The Phantom of the Opera
Posted by David | Filed under Arts & Entertainment, Film Reviews
My grievances with Joel Schumacher, the infamous Hollywood director, span almost a decade, from the first time I laid eyes upon his neon-injected Batmobile and anatomically-correct rubber batsuit. His crimes against the masked avenger may never be forgotten, even in the face of new attempts to do so. Strangely enough, redemption for such atrocities lies behind another mask; that of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s equally infamous Phantom of the Opera.
The recent film adaptation of Phantom gains strength from the very weaknesses that plague many of Schumacher’s previous films, such as opulent sets and exorbitant colors. There is indeed a time and place for everything, as the visual gratification that destroyed the Batman legacy gives passion and weight to Lloyd Webber’s rather simplistic, if wonderfully poetic, stage production. The tragic beauty of both music and story could easily be lost in the scrutinizing, detail-driven world of cinema without Schumacher’s flamboyant artistry.
With credit given where it was due, I would rather now focus on the talented leads who carry the show primarily by song. Emmy Rossum was undoubtably an inspired choice, who at 17 had the innocence tempered with musical experience necessary to play such a demanding role. There is (sadly) not much call for talented musicians in film these days, yet you can see how much better a role like this portrays Rossum’s talents than, say, her performance in The Day After Tomorrow.
Even more surprising (personally) was the casting of Gerard Butler as the Phantom. Try renting Timeline or Reign of Fire and picturing his characters as the emotionally-tortured opera ghost; it’s a strange picture, yet also a testament to his skill as an actor (and perhaps the talented hands of his makeup artist). He brings a dangerously ravishing energy to the role that conflicts with the audience’s desire to dislike him, villain that he is. The result is a wonderfully complex creature that keeps the otherwise simplistic characterizations from becoming a distraction.
I fear that Schumacher’s reputation may have cost him award nominations, though I would also say that he did little more than the material deserved. Nonetheless, Phantom is a wonderful achievement that really should be experienced.
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