Singing the story away

They don’t have dancing around trees but sure do sing a note or two. Musicals, in Hollywood have always had a especial place and this month WAVE picks four best musicals of recent times for you to hum along with.

by MALIN GURUNG

FROM ISSUE # 154 (October 2008) | IN THIS ISSUE
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Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
Director: Tim Burton

Set against the backdrop of Victorian era London, Sweeney Todd is a dark, gothic, comic opera, featuring the killer combination of Tim Burton and Johnny Depp. Based on one of the bloodiest musicals in history, it tells the story of Benjamin Barker (Johnny Depp), who lives away fifteen years of his life on false charges only to return to see his family torn apart. He along with his partner Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter) then goes on a killing spree seeking for redemption, only to find out that revenge is something that eats itself up. The strong flow of emotions running concurrent with the black humour makes it a truly remarkable musical. Actor Johnny Depp received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor, for his portrayal of the revenge-hungry barber.

Chicago (2002)
Director: Rob Marshall

Based on the 1975 Broadway musical of the same name, Chicago is revolves around the story of two murderesses and their dreams of achieving stardom through any means possible. Set in 1920s Chicago, it deals with themes such as stardom, adultery and scandals. After killing her lying boyfriend Roxie Hart (Rene Zellweger) finds herself in jail along side Velma Kelly(Catherine Zeta-Jones) who is there in charge of murdering cheating husband and sister. Backed with a strong cast such as Richard Gere, Queen Latifah and Lucy Liu the film was directed by Rob Marshall and is the only other musical after Oliver! to be awarded an Oscar for Best Picture.

South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999)
Director: Trey Parker

South Park may seem like an unlikely contender for the list of Hollywood's best musicals, but the rampant humour and political satire set on the background of even funnier songs makes it one musical not to be missed. It is rude, it is nasty and it will surely offend a lot of people; but it is thought provoking, while being hysterically funny at the same time. Based on Comedy Central's long running animated series of the same name, the movie is a funnier take on all things 'American'. It's song Blame Canada was the second song with profanity to be nominated on Oscars for Best Song. Recently, the movie took the 11th position on Entertainment Weekly's '25 Sequels We'd Line Up to See' poll. .