Review of Topsy-Turvy (1999) by Dan R — 05 Apr 2011

Mike Leigh is unbelievable. I only regret I'm just now getting to know his stuff. His movies have this sense of realism, and effortlessness to them. Here he stages several shows within the movie, and they are all great. The characters, even the minor ones, are all so distinct, so alive, so real. They breeze through their scenes, creating a world you believe in. I wish I could say more, and I wish people, including myself, were more aware of Mike Leigh.

Many people will know Jim Broadbent from his over the top craziness in Moulin Rouge. Here he is certainly a lively character, but it all seems perfectly plausible, and not in any way referent to the zaniness of a Baz Luhrmann film. He has several quiet moments, which allow you to see what a thoughtful man he can be. Sullivan is quite the opposite, he's all smiles, and a generally jovial person. Although, he gets quite stiff when it comes to the idea of him getting repetitive in his composing.

We follow the two from their minor fallout, to Sullivan's inspiration for Mikado, and the creation, staging, and performing of the show. We meet actors, producers, wives, and all of the interworkings of a theatre show. It never gets ridiculous, it never falls into cliches of backstage stories. Mike Leigh lets his characters and life drive the action, instead of trying to contrive of plot points, and obstacles and archs, he works to avoid them, and he creates them without trying. He should workshop 90% of the working screenwriters in film and theatre.