Looking back on our favorite nerd's best musical moments.
There’s no doubting Anna Kendrick is talented. In the course
of her 17-year career, the actress has gone from the breakout in Broadway’s High Society to an Oscar-nominated
presence on the big screen, escaping the clutches of the Twilight franchise with standout roles in Up in the Air and Scott
Pilgrim vs. the World.
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However, Kendrick truly shines when she gets to showcase her
musical prowess in such films as Into the
Woods, The Last Five Years, and
the Pitch Perfect franchise.
Ahead of the release of Pitch
Perfect 2, which has us in aca-anticipation about what standout numbers
Kendrick will get to do, we look back on her five most perfect on-screen
musical performances.
5. “No One Is Alone,”
Into the Woods
While we strived only to include solo numbers, we couldn’t overlook
this duet with Late Late Show host James
Corden. The ballad is an emotional moment in the fanciful story of intertwined
fairytales, allowing Kendrick to add depth to the song’s lyrics. “It’s really
performance driven,” director Rob Marshall said of the song, which he chose to
film up close on both Kendrick and Corden.
4. “On the Steps of
the Palace,” Into the Woods
Kendrick’s big solo number in the crowded ensemble musical
adaptation comes early in the film. Given that it’s Stephen Sondheim and the
lyrics were updated to give the Cinderella role more autonomy, Kendrick
achieved no small feat. It’s a technical performance that should be applauded
for its execution. (Start video at :48.)
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3. “A Summer in
Ohio,” The Last Five Years
Perhaps the most whimsical and fun entry on the list, “A
Summer in Ohio” is Kendrick at her happiest. You can practically hear her smile -- and
see it on screen -- as she belts out her character’s play on words. Kendrick is at
her best when she acts kooky. (If there’s any doubt, see her amazing Twitter
account.) Plus, who knew Ohio could be so much fun?!
2. “Cups,” Pitch Perfect (the film version)
The hit from the first Pitch
Perfect movie became such a massive success that it was remixed and
released as a single in the summer of 2013. But here, we’re showing our
appreciation for the film version, which features Kendrick’s vocals and
cup-slapping abilities. By now everyone’s heard the tale of how it evolved from
a 1931 Carter Family record into a viral sensation when Lulu and the Lampshades
performed it with a set of cups. Then it became a massive hit when Kendrick did
it again during Beca’s audition to be a Barden Bella. (As if she wasn’t going
to get in!)
1. “The Ladies Who
Lunch,” Camp
While “Cups” truly is a special moment on screen, it’s
Kendrick’s very first film that still gets us excited. In the indie comedy
about theater camp, Kendrick plays the ambitious young Fritzi, who eventually
gets her competitor sick in order to sing during a showcase. In her co-star’s
moment of weakness, Kendrick steps in to take on one of Sondheim’s most popular
numbers, “The Ladies Who Lunch,” originally performed by Elaine Stritch. She’s
so commanding that she even makes you want to rise! How about that for screen
power?