PASSING STRANGE Trailer! (Vid) Edit: More news! 8/1/09- Page 2

[devonian.t]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 7:40am

Loved the stage show. Can't wait for the movie, but I have to say the filming seems a little flat in the trailer. I was somehow expecting something a little more dynamic camera-wise. Still, trailers can be deceiving.

I want a dvd now!!! A legal one, that is!

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 8:59pm

Wait, I was under the impression that Passing Strange was filmed for PBS like Company and Chess: in Concert. Is this going to be released in movie theaters like "Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway"?

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 9:16pm

Both.

It will play the IFC starting August 21st and will supposedly air on PBS' Great Performances next year.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 9:53pm

"You naysayers need to expand your horizons. Not all theater is GYPSY".

I saw it, Yankeefan. I really wanted to like it. I (and I never say this) - HATED it. I found Stew pretentious and unlikable. There was nothing new or ground-breaking about this show (and btw, yankeefan, I'm not a big Gypsy fan either).

"I'm sure there are a lot of legitimate criticisms to be made of the show (though I can't think of any big ones), but I really don't think "boring" can be one of them".

I thought it was. Granted, I was annoyed and bored by turns. I saw nothing special about his particular rite of passage. Stew (or "Youth", if you wish to use that conceit) was a spoiled brat who didn't respect nor have any use for his mother until it was too late, then had the temerity use her death as fodder for his work and the audacity to use her by returning as an angel? to forgive him. How very self-serving, just like the rest of the show. I never said a word about this while it was running, as I tend not to bad-mouth a show while it is still on the boards, but now? This was one of the worst shows I have ever seen in my life. I have never walked out of a show, ever, but this one made it really tough to keep up that tradition.

Stew acts as though he was the first to discover Europe - there's drugs and a free-sex in Amsterdam? Who knew? And oh, those wacky German performance artists! He makes such a point of being "scaryotyped", but doesn't hesitate to stereotype others himself.

For those of you who love it, enjoy. It definitely wasn't my cup of tea. I'm appalled that it's going to be on Great Performances.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 10:01pm

Oh, wasn't talking about you, Ghostlight. I was talking about the dude who posted he thought it should close based on the Tonys segment.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 10:10pm

Thanks, Yankeefan, I'd love to see it still be open, quite frankly. It obviously had an audience, though sadly there wasn't enough of them. Many people whose opinions I respect loved the show. Broadway's plenty big enough for Gypsy, Passing Strange, Waiting for Godot, Caroline or Change, Lion King and so on. Variety is a good thing. Life would be boring if we all liked the same things.

[blaxx]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 10:10pm

The fact that it has been one of the best reviewed musicals in years still burns for many. :)

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 10:13pm

I hear they have an ointment for that.

[blaxx]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 10:19pm

Make sure you buy some for your appallment, love.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 10:32pm

It's interesting to think that PASSING STRANGE is actually one of the best reviewed American musicals in recent memory. And that one, if not both, of the NY Times critics, thought it deserved the Best Musical Tony.

After reading all the articles written about Stew, I don't think he can wrap his head around it, either.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 11:21pm

"The fact that it has been one of the best reviewed musicals in years still burns for many. :) "

"I hear they have an ointment for that"

"Make sure you buy some for your appallment, love".

No, for that they have pills, blaxx, and I'm all set, thanks.

Seriously, good on 'em for their success. I'm not one of those who thinks that a show sucks just because I don't like it. Their success doesn't pain me in the least. I just won't be seeing the movie. Seeing it once live was quite enough for me. Y'all have fun, though.


Updated On: 8/1/09 at 11:21 PM

[blaxx]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 11:33pm

Thank you love, that's better.

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 11:39pm

Really upset I didn't see this.

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 8/1/09 at 11:45pm

"Oh, wasn't talking about you, Ghostlight. I was talking about the dude who posted he thought it should close based on the Tonys segment."

