Bill Wrobel's DVD - Film Score Rundowns

would scare away people in droves with its depressing content! Tchaikovsky’s music is
immortal, but the director and producers of this film made one severe mortal error: They
could not make at least an entertaining movie (even with the major omissions
biographically).
If it wasn’t for Dimitri Tiomkin’s involvement I never would have purchased
this dvd. Many times it is chaotic, a poorly edited film, although Disc 2 is better overall
than Disc 1 with various nice scenes in terms of cinematography. Nevertheless, it is
difficult for me to believe that it was an Academy Award nominee for best foreign film in
1971. I love Tchaikovsky’s music as well but this film did not serve its purpose to
artistically and satisfyingly promote his music. I give this a one-star rating only because it
is worthwhile to hear Tiomkin’s music and adaptations here and there. One such segment
is immediately after the credits. This is the start of Chapter 2 “Childhood” (dvd 00:00:54)
as little boy Tchaikovsky sneaks into the spacious piano room. Nice Tiomkin music here
(doesn’t appear to be any Tchaikovsky quotations/arrangements here that I can detect but
I may be wrong). There are strange sequences that make no sense (no explanations, no
continuity) such as Chapter 5 “Theatre” (although at least we heard Tiomkin’s
arrangement of music). Curiously the actor playing Tchaikovsky (Innokenti
Smoktunovsky, and rather depressingly) reminds me of Michael Douglas with a beard as
given in the movie. He would’ve given the portrayal much more energy.
Tiomkin did a playful variation of music in the dance sequence in Chapter 15
starting at 1:05:54 in Disc 1. I guess Tchaikovsky was getting unglued here! The next
chapter logically follows (“Attempted Suicide”).
Disc 2, as I said earlier, is at least acceptable or tolerable to watch without
squirming too much in my comfortable chair. Chapter 1 is the scene where Rubinstein
meets with Miss Von Meck about the T’s divorce. Her dress is rather strange to me.
Skipping to Chapter 3 (“Montmarte”) we are in Paris (also in that location in Chapter 4,
“Turgenev”). Nice, even, non-chaotic short chapters, although it doesn’t really explain
whom those characters are! Chapter’s 5 and 6, “Reaching Home” and Conversation with
Von Meck” are fine with nice music, especially the semi-ghostly scene in Chapter 6
within the train. Chapter 7 (“In the Countryside”) has the best scene-stealing scenes of
beauty in the music what few there are). So there are some good Freeze-Frame shots
here, also “Fireworks” (the next chapter) somewhat, but then the movie goes downhill
with a depressing slant.
Finale: Skip this movie—unless you are a film student wanting to learn from
example (but negatively) of what NOT to do in a movie!
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-My Life (1993) ** 1/2 [music ***]
http://www.amazon.com/My-Life-Michael-
Keaton/dp/B00000F5MN/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1293596407&sr=1-1
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