Hold on a minute. My favorite song from Cabaret isn't in the 1972 movie?! How will I know not to tell Mama?! Anyway, Cabaret plays a lot like Bob Fosse's later directorial effort, All That Jazz, but I feel less connected to the story. It has the sumptuous look, and crazed editing, using the song and dance numbers as commentary on the drama, like an alternate reality crashing in. It's shockingly queer for its time, which is interesting, especially in the story's setting - fascist pre-war Nazi Germany. But it all rather relies on your ability to enjoy Liza Minnelli's manic pixie girl act, and my own threshold isn't all that high. What makes it work anyway is that it really IS an act, and Minnelli manages to show us the real Sally under all that make-up, the vulnerability showing through everywhere but in her confident musical numbers. It's just hard to tap into the love triangle at times because the only couple that's a natural 'ship is Brian and Max.
Pleasant musical numbers that are disconnected from the narrative of the characters (though broadly important to the film) make this film a bit odd, but that's the point, I assume.
Joel Grey is absolutely frightening by the end of the film. Liza Minelli seems a bit flighty and I'm sure that's intentional. The plots don't really fit together in a structured way, and they seem slow. The sub-plots come and go and eventually we're left with a creeping sense of dread (again, intentional).
Minelli's closing number is a true show-stopper and sums up the point of much of the circus that goes on at the Kit Kat Club, but overall the film just felt slow and predictable (even with the somewhat risque love-life plot of the two main characters). The songs aren't particularly great except for the opening and closing numbers. Still, the parallel with the rise of Nazi Germany is interesting and original and the film uses its border-line absurdist moments in the club to point out some very important truths about the descent into fascism.
I'm not one for musicals but this one surpassed any ideas I had about what it would be. Totally engrossing on all fronts. Liza was..."divine!" And the menacing growth of the Nazi party amid the dizzying and frenzied scenes at the club and in the life of our main cast was powerful and effective. Great film.
This film didn't make me care about the characters at all. The focal relationship lacked chemistry. Liza is cute but she is annoying. I did like the Nazi element. I didn't think this movie was awful, but I usually expect a film that won several Academy Awards to do a better job of drawing me in.
This one was a success for me in that it’s one of the few (only?) song and dance movies to have captured my full attention — though to be fair, the song and dance bits are quite scattered. As for other failed attempts to access the genre, Moulin Rouge and Chicago are the first to come to mind, both of which I found to be gaudy, flair-tastic affairs.The routines found in 1972’s Cabaret on the other hand were charming and catchy, the highlights of which were always Joel Grey as the Master of Ceremonies. Liza wasn’t so bad herself, though if I ever meet a broad like that in real life I will probably punch her.
As for the main storyline, it was a flawed execution in my opinion, but there was no doubt something special there in the relationships between the half-dozen or so players. Some elements did come off a bit phony or over-cutesy, though it’s not as if the director had realism in mind. Also I’m not sure how effective the whole Nazis-looming-in-the-outskirts component was. It’s clear there was supposed to be a feeling of their grip squeezing tighter and tighter around the centerpiece of the picture (the elysian Kit Kat Club and its carefree patrons) but I never felt the real menace of their presence in the film. Perhaps they were a bit too much on the sidelines, or maybe a lifetime of watching WWII movies has left me desensitized to Nazis. Come on guys, you can be more evil than that!
A 7.4 is a pretty handsome score, and that’s what I’m giving to this one.
I don't think it should get both the Music AND Musical tag. Seems like movies should get one or the other. This is the only one I noticed in both lists. My vote is definitely for Musical.
