Even only to pronounce it soundlessly, I can’t stop myself to sing it in a tone ABBA had sung years ago. Mamma mia, the latest released movie of 2008 surely filled my time with joy, I didn’t expected. Maybe because the presumption that it was only a comedy, an easy to watch, and a musical one so I weren’t expecting too much. The boldness and intensity of ABBA’s lyrics claim just the right path on every screen, every conversation, make a single storyline where the emotion goes fluidly through it, easily directed as the movie continue.
But then, the movie also make me recall those films of Shahrukh Khan…and some (if not all) other bollywood movies. Maybe it just simply because of the dancers…(which in bollywood version could show up from nowhere and disapear instantly, the hollywood seemed has put good effort to make them logically get into the scene and become part of the story), or is it because of the red scarf, Meryl Streep had while she was singing emotionally…’The Winner Takes It All’, and running up to the church on the hill, with the scarf flowing behind her…? Or maybe…the closeup version of the cast in some dialogues, left the screen with little area left of the background view?
Well, If Phyllida Lloyd had try to extract the essence of Bollywood movies, I would say she had done it beautifully. I think she put all the right ingredients in making a good musical movie. It has some ‘old feeling’ elements of Grease - Randal Kleiser, and a freshness of Hairspray - Adam Shankman.
Above all…it is an enjoyable one. The first I’ve ever know that can change a theatre into a karaoke! (Unfortunately Accross The Universe - Julie Taymor, didn’t get the chance to be played in Indonesia…I would love to sing those great Beatles songs with the rest of the audiences!)
nadin
