When it comes to genera’s of film, musicales aren’t exactly amongst my absolute favorite, I’m more of a comedy, Sci-fi and action movie guy, but musicals are still a joy to watch. It’s easy to just sit back and enjoy films with great musical numbers, terrific sets, swift dancing choreography and lovable characters. This is when things like plot or character development are important but there not what you pay attention to, it’s all about the escape and submersing yourself into a world of music, wonder and entertainment. I’ve seen all kinds of great musicals ranging from “Singing in the Rain”, to “Guys and Dolls”, to “Sweeny Todd” but instead of just listing them off, I’m selecting my top ten favorites, here we go!
#10 Chicago (2002)
It lacks both the heart and emotion of other musicals but it is still very inventive with an amazing artistic style and some genuinely great music. Unlike most musicals where the characters are actually singing, all the songs are imagined by the lead female who’s crazy about the theater, making this both unique and original. The cast is brilliant, the adorable Renée Zellweger, the smart and sophisticated Richard Gere, the very talented Queen Latifah and the gifted and insanely beautiful Catherine Zeta-Jones all play there parts to a tesp. If you love musicals then check it out!
#9 Rent (2005)
It's intense, downbeat and even offensive at times but it’s also a little more human than most musicals. The conflicts are deep, and the situations at hand are things we see all the time in real life. All this drama and negativity are balanced with high-spirited musical numbers that are all very memorable and occasionally quiet beautiful. The film has its problems to be sure but for anyone that loves musicals adapted into film, this is one worth viewing.
#8 The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
#8 The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
I’ll admit, when I first saw this film, I thought it was boring and lacking any genuine excitement but it’s grown on me over the years. Joel Schumacher brings art and craftsman ship to the film and the musical numbers are all rather good, not exactly my style of music but great for what it is. Gerard Butler is fantastic as the Phantom, proving that he doesn’t just have a commanding Spartan voice but also a great singing voice and Emmy Rossum is very lovable in the role of Christine. Overall the Phantom is just as fun as both a classic Universal horror monster and as a rich musical.
#7 Mary Poppins (1964)
Julie Andrews's has starred in many successful movies and musicals but nothing tops her role as Merry Poppins. Even the most cynical film viewer will fall victim to her irresistible warmth. Also Dick Van Dyke is outstanding and a lot of fun as Bert. This is such a delightful family fairy tale with dazzling visuals, upbeat songs, a magical environment, a great family moral and it really puts you in a good mood while watching it.
#6 Hairspray (2007)
It’s hard to explain what makes this film so good, it’s just such an innocent and pure film, with terrific musical numbers that will make you want to get up and dance, some genuinely funny moments, a really cool artistic style using special effects and an amazing cast of talented actors including, Amanda Bynes , Queen Latifah , Christopher Walken , Zac Efron and that’s just to name a few. They are all having a blast with their parts and I especially enjoyed newcomer Nikki Blonsky who is delightful and full of energy in the role of Tracy. It’s a sweet and wholesome family musical that easily puts you in a good mood.
#5 West Side Story (1961)
The most iconic and technically brilliant adaption of Shakespeare’s classic drama (Romeo & Juliet) to the big screen. The performances are strong, the choreography is brilliant, the lyrics are terrific, the score is great and Robert Wise’s direction is still just as dazzling as ever. I think that sums it up, check it out.
#4 Evita (1996)
#4 Evita (1996)
Perhaps the most epic musical ever maid (at least one of the biggest), with a solid lead performance from Madonna, a sly and fun side performance from Antonio Banderas and potent look at one of the darkest chapters in the history of Argentina, “Evita” manages to convey lots of complex emotions through its music, making the experience all the more powerful. The style is great and I love how the music perfectly ranges from rich and haunting to fun and upbeat. There are times when the music will make you want to get up and dance, but still keeping the dignity of the source material in check.
#3 Les Miserables (2012)
Ever sense I saw the play, I've been in love with this musicale, and this theatrical retelling is a more then worthy adaption. Full of emotional depth, elaborate sets and powerful performances, it's just an epic muscle on all grounds and one that I've been anticipating for years.
#3 Les Miserables (2012)
Ever sense I saw the play, I've been in love with this musicale, and this theatrical retelling is a more then worthy adaption. Full of emotional depth, elaborate sets and powerful performances, it's just an epic muscle on all grounds and one that I've been anticipating for years.
#2 The Wizard of Oz (1939)
It’s the classic family fairytale that we all grew up with and is a must see for both young and old. The songs aren’t really sensational but they're still timeless, the characters are just as lovable as ever and in all honesty, it’s just a spectacle to look at. The painted backgrounds have so much charm and the set designs are absolutely beautiful. It’s one of those great nostalgic gems from our past that’s always great to dig up again.
#1 Moulin Rouge (2001)
This is simply one of my favorite movies ever, it’s a big love it or hate it film and as for me, I love everything about it. The music may not be original but in all honesty, these old songs never sounded this good and it feels like a celebration of classic music, just given new life, like how “Mama Mea” was a collection of ABBA’s music, just given new life. In all honesty, I love just looking at this film, there’s so much color, and very detailed sets, every time I watch it I notice something new, and everything has some kind of symbolic meaning. The relation between our two lead lovers is so sweet and Nichol Kidman gives one of the best performances of her career. The film is very daring with its vision and despite using old songs, it still feels very original and it works in place with the films time seting. But great music and beautiful sets aren’t all the film has to offer, it also contains topics of morality, a beautifully written story and some real legitimate drama. It’s such a spectacle with big music, big cinematography, big emotion, big sets, some may say it’s to over the top but I love it, this is a movie that celebrates cinema, and if you’re a big movie buff then this film is mandatory.
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