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Uld on song
‘RICHARD GERE 2 CHANNELLED BRUCE FORSYT H IN CHICAGO' g
Mamma Mia! the big-screen adaptation of the ABBA stage musical is coming your way. How can we resist you? Eddie Harrison can think of several reasons
et on a sun—kissed .\’lediterranean island.
musical blockbuster Mamma Mia.’ features
Meryl Streep as the mother of Sophie (Amanda Seyfried). a bride-to—be trying to identify her natural father amongst three wedding guests. played by Pierce Brosnan. (‘olin liirth and token Scandinavian Stellan Skarsgard.
Those who have been burned once before will note that the stars of the ABBA songfest are not trained singers. they‘re singing actors. all without a mttsical track record. Meryl Streep’s appearance as a violin teacher in Wes (‘raven‘s Music oft/1e Heart ranks amongst the most stomach-churning items in the veteran horror-director's career. and yes. l‘irth performed “Love Is In The Air~ in St 'Ii‘inian's. bttt is this sufficient reason for us to take a chance on Pirtb and Pierce Brosnan performing cruise-liner kitsch classics like ‘I Do. I Do. I Do. I Do. or '(iimme! (iimme! (limme! (A Man After Midnight)‘.”
You could blame this new enthusiasm for singing actors on technology. or more specifically. pitch correction software. An actor who can't quite hit the notes on stage. or even in the recording studio. can have their vocal performances edited. merged and adjusted to produce stellar vocal impersonations such as Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny ('ash or Jamie l’oxx as Ray ('harles. However a trip to your local charity shop will quickly reveal the misguided musical outings of stars such as Kevin Bacon. Jeff Bridges. Zoocy I)eschanel. Joe Pesci or Telly Savalas.
Before technology caught up with the aspirations of
the vain. singing actors were strictly a novelty. Lee
Marvin had a novelty bit with ‘Wandering Star’ from 1969 musical western Paint Your Wagon. bttt Clint liastwood‘s album of ‘cowboy favourites' lies forgotten. whilst Peter ()‘Toole‘s attempt to sing-a- long to Joe Darion and Mitch Leigh‘s appalling Quixote musical Man afLa Mane/1a are best left to rot. Will Smith. Bruce Willis and David Soul got away with the pop-star lark for a couple of albums. but Don Johnson and Iiddie Murphy were apprehended more quickly.
When Natalie Wood or Audrey Hepburn couldn‘t hit the high notes in West Side Story or My Fair Lady. Iip-synching to singer Marni Nixon‘s vocal talents maintained the illusion. The gruesome alternative is Elizabeth Taylor‘s nails-to-the-blackboard herformance of 'Send In the (‘low'ns' in A Little Night Music.
Yet it is possible for singing actors to triumph; Richard (iere courageously channelled the spirit of super-trouper Bruce Porsyth to perform ‘Give Them The Old Ra/JJe Dazzle‘ in Rob Marshall's Chieaga. whilst Hugh Jackman. despite huge Broadway success. prefers to maintain his butch on-screen persona until the right musical allows him to strut his leopard—skin trousers.
Whether Streep. Firth and Brosnan can show him how the transition is done is debatable — and as ABBA noted. ‘The Winner Takes It All’ in the cutthroat world of screen musicals.
Mamma Mia! is on general release from Fri 1 1 Jul.
LIST
THE BEST FILM & DVD RELEASES
* The Visitor A grief stricken economics professor finds redemption in the African drums and US immigration service in this moving drama. Richard Jenkins stars, Tom 7779 Station Agent McCarthy writes and directs. See review. page 50. OFF, Glasgow and Cameo, Edinburgh from Fri 4 Jul.
=1: The Apartment New digital print of Billy Wilder's excellent 1960 satire of the corporate world in all its Iascivious folly. Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine were never better. See review. page 52. Fi/mhouse, Edinburgh from Fri 11.
* Jules et Jim New print re- release of Truffaut ’3 awesome 1961 manage a trois drama. See review. page 51. Filmhouse, Edinburgh from Sun 13 Jul.
* A Complete History Of My Sexual Failures Writer and director Chris Waitt's meets his ex-Iovers. Selected release, out now.
* California Droamin’ (Endless) Ingenious Romanian culture clash comedy drama. Cameo, Edinburgh from Fri 4 Jul. =l~= Bill Douglas Trilogy Thirty years on cult Scottish auteur's stunning films about a childhood in Newcraighall finally get a decent DVD release. See DVD roundup. page 53. Out now (BFI). * Radio On Chris Petit's seminal 1979 British road movie out on DVD with loads of great extras. See DVD roundup. page 53. Out now (BFI).
* Overlord Stuart Cooper's long ignored 1975 recreation of the D-Day landings on DVD. See DVD roundup. page 53. Out now (Metrodome).
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