And Here's Another Surprise From Me

Well, here's the very last movie you might expect me to see.   But I did, despite the fact that I don't know a lick about opera.   And, frankly, I didn't want the documentary to end.   I was mesmerized.

Go figure.

In my life, I have two...count 'em...two exposures to the world of opera.   In the eighth grade, our music teacher took us on a field trip to see "The Magic Flute"  at the Metropolitan Opera House in Lincoln Center.   This was a disaster as our goofy teacher vetted the event incorrectly and had a bunch of 12-year-old kids at an opera sung completely in German.   We were so bored that a spitball fight broke out in the balcony.

About 15 years later, a well-meaning friend gifted me for Christmas with two tickets to the same opera house and a performance of "Madame Butterfly."  Again, it was sung in Italian and I think the rustling of my pages from the English libretto interrupted the performance on several occasions.

So, yeah, me and opera...not so much.  But "Pavarotti" opened and I was intrigued for one reason.   It was a film from Ron Howard, a guy I respect a lot.  Indeed, Ron is finding a new direction for his work as this is a great follow-up to the documentary on the Beatles he did two years ago.  In newspaper interviews for this one, Ron even admits that he is not an opera fan.  But the story about the legendary tenor was so interesting, he could not resist.

And neither could I.   Judging from the packed house of receptive viewers at the Arclight Hollywood, Ron Howard's "Pavarotti" might get some attention around Oscar time.

I knew little about Luciano Pavarotti before this, except that he ran around on tour with those other two tenors for a while.  But, populated with lots and lots of performance clips, you really understand what a talent the guy was.   And how complex he was.   A man who really care about his profession and was, at the same time, super-impressed and yet humbled by his own talent.

There are a lot of talking heads here telling the story from Pavarotti's wife and daughter to, of all people, Bono of U2.  While this is surely a tribute film, it doesn't hide the inevitable warts of life.  For instance, while Pavarotti remained married for many years, he had a bit of Tony Soprano in him with a "goomah" or two.  Just like Carmella Soprano, Pavarotti's wife knew what was going on and suffered in quiet silence.  

That's really the only juicy gossip you learn from "Pavarotti."   This is really all about the music and the singing.   In a very smart move, Ron highlights those arias which have melodies everyone is familiar with.  As a result, you really become a fan of the genre without having to possess little knowledge.   That, in turn, really educates you about the world of opera.

This is a terrific film from the first note to the highest C.  Definitely check it out.  And bravo, Ron Howard!

LEN'S RATING:  Four stars.

Dinner last night:  Fried chicken sandwich at the Arclight.