I just saw the Producers (2005) for the first time. I watched the original (1968) with Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder several years ago and couldn't even make it to the end -- it was that bad. On the contrary, the 2005 Producers, with Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, is a masterpiece. And the reason this film is a masterpiece is just one word: Nathan Lane (ok that's two words). Not since Birdcage has the fabulous Nathan Lane pulled off such a performance. If you liked the character he played in the Birdcage, you realize after watching the Producers -- this is Nathan Lane -- he is just playing himself. The film is based on the 1968 film starring Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder, and the smash hit on Broadway. Max Bialystock (Lane), a failing producer, has just had the worst show in town, Funny Boy, a musical version of Hamlet, close on opening night. Distraught, he runs into accountant Leo Bloom (Broderick) who comes up with the notion that you can make more money with a flop Broadway show than with a hit. Max, overjoyed to hear such wonderful news, lays out his scheme. Step 1. Find the worst play ever written: when Max comes across Springtime for Hitler, written by neo-nazi Franz Liebkind (Will Ferrell), he knows he has found the mother lode. Step 2. Hire the worst director: the gay/cross-dressing Roger Debris -- who wants to keep everything gay! Step 3. Raise 2 million dollars from Max's backers, harmless little old ladies looking for more than just a goodnight kiss (wink wink). Step 4. Hire the worst actors in New York and open on Broadway, and before you can say step 5 the show will flop and you run off to Rio with the 2 mill. The show opens and the audience is aghast with Nazi's dancing on stage. The audience begins to walk out until Roger Debris as Hitler comes on stage and plays a campy version of Hitler. The show is a hit, the police find that the books are cooked, and they end up in Sing Sing State Prison. Where they put on a show (the dancing in the prison show reminds you of Young Frankenstein). P.S. The outtakes are hilarious and prove that Nathan Lane steals the show on and off stage. A must see -- over and over again.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
The Producers
I just saw the Producers (2005) for the first time. I watched the original (1968) with Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder several years ago and couldn't even make it to the end -- it was that bad. On the contrary, the 2005 Producers, with Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, is a masterpiece. And the reason this film is a masterpiece is just one word: Nathan Lane (ok that's two words). Not since Birdcage has the fabulous Nathan Lane pulled off such a performance. If you liked the character he played in the Birdcage, you realize after watching the Producers -- this is Nathan Lane -- he is just playing himself. The film is based on the 1968 film starring Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder, and the smash hit on Broadway. Max Bialystock (Lane), a failing producer, has just had the worst show in town, Funny Boy, a musical version of Hamlet, close on opening night. Distraught, he runs into accountant Leo Bloom (Broderick) who comes up with the notion that you can make more money with a flop Broadway show than with a hit. Max, overjoyed to hear such wonderful news, lays out his scheme. Step 1. Find the worst play ever written: when Max comes across Springtime for Hitler, written by neo-nazi Franz Liebkind (Will Ferrell), he knows he has found the mother lode. Step 2. Hire the worst director: the gay/cross-dressing Roger Debris -- who wants to keep everything gay! Step 3. Raise 2 million dollars from Max's backers, harmless little old ladies looking for more than just a goodnight kiss (wink wink). Step 4. Hire the worst actors in New York and open on Broadway, and before you can say step 5 the show will flop and you run off to Rio with the 2 mill. The show opens and the audience is aghast with Nazi's dancing on stage. The audience begins to walk out until Roger Debris as Hitler comes on stage and plays a campy version of Hitler. The show is a hit, the police find that the books are cooked, and they end up in Sing Sing State Prison. Where they put on a show (the dancing in the prison show reminds you of Young Frankenstein). P.S. The outtakes are hilarious and prove that Nathan Lane steals the show on and off stage. A must see -- over and over again.
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