Sunday, January 6, 2008

Attend the Tale

No spoilers here. I'm just back from seeing Sweeney Todd, and I surprised myself with how much I liked it. It managed to have quite an emotional punch due to excellent acting by everyone. I found some of the song changes jarring, since I know them so well. I just have one complaint. I think Mr. Burton is deafened by love and should have considered using Marnie Nixon. I also have new respect for Angela Lansbury for somehow staying in tune while playing a character who sounds like she can't sing in tune.

5 comments:

Patrick J. Vaz said...

Hmmm. Intriguing! I may see it this week. If so, expect a blog entry in -- oh, who am I kidding, in about three weeks.
I still haven't listened to the soundtrack.

vicmarcam said...

If I were you, I think I might skip the soundtrack until after seeing the movie. The reason I say this is that no one in this movie really has a voice as good as the people on your thousand other versions of Sweeney Todd, but I would enjoy listening to this soundtrack with the memory of the performances in my mind. I don't think I would enjoy it so much before seeing the movie. I don't know if that makes sense or not.

Patrick J. Vaz said...

It makes complete sense, and that is why I (1) haven't listened to the soundtrack yet and (2) bought the version with all the pretty pictures, which I also haven't looked at yet.
I don't think they're going to equal Bryn Terfel and Nathan Gunn as Sweeney and Anthony.

vicmarcam said...

PJ: Do you have a favorite version? I only have the one (that you gave me) and I'm wondering if you think I should have another?

Patrick J. Vaz said...

I should do a Todd-athon and compare all the different versions, but I'd still give you the one I gave you -- the OBC is the best way to go if you only have one, I think.