Vanya on 42nd Street

[eviltimes]

Vanya on 42nd St.   (IMDb)   1994   PG   120 min     2012   Criterion   SD

Delightful to see this again after so many years. It's not so much about Chekhov's "Uncle Vanya" as it is about these actors and their director doing this play for their own self interest and enlightenment. After 4 years of on and off "rehearsals", Louis Malle wants to come in and film this quiet masterpiece that's been festering in a NYC loft. Only seen by a handful of family and close friends, their private world is suddenly rehearsed, filmed and then gone from their lives forever. As much about the play's family breakup as this intimate club of wonderful actors honing their craft.
Too great for mere ratings by fools.

[Ando]

This movie makes me think. 

[Ando]

Of course, it's based on this play which also makes me think.

[Ando]

This guy was a good thinker.

[Ando]

My co-worker was going on about how fantastic the recent Sydney Theater production of Vanya was the other night. Sorry I missed it. Would have loved to see Cate Blanchett live.

[Sevorin]

A lifetime ago I saw Uncle Vanya  on stage in L.A. Its cast included Pamela Tiffin, Edouard Franz, Richard Basehart, and -- as the doctor -- Joseph Wiseman (Fernando from Viva Zapata, though others may prefer to remember him as Dr. No).