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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think they could've found a better singer than Hugh Jackman?

83 replies

Eebahgum · 14/02/2013 07:43

Went to see les mis last night with my dm. Loved it. Genius casting of Helena Bonham Carter & Sacha Baren Cohen as innkeeper and his wife. But surprised Hugh Jackman got the lead as his singing voice is not that brilliant. He is a fabulous actor though so maybe that swung it for him.

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DowntonTrout · 14/02/2013 07:58

I think he sings well enough. The are very few actors who could carry that role and portray it so brilliantly, that are also a big enough box office draw, and can sing.

HBC and Sacha BC absolutely stole the film though.

Not sure about Eddie Redmaynes singing, it sounded like he was closing his throat up at some points. Was pleasantly surprised by Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway was fabulous.

Eponine seemed to be a much smaller part than I remember. Was she the girl who was in one of those You could be Nancy shows?

NotADragonOfSoup · 14/02/2013 08:01

I think you have to accept that a film has different requirements to a state production. On stage it is all about the singing. The film has the acting and visible emotion and the singing just needs to be good enough and full of emotion IYSWIM. On stage, often all you have to go on is the singing as you can't see the performers.

ithaka · 14/02/2013 08:05

Interestingly, I thought Helena Bonham Carter & Sacha Baren Cohen were the weak links, hamming up what were quite unpleasant and sinister characters.

Just shows that it is all a matter of opinion.

SorrelForbes · 14/02/2013 08:10

There are undoubtedly singers out there with voices more suited to the role of JVJ. However IMHO HJ has a great voice as can be heard on the DVD of the National Theatre's version of Oklahoma! and he takes his shirt off

mrsstewpot · 14/02/2013 08:16

I won't hear a bad word against old Shuggie so YABU! Grin

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Eebahgum · 14/02/2013 08:19

Ok, I'll accept I was BU. I guess I'm comparing it to a stage show where the requirements are much more focused on singing. I was amazed by the emotion he, Anne Hathaway & the Eponine girl (I don't know who she was) portrayed in their faces whilst singing. That can't be easy.

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Higgledyhouse · 14/02/2013 08:19

Saw it last night too, personally I thought Hugh Jackman was fab! Weak link for me was Sacha Baren Cohen. Samantha Barks was brilliant but I feel the film only required 50% of her singing potential. Great film though!

TroublesomeEx · 14/02/2013 08:21

Eebahgum

I suppose it's what you want out of it.

I also thought that Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen were the weak links as the Thenardiers. Give me Alun Armstrong any day!

I thought HJ was brilliant in the role of JVJ. I've never really paid much attention to him before. I thought his vocalisation gave a reality to the role and a characterisation that would have been lacking if he'd turned up singing beautifully.

But then that's what I liked about Pierce Brosnan singing in Mamma Mia too. It just made the whole thing more, well, believable.

Unless people are hitting bum notes all the time, any weakness in the singing just lends vulnerability to the character. IMHO.

OTTMummA · 14/02/2013 08:33

HJ had bought a raw realness to the role for me, including his voice. He had me in tears constantly.
It is such a deeply moving story that I think using non perfect singing actually adds to the film, however if a stage production had that level of singing I would of been disappointed.

laluna · 14/02/2013 09:17

Don't know about Les Mis (going tomorrow eve) but I don't really care whether he can sing or not when he looks like that!

NopeStillNothing · 14/02/2013 09:24

Yadbu, I thought he was perfect!
I thought Anne Hathaways voice was actually the weakest but she more then made up for it with her performance.
Mrs Lovett and Pirelli The Thenardiers were a bit overrated IMO. Did the job but very predictable.

God I love this film Grin

TroublesomeEx · 14/02/2013 09:48

laluna Oh you're in for a treat. Wink

DowntonTrout · 14/02/2013 10:08

As an aside, I thought the actor who played Enjolras, Marius friend, the ringleader of the revolutionaries, was brilliant.

His name is Aaron Tveit, don't know any more about him or what he's been in but a really good performance.

Flobbadobs · 14/02/2013 10:11

Hugh Jackman is a professional singer and has won awards for musical theatre! Try and find a clip of him singing 'oh what a beautiful morning' from Oklahoma or 'people will say we're in love'. He's got a stunning voice (and is much better looking in Oklahoma) Grin

Heavywheezing · 14/02/2013 10:15

You moan about Hugh jackman?!

What about Russell Crowe? All the others have good voices, just found the blonde ones voice annoying because it's so high.

NicknameTaken · 14/02/2013 10:19

I thought HJ did a great job as well. Vocally I thought "Bring him home" was a bit too high for him and was a bit strained, but generally he was great.

I thought Eddy Redmayne was lovely to listen to, and Anne Hathaway was really compelling.

Didn't like Helena Bonham Carter so much - she's got to the stage where she seems to be the same character in everything and she was a bit underwhelming in "Master of the House". I'd like to have heard it done with a bit more gusto.

HormonalHousewife · 14/02/2013 10:25

I didnt really like the film Blush but I have seen the stage show 3 times and have the CD so maybe I was expecting a bit too much.

I would have preferred 'proper' singers such as Epione. I think she has been in a west end musical before (not one of AL-W TV show choices though)

I think the story is strong enough not to have needed Hollywood names.

HJ is very handsome in real life though...

mrsjay · 14/02/2013 10:35

ponine seemed to be a much smaller part than I remember. Was she the girl who was in one of those You could be Nancy shows?

yes she came 3rd and she has been in the stage show I thought she was fantastic.

I love hugh so wont hear a bad word against him Grin

SorrelForbes · 14/02/2013 10:38

Yes, Sam Barks (Eponine) was on the I'd Do Anything TV show.

NopeStillNothing · 14/02/2013 10:42

Downtowntrout Can't really comment on how good he was, I was far to blinded by how fricken beautiful he was Blush

DowntonTrout · 14/02/2013 10:42

I saw her in the west end stage show of Les Mis.

She didn't win I'd do Anything did she?. I thought she'd done really well to get play Eponine in the stage show, never mind the film. Good for her.

SorrelForbes · 14/02/2013 10:42

I do am-dram Blush and our next show is Oklahoma! our leading man won't look like HJ though

HormonalHousewife · 14/02/2013 10:45

i stand corrected. I watched the making of the film a couple of weeks ago on TV and no mention of her being on a TV competition. She was fantastic and beautiful to boot.

WilsonFrickett · 14/02/2013 10:46

Huge was awesome. Russell Crowe was terrible though.