted by personal problems and a threat coming from a wealthy businessman's quest to buy the spot from Tess, the good fortune seems to have abandoned the club altogether. Meanwhile, the life of Ali, a small-town girl from Iowa, is about to change dramatically. Hired by Tess as a waitress at the Lounge, Ali escapes a hollow past and quickly falls in love with the art of burlesque. Backed by a couple newfound friends amongst the theater's crew, she manages to fulfill her dreams of being on stage herself. Things take a dramatic turn though when Ali's big voice makes her become the main attraction of the venue.
There is nothing new to the story and it follows the "small town girl who takes a chance and makes it big" plot-line like film by numbers but what it offers is some of the best singing and dancing on film for the last ten years. I was no Christina fan prior to this film but OMG I am now - I believe I may be purchasing my first album in a long time - are they still called albums these days or do I just call it an mp3??
There is no doubt about it - this film is all about Christina - her acting is so so and naive but that is what makes her perfect, her character is also so so and naive but when she hits the mark and lets loose to sing and dance the world opens and her talent rips the screen in half. She had me gasping at how insanely good a performer she actually is. Just mind blowing.
Here's a small clip to give you an idea of her performing - by no means then best - the end had me wanting to dance on my cinema chair
Then there is the 64yr old stalwart of stage and screen - Cher - she just goes on and on and I am pretty confident all that plastic surgery has actually turned back time. She brings her usual strength to the screen with some occasional performances to keep all her fans happy. The one song that has been nominated for abundant awards "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me" Cher performed completely live. There is nothing editing that and it's all her singing. I was a bit unsure of the placement in the film and just felt like Cher having her one song to Christina's 10 ten I had to keep reminding myself this is actually a musical and not a film with songs in it. I was also very surprised at the amount of surgery she has had done to herself. I was watching some scenes where she was having difficulty actually moving her mouth while talking and was quite confident her cheeks and neck and lips were preventing her. She is still amazing and incredibly Cher for her age but I do like the ageing gracefully thing, now where the hell is my hair dye?
Here's a small welcome song from Cher to Club Burlesque.
Stanley Tucci is amazing in nearly everything he touches but I could not help but be slightly disappointed in his performance - as great as it was he was his exact same character from The Devil Wears Prada - just in a different job. I still love him but I wanted something new from him. Same goes with Alan Cumming - this guy is spectacular and would normally own this style of film but his role is just too small - I wanted more and more of him.
Then there is Cam Gigandet, who won this role off his other Twilight friends that were all considered. Robert Pattinson, Kellan Lutz and even Taylor Lautner were all considered before this role went to Cam and thank GOD! None of them can pull off the hot guy in burlesqueland as well as Cam. If all the straight ladies and gay men do not get hungry for Famous Amos cookies after this film then they have issues. His relationship with Christina's character was so enjoyable and believable to watch I was very surprised. As was Christina's character's relationship with Cher's. Normally you would expect the old performer being jealous and snarky but instead Cher's character was all support and mutual respect. Loved it!
The costumes, cinematography and lighting all add the atmosphere immensely and they are all award worthy. It creates a theatrical world within a nightclub that is a place you want to go to. Director Steve Antin has done a marvellous job with this film and I look forward to seeing what he is doing next. Antin went from acting as a young child, from things like The Goonies, 21 Jump St and NYPD Blue to Producing the Pussycat Dolls TV shows. To direct this film was a natural progression. He actually came up with the idea for this film after Christina was a guest appearance on one of the Pussycat Dolls episodes. We will not hold it against him that he wrote the screenplay for Gloria starring Sharon Stone
.
I love theatre but my brain and memory is a sieve. Paul loves theatre and laps it all up like a sponge. He noticed many references and part "steals" from Chicago and Cabaret. I am hoping people will enjoy these references and embrace this film. It is like going to a fun night at the theatre with some amazing production values and incredible talent. It presents nothing new besides Christina Aguilera at her best and performing on a brilliant canvas plus watching Cher again
. Burlesque releases on January 13th and Paul and I both agreed on an 8 out of 10. Be sure to head over to Pop is Not Dead! and check out Paul's review of the soundtrack - see what great Orble teamwork can present | 31 |
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Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
I have not seen it yet, but the trailer looked pretty appalling . . . I guess I should give it a chance.
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
Never saw Glitter, in fact I ran from it
Comment by MelG
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
Thanks for dropping in and commenting!