Pure Opera

Rating: Null/10 (1 July 2001)

I think most of the negative comments miss the point. This is an Opera. All Operas have stupid plots (Figaro, Boheme, Magic Flute ....) The point of Opera is the communication of emotion by music (again think of the last part of Figaro). Charecterisation in Opera also comes from the music rather than the acting or spoken word; for example, the Countess Rosina in Figaro becomes real when she sings of her love for her husband - despite his infidelity.
I treated this film as an opera and loved it (forget the plot listen to the emotion). I loved the way that well-known pieces of music were subverted and twisted - thank goodness somebody finally did something useful with the "Sound of Music". The real test of this film will be whether it remains as fresh in 10 years time. Sadly, I suspect not since I think that the music is probably not memorable enough.
My only negative comment concerns Nicole Kidman -she fails to communicate emotion in her singing. However, I have been told that this is not a widely shared opinion. It's difficult to see who else could have played this part.