ABBA: The Movie [#1]

ABBA

Overview

"After being in video limbo for many years, ABBA: The Movie has finally seen a domestic release on DVD from Polydor. The video transfer is very impressive, offering a letterboxed anamorphic image that offers vivid colors and plenty of fine detail. The disc is just as impressive in the audio area, offering the viewer a choice of Dolby 2.0 Stereo mix, a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix, and a DTS 5.1 track. Each of the choices offers a crisply mixed sound that displays a lot of punch during the musical numbers. There are no extras on the disc itself, but a 20-page booklet is included in the disc sleeve. This booklet includes extensive liner notes by ABBA biographer Carl Magnus Palm that tell the story of the film's hectic production in great detail. Ultimately, the lack of extras might annoy some fans, but this is a solid if no-frills presentation of ABBA: The Movie."

Product Details

Release Date:	03/28/2006
UPC:	0602498717035
Original Release:	2006
Source:	Polydor / Umgd
Region Code:	A
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:35:00
Sales rank:	31,243

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

ABBA	Primary Artist,Performer
Anni-Frid Lyngstad	Benny Andersson
Benny Andersson	Benny Andersson,Vocal backing group,Composer
Bjorn Ulvaeus	Björn Ulvaeus,Composer
Agnetha Fältskog	Herself
Harry Lawrence	Featured Fan
Michael Mansson	Hotel receptionist,Girl in box office
Ray Marshall	Featured Fan
Lars Carlsson	Musician
Robert Hughes	Disc Jockey
Bruce Barry	Radio station manager
Tom Oliver	Bodyguard / Bartender / Taxi Driver
Stig Anderson	Himself

Technical Credits

Lasse Hallström

Robert Caswell

Bob Caswell

Lasse Hallström	Screenwriter
Robert Caswell	Screenwriter
Stig Anderson	Producer
Reg Grundy	Producer
Lasse Hallstrom	Director
Bob Caswell	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

This surprisingly inspired concert documentary is much more than the throwaway quickie one might expect. In fact, ABBA: The Movie functions both as a fun concert movie and a nifty time capsule thanks to some inspired filmmaking. The film's wraparound device of a reporter stalking ABBA might seem fairly stale in concept, but it works here because the script underplays this element, choosing to focus on the real-life hassles the character would deal instead of placing him in a series of contrived slapstick moments (the moments with him recording and editing down his on-the-street interviews are particularly interesting). It's also worth noting that Robert Hughes delivers a surprisingly wry performance as the Disc Jockey that manages to deliver plenty of humor without lapsing into mugging or overtly broad gesticulation. However, the heart of any concert film must lie in its musical numbers, and ABBA: The Movie delivers this element in spades: director Lasse Hallström and cinematographer Paul Onorato capture each song with a variety of angles and flashy moves that Hallström has deftly edited into fast-moving bursts of music and image that anticipate the programming that would soon fill MTV. They also periodically intercut these performances with other moments to ironic effect, the best example being all the shots of ABBA merchandise and vendors that are cut into the performance of "Money, Money, Money." In front of the camera, ABBA deliver their songs with big, bright smiles and plenty of gusto as a string of relentlessly screaming audiences whoop it up. ABBA fans should be especially happy with the film's musical content because it includes both familiar hits like "Dancing Queen" and lesser-known fan favorites like "Eagle." In short, ABBA: The Movie is a slick, fast-paced treat for the group's fans and a fine way for novices to experience this internationally popular group at the height of their fame.