This next review is for a movie adaptation of a stage production. An off [off-off-off] Broadway production! I definitely hope to have the opportunity to catch a stage version of this project at some point in the future, but for the moment, I've got to settle for the Blu-Ray.
It's really a different sort of movie musical - not only is it really an opera in essence - virtually every single line of dialog is sung - either on it's own or as part of a larger song, but the plot itself is extremely operatic in terms of family betrayals, plots, trickery, lies and bloody, tragic endings. Both gory and beautiful at the same time in different ways, I understand why a lot of folks may not enjoy a movie like this, but I enjoy it immensely.
And besides...if you've been wondering how you could find a movie musical just a little different from the rest of the ones out there.....one where Anthony Stewart Head laughs maniacally while gutting a man like a fish and then playing with the corpse like a ventriloquist or a musical where Paris Hilton's face literally falls off mid-way through her singing debut....well, this is it - Repo!: The Genetic Opera.
Starting with a new take on the ever-popular dystopian future - presented by a nifty comic book montage (featured elsewhere throughout the movie to save on budget and effects - but used effectively regardless) - organ failures have become epidemic, but the corporation GeneCo has emerged to provide replacement organs to those in need.
Ever the opportunistic businessman - chairman Rotti Largo (former Law & Order star turned opera singer Paul Sorvino) has managed to get legislation passed that makes it legal for GeneCo to repossess their organs if a patient can't keep up with the payments - by sending in the "legal assassins" or Repo Men. (if this sounds familiar, the movie predates the Jude Law flick by a couple of years - or closer to 10 years if you count the stage production).
Nathan (Anthony Stewart Head) is a former doctor turned Repo Man - working for Rotti to pay off an old and tragic debt while hiding his real job from his sick daughter Shilo. At the same time, Rotti is dying of cancer and trying to figure out who will inherit his company - since it sure won't be his rotten kids - played by Ogre (from Skinny Puppy), Paris Hilton, and Bill Mosely. Truly, we're looking at some tragic and messed up people here - and the singer Blind Mag (Sarah Brightman) might just be Nathan's next target if she tries to break her promotional contract with Geneco. All of this is presented by the narrator character Grave Robber (writer/producer of original play and movie - Terrance Zdunich).
For me, this is truly a fun movie. Granted it's pretty dark in terms of color, and content - but it has all kinds of fun in it. Some of the songs really stand out the first time, some take a little longer to grow on you, but most of them are really well handled. The soundtrack is well worth the purchase (38 tracks for $9.99 on itunes - how can you say no?). While Sarah Brightman's character and songs are probably the overall highest quality, I'd say Anthony Stewart Head's performance as the Repo Man is probably the best across the board. I've definitely got to dig up the Buffy musical episode now. Keep your eyes open for the Joan Jett cameo as well.
While it is directed and produced by Darren Lynn Bousman (of Saw fame) - it is pretty tame in the overall gore content - most of it is more played for laughs than any realistic gore (other than some throat slittings and stabbings) - with a little CGI enhancement here and there. Still not one for the kiddies though!
Gotta say, the Blu-Ray is a real treat. It looks and sounds amazing (even compared to the DVD I already had - which also had some minor formatting issues on some parts of the picture). There are a ton of special features including some excellent commentaries.
Really, I find more new artists this way - in musicals, music videos, etc (stay tuned for more updates on that end in the next few days). For the moment though, I'll just leave you with one of my favorites from this flick: Sarah Brightman as Blind Mag in "Chase the Morning".
No comments:
Post a Comment