Puccini for Beginners
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Movie Reviews of Puccini for Beginners
Movie Review: Loved It!!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I loved this movie it was so funny and cute. It was kinda annoying but I loved the end it was a real good movie I really recommend it!!Movie Review: Puccini
Summary: 5 Stars
Great seller and quick shipment. Movie was very good -- except there was no Puccini in it!Movie Review: What if a lesbian was to not only date a guy but also his ex-girlfiend?
Summary: 4 Stars
Allegra (Elizabeth Reaser, "The Family Stone" but probably more recognizable as "Jane Doe" from last season of "Grey's Anatomy") has commitment issues, which explains why her girlfriend, Samantha (Julianne Nicholson, "Little Black Book"), has dumped her. However, she ends up questioning both her sexuality and her sanity when she falls for Philip (Justin Kirk, "Weeds"). Yes, he is a man, but he is a college professor capable of engaging in verbal sparring and he actually likes opera. If that were not enough complication in her life, Allegra, begins a relationship with another woman, Grace (Gretchen Mol, "The Notorious Bettie Page"), who has just broken up with her boyfriends of six years and never been with a woman before. But, wait, there is more. Grace's ex-boyfriend is Philip and as the "Prologue" of this 2006 film makes clear, yes, everything is going to hit the fan for Allegra in a big way.
Actually, there is not a lot of Puccini in "Puccini for Beginners," although some of the characters go to a production of "Turandot" at the beginning. Philip takes Allegra to see "Don Giovanni," but that is Mozart. In one of the deleted scenes the violinist on the street near the end was playing "Nessun dorma," but that got gut at the end. But then in the trailer the opera music is from "La Donna e Mobile" from "Rigoletto," which is written by Verdi (I do not really think the aria's rant about the fickleness of women really fits the character, but the music is recognizable), which only goes to prove that you do not need to know a lot about Puccini to appreciate this screwball comedy. To the extent that "Turandot" is an apt metaphor for what takes place (the way Richard Gere takes Julia Roberts to see "La Traviata" in "Pretty Woman"), Allegra tells you all you need to know when she says the opera is about having to pass a test for the sake of love, with dire consequences if you fail.
Yes, "Allegra" is the brand name of an antihistamine drug, the name of the heiress to the fashion house Versace, and the name of the illegitimate daughter of Lord Byron and Claire Clairmont (Mary Shelley's step-sister), but it is also an Italian name for a female meaning "gay" or "happy." Such meanings have meaning for this movie because by thinking she is not the former our heroine may be ruining her chances to be the latter. The name is also related to the musical tempo "allegro," which means "quick and lively" or, literally, "cheerful." That would also provide an ironic encapsulation of our heroine who has to be quick to juggle the two relationships, but does not have the time to be all that cheerful.
Many viewers will be reminded more of Woody Allen movies that Puccini operas anyway, especially "Annie Hall," what with the New York City location, the use of comic subtitles, strangers getting involved in commenting on the proceedings, and the idea that Allegra is not as smart as she thinks. Fortunately, Reaser is not channeling Allen and her restrained performance keeps this one grounded as the complex situation drives towards its inevitable and painful collapse. There are just a pair of deleted scenes and the original theatrical trailer included in the DVD extras, but the commentary track with director Maria Maggenti ("The Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls in Love") and editor Susan Graef does an above average job of focusing on how the film was made in terms of cutting, rewriting, and all the thousand natural decisions that making a film is heir to, especially when you only shoot for 18 days and have 8 weeks to edit Final Note: I would not think of "Holiday" as being a screwball comedy, certainly not in the same league as "Bringing Up Baby," and if you were going to reference a Katharine Hepburn film in this movie I would think "Sylvia Scarlett" is the (perhaps too) obvious choice.
Movie Review: Very Good Romantic Film
Summary: 4 Stars
This movie is a very enjoyable, thought provoking romantic comedy. It comes across as lighter than it actually is. But its lightness makes it a joy to watch and it will linger in your thoughts after with the messages it puts across.
PUCCINI FOR BEGINNERS tells the story of a lesbian who keeps having short lived romantic relationships due to her fear of commitment. The film begins with yet another girlfriend breaking up with her and then our main character settles for living life alone. Of course at that point she meets two people with whom she becomes involved - a man and a woman. And the added twist is they are a couple themselves.
The film is not a statement movie about homosexuality but rather a film where all the characters accept each other for who they are. Allegra, our main character is indeed a lesbian, but she does not hate men. She develops feelings for the man with whom she gets involved but she knows it is a rarity. She is most comfortable with women. He also accepts her and does not question why a lesbian is being with a man. As he says TO ME YOU ARE JUST ALLEGRA.
The story unfolds with solid acting and comic situations mixed in as Allegra goes on a deep journey of self discovery. Believe it or not, I must disagree with some other reviewers. I do believe some peoples lives are as straightforward and carefree as our characters here. For this movie requires a deeper examination. Their outer lives seem satisfying yet all of them are going through inner emotional struggles. They are all good people who are learning about themselves and sometimes good is rewarded.
it is a joy to see a gay film that is not an issue film but merely a film about believable, very real characters on realistic journeys. I highly recommend you travel with them. You will laugh, may have a tear or two and it will linger with you after. You will certainly be inspecting the way you yourself feel about true commitment and acceptance.
Very enjoyable. Highly recommend.
Movie Review: Thought Provoking At Times
Summary: 4 Stars
I caught this movie on the Logo channel so I don't have the dvd but I figured I'd write a review anyway.
To me it's one of those movies that could never happen in quite this way in real life but it does raise issues that are real.
The main character hooks up with two people who are having problems in their relationships not knowing that their relationship is with each other.
I guess one lesson is if someone just wants to be 'the other person' this may be what they become which is what happens initially.
But ultimately she lucks out and causes someone else to become the other person and she becomes the right person which is what she so desperately wanted.
I guess the main point is how do people find that other person that is right for them. This is a very deep philosophical question. Even a spiritual question.
Perhaps the various experiences that these people went through was a necessary part of that discovery for them.
I think movies like this can be educational if they make people think about the implications, complexities, and possible outcomes of getting involved in intimate relationships. She perhaps underestimated the feelings that her two friends still had for each other.
The two main female characters in this movie are bisexual but this is not a graphic movie. At least not the version I saw on tv.
Jeff Marzano
When Night Is Falling