SNMR 5.14: "The Phantom of the Opera"

Tonight's SNMR feature is "The Phantom of the Opera" (2004, PG-13, 143 minutes), starring Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson, Minnie Driver, Simon Callow and Miranda Richardson. The film was directed by Joel Schumacher. It is based on the novel by Gaston LeRoux and the stage play by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

"The Opera ghost really existed. He was not, as was long believed, a creature of the imagination of the artists, the superstition of the managers, or a product of the absurd and impressionable brains of the young ladies of the ballet, their mothers, the box-keepers, the cloak room attendants or the concierge. Yes, he existed in flesh and blood, although he assumed the complete appearance of a real phantom: that is to say, of a spectral shade." --Gaston LeRoux from the Prologue to his novel.

MY OPINION: Emmy Rossum does a fantastic job playing the part of Christine Daae, both with her singing and acting. Minnie Driver's small part as Carlotta is amusing, even though her voice was dubbed for most of the film. Gerard Butler, who played The Phantom, was a horrible casting choice. His performance to me seemed uninspired. Directing this type of film is not Joel Schumacher's strength. He seems to me to be more suited to direct big budget action films, not sedate period pieces such as this. I was also disappointed in the make-up under the Phantom's mask. It wasn't hideous enough and not scary at all.

What this film does have going for it is that the script is based on the stage play by Andrew Lloyd Webber, which I saw with my ex at the Wang Theater in Boston in 1991 or 1992. The music is awesome and prompted me to acquire the cast recording two CD soundtrack set, which I found reasonably priced on eBay.

For a long time I've wanted to read the original novel but never got around to it. Maybe someday.

The film is okay but doesn't hold a chandelier bulb to Webber's stage play.

**½ out of *****