Comments; Shares. All in all, Topsy-Turvy is an exquisite film that didn't get the attention and many accolades it deserved, yet it is a film that must not be missed by any serious film fanatic. You can't help suspecting that there's a little of Leigh in there somewhere - that his Gilbert and Sullivan story is just the launchpad for a much wider examination of the creative process in general and his own working life in particular. But wipe off the greasepaint and Topsy-Turvy stands exposed as a Leigh film through and through. Sullivan, the composer, has had enough. Having said that, an intimacy of Gilbert and Sullivan’s work will undoubtedly enhance the enjoyment of Topsy-Turvy, but it’s by no means necessary for one. I’ll admit that when I see a Ninth Circuit panel of three very liberal judges grant relief in a habeas case involving an illegal immigrant, I get suspicious of mischief. Love of the theater, it reminds us, is somehow always adolescent--heedless, passionate, guilty. Directed by: Mike Leigh. Topsy-Turvy review. The Academy Award-winning film "Topsy-Turvy" catches Gilbert and Sullivan, the famed playwright-composers, at a crossroads in their illustrious careers. "Topsy-Turvy" is the work of a man who is fascinated, obsessed with theatre; and I loved Mike Leigh's attention to detail, characters, and humanity. Set in the 1880s, the story of how, during a creative dry spell, the partnership of the legendary musical/theatrical writers Gilbert and Sullivan almost dissolves, before they turn it … ... Sullivan soundly criticizes the "topsy-turvy" elements of magic in it. Sullivan is a womanizer and a dandy, Gilbert a businessman with an eagle eye for theatrical detail. 1884: the most successful partnership on the English stage is in trouble. The definitive site for Reviews, Trailers, Showtimes, and Tickets Director Mike Leigh brings out the whimsical beauty and genius of Gilbert & Sullivan and charms you into believing that these lovely scenes is what their theater company was like 100 years ago in London. He flees to Paris and a bordello, where D'Oyly Carte tracks him down and learns that there may never be another collaboration between Gilbert (Jim Broadbent) and Sullivan (Allan Corduner). Personally, I like to find reasons for things, and give the benefit of the doubt. But there's so much more of the very, very British Topsy-Turvy that just seems so stuffy and inert. Meanwhile, Gilbert's loving but neglected wife Lucy (Lesley Manville) takes him to a Japanese exhibition and — bingo! But think again. In the film Topsy-Turvy, director Mike Leigh explores the interesting relationship between librettist W.S. Directed by Mike Leigh. Comments. The two men are quite different. The actor George Grossmith (Martin Savage) expresses insufficient alarm, and Gilbert reminds him that his character is under sentence of death, "by something lingering. Rated the #45 best film of 1999, and #2632 in the greatest all-time movies (according to RYM users). The soundtrack to Topsy Turvy, Mike Leigh's Academy Award-winning film about Gilbert & Sullivan's turbulent creative partnership, features excerpts of some of the duo's most popular operettas, including The Sorcerer, Princess Ida and The Mikado. Is it curtains for the kings of light entertainment? By Total Film 18 February 2000. Rated the #45 best film of 1999, and #2632 in the greatest all-time movies (according to RYM users). Time Out says. Beautifully embodied by Broadbent, Gilbert's crumpled curmudgeonly form masks the spirit of a tortured artist. Topsy-Turvy Film Review by Dean Duncan Apr 10, 2015. Topsy-Turvy. For biographical junkies, this is a rich and rounded characterisation. Throughout its loose-knit ebb and flow, this backstage extravaganza throbs with the man's usual trademarks: the bickering relationships, the jolting juggle of wacky comedy with sudden sadness, the noisy roster of supporting characters. Skip to next photo. In a gloriously entertaining period piece, he tells the story of the genesis, preparation and presentation of a comic opera--Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Mikado"--celebrating all the dreaming and hard work, personality conflict and team spirit, inspiration and mundane detail, of every theatrical presentation, however inspired or inept. 