Mamma Mia!

Michael Balter 9/07/2008 06:14:00 PM Culture
In a moment of weakness today, I saw the film in the Loews theater on Boston Common (one of America's greatest movie houses.) I have three basic observations:

1. Pierce Brosnan can't sing to save his life.

2. Meryl Streep can--indeed, the film demonstrates once again that she can do pretty much anything.

3. Behind the often insipid lyrics, Abba's music was original, inventive, and infectious--as everybody but music snobs has always known.

Near the end, the film makes a fleeting, subtle reference to modern DNA technology, an indication that today's audiences need to have all the threads of the plot tied up, or at least be reassured that they could be.

Photo: Abba.
Michael Balter

Posted by Michael Balter

I have been a working journalist for more than 40 years, beginning in Los Angeles as an investigative reporter and then in Paris as a travel, food, and science writer. For more than 20 years I have covered anthropology and archaeology writer for Science, Audubon, Scientific American, SAPIENS, and other publications. I have also covered sexual misconduct for The Verge, Scientific American, and others; I write about mental health, especially schizophrenia; and I engage in occasional media criticism. I returned to the USA in October 2017 after 30 years in Paris, and now live in the New York City area, where I currently teach journalism at City College of New York (I previously taught journalism at Boston University and New York University.) For more about me and what I do, copies of my articles, information about my book, and other goodies, please visit MY WEB SITE

Post a Comment

0 Comments

Post a Comment