I thought about this because at the end there is a song that is like two monologues intercut to music,
I want to catch everything you're saying, so am cutting into your post. I imagine you thought a lot about the structure of the story and music. It's different and intentional and confounding and I'm at a loss as to why it was made this way. I appreciate you meeting me where I'm at. I went back and watched the last song. It's by far the best use of lyrics/music in the film. It's almost something salvageable.
(Sorry, I'm just struggling with having all this acting talent and an innovative story burdened with such rudimentary, repetitive wording.) The song has the beginnings of an exploration with its few phrases, but instead of furthering the thoughts, it stops short and repeats the same few words over and over. Missed opportunity.
I skimmed back over many parts of the film and inevitably any "dialogue" is repeated over and over. It's almost as if the creators don't think we heard it the first, second, or third time.
It's exploitation
No, not really
It's exploitation
No, not really
It's exploitation
No, not really
It's exploitation
No, not reallyIt's maddening! Taking out all the repetition, this film could have been a very interesting 20 minute short.
so why the same sentence over and over at the beginning? A musical is where a character's emotions are so strong they can no longer speak, but must sing and dance them out. Take "Singin' in the Rain," the definitive(?) musical number. You could remove almost every eloquent line and just repeat over and over "I'm singin' in the rain, just singin' in the rain." Or be even more direct by repeating, "What a glorious feeling, I'm happy again."
I hear you. I really do. Repetition does have its uses and can be powerful (i.e. "I got soul, but I'm not a soldier..." or "Na na na nananana, nannana, hey Jude"), but does any song in
Annette have a beat and can you dance to it?
ET's review said something about how the music isn't really sing alongable.
Singin' in the Rain works because it's song and dance which makes us want to sing and dance.
I'm trying to sit with the idea of Henry and Ann being so in love that "We are so in love" is all they can utter. It's kinda funny, but also kind of sweet.
Henry and Ann are strongly passionate, but lacking in the poetry of expression. So they repeat, but that repetition is complimented by the emotions of the performances and staging.
I am a strong supporter of the two actors. I wish that they had amazing lyrics to carry some of the weight for them. It's like trying to do Shakespeare in Pig Latin and still be taken seriously.
Also, I appreciate the insight of "lacking poetry of expression" and I think you're onto something there with the creators' intent. I can't help wondering though, why did they make the characters particularly embedded in careers that rely heavily on poetry of expression. Henry and Ann should be experts in that field.
Sorry it didn't work for you, but honestly I'm surprised if it works for anyone.
Did you write a review? I didn't find it in my searching. I have a friend on Letterboxd who gave it 5 stars. I usually am in agreement with his assessments, so I wonder what I might have missed, or if I'm just too in need of good lyrics.