That's comical. First of all, Helena's voice was SO altered using all types of sound equipment. You can hear at the end of all of her musical phrases. Secondly, I thought Brittany Snow sounded fantastic in Hairspray. To say that Hairspray could have benefited from better voices is ridiculous. I don't even love the movie that much and thought that the music was one of the things that didn't need fixing. Sweeney on the other hand had a poor, as far as singers go, Lovett, Johanna, Anthony, Pirelli, and Lucy. It sounds terrible. The orchestrations are wonderful as is the acting, but as a musical it blows. And the only reason it's in that category for the Globes is that its supposed to be a musical. The category is Best Comedy or Musical. Tim Burton's Sweeney is certainly not a comedy, and if we are judging on which is the better movie musical, Hairspray's musical qualities win out.
"Helena's voice was SO altered using all types of sound equipment."
You can actually hear a few of her faults, so either the sound editors missed a few things, or they didn't modify her all that much. Now Brittany and Amanda on the other hand. You can't listen to Brittany's part from "The New Girl In Town" and tell me her voice wasn't dramatically altered. And same with Amanda in Hairspray. Listen to what little singing she did, and tell me that it was not edited more than Helenas.
"To say that Hairspray could have benefited from better voices is ridiculous. "
Well not really. Tim Burtons theme did not need amazing singers. Tim Burton didn't try to make a "Big, Flashy, Musical". He took a story, and used the music in it. He never meant for it to be so "musical", if you will. Hairspray on the other hand appeals to families, and was supposed to be "Big and Flashy". The difference between Hairspray and Sweeney Todd was that one was meant to be a full blown splashy musical, while the other used the elements of the music provided.
"Sweeney on the other hand had a poor, as far as singers go, Lovett, Johanna, Anthony, Pirelli, and Lucy. "
Lucy? Are you kidding me? Lucy was played by Laura Michelle Kelly. I'm sure I don't have to tell you anything about her theatre credits. She sounded great, and anyone who know's the show, would know that she isn't supposed to sound good. Personally, I thought Johnny Depp and Jamie sounded great. I've even grown to like Sascha, but that will take some more time.
Now don't get me wrong, I love Hairspray, and Sweeney, it's just when it comes to the films singers themselves, I feel Sweeney's fit with it's overall theme, better than Hairsprays.
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Bynes barely did anything in Hairspray and when she did open her mouth it sounded so awkward... That being said Helena more or less stole the show in Sweeney Todd. She managed to hold her own against Johnny's Sweeney (which was fantastic)! Helena can act circles around Amanda Bynes... just look at their movie credits...
Hairspray was a joyous adaptation that entirely deserved to be embraced by audiences as it was. Sweeney, though, is a motion picture for the ages! It is one of the all-time great musical-film adaptations in film history.
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Exactly, Actr. I very much enjoyed Hairspray, but I am still haunted by Sweeney. I think it's a great film adaptation of a brilliant musical. Tim Burton really pulled it off. Of the four nominees I've seen in the Musical or Comedy category (I haven't seen Charlie Wilson's War), my vote would go hands-down to Sweeney. And Across the Universe shouldn't even be there. I even liked Enchanted more than that movie.
I saw and enjoyed both, but Sweeney takes my vote.
Hairspray was great for what it was, a big, splashy musical with an all star cast(how does Amanda Bynes get top billing over Alison Janney?) singing, dancing, and acting. I have to agree that Bynes's singing wasn't amazing. It was more annoying than amazing. HBC sounded fine for what Burton wanted and that was a musical with no real professional singers singing one of the most difficult scores to sing and it works.
I didn't care too much for Travolta's performance either and I think either Alan Rickman or Sacha Baron Cohen should've been in that category instead.
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After the Sky.
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And in no way was SWEENEY "ruined," DickonDefysGravity.
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I loved Hairspray, and I am sure that I will enjoy it for years to come (nothing like a fun movie to take care of the blues!) However, I must agree with many that Sweeney should win, hands down. It's the best musical of the last 2 decades. It will be discussed and studied for a very long time.
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You know, in the "Best Movie Musical Award", I said Hairspray beat Sweeney just a little bit, mostly because I just felt the story of Hairspray was more enjoyable and had more purpose to it.
But I must say.. I'm rethinking my opinion because, mostly because I'm still very haunted by Sweeney, and I still find myself thinking about it on a very regular basis. So obviously it did something right story wise.
But yeah, I've definitely been of the opinion all along that ACTING wise, Sweeney pwned Hairspray :) Not that the Hairspray cast was bad at all- in fact they were all very good I thought- but Johnny and Helena are brilliant, as are Alan Rickman, Ed Sanders, and pretty much everyone else involved with Sweeney. It was truly a cast of brilliant actors who sang, and I SO much prefer that- at least for that kind of story- than a cast of singers who act. And besides, I didn't feel the singing was bas at all :) I love Johnny's voice- quite a lot actually (it's obviously not trained, but he's got beautiful tone and great pitch). And Helena sang just fine. Sure she's not a fabulous singer, but she did a really good job with what she had.
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Sweeney... I really disliked the Hairspray movie,and I quite like the stage show. Sweeney is beautiful movie!
So, that was the Drowsy Chaperone. Oh, I love it so much. I know it's not a perfect show...but it does what a musical is supposed to do. It takes you to another world, and it gives you a little tune to carry with you in your head for when you're feeling blue. Ya know?
I really enjoyed both movies, but I would have to say Sweeney Todd. I thought Hairspray was more of a fun movie. And Sweeney Todd was more visual.
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There was an interview in one of the trades out here where Tim Burton says he told Johnny and Helena to deliberately not sound like theatre singing. I'm not saying that she could have sounded like that if she wanted to, but it sounds like there was a directorial choice as well.
how is this even up for discussion? "hairspray" was a really fun movie that i enjoyed alot and had great catchy songs, but "Sweeney" was a masterpiece! One of the greatest, if not THE greatest movie musical in the last two decades.
Why are people comparing Helena to Amanda? Amanda I don't believe is the reason they got nominated? Penny was downsized in the movie, and Amanda didn't do anything to make her stand out more. I would think some of you would be comparing Helena to Nikki. Who can sing and dance, her acting for the most part was great. She's young is still as a lot to learn. So to me, she was better in the movie Hairspray then Helena was in Sweeney. Even if they altered their singing, Hairspray did a better job of it. lol! And someone had mentioned it was a sellout due to the amount of stars it had, Dreamgirls had a lot of stars in it and won.
That's just me. I loved Sweeney. Great film. I just like to go for the movies the are uplifting to me most! So yes, I do think Hairspray will win it!
Broadway Shows I've Seen: Hairspray, Chicago, Little Shop of Horrors (2003), The Wedding Singer, Spamalot, Riverdance, Rent, Beauty and the Beast, Spring Awakening, Wicked, Legally Blonde, Phantom of the Opera, Sweet Charity (revival), Drowsy Chaperone, The Lion King, Dreamgirls(2010 Tour).
Both, I feel, are superb movie musicals, and leagues above what we've been given for several years. They were well cast, cleverly amended, and both found their own energy and scope apart from the source material. The reworking of the musical numbers was coherent and engaging to watch. Todd is the slightly better piece, but Hairspray is still one of the most effortlessly joyous movies I've seen in years. Updated On: 1/1/08 at 06:32 PM