Rating: 
Summary: Quiet elegance
Review: Topsy Turvy's strong points include dazzling costumes, excellent actors, and a carefully developed insight into the creative process. The script, the sets, and the acting performances offer another outstanding example of quiet English elegance. Topsy Turvy should please viewers who appreciate the idea of an unhurried film focused on artistic creativity.On the critical side, the film feels overlong and proceeds at a very deliberate pace. Viewers who need action or strong drama should look elsewhere.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the most BORING films of 1999
Review: Although I am a big Mike Leigh fan and can appreciate the art of Gilbert and Sullivan, I cannot recommend this movie. I saw it when it first came out in the theaters around 6 months ago and to tell you the truth--the only thing I can remember about it is howing boring it was. It seemed to drag endlessly and for an almost 3-hour film--that was way too long. I usually don't care what the Oscars or the British Oscars do, but keep in mind that neither of them nominated this movie for Best Picture. If the British Oscars didn't nominate it--and this movie IS British--then I think that's saying something about this movie.
Rating:
Summary: A Beautiful Looking Film
Review: Mike Leigh takes his first stab at directing a movie that does not deal with domestic crisis in smalltown England. Topsy Turvy is a completely different direction for Leigh who for the most part manages to pull it off. Topsy Turvy is a historical film based on the lives of Gilbert and Sullivan. The film never deals too much with their personal lives but concentrates far more on their relationship as partners. Over the films three hour period the two bicker relentlessly and are both shown to be petty, resentful geniuses. There is an awful lot to like like about Topsy Turvy. Anyone interested in visuals like costumes, art direction and cinematography is in for a real treat. For the most part the movie is a genuine visual feast. Topsy Turvy won an Oscar for costumes which it did entirely deserve. The most satisfying aspect of the film lies in the subtle relationship between Gilbert and Sullivan. Both are shown to be pompous in their own right and while neither is portrayed as likeable people, they are each charming in their own condescending ways. The scenes in which they squabble are really brilliant. Neither one of them raises their voices but each have a kind of snarky wit which works perfectly when pitted against each other. Looking at other reviews I have noticed many "5 star" reviews. While the film is certainly good it is by no means perfect. Often times the film seems lumbersome and tiring and at three hours long Topsy Turvy loses its charms after a while. Topsy Turvy is clever and visually wonderful. It is overlong for sure but is worth seeing at least once. "Secrets and Lies" was still better.
Rating: 
Summary: Straightforward Look at Topsy Turvy Creative Process
Review: Topsy Turvy is a delight for anyone who enjoys film biographies and of course a double delight for Gilbert and Sullivan fans. The film opens when the operatta-producing duo are at a creative standstill; their latest work is too derivative of earlier work and has received a mediocre reception from the London audience. W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan were under contract to the D'Oyly Carte Company to write operattas so they had to try, but the best scenario Gilbert could come up with was an enchanted potion (even though he had used an enchanted device in an earlier play). But help arrived in the form of a Japanese trade show, which opened up that mysterious island to Londoners. Inspiration literally struck Gilbert on the head when a sword he bought at the show fell off its wall mounting and clouted him on the head. He thought. . . and thought . . . and came up with the plot for "The Mikado" with its Lord High Executioner, the death sentence for flirting, the wandering minstrel and other topsy-turvydom. The producers of this movie have fun playing with the ironies of time. At one point G&S communicate with the aid of that rare new device, the "telephone," and we are reminded that it was as cutting-edge for them as the Web is for us. When Sullivan's wife arranges her own abortion, she reminds her husband, "After all, it is 1888." This is a handsome production with no expense spared on period detail. With flashback, rehearsal and finished product we get to see most of the major numbers from "The Mikado" presented as they would have been at the time of the original production, and they are quite charming indeed. This is a wonderful movie; although rather long we get an artistic biography, a show-biz story and most of "The Mikado" all rolled together so it is a most entertaining show. No special effects, just excellent acting, great attention to detail, and wonderful dialog to tie it all together.
Rating:
Summary: A most enjoyable experience
Review: Naturally, as the DVD is not yet released this review is on the movie which should appear uncut on the DVD. It makes one realise the depth of theatrical talent in the UK when one can produce show like this with a large cast and not know one of the performers. Don't let this be a concern. The show is realistic, to the best that one knows of the life and times of Gilbert and Sullivan. It really shows their interaction, not always perfect, their failings, personally and in business, all of which makes you feel that you know them well, so realistic are the settings and the script. The humourous interludes are plenty and the music, superb. In the theatre and I would surmise on the DVD, the soundtrack is exceptional. You do not need to be a G & S enthusiast to have a pleasurable three hours of entertainment, musically and theatrically. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a movie as much and it deserves as many awards as can be offered. Strongly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Best biopic ever! Not just for Gilbert & Sullivan fans!
Review: Topsy-Turvy is the story of the creation of the Gilbert & Sullivan operetta, "The Mikado." It contains not just the story of the musical's creation but many scenes from Mikado and other G&S musicals. Long-time "G&S" (Gilbert & Sullivan) fans probably found this movie a long time ago. I am one of them, so first I'll say that I found the performance of the G&S material in this movie absolutely superb. I've never seen a Mikado as genuinely funning and eccentric as Tim Sprall's, or a Yum-Yum as winsomely self-centered as Shirley Hendersen's Leonora Branham. Viewers who find musicals simplistic or shallow or generally silly should make an exception in the case of Topsy-Turvy. It is none of those things. In true Mike Leigh fashion, the actors inhabit their characters like second skin. No one is simple or shallow. Nor does Leigh avoid the seamier side of London theatrical life. I particularly liked Jim Broadbent's bitterly comic and misanthropic Gilbert, Martin Savage as the opium-addicted George Grossmith (the 'patter baritone' who rips through Gilbert's rapidfire lyrics like a rap song), and Lucy Manville as Gilbert's long-suffering wife. Finally, the film is visually beautiful and detailed; wonderful costumes, lighting, and sets that seem faultless in their historical detail. One of the best, if not the best, bio-pic ever made.
