I had the opposite experience. I had liked it very much on Broadway two years into its run and looked forward to the film even after reading much of the criticism. Skimming more than reading, actually, as I wanted to see for myself.
It does not work on screen. Platt's age is not an issue but his overdone twitchiness grows tiresome before the first song ends. Not only did it not work on camera, I have a hard time believing that it worked on stage (I saw, and much preferred, Michael Lee Brown on Broadway. He was probably around 25 but on stage this was not an issue and he did not overdo any physical tics). The musical direction, with everyone breathily talk-singing their way into their songs, is monotonous. Even with a few songs (which I like and missed) removed, the story seemed to go on forever. The relentless close-ups, are intended, I guess, to provide a sense of intimacy but the results are stagnating. I don't know if this is a question of a director (whose other films I have liked) not knowing how to film a musical or whether this material simply wasn't meant for the camera, but I have rarely been as unimpressed with a relatively faithful version of a show I initially liked so much. |
