(no subject)
So I just listened/watched 3 versions of Epiphany from Sweeney Todd. On youtube they have all 3 versions, well Johnny's is the recording with pics from the movies, but close enough and they have the amazing Len Cariou's original performance from broadway. And I thought I would compare the three because it's my favorite musical and even if no one reads it, I've enjoyed thinking about it. I'll rank it in order from least favorite to most.
Johnny Depp- His Epiphany is so boring musically. And he sounds like he's in a rock opera. Honestly I like his voice, but not for Sweeney. But if I heard that in a rock song, I would love it! HE's a good actor, but he's just not what I see as Sweeney. He isn't menacing at all. And not to mention you hear Helena Bohnam Carter on it. I love her as an actress, I do, but I can't STAND her vocals as Lovett and from whta I've seen, she is not Lovett. I mean no one's ever going to live up to Angela, but I learned to like Lupone in the role. Helena just isn't eccentric enough and I still think she's too young to play it. Why oh why couldn't they cast Toni Collette, I have a feeling she would be freaking amazing.
George Hearn- He's a great singer and I liked him in the part. But I always felt he went to the extreme of shouting instead of having some subtlety. He does a good job acting, but he still doesn't live up to my favorite.
Len Cariou- Unfortunately in the video you can't see his facial expression, but his is the only version that has given me chills. It was menancing, powerful, and had different levels. The other bad part about the video is that you could tell it was later in the run when his voice was starting to get affected by coming out of the grave the way it was originally staged. So he's a little more shouty than he used to be on the recording. But still, his Sweeney is the definitive one for me. Plus seeing him with Angela Lansbury in A Little Priest is sooo entertaining.
All that said, I'm still anxious to see the movie!