The Phantom of the Opera

But fair or not, I’m going to anyway. I can’t help but think that viewing the production live, being a part of a completely different sort of audience, it would be much more mysterious and thrilling. More than any other stage adaptation I can think of, this film makes me feel what a sharp distinction there is between an engaged viewer and a passive viewer.

And there are some minor annoyances. Particularly Emmy Rossum’s Ultimate Wonder-Bra and perpetually heaving breasts. Frightened, aroused or (as is almost always the case) doe-eyed and confused, her breasts move as if mechanized. It is very distracting, and not just a little troubling.

(And does it bother anyone else that Christine seems to be in love with whatever man is addressing her at any given time?)

And, in my opinion, Rossum is probably the weakest link in the cast. So much of the emotional impact of the story depends upon the audience deeply sympathizing with Christine, but she seems to be trying so hard to be the earnest, passionnate ingenue that her performance becomes remote and insincere. Gerard Butler isn’t particularly better, but the mask and swishing cape lend enough mystique to disguise his woodenness.

And I suppose I would have preferred a little more internal consistency… The “rock” variations on the main theme are distracting in a musical otherwise conforming to its 19th century setting well enough. And I understand the conventional use of British accents for any European accent, but why direct Miranda Richardson and Minnie Driver alone to attempt a proper accent? It’s small things like this that take me out of the movie a bit.

Richardson and Driver are both outstanding, by the way. I suppose in my eyes the former could do no wrong, and true, here she has little more to do than stand around looking concerned yet powerless. Minnie Driver is the real surprise — I don’t think I’ve liked her in anything else before, but she’s an absolute hoot here, and quite an impressive singer.

Anyway, my criticisms are few and small. All in all, it’s a gorgeous spectacle that does the musical justice as much as I imagine a film can. I left feeling far more stirred than I expected to be — it’s a very exciting production. Certainly one of the year’s ten best so far.