Reply With QuoteWoooooooooo I just can't wait!!!! I also can't believe Meryl Streep agreed to do a music(al?)! I can't wait to see her, she's always wonderful.
How about an academy award for her in a musical, LOL that would be weird.
Triple Platinum Record [Level 10]
First review from Hollywood trade paper: The Hollywood Reporter!!!! Looking forward to this one!!!
Film Review: Mamma Mia!
Bottom Line: My, my, clear the aisles. This is the winner that will take it all!
By Ray Bennett Jun 29, 2008
Opens: July 4 in the U.K.; July 18 in North America (Universal Pictures)
LONDON -- No matter how many blockbusters there are, Universal Pictures' screen version of the global hit stage musical "Mamma Mia!" is the most fun to be had at the movies this or any other recent summer.
Teenage boys may be glued to the latest action adventure, but the rest of the family will be having a rollicking good time and dancing in the aisles to Swedish pop group ABBA's irresistible songs. It's a delightful piece of filmmaking with a marvelous cast topped by Meryl Streep in one of her smartest and most entertaining performances ever.
After its world premiere in London on Monday, the film opens in the U.K. on July 4 and in North America on July 18. It will surely follow the stage show around the world in pleasing audiences and coining what one of the infectious songs celebrates: "Money, Money, Money."
Credit goes to the original show's creators, producer Judy Craymer, director Phyllida Lloyd and writer Catherine Johnson, for seeing their vision through to such a polished and enjoyable picture. Hanging a tale of a woman whose daughter might have been fathered by one of three attractive men on a bunch of ABBA songs sounds simple, but its simplicity is as deceptive as the masterfully crafted songs themselves.
Streep plays Donna, a former singer, who has raised daughter Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) alone at a fading resort on a
Remote Greek island. Sophie finds her mother's diary from 20 years earlier and discovers that there are three men who might be her father. About to be married to boyfriend Sky (Dominic Cooper), she sends invitations to the celebration to all three on behalf of her mother but without telling her.
Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard, as the possible dads, show up on the island where Donna is readying the wedding, helped by her two best pals (Julie Walters and Christine Baranski). The scene is set for songs, dancing and romance, all staged brilliantly, with many energetic and colorful performers, and beautifully shot.
The Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus songs have memorably sturdy lyrics that the filmmakers weave with great skill into their story. All of the players perform with gusto including Skarsgard, ex-007 Brosnan and noted Mr. Darcy Firth who, far from embarrassing themselves, sing well and deserve high praise for being such good sports.
Seyfried (from TV's "Big Love") and Cooper ("The History Boys") make appealing juvenile leads while Walters and Baranski contribute greatly to the film's good-natured comedy. Each has a big solo number with Baranski belting out "Does Your Mother Know?" to a randy beach bum and Walters entreating a reluctant groom with "Take a Chance on Me."
Streep is sensationally good in rendering the whole yarn credible and in making dramatically moving songs such as "Slipping Through My Fingers," sung to her departing daughter, and "The Winner Takes It All" to a lost love. It's no stretch to think of her performance in Oscar terms, ranking with previous musical winners such as Liza Minnelli, Barbra Streisand and Catherine Zeta-Jones.
And when Streep teams with Walters and Baranski for dynamic and crowd-pleasing numbers such as "Mamma Mia!" "Dancing Queen" and "Super Trouper," there's not an audience anywhere that won't be smiling.
Production: Littlestar Prods., Playtone
Cast: Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgard, Julie Walters, Dominic Cooper, Amanda Seyfried, Christine Baranski; Director: Phyllida Lloyd; Screenwriter: Catherine Johnson; Producers: Benny Andersson, Judy Craymer, Gary Goetzman, Tom Hanks, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Rita Wilson; Executive producer: Mark Huffam; Director of photography: Haris Zambarloukos; Production designer: Maria Djurkovic; Music: Stig Anderson, Benny Andersson, Bjorn Ulvaeus; Costume designer: Ann Roth; Editor: Lesley Walker.
Rated PG-13, 98 minutes
"Lost inside adorable illusion...."
Underground Hit [Level 5]
Woooooooooo I just can't wait!!!! I also can't believe Meryl Streep agreed to do a music(al?)! I can't wait to see her, she's always wonderful.
How about an academy award for her in a musical, LOL that would be weird.
*** Forum Leader / Moderator ***
Underground Hit [Level 5]
Oohhh Meryl sings again! I love it, her Heartbreak Hotel at the end of Postcards From The Edge was breathtaking.
Why didnt they show Christine Baranski in the trailer? :((
Platinum Record [Level 8]
Between this and "Sex and The City", it's been a summer for gay friendly movies.
Platinum Record [Level 8]
Didn't Priscilla Queen of the Desert already scream "no more fucking abba", and that was years ago?
Underground Hit [Level 5]
Haha, apparently the demand is too big and there are way too few ABBA (insert copyrighted logo) haters to keep 'em down :icon_twisted: :icon_biggrin:Originally Written by JussiK
Didn't Priscilla Queen of the Desert already scream "no more fucking abba", and that was years ago?
Platinum Record [Level 8]
I saw a clip of Meryl Streep singing (I forget which song), and I'm gonna warn you guys in advance to take some earplugs! :D
Disco Funk
Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
*****
I'm hoping this proves to be a movie worth seeing ......
Maybe those that see it first in the UK can give us a thumbs up .....
*****
Last edited by remicks; July 2nd, 2008 at 01:09 AM.
