Some Movie Stars Should Never Attempt To Sing- Page 2

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 12:59pm

That's what I'm saying. The vocals are not Nine's problem. It's just that it's not as good of a movie as Sweeney.

[Jane2]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 1:01pm

Hey, I never said that the vocals were the only problem. In each post I made, I stated that the film was nothing- had nothing, did nothing for me. So I maintain that in general, Sweeny was better all over.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 1:03pm

I agree with Jane, but then again I get your point. Antonio Banderas is not the best singer, and honestly Daniel did ok because the songs he sings are not really meant to be for a fabulous singer. But then if you add his "ok" singing to many mediocre singing stars...then I have a problem.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 1:03pm

I never said that you did. My post wasn't directed only to you. I was just saying that I agreed with Kad's assessment that the vocals were not the major issue in the film.

[Jane2]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 1:17pm

This is what I said, Mr. Midwest - "Could it be that Sweeny Todd was better than Nine?"


Then you said this in the next post -

"That's what I'm saying. The vocals are not Nine's problem. It's just that it's not as good of a movie as Sweeney."

How would I know you weren't talking directly to me?

anyway, forget it.

Updated On: 12/29/09 at 01:17 PM

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 1:19pm

I meant that I wasn't talking to you directly in the second line of the post before that. Then I clarified what I was saying in that second post.

[Marquise]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 1:36pm

The singing is fine in this movie. Not the best ever heard, but certainly not bad. I don't know what any of you are talking about.

The singing in this movie was PASSABLE at best with the exception of Cotillard, Day Lewis, Cruz, Hudson and Fergie.

Kidman should never be allowed to massacre a great song again. Her vocals are pitiful. I loved her in many non musical roles but I thoroughly disliked her in this. I don't have a problem that the song's keys were lowered, she still sounds bad.

If they can't cast people that can sing the score to it's fullest potential then what's the point? Yeah you got a big name star to get the people to see the film and then what? They walk out disliking it anyway...

I hated SWEENEY TODD for this reason as well. Helena Bonham Carter's "singing" (and I use that term loosely) ruined the overall film for me along with the casting of Jamie Campbell Bower as Anthony to name just two.

The next movie musical better have triple threats or I'm sitting it out.

[Kad]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 2:23pm

"The singing in this movie was PASSABLE at best with the exception of Cotillard, Day Lewis, Cruz, Hudson and Fergie."

Well, that takes cares of 7 of the 10 songs (not including the Overture or Finale). So the singing was good with the exception of Loren, Dench, and Kidman.

[Marquise]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 3:14pm

The singing was GOOD. The film was NOT. So that takes care of about 95% of the film.

[JasonM12480]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 3:20pm

I think we really need to be careful and take a look at what it means to "sing." What is a singer? If you're looking for voices like Anthony Warlow, Linda Eder, Streisand, big Broadway theater, knock you out of the park voices - you won't find many of those in Hollywood. Actors are hired for their physical looks and their box office draw, and that is IT.

Every single one of these people in the movie "Nine" can sing - they open their mouths, they match the pitch and rhythm of what they've been given to do, and they "sing." Are they terrific SINGERS? No. But there is a difference, and I think the viewing public should be a bit more intelligent and thoughtful as they realize that most of these people (other than Judi Dench and Sophia Loren) have ever done a stage production before, and their voices aren't MEANT to be huge and giant. Of course Nicole Kidman isn't a fantastic singer. But she can sing and carries a tune. Of course Daniel Day-Lewis is not a fantastic singer. But he's a great actor and can carry a tune just fine. Fergie? Great singer! Kate Hudson? She's got some good pipes. Were they all auto-tuned? Absolutely. Welcome to 2009, where we care about the synthetic sound of the human voice, rather than the real quality.

So yes - all the actors in "Nine" CAN sing. Are they great singers? Not particularly. But remember - there IS a difference.

I, for one, thought the film was terribly boring and went nowhere. I don't fault Marshall for this, though - I fault the script, and the fact that it just doesn't translate to the screen very well. Why anyone would be in love with Day-Lewis' character - a chain smoking, highly depressed man, is beyond me. Guido must have been great in bed. LOL

[Jane2]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 3:41pm

Jason, I read your post and my reply is that this is a musical film. almost all of it musical production numbers. So I still maintain that the people performing in the film should be better than just okay or passable.

Let me add - there's almost no acting involved with some of the "singers." So, yes, it's more important that they sing than act.

