However, writing too much of this kind of thing will also bring some confusion and distress. For example, while entertaining academia, in fact, it is also an academic life. Chen Xiaobian once sternly warned me to remember to exclude academics from daily life and entertainment, otherwise I will gradually lose my relationship with him and The common language of the broad masses of people. In addition, not knowing how to write a pure film review based on perceptual judgment rather than some obscure theory is also a serious consequence of academic life. Having said so much, there is only one purpose-to win the understanding of readers, because I really don't know what the first pure film review in my life will look like.
Closer to home, I was fortunate to watch a musical "Chicago" at half price at the Ambassador Theatre on Broadway in early November. After returning to China, I watched the 2002 film version while still being hot. Although musicals and movies are different art forms, it is inevitable that they are incomparable. However, after all, musicals are first and lasting and have a reputation. Therefore, I think it is not outrageous to use musicals as a benchmark to evaluate movies.
The primary focus of the review was the selection of the three leading actors. Velma played by Catherine Zeta-Jones is played by a taller black singer on Broadway. It has to be said that Zeta-Jones is much more beautiful than a black woman. The black woman is considered to be of good looks and good figure. The bumps are uneven, but her movements with her hands and knees are too tough and lack a certain sense of beauty. In contrast, Jones added a lot of charm while still adhering to the character's straightforward, pungent, and wild temperament, which is really rare. In terms of singing skills, despite Jones' best efforts, the explosive power and clarity of his voice are also worthy of recognition, but it is always slightly inferior to the black singers with innate timbre advantages. With this voice kissed by God, no wonder No matter how blunt or even funny the black actress’ live performances, they never shake their place on Broadway.
Renee Zellweger, who has been nominated for an Oscar three times in a row and won an award, deserves to be a generation of acting queen. She has portrayed Roxy, who was born poor but dreams of celebrity anytime, anywhere. Roxy's character is stupid, sophisticated, and wolf-hearted. Both are just right by her, which is hateful and pitiful. Zellweger's appearance in the movie is amazing, but in my opinion she is a bit too sultry compared to the role. Everyone remembers the scene in the play where Roxy’s boyfriend broke up with him and was killed. The boyfriend once said disdainfully: "Wake up, old sister, you will never be on the stage... Do you have chests and thin legs." It can be seen that Roxy should be a woman with a pleasant face but a flat figure. In fact, this is also in line with the exaggeration of the nun-like life made up by the mass media at the time. In addition, the song "We Both Reached for the Gun" with the puppet as the background may be regarded as a serious failure. Zellweger is too active as a puppet and does not show the puppet’s squeaky joints. , Also did not depict the helplessness of being at the mercy of others. Perhaps it is because of the shortcomings of the actors that the director had to focus the shot on the puppet props, which greatly weakened the character's own bantering qualities. On the contrary, Roxy in the Broadway drama is played by a petite veteran jazz actor. Although she is not outstanding, she is kind and pleasant and has the unique joy of many stage actors. Her appearance is reminiscent of Shishui Lotus. The female jazz singer who sang on the same stage with the male protagonist is as small and humorous as a typical representative of musical actresses in the old age. Her "We Both Reached for the Gun" brought a small climax in the Ambassador Theater.
If it is said that the two heroines in the movie are at least tied with those in the stage play, then the role of the lawyer played by Richard Gere can be described as a defeat. From the outside, Keele is already old, no matter how his eyes look, he can’t match the young beauty of the Broadway actor, especially in the appearance of the song "All I Care About Is Love". In terms of the above, the lawyer played by Keel is not cunning and sluggish; his singing level is even more terrible, the drake voice itself is offensive, and the duet with the female reporter is not on the tune. I advise Uncle Keel to stop trying other dramas other than love comedy, otherwise, even the only Shinai movie fans will be lost.
Those who have watched the movie "Chicago" still remember the two characters, the female jailer and Roxy's husband Aimos, and their respective solo songs "If You Are Good To Mama" and "Mr Cellophane" have become eloquent. Catching classic selections, the actor of Amos even won an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for the role. However, compared to the live performances on Broadway, the mother and Amos in the movie are too far apart. The Broadway maternal only had a gray suit from the beginning to the end, but her natural magnetic voice and well-performed performance made her the focus of the stage as soon as she appeared. In other words, she won with her aura. The mother in the movie is too cute. After imitating Roxy’s hairstyle, she is often reminiscent of Hello Kitty. In the stage play, Imus, who was only nonchalant and ugly, did not attract my attention at first, until he sang "Mr Cellophane", and the audience was amazed: the round-shaped actor stood in the center of the stage, singing timidly, and left and right. Shaking, as cute and pitiful as a tumbler, a pair of white gloves became his only props. Following the meaning of the lyrics, he waved his hands slightly, as if he hoped to attract the attention of others but didn't want to. When he sang to the heart, he suddenly let out his voice, again Realizing that my own sense of existence is so uncomfortable and embarrassing, I return to the state of an invisible person. The performance of Broadway Amos was very catching, bringing the audience into the role, forgetting the distance of the stage, and wishing to walk to him and pat on the shoulder to show comfort. The "Mr Cellophane" excerpt in the film was sung by Amos in a clown costume. Most of the audience’s attention was attracted by the appearance, ignoring the perception of the actors and the characters themselves, and the singing voice in the film lacked changes. Failed to grasp and show the ups and downs of the characters well. Like all other performances in the world, the tension and personality charm of stage actors are always unattainable by movie actors. This is exactly why stage plays are still prosperous today when screen art is popular.
Just like the gorgeous costumes, the gorgeous stage background in the movie also weakens the charm of the performance, and it is even unavoidable that it is overwhelming. "Cell Block Tango" describes the process of six female prisoners killing their husbands. It can be called the blackest and most depressing song in the whole play. In this scene of the stage play, the only props are six chairs. Each woman walks to the stage in turn to plead for the murder of her husband, and then sends out the deepest roar in her heart. It is simple and powerful, shocking and terrifying. Many props have been added to the movie to support it. The set uses movable iron gates, and red ribbons are used to symbolize blood and death. In addition, there are pas de deux and plot interspersed. Fortunately, although they partially weaken the performance of the actors, the overall strength is still Achieved the expected results. By the way, if I'm not mistaken, the only black among the six female prisoners in the film is the actor who played Velma in the Broadway musical.
The screenwriter of the movie "Chicago" is remarkable, using the unique technique of the movie to add a lot of plot. As a result, although it lacks the high degree of artistic generalization of the stage play, from a narrative point of view, in the interpretation of the complex and The development is clearly clearer and more reliable. The most obvious adaptation is to cut off the female reporter's chant, and use this role as a witness to the case to promote the development of the plot. Although it is a pity that movie audiences cannot enjoy the same nice floral soprano arias (the use of a floral soprano with a cock-like tone to express the media is full of metaphors and very appropriate), but the plot in exchange for this is clear and complete. More important.
Another regret of the adaptation of the film is the inability to show the grandeur of the live band. In "Chicago" on Broadway, a live band of more than 30 people is located in the center of the stage. (In fact, how can this jazz-based musical leave the live performance?) Cooperate and interact with the audience from time to time. The female conductor of the band even often participates in the announcement and performance, seamlessly integrating the performance and performance.
Finally, I would like to add a few words about the scene on the day of the performance. The Ambassador Theater at the junction of 49th Street and Broadway is not big, and the theater with 500 people is full of seats. The facilities of this old theater are a bit old and the seats are not very comfortable, but once the lights illuminate the stage, everything else is of no importance to the actors and audience.
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