NINE - "Unusual Way" — Page 2

The one thing I think is interesting - and this is a comment directed more towards the folk at ATC who are complaining about the overall quality of the voices of the actors in the film (they of course hate everyone because they aren't Broadway actors) -- is that the original cast recording of NINE features some of the most erratic singing ever in a major Tony Award winning musical.

Tommy Tune assembled a wonderful erray of eclectic personalities for Broadway: but singers like Raul Julia, Karen Akers, Liliane Montevecci, Shelly Burch etc are actors with 'questionable' voices - certainly singing voices that are if anything an acquired taste or open to debate.

Ditto the revival, which I loved in the theatre but which I have a hard time listening to on recording (Banderas and Krakowski's accents just kill it for me).

So, for me, even with out having the Broadway 'luster' I do find the soundtrack really rewarding in its honesty and simplicity of performance.

I am saying that mind you based on experiencing the vocals in the film as I watched it. I haven't heard the complete soundtrack on its own yet.

Updated On: 11/30/09 at 01:28 PM

Marquise - I've definitely had issues understanding some of the lyrics of the song in those interpretations, but that aside, I think the scene that leads up to the musical moment in the film is incredibly intimate - it feels more vulnerable to me than it did on stage. Its just not the right moment for a big soprano aria in the context of the movie so I do understand the choice.

I actually could make the arguement that they might have been better writing a completely different song for the moment, but obviously Marshall would have been put on the chopping block for cutting what is the closest thing to a standard in the score.

Wait do any of you two have the full leaked Soundtrack, if so could you PM it to me?

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I just watched the clip and agree that the vocals are just too weak.

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It was worth a try, but thank you.

Marquise, do you have a problem with any of the other songs in the movie and the changes that were made?

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I haven't heard all of Cruz's Vatican, but what I heard sounded a little auto-tune-y. It kind of makes me wish they'd hired Brittany Murphy. Maybe the full version will change my mind.

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"That being said, she doesn't belong with this cast."

A lot of people feel the same way about Hudson and Fergie, though I don't.

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Why is that sad? Why is considering Kate Hudson the biggest box office draw sad? Maybe they should have given Unusual Way to her and had her play Claudia and maybe that song wouldn't be so cringe worthy.

"Why is that sad? Why is considering Kate Hudson the biggest box office draw sad?"

Umm, because she is in a cast with Judi Dench and Sophia Loren, perhaps, actresses who have displayed much more breadth of talent than she ever has? And Penelope Cruz and Daniel Day Lewis, Oscar-winners for two of the most memorable film characters and performances of the last decade? And Nicole Kidman, once the biggest actress in the world and still one of the most recognized? Kate Hudson's MOTHER isn't even in that league. You can hate Kidman all you want, but that's how it is.

Speaking of which, you need to get over Nicole's "Unusual Way" if you expect to ever enjoy the film. It's done. That's the way it is and always will be whether you like or not. Call it Uma in THE PRODUCERS or Jennifer Hudson in DREAMGIRLS but that is what you have whether you like it or not.

P

Updated On: 11/30/09 at 05:22 PM

Listen pgenre I don't have to "get over" anything. Yes it is over and that's what it is whether I like it or not. True. And I DON'T LIKE IT whether YOU LIKE IT OR NOT. I have a right to my opinion. I'm not asking for your approval on my opinion. YOU are not the ultimate authority on NINE. So get OVER YOURSELF. Just because I'm not ejaculating all over myself for this film like you are doesn't make my opinion any less than yours.

Updated On: 11/30/09 at 05:48 PM

Thank you spidey. Pgenre is to busy ejaculating all over himself for love of NINE to get that.

I think probably the only other actor whose star presence (and innate aloof mystery) would have equalled Kidman's is either Angelina Jolie or Cate Blanchet. And who knows vocally if either of them could have done any better. I do appreciate the casting of Kidman in the context of watching the film. She brings an old Hollywood glamour and wow factor that is palpable upon her entrance. So perhaps some of you who don't like her singing will still be able to appreciate why she was cast when you see it.

To that end - though not quite the topic at hand - for those of you who have never seen (or like I had not seen in a long time) the original Fellini movie, 8 1/2, I really recommend watching it before you go see NINE.

Not only is it just a brilliant masterpiece of surrealistic film making, you will have a new appreciation for the imagination the creative team took in attempting it as a stage musical and a greater depth as to why certain changes were made for this film.

And, I must say, I wish either the stage musical or the this movie had attempted to musicalize the fabulous scene in 8 1/2 in which Guido fantasizes Luisa and all the women in his world living together in one house. Now that is musical comedy.

Updated On: 11/30/09 at 06:20 PM