0 Comment Report abuse Anthony Damato. In the end, the behind-the-scenes format seems oddly suited to the Leigh style. But there’s a small problem with this really fine film, and it has bigger implications, at least for a … Set in the 1880s, the story of how, during a creative dry spell, the partnership of the legendary musical/theatrical writers Gilbert and Sullivan almost dissolves, before they turn it … He is a man of the theater in every atom of his being, and that is why there is a direct connection between his work and G&S. Its tumultuous backstage world spills out of the wings and enriches the world at large. Topsy-Turvy marked the first time the acclaimed writer-director Mike Leigh made a period drama, turning his gaze from his usual working-class contemporary Britain setting to the pomp and splendour of the Victorian theatre, in particular the then immensely popular comic … One day in the middle of the impasse, his wife, Kitty (Lesley Manville), drags him to London's newly opened Japan exhibition, where he observes a Kabuki performance, sips green tea and buys a sword, which his butler nails up over the door. It had a star-studded cast, but, unfortunately it isn’t available on video – unfortunately because it is hard to imagine anyone but Mike Leigh’s mom wanting to watch his new Gilbert and Sullivan biopic, Topsy-Turvy.It may be the most disappointing film of the year. But while Topsy-Turvy skips between various vignettes and characters, it keeps alighting back on Gilbert. Following is Janet Maslin's review, which appeared in The New York Times on Oct. 2. Topsy-Turvy is a genuine labour of love, Leigh's grandest and most perfectly crafted film, but whilst it was critically well-received and picked up two Oscars (for its costumes and make-up), it failed to recoup its 20 million dollar budget at the box office. None of these players are the sort you'd normally associate with the refined interiors of the period movie. Fortunately, every time that happens, the film is buoyed up by sumptuous renditions of several "Mikado" songs. No more, I suspect, than one needs to know all about Shakespeare to enjoy "Shakespeare in Love"--although with both films, the more you do know, the more you enjoy. Mike Leigh's grandly entertaining "Topsy-Turvy" is one of those films that create a mix of erudition, pageantry and delectable acting opportunities, much as ''Shakespeare in Love'' did last year. Pretty soon he has Sullivan back on board and the regular acting troupe in panicky rehearsals. Their comic operettas, produced by the famed impresario Richard D'Oyly Carte, have even paid for the construction of the Savoy Theatre, where, alas, their latest collaboration, "Princess Ida," has flopped so badly that even Gilbert's dentist tells him it went on too long. The ending is the fugue, performed in three scenes, functioning like variations on the same central theme, which was … It is one of the year's best films. A … Mike Leigh's "Topsy-Turvy" is the work of a man helplessly in love with the theater. One-hundred-and-fifty-odd minutes later The Mikado premieres on the London stage and G&S are right back on track. Kindly bear that in mind." FILM REVIEW Topsy-Turvy Prelude and Fugue ... Eleanor David, Ron Cook, Martin Savage, Shirley Henderson, Dorothy Atkinson. Eye For Film >> Movies >> Topsy-Turvy (1999) Film Review Topsy-Turvy. Genres: Biopic, Comedy, Music. In this, he's aided by an on-song cast: Tim Spall as an insecure baritone, Kevin McKidd as a narcissistic tenor (a proto luvvie if ever there was one) and Shirley Henderson as an alcoholic soprano. By either boiling oil or melted lead. Topsy-Turvy. But while Topsy-Turvy skips between various vignettes and characters, it keeps alighting back on Gilbert. Starring: Timothy Spall, Jim Broadbent, Lesley Manville, Allan Corduner. Mike Leigh's latest has its problems. Starring: Timothy Spall, Jim Broadbent, Lesley Manville, Allan Corduner. So, I came to Topsy-Turvy with some trepidation, it being another one of his more lavish period pieces. Theater Review: Crowded Kitchen’s ‘Topsy Turvy’ lives up to its title. But there is a charm to these rough edges and a heart and authenticity to the picture as a whole. Sir Arthur Sullivan (Allan Corduner), recently knighted, talks of ending the partnership ("these trivial soufflés") and writing a proper opera. Helpful. In my opinion, Topsy-Turvy is one of the best movies of the past 30 years, and what makes it an even more important artistic achievement is that it is still such an unknown and underrated film. Reviewed by: Angus Wolfe Murray ... Topsy-Turvy concentrates on the years between Princess Ida and The Mikado. 12 people found this helpful. Genres: Biopic, Comedy, Music. THE GREATEST SHOWMAN (PG, 105 mins) Review of Topsy-Turvy (1999) By Adam S (1,945) on 30 May 2011 Mike Leigh's instant masterpiece is the most unlikely film in his oeuvre; a meticulously researched, dressed, and performed back-stage… In London his productions have often been in vest-pocket theaters where even details such as printing the tickets and hiring the stagehands may not have escaped his attention. 