The Phantom of the Opera – Jealous (Recommendation)

Year: 2004

Director: Joel Schumacher

Starring: Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson, Minnie Driver, Jennifer Ellison, Miranda Richardson, Ciarán Hinds, Simon Callow, Victor McGuire, Kevin McNally, James Fleet

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N91AL8sAh9o

 

 

The Phantom of the Opera is a musical adaptation of French author, Gaston Leroux’s novel Le Fantôme de l’Opéra. The film is set around the mysterious happenings of the Opéra Populaire, home to famed artists and performers of 19^th century Paris, as well as the enigmatic and volatile Phantom (Gerard Butler), who has become obsessed with the enchanting singer, Christine (Emmy Rossum). When she dares to rekindle a childhood love, the Phantom becomes enraged and plots to trap Christine into staying with him, which has deadly consequences for anyone caught up in this love triangle.

 

Jealousy can be a dangerous thing, frequently leading to crimes of passion instead of happiness. In the case of the Phantom, he has become so blinded by disgust at his own facial disfigurement, that he is unable to imagine someone reciprocating love or affection. We slowly see him fall deeper into insanity; killing in the name of love, and pretending to be the spirit of Christine’s deceased father, which is disturbingly incestuous. This “angle of music” reverts to scheming, as a means of manipulating Christine into an adult relationship. Through each failed ploy, it is highlighted that love cannot be bought or bartered. While Raoul (Patrick Wilson) has money, he doesn’t us it to sway Christine in his favour. The Phantom on the other hand, holds his tutelage and ability to kill over Christine, all in hope that she would be too scared to leave.

 

Similarly, this film emphasis that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and love doesn’t have to be vain or fickle. Christine is initially drawn to the Phantom because of his charisma and musical talent, however, this is corrupted due to the return of Raoul, her childhood sweetheart, and the Phantom’s murderous rampage. Even when his murderous disposition and face is revealed, Christine is still hypnotised by him, showing that passion and affection isn’t ruled by beauty. It is evident that if Raoul hadn’t re-entered Christine’s life, she may have succumbed to the Phantom, she later confronts him, stating “Angel of music, you deceived me. I gave you my mind blindly”, which reflects her naivety and his powers of manipulation.

 

Through the years, The Phantom of the Opera has become an iconic staple of the musical community, making it a brilliant subject for a film adaptation. You can’t help but finish the film in awe of how director, Joel Schumacher, encapsulated the theatre in every shot, making use of each scene and set, transforming them into a stages to be performed on.