Andrew Lloyd Webber’s latest production of Gaston Leroux’s immensely popular musical turned out to be a huge disappointment. It appears more like a personal showcase for Webber’s music rather than the esthetic execution of director Joel Schumacher. Schumacher’s directorial finesse is vastly drowned out by Webber’s score.
It is indeed surprising because it was Webber’s music that made the stage production such a mega hit on international stages.
This sixth film version is an ambitiously mounted production. Webber produced and co-wrote the film. The performances by the talent are mostly impressive. The best is, no doubt, Emmy Rossum, as Christine Daaé. Her porcelain beauty, graceful figure and a strangely pleasant though not very expressive voice, bring a kind of freshness to the role of Christine.
Gerard Butler’s essay of the Phantom is a big letdown in the film. Comparisons, which were inevitable, only succeed in underscoring Butler’s poor performance. Michael Crawford in the stage version put in a performance that overnight turned his career around. Besides Webber’s music, it was Crawford’s performance that got the applause.
One is reminded also of the unforgettable 1925 version where Lon Chaney added an eerie touch to the role, with his scarred face after he is unmasked. In the new version, Butler’s performance and unmemorable voice do not impress. He also fails to spark any fires during performances with Rossum’s Christine.
Joel Schumacher appears to have put in a fairly restrained execution which is more welcome from his earlier works. The film does have its moments of glory. It is sometimes evocatively romantic and at others times it seems Schumacher simply went overboard.
The images in Paris’ Opera Populaire, where the film is largely set, have a wonderful baroque beauty and were executed with great detail. The choreography is far from pleasing.
Webber has also “adapted” two of Puccini’s compositions (‘Turandot’ and ‘The Girl of the Golden West’) without acknowledging. It is unfair to the original composer as future generations who see this film are likely to believe that Webber composed them.
Among the other actors are Patrick Wilson as Raoul, Minnie Driver as the opera diva Carlotta and Miranda Richardson as Blanche Yurka.
Worth seeing only if you’re a die-hard Webber fan.
