If you have never had the opportunity to experience
the music of the night live, Joel Schumacher’s (Veronica
Guerin, Phone Booth) new film version of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s
The Phantom of the Opera is almost as good as seeing it on stage. Like the musical,
the film tells the story of Christine (The Day after Tomorrow’s Emmy
Rossum), a young singer in the Paris Opera who is loved by two men: the Opera’s
new young patron Raoul (Patrick Wilson), and Christine’s mysterious
catacomb-dwelling vocal coach, the Phantom (Gerard Butler). The Phantom,
who exerts a strange power over Christine, will do anything to make her a star – letting
nothing and no one stand in his way.
Phantom
is absolutely gorgeous to look at, with a filming style reminiscent of Moulin Rouge
(though with none of the schizophrenic editing) and stunning costumes and sets. I found
the film’s story better than the stage version; one of my chief complaints about the
original was the lack of credibility of the love story between the Phantom and Christine
– that has been improved here. The singing is also very good, which is especially
impressive given that all the actors sing their own songs (but only do varying degrees of
believable lip synching). Yet unlike recent film musicals Moulin Rouge and Chicago,
Phantom is not particularly innovative; it is a relatively straight retelling of
the musical, overtures and all. But if you liked the musical (or have always wanted to see
it), you will find plenty to enjoy here – and the scenes involving the infamous chandelier
still gave me plenty of goose bumps!
|
