Pierce Brosnan in Mama Mia Movie
Pierce Brosnan in Mama Mia Movie
Glinda2
Swing Joined: 12/19/06
#1Pierce Brosnan in Mama Mia Movie
Posted: 7/22/08 at 3:09pmI would just like to say a word in defense of Pierce Brosnan's work in the Mama Mia movie. He's received a lot of negative criticism for his raspy singing voice. Critics have been mentioning that moviegoers are laughing when he starts to sing. First of all, he's not a singer...He's an actor who sings. He is on pitch. His voice is no worse than Eric Clapton's, who is one of music's biggest stars. I think he does a great job in that movie. I also wonder whether moviegoers are actually laughing at him or laughing at the awkward transitions from a talking scene to suddenly bursting into song in the most awkward way, as we know Mama Mia is famous for. Believe it or not, I'm not even the world's biggest Pierce Brosnan fan. I just think the panning of his performance is unfair and mean-spirited.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#2re: Pierce Brosnan in Mama Mia Movie
Posted: 7/22/08 at 3:12pm
No...they are laughing at his singing. It was embarrassing.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#2re: Pierce Brosnan in Mama Mia Movie
Posted: 7/22/08 at 3:14pmHe was awful. Totally, totally awful. Realllllly bad. I'm sorry. He was AWFUL.
NYadgal
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/04
#3re: Pierce Brosnan in Mama Mia Movie
Posted: 7/22/08 at 3:17pm
A friend of mine just made the analogy of his performance to that of Christopher Plummer in "Sound of Music" singing 'Edelweiss'.
Christopher Plummer can't really sing, either, but his performance was SO moving and real. And one of my favorite moments captured in any musical - on screen or stage.
That's how I feel about Pierce Brosnan's. He captured the emotion, and made it real. And, his voice was just 'real'. Not 'acting'.
"Two drifters off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see. . ."
#4re: Pierce Brosnan in Mama Mia Movie
Posted: 7/22/08 at 3:23pm
He was honest and raw. Better than having some dope dub over for him. It made it/him more believeable and real.
You don't have to sing to be in MAMMA MIA!
I have been in love with him my whole life and this made me love him even more... if that was possible 
"TO LOVE ANOTHER PERSON IS TO SEE THE FACE OF GOD"- LES MISERABLES---
"THERE'S A SPECIAL KIND OF PEOPLE KNOWN AS SHOW PEOPLE... WE'RE BORN EVERY NIGHT AT HALF HOUR CALL!"--- CURTAINS
Updated On: 7/22/08 at 03:23 PM
#5re: Pierce Brosnan in Mama Mia Movie
Posted: 7/22/08 at 3:28pm
I love how bad he was. It was entirely appropriate to the material, plus it was heartfelt and brave.
Anyone who who thinks he was bad-bad just doesn't "get" it.
#6re: Pierce Brosnan in Mama Mia Movie
Posted: 7/22/08 at 3:33pmOh, I "get it" PalJoey. I get he was awful. But then again ,the whole movie was awful. I'm tired of saying awful.
#7re: Pierce Brosnan in Mama Mia Movie
Posted: 7/22/08 at 3:34pmWait, wasn't Christopher Plummer dubbed in THE SOUND OF MUSIC?
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
broadwayjim42
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/19/03
#8re: Pierce Brosnan in Mama Mia Movie
Posted: 7/22/08 at 3:35pm
SOS was painful but When All Is Said and Done was kind of sweet.
I thought he sounded like Peter Frampton.
NYadgal
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/04
#9re: Pierce Brosnan in Mama Mia Movie
Posted: 7/22/08 at 3:57pm
Well, there goes that analogy... Christopher Plummer was dubbed. 
(How did I NEVER know that?!)
Regardless, I agree with those who have said that his performance was heartfelt and brave. And I loved him for it.
"Two drifters off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see. . ."
Updated On: 7/22/08 at 03:57 PM
#10re: Pierce Brosnan in Mama Mia Movie
Posted: 7/22/08 at 3:59pm
I thought he 'acted' the role fine, which he can do in his sleep, but honestly he can't sing and shouldn't have tried. I normally don't read reviews, but this one made me laugh since I did 'get it.'
"All right, just one more quibble: Pierce Brosnan can't sing. I don't want to overemphasize this. Just bang your head against the wall and repeat the sentence, "Pierce Brosnan can't sing" 10 times. You'll understand how I mean this."
From San Francisco Chronicle
LePetiteFromage
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/19/08
#12re: Pierce Brosnan in Mama Mia Movie
Posted: 7/22/08 at 4:07pm
I'm tired of saying awful.
Then why don't you stop?
