In 1990 “Ghost,” starring Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore, was a smash film hit worldwide. While the swooningly romantic film didn’t win an Oscar for Best Picture that year it garnered Academy Awards for screenwriter Bruce Joel Rubin’s original screenplay and for Whoopie Goldberg’s portrayal of psychic Oda Mae Brown.
In 1990 “Ghost,” starring Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore, was a smash film hit worldwide. While the swooningly romantic film didn’t win an Oscar for Best Picture that year it garnered Academy Awards for screenwriter Bruce Joel Rubin’s original screenplay and for Whoopie Goldberg’s portrayal of psychic Oda Mae Brown.
Now this supernatural love story has taken on new life as a staged musical with book and lyrics by Bruce Joel Rubin, featuring an original pop music score from Grammy Award winners Dave Stewart of the ‘80 s duo the Eurythmics and Glen Ballard.
The story, set in modern day New York, celebrates the power of an undying love shared by Sam and Molly (Steven Grant Douglas and Katie Postotnik). The couple has everything to live for, but their happiness comes to an abrupt end when Sam is shot to death by a mugger.
Sam, now a ghost, finds himself trapped between this world and the next and refuses to move on until he’s certain that his beloved Molly is out of danger. Unable to communicate with Molly, Sam turns to a phony storefront psychic, Oda Mae Brown (played with comedic vigor by Carla R. Stewart).
The new musical score is adequate, but the most memorable song in the show is “Unchained Melody,” written by Hy Zaret and Alex North. What really is outstanding in this production is the use of illusions created by famous stage and film illusionist Paul Kieve (“Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” and “Matilda the Musical”). Kieve’s special effects and staging are eye popping as Sam’s character walks through a seemingly solid door, subway passengers are thrown in the air during a high speed train ride and ghostly figures step out of their lifeless bodies.
“Ghost the Musical,” at the Hollywood Pantages, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angles, runs through July 13 only. For tickets phone 1-800-982-2787 or online at HollywoodPantages.com or Ticketmaster.com. Tickets also available at the theatre box office which opens at 10am. Individual tickets start at $25.
*****
“Winter’s Tale” writer, producer, director Akiva Goldsman (Oscar winning screenwriter “A Beautiful Mind”) spent over six years bringing Mark Helperin’s novel to the screen and it is an obvious labor of love on his part. According to Goldsman, it was no easy task since he had to compress a nearly 1,000 paged novel into a 120 paged screenplay without losing the essence of the novel. Does his film about love eternal work on screen? Well the answer is yes, and no.
On the plus side, Goldsman has assembled an impressive cast that includes Russell Crowe, Colin Farrell, William Hurt, Will Smith and Eva Marie Saint as well as a beautiful spirit horse that almost steals the movie as he flies through the air as only spirits can or gallops across the snow to save Farrell from demonic forces.
The story begins as Farrell’s character, an infant, is cast adrift inside a small boat aimed at the city of New York. Like Moses he is found when his small craft is washed ashore. At first he is raised by a band of gypsies, but later becomes like a son to the devilish Russell Crowe, sporting an Irish accent you can cut with a knife. Soon things go wrong in their father-son like relationship when the younger man decides he can rob without killing and maiming. This puts him at odds with Crowe who feels his protégé is turning away from the dark side and into the light.
Things really change when the younger thief comes to rob a wealthy home and discovers a beautiful red-haired woman inside who steals his heart. Even he can not comprehend the fact that he has fallen totally in love with this beauty who is drying from tuberculosis.
If this sounds like a mish-mash it kind of is, but if you are a romantic at heart who believes in love that never dies, angels, demons and destiny the many plot lines will be appealing.
Another plus is seeing New York change and grow over a century, a century in which our hero does not die because he has a destiny to fulfill. This adds an element of time-travel to the tale which eventually leads to a big showdown between Crowe and Farrell. One of the best scenes overall is the confrontation between the two adversaries on horseback, Crowe on a majestic black steed and Farrell atop the beautiful white spirit horse.
The film deals with many subjects–good vs. evil, destiny, eternal love, time-travel and the alignment of the stars in our lives. While this sounds overwhelming, things do sort themselves out eventually.
The many plot facets often make the storyline feel over-stuffed. And if supernatural themes don’t appeal to you, neither will this fairy tale about love eternal. But if you are a romantic at heart, this may be a film valentine you will savor.
The DVD comes with added features in which the director talks about the many plot elements in the story. Another feature focuses on the four white horses used to portray the spirit horse. Particular emphasis is placed on the main stallion always ridden by Farrell. This horse knew instinctively what to do whenever there were retakes. All he had to hear was “Action!” Warner Bros, rated PG-13.