0 comment. Show caption 1 / 1. Leigh has worked as much in the theater as in film, and his films depend more than most on the theatrical disciplines of improvisation and rehearsal. Every production is completely different, and they are all exactly like this. FILM REVIEW; Activist With a Topsy-Turvy View of the World. FILM REVIEW. Not long after, as he paces his study, the sword falls down, and inspiration strikes: Gilbert races to his desk to begin writing "The Mikado." By Stephen Holden. An antic comedy and riveting drama from Oscar-nominated director Mike Leigh, "Topsy-Turvy" was hailed by many critics as the Best Film … Director: Mike Leigh. There's its length, for one thing. The Academy Award-winning film "Topsy-Turvy" catches Gilbert and Sullivan, the famed playwright-composers, at a crossroads in their illustrious careers. opsy-Turvy" was shown as part of this year's New York Film Festival. Mick LaSalle. The fun is in the tension between absurd contrivance and meticulous delivery; consider the song "I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General" from "The Pirates of Penzance," which is delivered with the discipline of a metronome, but at breakneck pace. I needn’t have worried though, as I adored Topsy-Turvy. His credits include "Life Is Sweet," "Naked" and "Secrets and Lies" and nothing remotely in the same cosmos as Gilbert and Sullivan. FILM REVIEW; Activist With a Topsy-Turvy View of the World. Topsy-Turvy is a 1999 British musical period drama film written and directed by Mike Leigh, starring Allan Corduner as Sir Arthur Sullivan and Jim Broadbent as W. S. Gilbert, along with Timothy Spall, Lesley Manville and Ron Cook.The story concerns the 15-month period in 1884 and 1885 leading up to the premiere of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado. By Total Film 18 February 2000. Comments; Shares. Film Review by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat. There was a 1953 movie variously called The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan and The Great Gilbert and Sullivan. See photos images. Mike Leigh's "Topsy-Turvy" is the work of a man helplessly in love with the theater. "Topsy-Turvy" is rated R for female nudity, scenes of stage violence, some crude humor, scattered mild profanities and a brief scene of simulated drug use (heroin). Topsy-Turvy (1999) review. There's its length, for one thing. Mike Leigh's gloriously entertaining film, `Topsy-Turvy,' offers a wise and witty slice of musical theater history. Gilbert and Sullivan fans will doubtless love it, … FILM REVIEW: A topsy-turvy foot-stomper. FILM REVIEW: A topsy-turvy foot-stomper. Meantime lyricist Gilbert (Jim Broadbent) is still smarting over a scathing review which damned him as "the king of Topsy-Turvydom". My favorite scene is one in which Gilbert rehearses his actors in line readings. Detractors have long criticised the man for protagonists that verge on the cartoonish. Many of the cast members are veterans of earlier Leigh films, including the pear-shaped, pouty-lipped Timothy Spall, whose character blinks back tears as his big song seems doomed in dress rehearsal. FILM REVIEW. dvd cover TOPSY TURVY amazon.com. ... Read full review. Gilbert and composer Arthur Sullivan as they work on their musical "The Mikado". This is not merely a film that goes backstage, but also one that goes into accounting ledgers, hiring practices, costume design, personnel problems, casting decisions, sex lives and the endless detail work of rehearsal: Hours of work are needed to manufacture and perfect even a silly throwaway moment, so that it is thrown away with style and wit, instead of merely being misplaced. You can occasionally spot the tell-tale joins in the scenery, the moments when the movie misses its cue, the points when the lighting fizzes and fades. The difference is that "Shakespeare in Love" centers on a love story, and "Topsy-Turvy" is about love of the theater. Dragged along to an exhibition of Japanese arts 'n' crafts by his wife (Leslie Manville), Broadbent finds the inspiration for his crowning glory in The Mikado. With Jim Broadbent, Allan Corduner, Dexter Fletcher, Sukie Smith. Show caption 1 / 1. The two films have been compared because both are British, both are about theatrical geniuses, both deal with theatrical lore. Topsy-Turvy. Rotten Tomatoes, home of the Tomatometer, is the most trusted measurement of quality for Movies & TV. Newly knighted by Queen Victoria, he decides it is time to compose serious operas: "This work with Gilbert is quite simply killing me." In classic Mike Leigh style, Topsy-Turvy is a slice-of-life comedy drama, only this time the production values are off the charts, with a