{"id":37,"date":"2005-12-17T12:06:32","date_gmt":"2005-12-17T17:06:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.artloversnewyork.com\/zine\/movie\/2005\/12\/17\/pixar-stephen-sondheim\/"},"modified":"2009-11-11T10:29:52","modified_gmt":"2009-11-11T15:29:52","slug":"pixar-stephen-sondheim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.artloversnewyork.com\/zine\/movie\/2005\/12\/17\/pixar-stephen-sondheim\/","title":{"rendered":"~Pixar & Stephen Sondheim"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Sea<\/a>
\nEdward G. Robinson (as ‘Wolf’ Larsen) in The Sea Wolf<\/em> (1941), directed by Michael Curtiz
\n(Photo credit: Warner Bros.\/Photofest) (Copyright: Warner Bros.)<\/p>\n

\"Birds\"
\nRalph Eggleston, Pre-production sketch, For the Birds<\/em>, 11 x 17″, Pastel
\n(Copyright: Disney\/Pixar)<\/p>\n

\"Sullivan<\/a>
\nPete Docter, Sullivan and Mike, Monsters, Inc.<\/em>, 11 x 8 1\/2″, Marker
\n(Copyright: Disney\/Pixar)<\/p>\n

\"Edna<\/a>
\nTeddy Newton, Edna Mode (aka “E”), The Incredibles<\/em>, 11 x 8 1\/2″, Pastel
\n(Copyright: Pixar)<\/p>\n

MOMA FILM SERIES
\nPIXAR \u00e2\u20ac\u201c 20 YEARS OF ANIMATION
\n12\/14\/05 – 2\/6\/ 2006<\/p>\n

ARTIST\u00e2\u20ac\u2122S CHOICE: STEPHEN SONDHEIM
\n12\/19\/05 – 1\/8\/06<\/p>\n

Film Review
\nDecember 2005 by JAN ALBERT<\/p>\n

MOMA deserves kudos for presenting two stellar film series this season. The Pixar Animation retrospective should pull in the crowds
\nwith the first overview of the trail blazing film studio that introduced the first completely computer generated animated feature film
\na mere 10 years ago. As John Lasseter (director of Toy Story and Toy Story 2 and the forthcoming CARS) reminded himself
\nat the press preview, the company\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s name comes from Pixel, (the smallest visual component that makes up the picture on your
\ncomputer screen) and Art, and the art of Pixar has always been inspired by the technology.<\/p>\n

Many of Pixar\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s top animators were on hand at the opening and it was kind of touching to see how jazzed the best and brightest
\nof today\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s computer artists seemed to be about receiving their first full retrospective at the museum. It was fun watching them
\ncheck out their animated bios (which the public will be able to access via computers in the galleries) and trying to explain
\nthe fine points of digital animation to us journalists \u00e2\u20ac\u201c who manage to manipulate a few words on a good day! The way the
\npreparatory sketches and video monitors are arranged on the floor it becomes apparent how much drawing and sculpting and
\npainting still goes into creating computer animation. That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s heartening news in a year when Disney made the bittersweet
\nannouncement that it had reached the end of an era \u00e2\u20ac\u201d the studio which pioneered the animated feature (Snow White-1937)
\nwill no longer produce hand drawn films. <\/p>\n

In addition to screening all the major Pixar features, this is a great opportunity to see the short cartoons Lasseter and his
\ncolleagues have produced since the mid 1980s, including One Man Band<\/strong>, a cute riff on dueling street musicians,
\nwhich is having its debut at MOMA in conjunction with the exhibition.
\nKIDS UNDER 16 ADMITTED FREE.<\/p>\n

But, I must admit I am personally more excited about MOMA\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s masterstroke in asking Stephen Sondheim to curate
\none of the museum\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s periodic \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Artist\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Choice\u00e2\u20ac\u009d shows. Sondheim, the preeminent artist of the American musical theater
\nover the past 40 years, was there at the birth of West Side Story, contributing lyrics. He cut his creative teeth on Gypsy
\nand A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, deconstructed the medium in works like Company, reconstructed
\nevery genre of theater song that had preceded him in Follies, and tackled American politics in Assassins. One of his most
\nbrilliant shows, Sweeney Todd, is now on Broadway, born again in a bare bones, musically thrilling revival from Britain.<\/p>\n

