Customer Reviews

Movie Album [Limited Edition with Bonus DVD]

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Barbra Streisand's latest CD release, "The Movie Album" is an emotion-filled ride through some of cinema's most treasured movies and the music that made them great. Streisand's lush rendition of each tune is, in some ways typical Streisand, but there seems to be so much heart in the delivery of the lyrics that the music is truly something quite special. The arrangements and orchestrations are superb and each of the tunes are mixed to perfection. Barbara Streisand is probably the quintessential perfectionist and it shows in this album; each aspect of the presentation is absolutely fantastic.

Barbra proves once again that she's the consummate musical story teller. Her voice simply sails, soars and utterly delights in her latest gift of song, The Movie Album. 

But they're not just songs, they're mini-screenplays -- stories of love, hope, and self-realization, each one delicately marked with that special brand of Streisand wisdom.  From beginning to end, Barbra takes you with her on this lush, romantic, magical journey. The DVD disc is wonderful, as it gives fans a rare glimpse of Barbra in the recording studio creating this masterpiece. 

Do yourself a favor and 'buy a ticket' to The Movie Album.  Just like a great movie, it's the ultimate in wonder-filled escapism.

I've already reviewed the Movie Album CD - so this review will pertain only to the "bonus" DVD.

I gave the CD a "so-so" review (she's still got a great voice, just a disappointing song selection. set of arrangements, & general lack of "spark" in her performances...) - the DVD is another story.

I think I like the DVD more than the CD itself. The 2 songs that we're given on the DVD are haunting - the visuals of her singing keep playing in my mind, days later.

Watching her singing - to actually SEE her face in close-up singing these songs - made me realize how much I've missed her... how much I've missed seeing her singing on TV over the years... It's a great face - and I wish there were more of her on the DVD... BUT - 2 songs is what we're given.

OK. So all we get are 2 songs. But, these 2 songs are performed well - filmed well, too. Her face - like her voice - has matured. Both voice & face remain unique - and beautiful. It's interesting to see the "life-lines" that appear here & there (I'm so glad they didn't "soft-focus" her to death - ala Lucy in MAME), so we can actually SEE her face... It's fascinating to see this face of hers as she creates the Streisand "sound." Fascinating to watch her, too, in an environment she obviously feels comfortable in - the recording studio. I recommend the DVD for that alone.

Also, the vocals on the DVD are not the same as on the CD. That, too, is worth the price.

My disappointment? Track 3 - the narrative. Why an audio narrative over a still photo - for a DVD? You wind up sitting in front of the screen watching a still photo for minutes & minutes... Doesn't make sense. Why wasn't this an actual "live" interview - with a "moving image"of her? For those of us that truly appreciate Streisand as an artist, there just isn't enough of her out there... The bonus of having a "live" VISUAL interview would've been nice. The audio-only interview is sort of strange - and not worth it.

In short, the lady's still great. The CD's a little disappointing - as is the DVD - but this package is still worth the price.

With "THE MOVIE ALBUM" Barbra Streisand Proves Herself As A Wonderful Producer,Singer & Album Director!! This Cd Is So Grand, Sweeping & Lush I Can't Listen To Just A Song Or Two...Once I Play A Song I Just Listen To The Whole Cd (Sometimes Two Or Three Times In A Row). The Song Choices Are Very Good & Vary Between Well Known & Obscure!! Every Song Is Given A Tender, Sincere Reading With The Exception Of "Calling You" Which Get A Fabulous Reading With New Lyrics And "You're Gonna Hear From Me" Which Gets The "BARBRA" Treatment!!! The DVD Lets You See Barbra In The Studio, Which Is Always Fun!!! "The Movie Album" Calls To Mind The Gorgeous Shirley Horn Cd "Here's To Life"!!! Barbra Reminds The World That, Given Great Songs... She Is STILL The Greatest Star!!!!!!