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Comments 1 - 15 of 16
Siskoid
Hold on a minute. My favorite song from Cabaret isn't in the 1972 movie?! How will I know not to tell Mama?! Anyway, Cabaret plays a lot like Bob Fosse's later directorial effort, All That Jazz, but I feel less connected to the story. It has the sumptuous look, and crazed editing, using the song and dance numbers as commentary on the drama, like an alternate reality crashing in. It's shockingly queer for its time, which is interesting, especially in the story's setting - fascist pre-war Nazi Germany. But it all rather relies on your ability to enjoy Liza Minnelli's manic pixie girl act, and my own threshold isn't all that high. What makes it work anyway is that it really IS an act, and Minnelli manages to show us the real Sally under all that make-up, the vulnerability showing through everywhere but in her confident musical numbers. It's just hard to tap into the love triangle at times because the only couple that's a natural 'ship is Brian and Max.frankqb
Pleasant musical numbers that are disconnected from the narrative of the characters (though broadly important to the film) make this film a bit odd, but that's the point, I assume.Joel Grey is absolutely frightening by the end of the film. Liza Minelli seems a bit flighty and I'm sure that's intentional. The plots don't really fit together in a structured way, and they seem slow. The sub-plots come and go and eventually we're left with a creeping sense of dread (again, intentional).
Minelli's closing number is a true show-stopper and sums up the point of much of the circus that goes on at the Kit Kat Club, but overall the film just felt slow and predictable (even with the somewhat risque love-life plot of the two main characters). The songs aren't particularly great except for the opening and closing numbers. Still, the parallel with the rise of Nazi Germany is interesting and original and the film uses its border-line absurdist moments in the club to point out some very important truths about the descent into fascism.
Interesting, but not compelling.
3 stars out of 4
PrinceJax
I'm not one for musicals but this one surpassed any ideas I had about what it would be. Totally engrossing on all fronts. Liza was..."divine!" And the menacing growth of the Nazi party amid the dizzying and frenzied scenes at the club and in the life of our main cast was powerful and effective. Great film.chryzsh
Crap. Pure unadulterated crap.Carota
it's true. Liza Minelli indeed was gorgeous here.Flops
This film didn't make me care about the characters at all. The focal relationship lacked chemistry. Liza is cute but she is annoying. I did like the Nazi element. I didn't think this movie was awful, but I usually expect a film that won several Academy Awards to do a better job of drawing me in.devilsadvocado
This one was a success for me in that it’s one of the few (only?) song and dance movies to have captured my full attention — though to be fair, the song and dance bits are quite scattered. As for other failed attempts to access the genre, Moulin Rouge and Chicago are the first to come to mind, both of which I found to be gaudy, flair-tastic affairs.The routines found in 1972’s Cabaret on the other hand were charming and catchy, the highlights of which were always Joel Grey as the Master of Ceremonies. Liza wasn’t so bad herself, though if I ever meet a broad like that in real life I will probably punch her.As for the main storyline, it was a flawed execution in my opinion, but there was no doubt something special there in the relationships between the half-dozen or so players. Some elements did come off a bit phony or over-cutesy, though it’s not as if the director had realism in mind. Also I’m not sure how effective the whole Nazis-looming-in-the-outskirts component was. It’s clear there was supposed to be a feeling of their grip squeezing tighter and tighter around the centerpiece of the picture (the elysian Kit Kat Club and its carefree patrons) but I never felt the real menace of their presence in the film. Perhaps they were a bit too much on the sidelines, or maybe a lifetime of watching WWII movies has left me desensitized to Nazis. Come on guys, you can be more evil than that!
A 7.4 is a pretty handsome score, and that’s what I’m giving to this one.
ClassicLady
I've never been a Liza fan. I like some of the music in this but it's really not that great, in my opinion.Cristobal
espectacular film y espectaculares actuaciones... I LOVE LIZA !!!juanittomx
Quite intriguing by the time of its release, I think! I like it
Skyscore
http://www.afisha.ru/movie/166960/review/146468/Cata
I totally loved the movie, and Liza is absolutely great in that character!Fabio Bottrel
Great movie.phoenixrising
This was SO much better and more interesting than I thought it was going to be!fe2000
I don't think it should get both the Music AND Musical tag. Seems like movies should get one or the other. This is the only one I noticed in both lists. My vote is definitely for Musical.Showing items 1 – 15 of 16