Though aware that he would require additional vocal training, I was more or less enthusiastically backing Russell Crowe for Sweeney in the film version on the grounds that he looks the part, he would no doubt act it well, his work with TOFOG shows that he has the pipes if not the technique, and that's probably ok because he has shown a willingness to work hard at learning new skills for movie roles (learning to play the violin, for example, for MASTER AND COMMANDER). Perhaps even more importantly, his star power might actually get the movie made. But ever since viewing another actor's incredible audtion for the role -- otherwise known as his performance as "Dr. Octopus" in SPIDERMAN 2 -- in the course of which he plays brilliantly damn near every emotion he would have to play as Sweeney -- I have officially moved all my chips over to Alfred Molina. As most of you probably know, he also starred as Tevye in the recent Broadway revival of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, so obviously he sings.
My only other strong prejudices at the moment are for Christopher Lee in the role of Judge Turpin -- he's gigantic, he's old, he's scary, he's British, he's world-famous in the role of Dracula (in the classic British Hammer Films horror series of the late 1950's, 60's, and 70's), AND he's a professional opera singer!
As for the first customer killed by Sweeney in his shop -- it must be Andrew Lloyd Webber!
Updated On: 3/5/05 at 08:59 AM
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