Sondheim has always been a big film fan and he has devoted all of his choices to the museum\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s film collection, which for me
\nis like receiving a big box of chocolates. All of the choices look delicious \u00e2\u20ac\u201c in fact, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve tasted many of them before and
\nknow how good they are. For those of you who prefer the savory to the sweet, just consider this a wonderful
\nsmorgasbord\u00e2\u20ac\u201ca tasting menu of the cinematic treats that stimulate the pictures Stephen Sondheim creates
\nwith words and music.<\/p>\n

And he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s picked some great flicks, judging by the ones I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve seen already:<\/p>\n

My all time favorite scary movie — Dead of Night<\/strong> (1945) a fantastically atmospheric and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153creepy,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d as Sondheim puts it – collection
\nof 5 supernatural short film stories within a 6th dreamscape. By the end, you won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be sure if that feeling of deja vu has been
\ninduced by the film or whether you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been there in another life. Whatever – it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not an easy film to shake. <\/p>\n

The Sea Wolf<\/strong> (1941) directed by Michael Curtiz. Sondheim selects this as \u00e2\u20ac\u0153my favorite of the Warner Brothers stock
\ncompany melodramas.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d EG Robinson and John Garfield square off on shipboard, surrounded by a crew that
\nseems pretty intent on killing themselves before they reach shore. A heck of a story with great big scenes for
\ngrandstanding actors. Screenplay by Robert Rossen (from Jack London\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s novel), who would go on to direct
\nGarfield in Body & Soul before being blacklisted in the 50s.<\/p>\n

Pygmalion<\/strong> (1938) directed by Anthony Asquith. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153For the performances,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d says Sondheim, and I second that emotion.
\nThe divine squaring off of the elusive, elegant Leslie Howard and the emotional guttersnipe with the poise of a princess,
\nplayed by the wonderful Wendy Hiller. I remember what a great discovery this film was for me when I saw it at MOMA
\n20 years ago and realized how Bernard Shaw\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s play had kindled the flame of one of the greatest musicals ever – MY FAIR LADY.<\/p>\n

The Thief of Baghdad<\/strong> (1940) Boy this is a different vision of Bagdad than the one we are all carrying around today.
\nThis luminous 1940s color film which won the Oscar for cinematography, is full of kitchy dialogue and fantastical sights.
\nThe blind prince recalls his lover\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s eyebrows as resembling, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153two crescent moons.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d There are flying carpets, jolly genies,
\nand an evil vizier who observes as he turns Sabu (the title character who saves the day) into a dog, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s amazing how an
\nannoying kid can make an extremely pleasant dog.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d A true flight of fantasy by one of the cinema\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s most joyful genies,
\nco-director Michael Powell. Take your little kids to this one – they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll love it and so will you.<\/p>\n

Lest you think, Sondheim\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s picks all predate the modern age, there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s :<\/p>\n

The Barbarian Invasions<\/strong> (2003) directed by Denys Arcand.
\nAs Sondheim says, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153a truly literate movie-full of ideas, as well as emotion and a portrait of an era which includes
\neverything from its politics to its sexual morality.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00e2\u20ac\u201dIf you enjoy this, go home and rent Arcand\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s 1986 talkfest,
\nThe Decline of the American Empire, which introduced many of the same characters and actors seen in \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Barbarian Invasions.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d
\nThey are fascinating bookends to a generation. <\/p>\n

Barry Lyndon<\/strong> (1975) directed by Stanley Kubrick.
\nI always felt this was a vastly underrated picture with Ryan O\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Neal & Marisa Berenson. Sondheim admires it
\nfor its control and sumptuous presentation; \u00e2\u20ac\u0153the use of extravagantly beautiful photography to depict
\nbloodlessness and violence.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