Rating: 
Summary: COLORFUL AND FREQUENTLY HILARIOUS LOOK AT MUSICAL THEATRE..
Review: While somewhat self-indulgent in its length (over two hours!), it's a complete delight in every way. Leigh's dialogue is as witty as his direction is fluid, the music is glorious, and the performances polished from almost everyone in the ensemble. The principal reservation I have is that those of us in the audience who may not be aficionados of G&S works will leave the theater in the dark about the themes of the compositions. Just what is "The Mikado"--a piece which lampoons British society but which distances the satire by situating the action in Japan? (P.S. The features on the DVD take care of this, so they may be worth watching prior to the movie.) Yet, Leigh evokes a very authentic atmosphere, creates credible characterisations, and is ultimately not afraid to balance the realities behind the performances with certain matters left in the air at the end. The passion for art (whether it be Gilbert & Sullivan operettas or, you know, clay sculpture) is what burns intensely in this movie. Some may judge this film as stuffy or high-nose, but the tremendous heart of this film is almost impossible not to be carried away by. A very unusual but satisfying treat.
Rating:
Summary: Mike Leigh's worst film.
Review: I love Mike Leigh films, but this one was extremely long and very boring. I sat through about 75% of the film before giving up. It was desperately in need of editing. I give it two stars for the beautiful sets and costumes. If you love G&S, and I do not, you may find it enjoyable. However, if you love the realism of films like 'Naked' and 'Career Girls', you may want to steer clear of this one.
Rating:
Summary: Fresh, Delightful and Tremendous Fun
Review: We're in the mid-1880s. W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan's collaboration is going through a bad patch. Their latest work, `Princess Ida', has failed to repeat their earlier triumphs. Sullivan is fed up and wants to go and write something terribly serious instead of all this silly light opera. Gilbert comes up with a new text but Sullivan is not interested. He refuses to set it. Gilbert refuses to shelve it and start from scratch on something new. Things are looking grim. Then Gilbert is persuaded to attend a big new exhibition of things Japanese... The rest is history.
And splendid history beautifully brought to the screen. People tend to love or hate G&S. I guess I used to be a hater but chucked it in: looking down one's nose at this shamefully middle-class, shamefully middle-brow jollification is easy and quite satisfying but also, let's face it, silly, precious and curmudgeonly: it's all just undeniable splendid fun. But even if you aren't crazy for G&S you'd be hard pressed to dislike this: one of the most intelligent recreations of London at the high water mark of the Victorian era, limited though it evidently is by budgetary constraints that ensure the entire film (almost) is composed of interior shots. The writing and acting is miraculous, and we see right past the strange clothes, petticoats and silly moustaches to vividly real people. Broadbent as Gilbert, in particular, is an absolute joy to behold. The rehearsal scenes for `The Mikado' where he terrorizes his cast into fearful submission, a masterpiece of understated humour. Others are excellent too. Allan Corduner as Sullivan; Wendy Nottingham as D'Oyly Carte's assistant Helen Lenoir, Lesley Manville as Gilbert's wife; and the mighty Timothy Spall as Savoy star performer Dickie Temple showing once again that he can simply do anything.
Mike Leigh was riding high in 1996 on the massive success of `Secrets and Lies' then perhaps went through a bit of a bad patch when `Career Girls' failed to repeat this. So it's tempting to think of this, his next project as his own `Mikado'. Certainly it's a spectacular departure from his previous work. And a wholly triumphant one.
Rating:
Summary: G&S fans should not miss; others may safely skip
Review: "Topsy-Turvy" is a lavishly staged period film about the famous lyricist-composer duo W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan, whose Victorian musicals were bigger than Broadway shows back in their days (relative to the country's population, that is). Their musicals were nicknamed "topsy-turvydom" for their seemingly confusing settings and plots. This movie starts off with the cool reception of G&S's new musicals and spends over an hour depicting various things in G&S's lives, which unfortunately are quite boring, even to many a G&S fan.
When Gilbert (played superbly by a good actor) hits upon the idea of a musical based in Japan, the movie brings out the main part of the story: the staging of the most popular G&S musical, "The Mikado." Unfortunately, the film tends to drag on and on over small things while missing the big picture (no pun intended). For example, we see how the Savoy Theatre actors fight with management over pay; ok, so they were back then just as they are nowadays, obsessed with money. But the film doesn't tell us that in real life, Gilbert and Sullivan never got along despite their over a dozen collaborations. The film indulges itself in the depiction of the rehearsal of "The Mikado," but never tells us what *that* story is really about, or that "The Mikado" is actually Gilbert's brilliant satire of the British bureaucracy of his days.
Overall, the two-and-a-half-hour film feels boring, despite having a rather interest subject. The actor who plays Gilbert puts up some superb performance, while the others are at best mediocre and at worst unbelievable. In the end, this is an okay movie for G&S fans, but not a movie worth watching for most people.
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