Updated On: 12/29/09 at 03:41 PM

[JasonM12480]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 4:00pm

And Jane, while I completely agree with you, this is HOLLYWOOD, not BROADWAY. The producers aren't necessarily interested if a star can sing. They are simply interested in the stars as actors and ticket sellers. Plain and simple.

It won't be changing anytime soon. Occasionally you get the James Marsden who can really SING. But not often.

[Jane2]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 4:10pm

Jason, did you read my post much earlier when I stated the same thing you're just now telling me? That it's all about money and putting big names in to sell tickets?

And as someone else posted which is so true - ok, so you put in big names and get people to spend money. What they see is lousy. If that's what you want, go ahead and sell out. I have a hard time with that, probably because I'm an artist.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 4:11pm

Why do some people think Hudson cannot sing? She gave one of the best vocal performances in the movie IMO.

And also, I thought Kidman sounds just fine. What's wrong with her voice? It's not the best but she sings better than some others in the film.

[hmpeterson]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 4:16pm

Rob Marshall could have done what Movie Musicals did back in the day, cast name actors and have their signing dubbed...ie: West Side Story (Natalie Wood), The King and I (Deborrah Kerr), My Fair Lady (Audrey Hepburn.) Was Marni Nixon too busy to dub for Nine? Ha!

Haven't seen this yet, but from the reviews on this board, I think I'll wait to till it comes out on cable.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/29/09 at 4:23pm

I may be in the minority here but Mrs R & I thought Dench was fabulous. Loren looked & sounded horrible .Lewis was better than I thought as the role did not call for a great voice.Marion was great & Hudson was capable with that type of number.Kidman was not hired for her singing but she was passable.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 12/30/09 at 2:42am

Did anyone who has a problem with Nicole Kidman in "NINE" have a problem with her in "Moulin Rouge"?

BTW, Griffith Franks (I believe is his name), the guy that sang the other "Unusual Way" on the soundtrack,...why is he on there? Who is he?

[AlfieByrne]

Posted: 12/30/09 at 3:41am

The only person whose vocals I didn't like was of Daniel Day-Lewis. His timbre was just too odd whenever he held out a note, and it sounded fabricated, without much drive.

On the other hand, I thought Judi Dench's performance was terrific. It definitely needs to be seen on the screen, I'm guessing, as I haven't listened to the cast recording yet.

Nicole Kidman's "Unusual Way" was different. It wasn't terrible, as her emotions were there, I thought. The fact that they key was lowered so much for her bothered me, but other than that, I wouldn't call it a "massacre."

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 12/30/09 at 4:13am

Fergie and Marion did the definitive versions of "Be Italian" and "My Husband Makes Movies" in the movie (IMHO).

Everyone in the movie had good voices but some (Fergie, Marion, and Penelope) were better than others (Everyone else)

[tazber]

Posted: 12/30/09 at 6:31am

No, they can't all sing. I suppose in the end it's a matter of opinion, but except for Fergie the entire score (what's left of it at least) is an earsore in this iteration. The movie itself is a bore and ill conceived. It should never have been adapted from the stage.

It is an epic fail on just about all counts.

[mc1227]

Posted: 12/30/09 at 9:31am

I think after watching the Kennedy Center Honors last night, we can safely add Frank Langella to this thread. I will say I do admire someone who is not known for singing to go out there naked and try. Gotta love that..

[bjh2114]

Posted: 12/30/09 at 9:39am

I think I am the only person who thought Penelope did a terrible job. I was bored by her every moment she was on screen. And she played Carla like a total prostitute, which she's not. She's just Guido's mistress. I think Rob's direction really hurt her here. And if I didn't already know the words to Call From The Vatican, I wouldn't have understood any of it. This is coming from someone who usually adores Penelope.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 12/30/09 at 11:29am

bjh, I agree a 100%. She was the worst one in the film along Fergie, Nicole Kidman and Sofia Loren. Marion something also was terrible I thought. Then, Kate Hudson was passable I thought for her small role. Judy and Daniel at least acted well.

[romgitsean]

Posted: 12/30/09 at 12:07pm

Has anyone walked out of Nine feeling fulfilled yet?

I have not seen the film, but this does not surprise me. I'm sorry, but I have never liked Nine, and I sighed when I heard about this film, because I knew that it wasn't going to achieve success. It's just too unworkable.

Miramax (sp?) bought the rights to Pippin right after Chicago. Why don't they just greenlight that? I'm sure it would've been a much wiser choice.

[once a month]

Posted: 12/30/09 at 3:01pm

Christopher Walken may be able to sing, but he really should not. Nuff said.