Baby, take me
high upon a hillside
high up where the stallion
meets the sun
Acetate [Level 1]
Hello Everyone...Been away for a while...But glad to be back! "Mama Mia" looks like a really fun movie! The previews remind me of the underrated "Across The Universe" (not to long ago film featuring Beatles songs). Regarding ABBA, you either 'luv 'em or you hate 'em... As a teenager growing up in the mid / late 70s, all of ABBA songs were a literal soundtrack to my younger days...Can't wait to see this movie!!!
P.S. Does anyone remember the old ABBA: The Movie? I remember it was a kind of ABBA fictional / documentary style movie featuring the group and a lot of their signature songs! The plot dealt with a DJ desperately attempting to get an interview from the group...The DJ was played by Australian actor, Robert Hughes who I thought was "total eyecandy" back then! :icon_lol:
Take Care,
Mario :icon_cool:
Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
Meryl Streep was favourite to star in 'Evita' & was dropped in favour of Madonna apparently; she must be a bad singer if Madonna's better!
...ya gotta beat the street......
Underground Hit [Level 5]
Oh come on, I know she's not a great actress (actually I only find her bad in The Next Best Thing and the Will & Grace cameo, that was really really HORRIBLE), but she does Evita justice. I mean, maybe I played the soundtrack too much (I know it by heart), but I don't like the other versions of Evita songs anywhere near as much as I do Madonna's.
And she's an ok singer come on, we lovers of disco know very well being a good singer is not what makes a good record. I think she was a very good choice for Evita. I can't see Meryl in it, nor sing it. I will wait to see Mamma Mia and see if I like her singing, I don't know if she'll belt them out like she did in Postcards...
Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
No I used to really like Madonna 'til she got religion & got tiresome.
...ya gotta beat the street......
Underground Hit [Level 5]
Ye ok I agree there, but I don't see what it has to do with her "ability" as a singer in general, and in 1995?No I used to really like Madonna 'til she got religion & got tiresome.
Can I just add, I really really hate religion mumbo jumbo. It has ruined too many artists (this is my opinion, it might have made them better people, but it took away from us the buying public). Candi Staton is another religious nut.
Just what the world needs, another religion-nut singer with an opinion......
And as far as Madonna goes, I wonder when her new religion kicks in, she's gone through pretty much all of them.
Chart Hit [Level 6]
What religion? Madonna is religious? :icon_eek: Anyway, she's awful: bad voice, bad music, laughable, vulgar, money addict... well, the worst in all Western hemisphere :icon_lol: But apparently she's doing something right because she still has fans :icon_mrgreen:
Last edited by PierreConstantin; July 4th, 2008 at 11:27 AM. Reason: Orthographe
Underground Hit [Level 5]
I'm sorry Pierre, but your opinion of Madonna is clearly very very subjective, hence not really worth discussing. You obviously hate her so much you're not willing to consider her music with a neutral point of view.
I'll tell you just one thing, if she's sold more than any other female artist in the world, or one of the top 3, it's not cause she's only a good business woman... anyway, this is not a Madonna thread, so let's not talk about her.
Chart Hit [Level 6]
Never thought it would actually happen, but apprently it did.. All four members, including Agnetha, reunited for the Stockholm premiere yesterday.. This must be the first time Agnetha & Frida have been publicly photographed together since the mid 80's..
Some great TV footage archived on Youtube
more coverage (photos, articles etc..) on ABBAmail..
Underground Hit [Level 5]
I think I remember, from an ex-friend abba fan that the occasion of such a meeting had happened a couple of years ago, I can't remember what show or premiere it was for...
Chart Hit [Level 6]
Yeah, I think they all appeared at the Stockholm opening of the musical in 2005. All in the same building, but not a whole lot of interaction from what I remember. I guess it's the ABBA fan in me getting excited by the footage of Agnetha, Frida and Meryl together :icon_smile:
Triple Platinum Record [Level 10]
Thanks for that neonlights!!! What a kick to see ALL the group together. And Meryl Streep holding hands with the ABBA girls and doing a ring around the rosie dance was the best!!! No Agnetha interview however...but she looks great! :icon_biggrin::icon_biggrin::icon_biggrin:
Oh and rewatching it...the first time the little 3 lady dance is shown...at the end when they start to go into the theater, Frida reaches for Agnetha's hand as they enter. That was very touching.
But no posing with the guys.
"Lost inside adorable illusion...."
Underground Hit [Level 5]
Yes that was it. Well i watched the video now, wow, I had tears in my eyes and goosebumps, awww.
BUT, was it too much to ask to have the four of them standing side by side without the wholse cast andcrew in between??? ;))
Triple Platinum Record [Level 10]
How cheeky of Swedish TV to put everyones AGE after their name in the on-screen chiron!!!
Meryl Streep, 59!!!!
Never in the USA!!! We have to look their ages up on IMDB!!!
"Lost inside adorable illusion...."
*** Forum Leader / Moderator ***
This vid states 2004, indeed when the Mama Mia musical was premiered. I personally don't know the exact year.
On the evening news over here they said that the real surprise was the appearance of Agnetha, who is very reclusive and is not keen on seeing people or coming in public.
Triple Platinum Record [Level 10]
was thrilled to find this on that fansite link...but I guess it's a fake photo.
DON'T PANIC!
It isn't real. Someone has been using Adobe Photoshop in a naughty way. Still, it's a nice thought, isn't it?
Thanks to ABBAMAILer Sara Russell, UK
"Lost inside adorable illusion...."
Underground Hit [Level 5]
I hope they never ever reform. I think they are a very rare occasion that they are smart, there isn't an artist or group who have built a bigger legacy than them and if they haven't done it until now, I think it can very well mean they are very smart (did youever doubt it?) and know that while their stock would not be affected, the magic would be lost, there is no way they could produce something that would rival their past work.
They are the Garbo of music, I think they have a good idea what it takes to keep ABBA going :)
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