I bought this album knowing that to listen to it would be an event. But as always with a Barbra Streisand album, it has exceeded my wildest expectations. For her Movie Album, Streisand did not rely on the better known oscar winning songs, but instead she dusted off quite a few gems that had lain hidden away for many a year and breathed new life into them. Many were songs that I had never heard of. The orchestrations and that VOICE are truly magnificent. I get goosebumps when I hear her plaintive wail in 'Calling You', and 'You're Gonna Hear From Me'. Songs that particularly move me are 'Wild Is The Wind' and 'But Beautiful'. This is Streisand's finest work since the 'Broadway Album'. Have a listen and see if you don't agree!

Coming in a package that most certainly proofs to young artists how to sell a CD nowadays, one is already excited to stick "The Movie Album" - CD of Barbra Streisand in the player... and with the first notes rising from your speakers you just know it: Something extraordinary is about to happen. And while the excitement grows with every note, you just don't want this CD to end. And when it does end after more than 50 minutes of pure joy ... you just can't help it - you have to listen to it all over again... and again... and again.

The Movie Album has proven to be a re-awakening for the legend, who takes on every song with emotion and confidence. Her version of "Smile" is unparalleled. The paper and billboard reviews have been raving about this album, with obvious reasons. At 61, she is STILL the best ALL-AROUND women vocalist in the world. ... You won't be dissapointed.

Earlier today, I was driving up the Pacific Coast Highway listening to one of the best pieces of music I've heard in a decade, the Movie Album. Barbra Streisand brings us not just a catalogue of movie songs but walks us through a historical retrospective of story telling music. Some of the pieces have remained timeless and stand without the film to which they were once associated such as: Moon River. Ms. Streisand perpetuates that timelessness with her beautiful vocals and glorious orchestrations.

This piece of work extends beyond the typical pop culture, feel good music one purchases at the store these days. This music transmits the full range of emotion, for example - the sadness I feel when listening to Smile or the sensuousness I feel when hearing I'm in the mood for love. The Movie Album has it all.

My recommendation is, sit back, relax and keep the music playing.

Christopher McLaughlin-Brooks

Except for a brief flirtation with contemporary/rock/folk music in the 1970's, Barbra Streisand has been staunchly and resolutely a Pop singer in the same league as Sinatra, Garland and Tony Bennett. In fact her "Movie Album" comes some 40 years after Bennett's classic "The Movie Song Album."
Part and parcel of being a Pop artist presupposes an affinity and an appreciation for the lyrics and the musical line of a song. Listen to how Streisand sings "Calling You" a much neglected yet beautiful song from the movie "The Bagdad Café," and how her voice caresses the words and the notes: it's touching and evocative of a longing for unfulfilled desire.
I think the biggest surprise of this CD is "Wild is the Wind," the theme song from a 1950's movie starring Anna Magnani which Streisand makes her own and re-introduces this lovely, emotional song to the modern repertoire. Compare her version to the classic Nina Simone version from the 60's: very different interpretation, very different voices, very different singers yet they both share a deep seated understanding of this gorgeous melody.
Barbra Streisand never ceases to surprise us and "Movie Album" shows us once again what a smart, intelligent and tasteful artist and fine interpreter of songs she is.

Barbra Streisand's THE MOVIE ALBUM is serious music. Her voice is exceptional. Yes, she's not playful and cheerful, etc., there are thousands of different teenage-pop-always-repetitive-simplistic songs for kids out there. If you want that kind of "music", there's plenty to find, no doubt about that. But this is Barbra Streisand, the celebrated vocal stylist, the singer with perhaps the best voice there has ever been in this world. It's only natural that she's going to use that instrument for music that is rather difficult to understand for an average listener. And that is where she's simply the best: those unknown "obscure" little theme songs are simply so much better than those famous tunes everybody has heard so many times before. THE MOVIE ALBUM is one of those rare musical gems that you will not be able to whistle by heart after you hear it for the first time. Given her incredible instrument, which only gets better with time, Barbra Streisand will undoubtedly record many more albums in the years ahead. My advice would be to completely ignore any idea of recording uptempo songs. Nothing compares to a serious ballad sung by this amazing voice. Serious music from a serious singer.