Michael Silver

D.A. Pennebaker's documentary on the making of the Company cast album is a brilliant and riveting look at the intense and grueling creation of the album of one of Sondheim's greatest musicals (in my opinion A Little Night Music is still the best). Pennebaker has documented the struggles of artists such as Bob Dylan, David Bowie, and Carol Burnett. Artists love working with him, and his creations show his love for the creative folks he documents, but they are still brutally honest and present a unique view into the lives and work of these artists. The actual recording session for Company's cast album was intense and punishing. One of the most memorable scenes shows Elaine Stritch as she struggles with the very difficult and intense "Ladies Who Lunch," seemingly giving it everything she's got only to be told the take was "flaccid." The audience is exhausted just watching what it took from the artists and producers to immortalize this musical on the original cast album. Lover of Sondheim or not (and who isn't?), this is a film worth seeing.