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Topsy-Turvy

starring: Jim Broadbent, Allan Corduner, Dexter Fletcher, Sukie Smith, Roger Heathcott
directed by: Mike Leigh

: Topsy-Turvy
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Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 9786305894230
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Widescreen, NTSC
ISBN: 630589423X
Label: Polygram USA Video
Manufacturer: Polygram USA Video
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Polygram USA Video
Region Code: 1
Release Date: June 20, 2000
Running Time: 160 minutes
Sales Rank: 14244
Studio: Polygram USA Video
Theatrical Release Date: January 14, 2000



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Editorial Review:

Amazon.com:
At first glance, a musical period comedy-drama about Gilbert and Sullivan seems an odd fit for British filmmaker Mike Leigh, who made his name with searing, intense contemporary dramas such as Secrets and Lies and Career Girls. What could the Victorian world of two composers (of 'light opera,' no less) have to offer a filmmaker who specializes in the world of modern-day middle class England? Plenty, as it turns out. A wonderful meditation on the creation of art, Topsy-Turvy catches Gilbert and Sullivan at a crossroads in their illustrious careers. Having scored numerous hits (like The Pirates of Penzance and HMS Pinafore), they've reached a creative dry spot with their latest, Princess Ida. Composer Sullivan (Allan Corduner) despairs of ever being taken seriously, and vows to write a 'serious' piece, much to the consternation of librettist Gilbert (Jim Broadbent), who's flummoxed and unyielding when asked to change another of his whimsical, 'topsy-turvy' scenarios. All seems lost when, thanks to his wife's insistence, Gilbert attends a Japanese exposition in London, and faster than you can say 'Three little maids from school are we,' inspiration strikes.

The rest, as they say, is history, but Leigh re-creates the creative process with meticulous and loving care, from the writing of The Mikado to its staging (wherein Gilbert acts as director), costuming, orchestration, rehearsal, and ultimate premiere. Some may balk at the running time of the film (almost three hours), but it's a journey well worth taking, down to the precise details of late-19th-century London. Still, you'll know you're in Mike Leigh territory, with his precise characterizations and a heartfelt, melancholy ending. And no one has a way with actors like Leigh. This peerless ensemble, headed up by Broadbent in an Oscar-worthy performance, inhabits their characters like a second skin, and it's wonderful to see an authentic-feeling period drama in which the actors resemble real people and you don't expect someone glamorous like Helena Bonham Carter or Rupert Everett to pop up. Gilbert and Sullivan aficionados will revel in the reenactments of The Mikado (newcomers will likely be won over, too). All in all, a breathtaking film. --Mark Englehart



Customer Reviews
Average Rating: out of 5 stars

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - Gilbert - Broadbent - victorian spectator - Japanese theatre
For me one of the most engaging moments in the film is when Gilbert, played by Broadbent, encounters ... Read More


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - A fascinating look at The Mikado
Modern day recordings of works by Gilbert and Sullivan are few and far between; those that are in widescreen ... Read More


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - A Few Days in the Life of G&S
This is a time machine back into Mr. Carte's company in London. If you are not acquainted with G&S, you are missing ... Read More


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - Undiscovered, Underrated Masterpiece
In my opinion, Topsy-Turvy is one of the best movies of the past 30 years, and what makes it an even more important ... Read More


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - Delicious!
This film is a feast both for the eyes and the ears. The costumes and settings allow us a glimpse into upper middle ... Read More

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Copyright ©2003, Mark Carey.