Search - Patrick Doyle :: Love's Labour's Lost: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2000 Film)

Bad Singers Sing Good

Adam E. Silbestein | Durham, NC USA | 06/26/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It's hard to explain why I bought this album. I saw the movie and I was, shall we say, entranced by the actors, who mostly aren't very good at singing, doing their own singing of famous Broadway musical songs. It kind of has the appeal of watching a high school play. The actors aren't that bad, and a couple are great; Nathan Lane of course gives the whole thing credibility. There is something just strangely captivating about listening to bad versions of famous songs, when there are obviously very good versions out there. I was actually worried that the soundtrack would be these professional versions. Thankfully, the actors are on the soundtrack. I'm not really sure why, but maybe a lot of other people were mesmorized like I was. I bet the movie has subliminal messages in it or something."

Finally! A Return to Times Gone By

Stefanie A. Jochman | Sheboygan, WI | 06/09/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A Shakespearean musical? That is my kind of show! As soon as I heard about this film, I instantly rushed to my computer to learn more about it. When I saw what songs would be featured, I was even more thrilled. Kenneth Branaugh promises a project that is truly unique, and he delivers. The actors' voices certainly are not Broadway quality, but Branaugh, Silverstone, and Natascha McElhone hold their own and deliver entertaining performances. Nathan Lane, as the clown Costard, sings a wonderful rendition of Berlin's "No Business Like Show Business" and Alessandro Nivola, Matthew Lillard, and Adrian Lester shine in "I've Got a Crush on You". The best song on this album is definitely "Let's Face the Music and Dance", the swing beats in the song pulsate through the veins.For anyone who loves the great songwriters of the 20's, 30's, and 40's, classic Hollywood musicals, or just an entertaining album, this one will hit the spot. "Love's Labours Lost" is the long-awaited return of the great Hollywood musical!"

The musicals are back

Mr. Villeo Y. Soon | Dover, England, UK | 07/19/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When it was annouched that Shakespeare's 'Love's Labour's Lost' is being adapted into a musical, I begin to wonder can Kenneth Branagh pull it off and amaze us like he did with 'Much Ado About Nothing' and 'Hamlet'. Well, Mr.Branagh has successfully transformed a lesser known play into a brilliant musical that takes place in the 1930's. Transported a complicating play into a fullscale musical film is indeed a brave and daring endeavour in today's movie industry. Instead of writing new material for the songs, director Kenneth Branagh has cleverly use popular standards by Cole Porter,George Gershwin,Irving Berlin and Jerome Kern for the musical numbers. It is intriging to know that the songs used are neatly and cleverly interwoven in the plot and it's a joy to witness songs and dances nicely chereographed on the big screen. As for the soundtrack, I must admit that most of the performers are not trained for the musical theatre but they are not too bad. I am impressed by the performance by Branagh himself and Adrian Lester and of course Mr.Lane. What actually saves the entire soundtrack are the original score by Patrick Doyle ( a long time collobrator with Branagh), the arrangements of the standards and the overall songs chosen for the soundtrack. It does recall the heyday of a bygone era where musicals were kings of the box office. The incidental music by Doyle does conjures up quaint English scenes ans it also serves as an introduction to the songs. Clever! I really enjoy this entertaining soundtrack and it's nice to hear those good old standards. Let's hope that more musicals would gradually make it's way back to the silver screen. Furthermore the movie poster and CD cover for the European market is so much more appealing than the American one. My thumbs up for this once in a few soundtracks."