Film actors are horrible singers and should not be in movie musicals - no matter what!
My first wank!

So this wank started earlier than I first thought it would. But it comes with a twist!

So, over on Broadwayworld.com, user AngusN post a very crappy bootleg of Rosario Dawson singing "Without You" from the RENT movie, and declares that she sounds dreadful. Other posters come to her defense, pointing out that the clip is really bad and that you can hardly hear her.

User slacker, however is having none of it, and declares that movie actors have no business being in movie versions of musicals when there are LEGIT actors out there who can sing the show 8 times a week on stage:


I'm wondering where all of the usual critics are. Those who are so hard on Broadway performers yet are giving a pass to this neophyte. It seems all Hollywood types with zero training and zero experience are given a pass here. Even after Rosario admitted on Regis and Kelly that she went out for the "Rent" auditoin "on a lark".

What an insult to Broadway performers. Hollywood can cross over any time they like but just let a Broadway performer show up for a movie audition "on a lark" and see what happens.

But it's easy to get it right on film. "Take 57 -- "Without You"

Try it eight times a week live on Broadway and then let me know what a great singer you are then.

PS If you don't want anyone to judge Rosario negatively on the limited information available, how can you judge her positively on the same info? And if Rosario is such a wonderful vocalist, why are they hiding her like she has the plague? One would think the production company of "Rent the Movie" would have her singing in every venue they could find. But they aren't. That in itself should tell you something.

What are they hiding?

It's obvious from that clip.


User Wax Lion slaps back in defense:


Slacker, you've got a lot of gall to come onto these boards and proclaim Rosario an "insult to the broadway community". She might have gone out on the audition "on a lark", but she was CALLED for that audition just like the rest of the cast was. She gave her entire soul into her performance of Mimi Marquez and she FAR exceeded anyone's expectations. She lived the character, she breathed a new life into her and she definitly NEVER shamed or brought any injury or insult to the role. And Wax Lion would like to know exactly how and why you know about any future plans for promoting RENT? Where would you have Ms. Dawson sing? She has already been *very* busy with promotions in AND out of the USA. She will be singing no more or less than any of her costars, even though she is *crazy* busy already between promoting RENT and working on SEVERAL other projects at the same time. Slandering a woman who worked her *ass* off is no way to represent yourself here. All Wax Lion asks is that you have some faith, aight? You would be surprised as to who's looking at these boards. "Let he among us without sin, be the first to condemn..."


This goes on, back and forth for six pages, with even the film version of CHICAGO coming under fire from dear slacker:


PS The argument about acting is acting doesn't extend to singing. If you can't sing live it's glaringly apparent immediately. There's no faking it here like they do on film. Someone mentioned "Chicago" earlier. Good example. Who could have played the role of Velma Kelly better than Bebe Neuwirth? Why wasn't Bebe in the film? Or any of the original cast?



spiderdj82: Ok, you are making fun of my Catherine now.....so the boxing gloves are back on. You can not sit there and tell me that Catherine was not a BRILLIANT Velma Kelly. Oh, and Chita Rivera was a better Velma than Bebe. Sorry!!!!



slacker: You do realize it was all on film? Bring Catherine Zeta-Jones to Broadway and let's see what she has, without the benefit of multiple takes, camera tricks, and dubbing.



spiderdj82: well, here is some trivia for you. Catherine Zeta Jones was a singer/dancer on the west end before she was EVER discovered for film, so I say that she does have credentials to do what you ask. Is that enough qualification for you or is she still not a "true" musical star because she has never been on broadway for you to have seen?

slacker: As for shooting myself in the foot, pardon me for not being a CZJ fanatic. If CZJ has the stage experience to recteate a stage role on film then more power to her -- or anyone else who can lay claim to legitimate theater experience. I just can't understand why people who supposedly know so much about legitimate theater are so ready to gush over an unknown quantity without even cursory experience in musical theater. You do Broadway a disservice.


Which brings us up to yesterday, when the Offical RENT movie website released audio clips of some of the tracks from the new soundtrack.

And the consensus was nearly unanimous: Adam Pascal sounds horrible.



StickToPriest: Adam Pascal sounds AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL on 'One Song Glory'.

Thenardier: I didn't want to say that, but I agree.

Although all the tracks sound a bit funny...but he doesn't sound great there.

Atrias: I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm now more worried for Adam than I ever was about Rosario. I hope the vocal is polished before the movie comes out, or oy...


Most seem to really like Rosario's vocals, though one or two say she could use a little more passion. However, slacker is, again, having none of it - especially any such talk of Original Broadway Cast and LEGIT actor Adam being at all bad - and instead goes after Rosario again:



I'm not panning "Rent" the movie because I haven't seen it. But why would any true "Rent" fans stand for Rosario's obvious vocal shortcomings in the movie? "Rent" the movie is a home run before anyone comes to the plate! Why put in a pinch hitter with no record? "Rent" the movie is like being dealt a Royal Straight Flush. Why break it up by asking for a wildcard?

Rosario may have good looks but good looks don't make up for that voice, particularly in a musical. Casting Rosario Dawson as "Mimi" was a big mistake. I hope "Rent" the movie survives it.
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"this aint fukin broadway. its a movie."

Truer words were never spoken. And the difference is palpable.

IMO, she could never do Broadway so she doesn't deserve to be filming "Rent" with two-thirds of the OBC.


*tear* Oh Broadway, you never cease to amaze me with the limitless pretentiousness many of your fans carry with excess.