I had no idea Anna Kendrick has such a great voice! I loved this film even though I usually can't stand musicals.
I've always been a big fan of (and smitten with) Ms. Kendrick, including in Pitch Perfect, but wow, The Last Five Years gave her a much better opportunity to use her vocal gifts.
As a musical hater, I admit that if Ms. Kendrick wasn't onscreen and whats-his-name was singing, I fastforwarded.
I need to get the soundtrack.
As a musical hater, I admit that if Ms. Kendrick wasn't onscreen and whats-his-name was singing, I fastforwarded.
I am also a fan of Ms. Kendrick, and I think Jeremy Jordan did a great job as Jamie; he is, in any case, a very gifted singer/actor. But, in terms of this score, to me the best representation is definitely the original recording, with Norbert Leo Butz and Sherie René Scott. The second cast recording, with Betsy Wolfe and Adam Kantor is also good, but there are details about how the music is presented that make the first recording the best, imo. Just listening to that is more moving than watching either of the good stage productions I've seen of TL5Y, or watching the movie.
Multiplex: 100+ shows a day, NONE worth watching. John Sayles' latest: NO distribution. SAD.
I think we're very lucky with this property that we have three albums, all with singers who are quite spectacular. I've been listening to the film soundtrack a lot lately, because that's what I have in my phone's music library. But, of course I played and played the original to death when it was the only one, and I poured over the revival when it came out listening for differences and finding these performers' individual idiosyncrasies. I'd also seen the revival, which helped me visualize when listening.
Overall, I think we have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to recordings of this score.
Indeed, her voice is amazing; it actually makes me angry, lol. Why can't I have it?! 😛😵
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