Baron Cohen To Rap the Role of Pirelli in Sweeney Film- Page 3

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 12/17/06 at 6:06pm

To be fair, the "s" key is right next to the "d" key.

Could be a typo. Even the best sites have typos sometimes.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 12/17/06 at 6:15pm

Why is ev'ryone so worked up its ALL gonna get smushed through ProTools anyway. Them as can't "sing" will be made to w the magic of computer programming.( welcome to show biz folks whatever gets yer movie made....)

[All_For_Laura]

Posted: 12/17/06 at 7:17pm

This problem cannot be solved so easily. Bottom line is, if he can't sing it, he should not have been cast!

[leefowler]

Posted: 12/17/06 at 7:51pm

I have a feeling that the mistake here is the use of the word "rap". I think they just mean he's not much of a singer, so he'll talk-sing most of it....which is not that big of a deal, since most of his song is patter...and losing the high "C" in it hardly ruins the musical integrity of this whole project. This isn't a very large role, after all.

Actually he is fairly musical, as those know who have heard his version of "Throw The Jew Down The Well".

[Parks]

Posted: 12/17/06 at 8:38pm

You all do realize that this won't be the first time Sondheim will have had a character rap, right?

The Witch in Into The Woods, anyone?

*snap*

[TomMonster]

Posted: 12/17/06 at 8:42pm

Actually, Sondheim kinda likes rap...

If the lyrics are good.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 12/17/06 at 8:46pm

Fine by me. Karma for those who told Hairspray fans that Travola/Efron's casting was fine and dandy. :)

[timote316]

Posted: 12/17/06 at 8:49pm

Why are they keeping Pirelli's song? I think the contest would work much better as dialogue, personally.

[Broadwayboy2631]

Posted: 12/17/06 at 9:02pm

This is a nightmare STOP THE MOVIE!!!

[jv92]

Posted: 12/17/06 at 9:15pm

It's not going to be rap. It's going to be Rex Harrison-style talk-singing.

[pandajen14]

Posted: 12/17/06 at 9:21pm

jv92- that was my first thought. I doubt they'd actually have him RAP. I'm actually quite excited to see him do this movie.

[Lizzya9]

Posted: 12/17/06 at 9:24pm

why does anyone care? it's not like your life is depending on how good this movie is, OK! no big deal, just a movie, a source of entertainment. don't see it if you don't like it. jeez, chill.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 12/17/06 at 9:37pm

This isn't a very large role, after all.

The role is what you make of it. Donna Lynne Champlin's performance in the recent revival was, in my opinion, worthy of a Tony Award.

But honestly, we're talking about a movie here. You should always go in with zero expectations when seeing a stage to film adaptation. The film isn't being made for us. It's being made for millions upon millions of people who have no idea what the hell SWEENEY TODD is. All we can hope for is that the director has a strong vision and that he acheives it. The actors' performances are the soul of a piece of theatre. Strong direction is the soul of a good film. As far as I know, Tim Burton has yet to produce a mess. So we needn't worry. Just don't EXPECT anything.

Updated On: 12/17/06 at 09:37 PM

[To The Stage!]

Posted: 12/17/06 at 9:41pm

WHY on earth did they hire him if he can't even sing his role? It's not like he's a huge star, and they desperately want him.

[Plum]

Posted: 12/17/06 at 10:01pm

Well, I wouldn't put anything past Burton, but to be fair...this is The Sun we're talking about. Hardly a reliable source. And "The Contest" is definitely the most cut-worthy part of the show. There are other ways to get Sweeney to draw the Beadle's attention and murder his first victim.

Oh, and to whoever said that all us show queens would be going to see the film no matter what? Wrong. I barely get to see the movies I want to as it is; I can skip (and have skipped) musicals that don't look so great. With this director, and most of all, this godawful choice for Sweeney, I'm not touching this film with a 40-foot pole unless the early reviews (by people who aren't slavering Burton/Depp fanatics, thanks very much) are great.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 12/17/06 at 10:34pm

Why is everyone sayong "Stop the movie! This will be horrible!" you haven't even seen it yet. The movie hasn't even started to film scenes or record music. Chill. Pass judgement when you see the movie.

The article most likely means Cohen will talk-sing the part, which is fine. The article stated he can sing, his voice is just too low. Why is everyone worrying so much. Sondheim has a say in this and is approving the choices they make. Relax.

Besides, as other people have said, if you don't want to see the movie, then don't see it. If the movie sucks, it's not the end of the world.

[Wildcard]

Posted: 12/17/06 at 10:44pm

LATEST: TIM BURTON has hailed SACHA BARON COHEN's singing ability in the face of media reports suggesting his songs have been cut from the forthcoming SWEENEY TODD movie.
The BORAT and ALI G creator plays SIGNOR ADOLFO PIRELLI - the arch-rival of JOHNNY DEPP's SWEENEY TODD, The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street - in the big screen version of the hit musical.
And Burton laughs of claims he had instructed Cohen to rap his songs instead of singing them.
He says, "Sacha will surprise everyone. When he auditioned for me, he sang FIDDLER ON THE ROOF without accompaniment and was incredible.
"STEPHEN SONDHEIM, who wrote the original Broadway musical, loves Sacha's voice."

Source:
Press Release on Sacha Baron Cohen