Though some of its many many songs are good (especially Hathaway's number), it looked pretty spectacular, and the acting was spot-on this behemoth of a musical suffers a-plenty including Crowe's well-intentioned but subpar singing, the out-of-place Cohen & Bonham-Carter, and its use of closeups which works sometimes but doesn't for the majority of the film. A major misfire for Hooper.
Bonham Carter and Baron Cohen stole the show. Vive la France!
Forced portraiture on these characters makes their struggle's mere events. This is the anti-operatic musical, lacking any sense of atmosphere, building only into reaction and evading any sense of shared intimacy. The one time Hooper's lens selection has failed him. Jarring editing. A sad sound mix: shrill, narrow and vocals pre-amped too differently from the score. Jean "saves the cat" too late... Then can't stop; squeezed adaptation. The acting is solid and production design is brilliant. Sacha and Helena's performances are magnificent. Hathaway's performance is sacrificed to the plot. Haven't been this disappointed in a while.
Hooper can't hold a shot long enough for any of this emoting to make much sense. But the close ups are irresistible.