L’Histoire d’Adele H.<\/strong> (1975) directed by Francois Trauffaut.
\n This horrifying and heartbreaking film about Victor Hugo\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s daughter, Adele, and her obsession with a soldier still
\npacks a wallop. Sondheim notes that it is virtually the same scenario as the Italian film, Passione d’Amore<\/strong>, which
\nplanted the seed for his own musical, Passion. Sondheim says both films move him, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153but in opposite ways, which makes
\nfor an interesting comparison.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Anyway – this all gives me a tremendous desire to see the Sondheim picks I haven\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t caught up with yet, including:
\nGus Vant Sant\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Elephant<\/strong> (2003). Sondheim praises its minimalist style as \u00e2\u20ac\u0153even creepier than Dead of Night!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d
\nKaracter<\/strong> (Dir. Mike Von Tieh) He describes this 1997 Dutch foreign film Oscar winner as \u00e2\u20ac\u0153a Dickensian tale
\nwith rich and strange characters, many established in just a few strokes.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Hal Hartley\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Henry Fool<\/strong> (1997) with Parker Posey and James Urbaniak :\u00e2\u20ac\u0153completely original in tone and story
\nbut not just a private whim like a lot of independent movies. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s genuinely mysterious.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d
\nAkira Kurasawas High and Low<\/strong>, Kon Ichikawas Nobi – Fires on the Plain<\/strong> – \u00e2\u20ac\u0153good and shocking\u00e2\u20ac\u009d, Louis Malle\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Le Voleur<\/strong> (The Thief)
\nwith Jean Paul Belmondo & Genievieve Bujold, and The Organizer<\/strong>, directed by Mario Monicelli, whom Sondheim cites
\nas \u00e2\u20ac\u0153one of my favorite directors and this is my favorite film of his.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Finally, a shout out for The Last of Sheila<\/strong> – the 1973 film Stephen Sondheim wrote himself with actor,
\nTony Perkins of Psycho fame!
\nAn Agatha Christie – like mystery involving Hollywood actors, directors, producers, and assorted hangers-on,
\ntrying to bed or kill each other during a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153truth or dare\u00e2\u20ac\u009d kind of cruise arranged by their host, James Coburn, played
\nwith that fine, devilish smile of his. Wonderful fun performances from the whole company – Joan Hackett, Richard Benjamin,
\nRaquel Welch, Dyan Cannon, James Mason and Ian McShane (after a full career in secondary roles now enjoying
\nhis BIG moment in the sun as the super sinister bad guy in DEADWOOD on HBO). It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a blast\u00e2\u20ac\u201da campy, clever, suspenseful
\nand nasty mystery to solve.<\/p>\n

After you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve absorbed some of Sondheim\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s movie picks at MOMA, rent The Last of Shelia, then pay the $ to see his
\nmasterpiece (and I do not say that lightly), Sweeney Todd<\/strong> on Broadway. In my humble opinion, sitting in the dark
\nwith a bunch of like-minded individuals, letting beautiful images, sound and ideas wash over you,
\nis the perfect way to pass the holidays.<\/p>\n

For the schedule & more Information: www.moma.org.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Edward G. Robinson (as ‘Wolf’ Larsen) in The Sea Wolf (1941), directed by Michael Curtiz (Photo credit: Warner Bros.\/Photofest) (Copyright: Warner Bros.) Ralph Eggleston, Pre-production sketch, For the Birds, 11 x 17″, Pastel (Copyright: Disney\/Pixar) Pete Docter, Sullivan and Mike, Monsters, Inc., 11 x 8 1\/2″, Marker (Copyright: Disney\/Pixar) Teddy Newton, Edna Mode (aka “E”), […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.artloversnewyork.com\/zine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.artloversnewyork.com\/zine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.artloversnewyork.com\/zine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artloversnewyork.com\/zine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artloversnewyork.com\/zine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.artloversnewyork.com\/zine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.artloversnewyork.com\/zine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artloversnewyork.com\/zine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artloversnewyork.com\/zine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}