And That's How to Cast a Musical!

My family loves to get together and watch movies and then have in-depth discussions about the casting, direction, plot, music, etc. Other people (ahem... in-laws) don't always appreciate or participate in these discussions, but we love it. These discussions are fun, lively and usually punctuated with lots of laughter. I am very blessed. 

Tonight we watched the new Blu-Ray release of an old family favorite, "Little Shop of Horrors", starring Rick Moranis and Ellen Greene. If you're not familiar with this one, it's an old story, with an old black-and-white non-musical film version (from 1960, I think) about an alien plant that comes to earth, convinces an unassuming gardener to feed it blood and proceeds to take over the Earth. It's campy, cheesy, goofy and loads of fun. 

Rick Moranis and Audrey II

Les Miserables, Hollywood Style

When I was in High School, I discovered two amazing Broadway musicals: "Phantom of the Opera" and "Les Miserables". Of the two, my hands-down favorite was "Les Miserables", and I alternated listening to the Broadway and London versions over the years, enjoying the slight differences, feeling moved by the amazing score, and emotionally connecting, first with Eponine and Cosette and later with Fantine and ValJean. 


I even went to see the touring show when I was a senior in HS, and though our seats were terrible I remember a few tidbits from the show clearly, and it has always been one of my most loved, most favorite Broadway productions to listen to or watch. I blogged here about the amazing concert version, which I LOVED. 

In that link (in the last paragraph), I think I communicated my complete and utter loathing of the filmed "Phantom of the Opera" featuring Gerard Butler in the title role. I found it atrocious and dull and offensively poorly sung and acted and I didn't get it at all. I had never seen the show onstage, so I'm not sure if it's just that the show is a bit campy and over-the-top, but I had always loved the music, so this adaptation was frustrating to me. I wish that when they make movie versions of Broadway shows that they would seriously consider casting stars of the stage instead of only using big(ish) named Hollywood types. 


I have to say, though, my loathing of Butler's performance is second only to the mockery of modern theater that is the filmed version of "Jekyll and Hyde" starring... it's bad... you sure you want to know? Okay... David Hasselhoff. Yep. I warned you. It was uncomfortable to watch... and that's putting it mildly. I understand he did play the part on the stage, but that doesn't make him a Broadway-caliber singer. It just makes him a gimmick.

SO, when I heard they were making a full-on movie-film version of "Les Miserables", I was a bit nervous, to say the least. It's only the best, most popular, most beloved musical of all time. Let's not muck it up, okay? I decided to reserve judgment... to wait before I decided it would be awful... Then I heard about the casting. Here's the list of principals from IMDB (don't ask me why they are in this order):

	Sacha Baron Cohen	...	Thénardier
	Helena Bonham Carter	...	Madame Thénardier
	Anne Hathaway	...	Fantine
	Amanda Seyfried	...	Cosette
	Hugh Jackman	...	Jean Valjean
	Russell Crowe	...	Javert

Hugh Jackman? Okay. He's pretty enough to at least make watching pleasant, and he's a dang good actor and he's done a large handful of Broadway shows, so I assume he really can sing. And I liked Amanda Seyfried in "Mamma Mia", so there's promise there. But Anne Hathaway? Hmm... Russell Crowe? Hmm... I don't know. Plus, would the filmmakers give the story the grit and truth it deserves, without overdoing the drama-- bleeding into melodrama? I was nervous, but still mildly interested. Until I saw this: 

First of all, Anne Hathaway manages to inject such pure, raw emotion into the song, that I pretty much stopped thinking and was sucked into the story immediately. Probably because I know the story so well... it might not have that effect on you if you aren't familiar with it. That also might mean you've grown up under a rock and it's time to come out into the sunshine and get to know your world... 

My only complaint (and I know, I complain too much) is that she is feigning that British accent again. These are French characters being played by Americans, Australians and Brits (and probably other nationalities, too). Would it matter much for her to just use her own American accent? Maybe. Anyway, I've not been impressed by her accent in the past ("Becoming Jane"), but maybe it's improved and won't be distracting this time.

Secondly, Jackman looks great--as usual, even in "I've been imprisoned for 19 years" beard and makeup, he looks perfect. Crowe looks great, and the scenery, costumes and even the grime looks authentic and "period-accurate". 


Mostly, though, I am comforted in my expectations after hearing Hathaway sing most of the first act's show stopping song, and carrying it off well. 


I do hope that Helena Bonham Carter has had some voice lessons, though, because as Mrs. Lovett in "Sweeney Todd", she was all breathy wimpyness. Cohen, however, was quite good in "Todd", so casting him as Thenardier might just be genius. Fingers crossed...

Musical TV Remakes

Recently I took my daughter to see "Annie, Jr." at our local Jr. High. I was reminded of all the less-than-professional performances my dad attended to support me over the years. She absolutely loved it and even said, "When I go to Jr. High, I think I might like to be in a show..." Yes, my heart was warmed...

She asked later if we could borrow the movie version of "Annie" from my dad. Turns out he no longer has it, but my brother has both the original 1982 Film version and the 1999 made-for-TV remake, with Victor Garber and Kristen Chenoweth. He loaned us both. We started today with the remake version-- I don't remember why I didn't watch it when it aired in 1999, but we enjoyed it together.

I couldn't help but draw comparisons between "Annie" and the 2003 made-for-TV remake of "The Music Man" which also features Garber and Chenoweth. "Annie" is so far superior to the weak effort of "The Music Man", it's impossible to not see the differences. Of course, I only watched "The Music Man" the one time it aired, and vowed never to watch it again-- I like Matthew Broderick well enough, but his presence and voice weren't up to the role of Harold Hill. And, frankly, Chenoweth is talented, but she simply didn't fit Marion. I adore the original theatrical version, and I was so annoyed by the remake that I think I didn't dare watch the TV "Annie" on DVD, expecting it to be just as weak and depressing.

But I've been pleasantly surprised. Kathy Bates? Brilliant. I thought Carol Burnett was perfect in the theatrical version, but Bates brought her own thing to the role and it was excellent. And Audra McDonald was wonderful, as expected. It was fun to see the show with a broadway-caliber cast. And the little girl who played Annie was spectacular AND her hair wasn't distractingly obnoxious.

If you haven't seen it, check it out! But I vote for avoiding the 2003 "Music Man". Unless you like torture-by-TV.