Victorian-era setting and some of the most excellent production design I've ever seen. Topsy-Turvy movie reviews & Metacritic score: When their latest play fails and they threaten to disband, Gilbert and Sullivan are inspired to create their masterpiece, "The Mikado. Following is Janet Maslin's review, which appeared in The New York Times on Oct. 2. As the movie opens, Arthur Sullivan and William S. Gilbert have had 10 hits in a row, and they rule the London stage. The form itself is a poke in the eye for Victorian values: The plots and songs uphold the conventional while making it seem clearly mad. Romantic love ages and matures. Topsy-Turvy is a genuine labour of love, Leigh's grandest and most perfectly crafted film, but whilst it was critically well-received and picked up two Oscars (for its costumes and make-up), it failed to recoup its 20 million dollar budget at the box office. Composer Sullivan (Allan Corduner) has grown fed-up with their mainstream stylings and longs to turn classical. But this 1999 film… Not everyone is familiar with Gilbert and Sullivan. His films, which do not begin with finished screenplays but are "devised" by the director in collaboration with his actors, have always been about modern Britain--often about inarticulate, alienated, shy, hostile types, who are as psychologically awkward in his comedies as in his hard-edged work. 1 / 1. by Dan Goldwasser January 13, 2000 4 / 5 Stars. See photos images. Topsy-Turvy Film Review by Dean Duncan Apr 10, 2015. The world of Gilbert and Sullivan is one of whimsical goofiness, presented with rigorous attention to detail. As such, Topsy-Turvy skirts on the rim of outright self-indulgence and occasionally puffs and wheezes to sustain its elongated running time. All well done, but the film begins to glow when the decision is made to go ahead with "The Mikado." Mike Leigh might seem to be the last of the modern British directors to be attracted to the world of the Savoy operas. A flamboyant costume drama buttressed with period songs and buttoned up in theatrical finery, it's worlds away from the film-maker's usual stomping ground of chintzy suburban angst (Abigail's Party, Life is Sweet) or harsh inner-city blues (Naked, High Hopes). Topsy-Turvy review. Leigh's construction is canny as he follows big musical numbers like "Three Little Maids" from rehearsal through opening night, and the costumes and sets faithfully re-create the classic D'Oyly Carte Company productions. These people are performing even when they're not performing. Starring: Jim Broadbent, Allan Corduner, Lesley Manville, ... as far as the reactions to what appeared to be out of character for him went. Mike Leigh OBE FRSL (born 20 February 1943) is an English film and theatre director, screenwriter and playwright. April 1, 2011 Updated: Dec. 7, 2011 7:08 p.m. Facebook Twitter Email. In classic Mike Leigh style, Topsy-Turvy is a slice-of-life comedy drama, only this time the production values are off the charts, with a Victorian-era setting and some of the most excellent production design I've ever seen. DVD review: 'Topsy-Turvy' sparkles. Each of them brings some much needed dirty reality to the genre. He's a complex and troubled figure: a man whose public wit and panache is offset by a private melancholia, and a remote, distant nature even his wife finds hard to penetrate. The earlier reaches of "Topsy-Turvy" resemble in broad outline other films about theater: a flop, a crisis, a vow to never work again, a sudden inspiration, a new start. In the rambunctious Victorian London of 1884, the long-standing stage partnership of WS Gilbert and Sir Arthur Sullivan is limping towards a desultory break-up. 1 / 1. There usually are, and it’s usually deserved. THE GREATEST SHOWMAN (PG, 105 mins) Even though Topsy-Turvy is quite a departure from the gritty realism or cutting social satire that had characterised the earlier part of his career, Leigh’s attention to detail – and his intention to revel in it – is immediately apparent. Review: Topsy-Turvy. There usually are, and it’s usually deserved. Set in 1880's London, the movie chronicles the extraordinary personal and professional relationship between two giants of the 19th Century entertainment world, lyricist `Willie' Gilbert and composer Arthur Sullivan. Afterthought: I've been meaning to watch this film for a good many years. Skip to next photo. Bob Graham. In the end this ribald, tottering affair is rather like a lavish theatrical production itself. "Topsy-Turvy" is rated R for female nudity, scenes of stage violence, some crude humor, scattered mild profanities and a brief scene of simulated drug use (heroin). 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