When I listed my top ten movie musicals a couple of months back I took a little bit of stick for not including The Wizard Of Oz . How could I exclude such a classic musical and include instead young pretenders like Chicago and Hairspray?
Evita
27 March 2012 by Leave a Comment
It’s fair to say that Madonna has had a pretty successful career. Not many popstars who had their first hit in the early 80s are still releasing highly anticipated albums today. Yet for all of her chart success there’s a sense that Madonna won’t be satisfied…
White Christmas
15 December 2011 by Leave a Comment
I’ve been wondering for a while about how I score my reviews. I don’t have a checklist or criteria, I go on gut instinct and although I think that works most of the time…
Les Mis – Some Good News
6 December 2011 by Leave a Comment
As regular readers know I am half excited and half terrified by the forthcoming movie version of my favourite musical, Les Miserables. The recent announcement that rising star Eddie Redmayne had been cast as Marius was a real relief, I couldn’t have stood it if Nick Jonas had got the role. More good news came this week from director Tom Hooper who has confirmed that filming would be in 2D rather than 3D
More Les Mis Casting News
2 November 2011 by 2 Comments
I breathed a massive sigh of relief this morning when I read that Eddie Redmayne has been cast as Marius in the film adaptation of Les Miserables. Not because I’m a big fan of his, in fact I know nothing about him although he has a strong theatrical background which is encouraging. No – my sigh of relief was entirely due to the fact that Nick Jonas hadn’t won the role…..
The Phantom of the Opera
29 October 2011 by Leave a Comment
I’m a fan of musicals. Have I mentioned that before? Only a hundred times a day? Well I do always say that if it’s worth saying, it’s worth saying a lot. I’m writing this review of The Phantom of the Opera while listening to Les Miserables …
Top Ten: Books To Read This Year
21 October 2011 by Leave a Comment
Like many avid readers I have a huge pile of books still to be read. Some have been sent to me for review, some have been presents and others I bought myself. I’m currently observing a book-buying moratorium – no more books until I can get through a good chunk of my to-be-read list…
Is a good remake possible?
16 September 2011 by 1 Comment
When I was mooching around the stands at Empire Big Screen a few weeks ago, I watched the trailer for the remake of Footloose. I honestly didn’t know whether to laugh or cry….
Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe confirmed for Les Mis
13 September 2011 by Leave a Comment
Producer Cameron Mackintosh has confirmed that Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe will star in the film version of Les Miserables. As you know, my love for Les Mis knows no bounds so I’m slightly worried. I like Hugh Jackman and providing Crowe is a good singer he could make a wonderfully intense Javert, but the idea of celebrity casting trumping genuine musical talent is disturbing. Still, Working Title, Cameron Mackintosh and director Tom Hooper have a decent record – it could be all right. We’ll find out in December 2012.
Do you hear the Hollywood stars sing?
30 August 2011 by Leave a Comment
The overwhelming success of the Les Miserables 25th anniversary concert has given a boost to the possibility of a film adaptation actually happening. Rumours have been flying around for a while now and it seems almost certain that Tom Hooper will direct and Hugh Jackman will star as Jean Valjean. I’m quite excited by this as I love Jackman’s voice and I think he’ll do the part justice. Some of the other names suggested are a little worrying….