« Reply #71 on: August 27, 2013, 03:04:40 PM »
Meet Me in St. Louis
Vincente Minnelli, 1944
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I really want to like this film, love this film even, but ... I just don't get it. ... But I know that Judy will sing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" soon and make everything better.
uh, this was hell to get through. All prim and proper, all Hallmark postcard-y. Just hell. Maybe it's because I miss the dancing and the physical inventiveness that it provides but I just didn't find much of this interesting. I mean, sure, the sets and color were all great but whatever. I think the uprooting of the family is interesting but it's too fluffy and cutesy and whatever for me to care about it. My two biggest complaints are that I don't really like the songs that much (except for one exception) and I guess I don't like Judy Garland. I mean, she was great in The Pirate cuz she was acting all insane and throwing shit around but here it's just boring. The only song that was memorable is "Have Yourself a Merry Christmas." It's CINECAST!ing sublime with a fantastic set-up and a great delivery. The final moments of the film make me think I like it more than I do, actually. But it's hard for me to forget how bland and uninteresting the rest is.
Really, really underwhelmed by this film.
I would argue that Meet Me in St. Louis is a film that could be improved with a remake. I see special magic all over, but in it's current state it's completely wrong.
My main beef was that there weren't enough songs. In the 50+ minutes between "Trolley Song" (pure, exuberant joy) and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (so gorgeously sorrowful I had to watch it twice) there's only "You and I" to break it up. Now, that's a lovely little tune, but that's a long period with only one song for a musical. But you know, I didn't mind it so much. The songs are magnificent, but there's enough of them in the first half. I enjoy the characters so much that it's okay that the second half isn't much of a musical, focusing more on the wonderful interactions in this family. Terrific performances all around, especially Garland, Bremer and Astor. ... I still don't feel quite right bumping this up to "Masterpiece" status, but it's definitely a film I enjoy immensely, and brings some tears to my eyes.
Subtle melancholy hidden in the technicolor. The impermanence of all things...
My 9-year old and I watched this together - and we both fell in love.
It was a nice couple of hours, and certainly had its strong points, but didn't really strike a chord with me. ... It was a beautiful film to look at though. The costumes and sets were marvelous, and filmed with full color, vibrant. The screen seemed drenched with it. Judy Garland is a national treasure by the way. Not sure why I don't have more of her in my life, like all the time, every day. Such a beautiful voice and a kinetic personality on screen. One can't help but fall in love with her and root for her. The interactions between the sisters and the whole family actually were pretty wonderful. A great portrait of the midwestern family. I just wish there had been more memorable moments throughout, as I struggle to recall anything too specific about it.
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