Despite the Super Bowl debacle, Christina Aguilera can belt out a song. In Burlesque, Christina belts out several songs. Cher sings a ballad. There’s plenty of pretty women in various stages of undress. The storyline is just connective tissue to link the musical numbers together. Stanley Tucci steals every scene he’s in as the Stage Manager. Yes, there’s plenty of lame dialogue and much of Burlesque is predictable. But there was one twist that I didn’t see coming. Don’t go out of your way to see Burlesque, but when it shows up on cable, you might want to give it a try. GRADE: B
Had a good time with it myself. Like you say, don’t bust a gut, but you won’t regret seeing it either.
BURLESQUE is what passes as a movie musical in our time of decadence, Dan.
Jackie wants to know how you’re going to make your balanced assessment of the Oscar field if you don’t see BLACK SWAN, George.
We’re probably going to see BARNEY’S VERSION this afternoon, and THE FIGHTER next.
I have no doubt that Natalie Portman will win Best Actress, Jeff. But I still have no interest in BLACK SWAN. Or THE FIGHTER. Or 127 HOURS. I’ve seen the other seven movies up for BEST MOVIE. That’s as “fair and balanced” as I can get.
This sounds truly awful, and after that attempt at singing at the Super Bow, I wouldn’t get near Aguilera’s singing with a 20-foot pole. Obviously, her “music” is all studio reinforced. Nxt you’ll be telling us Tiny Tim was a terrific musician with a great voice.
It’s all a matter of taste, Rick. Christina Aguilera’s voice is representative of the School of American Idol. That type of over-the-top voice power seems to be in vogue right now. I found BURLESQUE mildly entertaining, but the guy in the row in front of us fell asleep.
Well, she does – unlike to many current singers – have a really strong voice, Rick. But I wouldn’t see this one either.
I’ve seen worse movies, Jeff. Much worse.
I haven’t seen this yet but definitely plan to.
I love Cher – regardless of the bad plastic surgery.
Cher sings a great power ballad, Beth.
I can’t say I was a big fan of BLACK SWAN either. Even Jackie was bored by the first half. The echoes of better movies (REPULSION) were obvious and ballet is not my thing. Plus, Natalie Portman was so skeletal her ribs were sticking out, which is not a turn on for me.
On the other hand the besbian scene was hot and the last half hour was pretty intense. I haven’t seen anyone else likely to beat her. I still say Hailie Steinfeld should have been nominated for Best Actress rather than Supporting. She was in every scene in the whole movie!
Hailie Steinfeld shoud win Best Supporting Actress easily, Jeff. As you point out, she carried TRUE GRIT by being a part of just about every scene.
Aguilera is in love, as are too many singers today, with melisma. Sarah Vaughan is dead, unfortunately. You folks are Not Sarah Vaughan.
But you’d really have to pay me to watch this film, I fear. As pleasantly mediocre (and horribly derivative and oversimplified) as BLACK SWAN was, I was willing to pay to sit through that.
Derivative and oversimplified describes BURLESQUE, too, Todd. But the film has a certain earnestness that might engage you as it did me.