Okay, well the Tony's were around the time my family was planning a trip to NYC for the next spring break, and we were watching the Tony's to see what shows looked interesting. I didn't seriously think that the show should close from just seeing the Tony performance--that was an exaggeration of my feelings mixed with the fact that it closed soon after the Tony's and my bad memory mixing up my thoughts with fact. I just thought that the Tony performance was very forgettable-- the only thing I remember from it was a narrator and a man talking to a woman. The funny thing about your original statement was that the show at the top of our list was the Patti Lupone revival of Gypsy.

[jansal]

Posted: 8/2/09 at 7:43pm

I think it looks fantastic! I got chills watching it. (This is Stateofjade, btw. Forgot my other password, hahah). I already saw the movie at the screening a few months ago, but any PS fan NEEDS to see this.

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 8/3/09 at 12:34am

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/02/theater/02drake.html?_r=1&8dpc
Updated On: 8/3/09 at 12:34 AM

[robbie_731]

Posted: 8/3/09 at 1:47am

Does anyone know how this film will be distributed on cable this month, like the NY Times article says?

It's not mentioned anywhere on the IFC Films website as a VOD offering for this month.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 8/3/09 at 1:55am

An On Demand option would be great, Comcast routinely has IFC films currently in theaters.

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 8/3/09 at 2:03am

From the NYT article Yankeefan posted:

Spike Lee?s film of ?Passing Strange? gets a theatrical run in New York and is available on cable this month and heads to PBS next year.

I would actually love to watch this at home. Put on my headphones, crank up the volume, knock back a few.

The trailer kinda sucks. Seriously it is a mess.

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 8/3/09 at 2:14am

all i need to remember is that closing night (and weekend). that's why theatre is theatre, and film is film. no matter how good a film is, the LIVE aspect, like a great rock concert, can not be "visceral" in a film. still, can't wait to see it.
Updated On: 8/3/09 at 02:14 AM

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 8/3/09 at 12:31pm

just about to post the trailer!

glad to see someone beat me to it!



i love that Passing Strange has so divided people. fannntastic.

[robbie_731]

Posted: 8/7/09 at 7:42pm

Trailer's out now in HD, and looks amazing!:

http://www.hd-trailers.net/blog/2009/08/06/passing-strange-theatrical-trailer/

Anyone know if the movie's gonna be available "On Demand" in HD?

[mikem]

Posted: 8/7/09 at 11:19pm

(spoilers below if you are unfamiliar with the plot of the show)

ghostlight2, I don't know if you're still reading this thread or not, but I wanted to make a comment. I respect your opinion about the show and about Stew the person's aura, but in terms of part of your criticism, the show is only loosely autobiographical. Stew's actual relationship with his mother was very different -- they were not estranged and he was with her when she died. Their relationship is depicted in a certain way for dramatic purposes. And I think that the "show Stew" tries to tell Youth that he has not treated his mother well -- "show Stew" bluntly tells Youth that he will never see his mother again, and I think Youth is supposed to be well, kind of a self-centered kid who has a lot of growing up to do. I don't think we as the audience are supposed to be rooting for every decision that Youth makes. I think the show pretty clearly indicates that Youth takes his mother for granted until it is too late.

And Stew has also specifically mentioned that the going-to-Europe part is not just based on his own experience but also that of James Baldwin and Josephine Baker, both of whom spent much of their adult life in Europe as expatriates and both of whom are directly mentioned in the show. I don't know how much of Youth's experiences in Europe are autobiographical. And he has also talked about how Youth's journey to Europe meant he could use racial stereotypes to his advantage while at home he was trying to avoid them, which I think is kind of a new slant on "going abroad to find oneself."

And I don't think the show is stereotyping all Germans, just pretentious artsy ones, who are somewhat caricaturized for comedic purposes. There is nothing specifically "German" about those portrayals except for the accents and names.

I realize that the show didn't work for you and that you may not agree with my take on the show, but I wanted to just put it out there.

[robbie_731]

Posted: 8/13/09 at 3:06am

New Poster!:

http://www.moviecitynews.com/arrays/2009/poster_passing_strange_premiere.htm

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 8/26/09 at 12:57am

I just got home and the movie is up!! It's $5.99 on Time Warner.