First review for BEST WORST THING EVER COULD HAPPENED

[broadwaybabywannabe2]

Posted: 10/15/16 at 10:46am

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/best-worst-thing-ever-could-happened-936597

Updated On: 10/15/16 at 10:46 AM

[broadwaybabywannabe2]

Posted: 10/19/16 at 3:32pm

i am surprised at not one reaction to this review of a doc that i am sure many of you are interested in seeing...with that being said i will be in line NOV 18 at Lincoln center to see this must see film on Merrily...anybody care to join me in line please let me know...

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 10/19/16 at 10:43pm

It is a great review of what I am sure will be a great documentary. I look forward to seeing it in the near future.

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 11/2/16 at 2:19pm

Hey, sorry to bump this, but I figured it was the best thread to ask in. I'm seriously considering joining the Lincoln Center Film Society, in part bc of this documentary. Can anybody advise on the benefits/worthwhile-ness of membership?

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 11/2/16 at 2:31pm

I'm so dying to see this. Hope a wide release or on demand isn't far away.  The trailer made me shed a tear.  Looks like a thrilling and important theatre documentary. 

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 11/2/16 at 2:42pm

Ado Annie D'Ysquith said: "Hey, sorry to bump this, but I figured it was the best thread to ask in. I'm seriously considering joining the Lincoln Center Film Society, in part bc of this documentary. Can anybody advise on the benefits/worthwhile-ness of membership?"

 

Wait, why? It's not exclusive to Film Society members...It'll be playing at the IFC center too...

http://www.ifccenter.com/coming-soon/

 

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 11/3/16 at 11:48am

Hi Neon, I know it's not exclusive to members...was just thinking about joining anyway because it seems like a cool thing to do. Even though I've lived in New York my whole life, I haven't really KNOWN it till recently. And, to quote Zootopia, "I wanna try everything" Lol.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/19/16 at 2:54pm

I just got back from seeing it. It's beautiful and I left the theater feeling completely drained, emotionally. LOTS of very loud sobbing around me so at least I didn't feel alone in that. 

[Sonia&Vernon]

Posted: 11/19/16 at 6:06pm

This was a wonderful film! I can't recommend it enough. The footage that was filmed for the unproduced 1981 TV documentary was priceless. I'd love to see more footage of the original production. Has anyone watched the recording at the Lincoln Center Library? There's a note that it's in poor quality. Is it watchable?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/19/16 at 7:06pm

What I'm fascinated with is this amazing video of the first preview performance that was used. I'm guessing it belongs to and was filmed by/for Sondheim. That footage was glorious. 

 

The moment at at the very end that got me and was like a punch in the gut was when Lonny was asked that question about his younger self. I really hope this film gets around for more and more people to see. 

[dave1606]

Posted: 11/20/16 at 12:42am

I saw this on friday night an echo what everyone has said. It's an emotional, funny and touching journey. Was a nice touch to see Bernadette Peters and Lonny Price introduce the film on Friday (I got sold out of the Q&A following the earlier screening). 

The vintage documentary footage is absolutely fascinating. I think it's one of the best documentaries about theater since Every Little Step. 

There are so many wonderful moments. Lonny's story about Sondheim's birthday present was one of my favorites and if you aren't a puddle of tears by the time they'e reunited on the original stage at the end, you need to check your pulse. It's a wonderful documentary and one of my favorite films I've seen this year. 

 

[evic]

Posted: 11/20/16 at 9:51am

4 STARS....go see it.  Raw, emotional, real ...a must for all theater lovers or those who want to persue a career in theater.

[TweetyPie2]

Posted: 11/20/16 at 3:28pm

I want to see it. I hope it shows up on cable or in smaller cities. If anybody hears anything, please post!

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 11/23/16 at 12:17am

http://www.laemmle.com/films/41380

 

LA with a Q and A on the 25th November

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 11/26/16 at 7:46pm

We caught this yesterday at the Laemmle in LA, although sadly not at the show that had the Q & A.

In a word, this doc is SUPERB. Nearly everything a Sondheimaniac could want-- incredible footage we've never seen before, up close and personal interviews with nearly every key cast member, chilling shots of Hal Prince and Sondheim all gleefully making choices that you as an audience member know will bite them in the ass down the road. Especially great to focus on the 3 leads before during and long after the show itself was in rehearsal and performance. The post mortem goes into great depth about what went wrong and where all those participants are today.

A couple of gaps I wish we'd seen filled in: An explanation from either Sondheim or Prince on why the partnership broke apart so decisively following Merrily. An interview with the costume designer to give us an idea of the how those horrific sweatshirts came into being. A post mortem with Jim Weisenbach to learn where his career ended up following his devastating firing.

I loved how much emotion this movie could inspire in all of us who watched-- there were unanimous cheers and sobs at all the right spots-- you just knew nearly every one in the house yesterday was an avid reader of BWW!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 11/28/16 at 11:22pm

 

 

Sheer perfection. I was so moved by the individual stories. I wanted to see them all.

I saw the original three times: once with James Weissenbach and twice after Jim Walton took over. It was so disillusioning to see my heroes from Company and Follies and A Little Night Music--the seminal shows of my teenage years--fail. And fail so embarrassingly.

And then it was 1982, and Broadway began to die. And my friends began to die. And, inside, I began to die.

I believe it is Abby Pogrebin who says says in one of her interview sections that the show is about learning that growing up is about accepting disappointment.

Now we know.

 

[TweetyPie2]

Posted: 11/29/16 at 12:32pm

I see it's playing in Wilmington, DE, and Asheville, NC. C'mon people, we need some Merrily love for the nation's capital!

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 11/29/16 at 3:04pm

Do you think this has a shot at the Best Documentary Oscar?

[MichelleCraig]

Posted: 11/29/16 at 5:26pm

I hope this is pushed for Oscar consideration. I thought it was amazing and who ever knew they had all of that original footage?! When I started watching the piece, I thought they were using clever reenactments...only to realize that, no, this was the real thing.

Funny, beautiful, poignant and heartbreaking. This was so much better than I ever thought it could've been. So glad to have seen it...

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 11/29/16 at 8:57pm

Having just seen the Michael Arden-directed revival of Merrily in LA last Saturday, I can attest to the fact that this documentary captures everything the play itself was trying to examine and failed so miserably at-- the evanescence of youth and the bittersweet compromises everyone makes in order to grow up and grow old. That beautiful image of Lonny Price at age 57 watching Lonny Price at age 22 express all his hopes and optimism for the path he's embarking on-- that scene is the the very essence of MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG. Nothing in the actual play comes close to matching that moment in the documentary.

[MichelleCraig]

Posted: 11/29/16 at 9:12pm

^^

Agreed...having just seen the Michael Arden production; my sixth MERRILY. 

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 11/29/16 at 9:13pm

It wouldn't be that far-fetched to see some Oscars attention- it's well made and extremely moving, and it's all about showbiz, which the Academy loves. 

[PalJoey]

Posted: 11/29/16 at 11:11pm

^^^^ Agreed!

 

[hork]

Posted: 11/30/16 at 2:22am

It's not going to win any Oscars. Maybe a nomination, but the award always goes to high-profile docs, which this isn't. Even the critics are mostly ignoring it (it only has 11 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes).

[dfrillsnedit]

Posted: 11/30/16 at 1:06pm

Saw the doc last night at IFC and absolutely loved it! I saw the Live Stream in theaters version of Merrily a few years ago, so it was nice to have this documentary is a companion piece in a way.