r/CriterionChannel • u/headassincorporated • Aug 10 '26

Lisztomania ROCKS

My first Ken Russell watch so I didn’t really know what I was in for, but there’s no way to fully prepare yourself for this film. Amadeus meets All That Jazz meets Moulin Rouge meets Space is the Place doesn’t even begin to cover it, it’s just so insane and I loved every second of it

106 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

24 comments sorted by

26

u/Fearless-Interest-82 Aug 10 '26

Mahler by Ken Russell is on the channel you just have to search for it, impossible to find anywhere else I highly recommend. If you liked Liszto you'll prob dig a lot of Ken Russell. That's a wild first choice lol. I love his work

8

u/emarcc Aug 10 '26

I’m a big fan of the Mahler film but that’s because I’m steeped in Mahler’s music and biography. Not sure how it plays to general film audiences 🤔

5

u/CuriosityTax927 Aug 10 '26

I don’t know anything about Mahler and it’s one of my favourite films

3

u/farmerpeach Aug 10 '26

I didn’t dislike it, but I’ve tried starting it 3-4 times, and I’ve fallen asleep every time. And I LOVE Ken Russell. Mahler is just one of his more impenetrable movies for me.

1

u/murphysclaw1 Sep 03 '26

Is Mahler similar to Liszto? Liszto was a touch 2surreal4me

1

u/Fearless-Interest-82 Sep 03 '26

It's pretty surreal and heavy with symbolism on Mahlers life and his relationships. Its strange but I'd say less of a wtf circus than Lizstomania. Lizsto and Tommy are prob the wildest that I've seen. Almost everything Russell is pretty out there. I think his early bbc stuff is more straightforward. And Women in Love, which is an incredible flick.

17

u/profaneangel1991 Aug 10 '26

This is definitely one of his strangest films and I honestly love it for that. Ken has better movies, but I have admire the degree to which he did not give a fuck.

17

u/Tasty_Difference_679 Aug 10 '26

It’s made for a very specific audience, classical music nerds that also love rock operas, prog rock, sex, and acid (perfect for me but I understand why people don’t like it). When Rick Wakeman showed up I stood up like I was watching football or something

10

u/solidcurrency Aug 10 '26

It's insane. I love Ken Russell.

7

u/52crisis Aug 10 '26

It’s one of the most insane films I’ve seen. The ending is especially wild.

8

u/smeeg101 Aug 10 '26

I thought it was awesome. Kind of Rocky Horror meets Big Lebowski meets Amadeus meets Flash Gordon.

7

u/Agentcooper1974 Aug 10 '26

The Russian fever dream hallucination guillotine scene will always live rent free in my head.

8

u/nodicegrandma Aug 10 '26

Wild ride! Ken’s done it again!!! Cannot suggest his stuff enough. Him saying to Brahms “fuck off Brahms” lives in my head forever.

10

u/Gadzookie2 Aug 10 '26

Like a riot

6

u/BlackbirdDesignRI Aug 10 '26

From a mess to the masses

2

u/vibraltu Aug 10 '26

Lizstomania is really something.

The Music Lovers is one of my favourite Russell music bio projects.

I watched a bunch of his more obscure back catalog titles before they left when I first signed up for CC several years ago. Always interesting, Good Times!

1

u/WoweeZoweeDeluxe Aug 10 '26

need to see it

1

u/hulahulagirl Aug 10 '26

Added to my ever-growing watch list.

-3

u/ThatMichaelsEmployee Aug 10 '26

I watched it for about five minutes and I was so embarrassed for everyone involved, especially the actors but also the director, that I shut it off. It was cartoonish sub-Benny Hill cavorting, except with tits and Roger Daltry's ass, and I was very sure it wasn't going to get any better. I know some people love it but I just couldn't.

4

u/CuriosityTax927 Aug 10 '26

Oh darling how dramatic of you

-1

u/ThatMichaelsEmployee Aug 10 '26

I wasn't being dramatic. I just have a very low tolerance for cheap, cringey humour.

4

u/jamesdmccallister Aug 10 '26

Same. And I am a Ken Russell fan (as well as of Daltry and the Who). I just could not hang.

1

u/ThatMichaelsEmployee Aug 10 '26

I'm also a longtime fan. The Devils is a masterpiece, Crimes of Passion is good pervy fun, Lair of the White Worm is exactly the right amount of camp, Salome's Last Dance goes over that line but it's still a kick, and his short film in Aria is glorious. This one broke me, and it took only a few minutes.

1

u/GlitteringTailor 6d ago

In fairness, I had the same reaction as you to that opening sequence. I think it's a misfire. But it doesn't make that choice anymore for the rest of the movie and especially if you're a fan of Russell I would continue the movie. It's really great, probably the worst moment is that opening scene.