#13re: Pierce Brosnan in Mama Mia Movie
Posted: 7/22/08 at 4:16pmit is a sign even if someone can't sing the film will still be a success. IT doesn't need perfect talent, The cast had a great time filming and they share that fun time with us. Its not talent, it is take it for whats it's worth. (not much but still......)
Herbie: "Honey, Don't you know there's a depression?"
Rose: "Of Course I know, I Watch Fox News"
-(modified)Gypsy
Broadway Schedule
December 5th- Hamilton, On Your Feet
December 19th- Noises Off, Edith Piaf Concert at Town Hall
Rose: "Of Course I know, I Watch Fox News"
-(modified)Gypsy
Broadway Schedule
December 5th- Hamilton, On Your Feet
December 19th- Noises Off, Edith Piaf Concert at Town Hall
Roscoe
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#14re: Pierce Brosnan in Mama Mia Movie
Posted: 7/22/08 at 4:39pm
His singing sucked. On pitch it may be, but it sucked. Really sucked. Bad bad bad. And the look on his face, like he was passing a stone, how on earth did any director get a look at that and not do something?
Pathetic. The worst singing since Gerard Butler's wounded moose bellowing in PHANTOM.
"If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers." Thomas Pynchon, GRAVITY'S RAINBOW
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Philip K. Dick
My blog: http://www.roscoewrites.blogspot.com/
NYadgal
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/04
#15re: Pierce Brosnan in Mama Mia Movie
Posted: 7/22/08 at 4:46pm
Well, then, my analogy of Christopher Plummer and 'Edelweiss' stands! 
The point is - the heart was in it. And that's what matters to me.
"Two drifters off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see. . ."
TooDarnHot
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/7/08
#16re: Pierce Brosnan in Mama Mia Movie
Posted: 7/22/08 at 4:48pm
I thought Pierce was fine.
the actors are NOT the biggest problem here.... it's the direction
Roscoe
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#17re: Pierce Brosnan in Mama Mia Movie
Posted: 7/22/08 at 4:48pm
Right. His total lack of singing ability doesn't matter, as long as his HEART was in it. Just like the crappy screenplay, crappy direction, crappy acting, crappy cinematography, and generally crappy production don't matter, because the movie is SO MUCH FUN!!!
"If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers." Thomas Pynchon, GRAVITY'S RAINBOW
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Philip K. Dick
My blog: http://www.roscoewrites.blogspot.com/
Updated On: 7/22/08 at 04:48 PM
TooDarnHot
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/7/08
#18re: Pierce Brosnan in Mama Mia Movie
Posted: 7/22/08 at 4:54pm
Roscoe. What did you expect? There is absolutely no artistic integrity and, for this movie, it doesn't really matter...
it closed at $27 mill for the weekend. The movie is insanely popular.
Roscoe
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#19re: Pierce Brosnan in Mama Mia Movie
Posted: 7/22/08 at 4:57pm
TooDarn. You're back. Who'd a thunk.
I'm not talking about popularity. I'm talking about Brosnan's BAD singing and the general delusion that makes people LOVE something that SUCKS SO BAD because it is FUN.
Maybe I'm just jealous at not having gotten that particular cup of Kool-Aid.
"If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers." Thomas Pynchon, GRAVITY'S RAINBOW
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Philip K. Dick
My blog: http://www.roscoewrites.blogspot.com/
NYadgal
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/04
#20re: Pierce Brosnan in Mama Mia Movie
Posted: 7/22/08 at 5:08pm
Well, I didn't think it was so crappy.
To each his own.
"Two drifters off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see. . ."
#21re: Pierce Brosnan in Mama Mia Movie
Posted: 7/22/08 at 5:10pmI actually liked his performance a lot, aside from the singing. Not that the singing in a musical should really be considered an aside, but that's the only thing I really felt was bad. I thought his acting was quite good; in fact, in terms of acting alone, I liked him best of the three dads.
#22re: Pierce Brosnan in Mama Mia Movie
Posted: 7/22/08 at 5:15pmThe biggest comment coming out of opening night at the sokld out house in the theater I was at was that they were suprised Pierce could sing... They laughed cause it was like... OH MY GOD... JAMES BOND SINGS! Sure he isn't a big named broadway star but there are a lot of people who cannot sing and have made it in broadway musicals (and done well too!)
"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around."
Auggie27
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/03
#23re: Pierce Brosnan in Mama Mia Movie
Posted: 7/22/08 at 5:23pmOff topic, but not: Did anyone else think the balance in the sound was strange? The solo material was low, seemingly to match the conversational timber/volume, but then the chorus was booming. It wasn't the usual problem -- i.e. HAIRSPRAY's crisis in the multiplex. It was loud enough throughout.
"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling
