How wrong-headed can a filmmaker be? Mike Leigh (Secrets and Lies) has written and directed "Topsy-Turvy", this long production (2 hrs. 40 min.) about Gilbert and Sullivan (Jim Broadbent and Alan Corduner). He begins his tale toward the end of their careers. Actually, Sullivan is feeling that their operas have started to get stale, and they have begun to repeat themselves thematically and creatively. At this point, Gilbert and his wife visit an exposition of Japanese culture and custom. Of course, out of this comes their crowning achievement, `The Mikado.' It sounds wonderful, but too much time is spent showing boring rehearsals and scenes from their less successful productions.
The screenplay should have given more time to the performers' stories (which are hinted at) as well as the relationships between G & S and their wives. Two of the best scenes in the film are at the end. Here the two wives reveal their innermost longings and emotions. These should have been developed along the way to greater effect in this fine conclusion.
On a technical level the film is a fine recreation of the England of the late 19th century. The repressed emotions of the characters are mirrors of Victorian society and perfectly reflected in their conversations. It's hard to warm up to them, and one must sympathize with the manner of being so overly polite that one's true feelings can rarely be communicated. The scenes from `The Mikado' are the best part of the movie. Leigh would have done better to film the whole opera. It surely would have been much more entertaining.
The screenplay should have given more time to the performers' stories (which are hinted at) as well as the relationships between G & S and their wives. Two of the best scenes in the film are at the end. Here the two wives reveal their innermost longings and emotions. These should have been developed along the way to greater effect in this fine conclusion.
On a technical level the film is a fine recreation of the England of the late 19th century. The repressed emotions of the characters are mirrors of Victorian society and perfectly reflected in their conversations. It's hard to warm up to them, and one must sympathize with the manner of being so overly polite that one's true feelings can rarely be communicated. The scenes from `The Mikado' are the best part of the movie. Leigh would have done better to film the whole opera. It surely would have been much more entertaining.