The first time I saw this film, on cable late at night, I just couldn't get over how very odd it was! So I watched again a few weeks later, with a friend, to show him and see if i was the only one who found it really trippy. He agreed! There really isn't much of a plot in a traditional sense, just lots of flash backs done in a low budget kind of way. This film is dark, and moody, and bizarre, and...well, trippy is probably the best word, because i watched it SOBER and felt like i was..well, under the influence of a certain substance that might enhance the certain movies to make them a really intense experience. There are a few beautiful performances, which sort of save the otherwise dreary and pointless film: Sandra Bernhard, Jimmy Scott, Rufus Wainwright....but even those are done in such an odd way, that the viewer watches them with a skewed sort of eye. I would recommend this film, not just to those who are fans of music standards, but also to those looking for a very different movie experience. It is....out there!
2 Reviews
Lost opportunity of revealing the life of a fascinating man
hrosenberg13 December 2004
The overall concept was interesting, but there was little respect shown for Arlen's music. There was no sense of the period or for whom or when the songs were originally written. The songs were overproduce and the sets and settings for the songs were inappropriate, especially the hospital ward. The music was overwhelmed by the production numbers. Most of the singers preformed badly mauling the music and seemed to have no idea of the meaning of the words. The actor playing Harold Arlen was very good and he held the narrative together. The story was interesting, but sometimes seemed muddled in its continuity. The use of film clips was effective and Paul Soles actually seemed to be the older Arlen.
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