I just saw Wall-E. Don't worry, this is not a plot-buster or a movie review (although I give it 9 lashes). This is a small commentary on a particular aspect of the movie that won't ruin it for anyone.
From the opening scene of the film, and throughout the movie, songs and primarily this film clip from the 1969 musical "Hello, Dolly!" are used.
Really? Really. "Hello, Dolly!"? Really?
Don't get me wrong. I LOVE me some "Hello, Dolly!" I've seen this movie at least 10 times. I love a good Barbra Streisand musical as much as the next mo. But I find it a bit random that out of all the movie musicals in American film history - ones with a love story - that the creators of "Wall-E" decided to reference this one.
I began to picture the creative development sessions for the writers of "Wall-E" sitting around a table. And one of them, we'll call him "Kenneth" is a bitchy mo AND a freakish Barbra fan. He's always felt that Barbra was ignored from the Academy for her performance and decides that giving "Hello, Dolly!" a starring role in the year's biggest film would be his burning platform.
While the writing staff is brainstorming musicals to use, Kenneth stands up, one hand on hip, the other hand floating out front with index finger guiding the arm's sway from left to right while saying [use your best gay sassy lisp] "Thissss disssscussion is over. 'Hello, Dolly!' wassss Misssss Barbra Sssstreissssand's tour de forccccce and we are ussssing thisssss in "Wall-E" to give it the attention and the resssssspect that it sssso desssserves. The academy WILL regret not honoring it with the bessst picture ossscar in 1969 which was incorrectly given to 'Midnight Cowboy'."
I have a friend that works at Pixar and I asked him if there was a story that he knew of behind the use of "Hello, Dolly!" in the film, but he wasn't aware of one. I've asked him to dig deeper. There must be. I'm convinced...or I'm at least convinced that there should be.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Hello, Dolly! Well, hello Wall-E!
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6 comments:
Did you ever think that PERHAPS they choose this film because it's the one Wall*e liked? After all, you can see in the movie that he likes it. Why would they bother choosing one he didn't like? I heard on E! that he also liked Top Gun, but then he got turned off when he found out how short Tom Cruise is. I'm not sure how true that is, though, because you can't always believe what you see on E!. There was also a huge chunk of the movie that was cut out where Wall*e sits and watches Golden Girls episodes for hours on end.
And, I know where you're going with this, no Wall*e isn't gay. It *is* true that Eve is an MTF--that's obvious--but that doesn't make Wall*e gay.
This. is. why. I. love. you.
Awesome, you made my night..
Although, not having yet seen WALL-E, now when I do see it I'm going to see his day to day activities as having more to do with interior decorating than with debris management.
Hehe, I've sat in on some of those meetings ... but, here's my take, for what its worth:
Its likely meant to be a bit tongue in cheek ... think of it, probably one of the most derided, big budget musicals which helped nail the coffin for the genre, ... of all musicals he could have possibly recovered, this is the one Wall*e finds and falls in love with, and his only connection to humanity. Ironic, huh?
And to be honest, the soundtrack and dance numbers probably had a lot to do with it ... they're such a great foil for the dystopian, drab future.
Plus, when Wall*e mimics the men raising their top hats with the trash can lid, thats the cutest damn thing I've seen in the longest time.
Hope you're having fun in PT.
E
I found the actual answer if anyone really wants it. The director was interviewed on Fresh Air last Thursday. Click on the "Listen Now" link on this page to launch the audio.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92400669
The answer to the Hello Dolly enigma is approx at the 20 min mark.
xo -Me
Not sure if the link got truncated or not, so I'm posting as two lines. Just copy/paste without the break.
If that doesn't work just go to the Fresh Air page; the thing ran on Thurs. 7/10.
I know, everyone is already asleep...
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/
story.php?storyId=92400669
WOW!!! That's awesome! Thanks for finding that Steph. You spelunked that answer FAST! Now, it's not as dramatic a story as I had hoped, but I appreciate that it stems from him being a big mo doing musical theater in high school.
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