Helena Bonham Carter To Star as Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd Film- Page 3

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 10:03am

I disagree - I thought Patti was fab.u.LOUS.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 10:04am

Well if she can sing, HBC would have been perfect for the John Doyle version. I hope you aren't insinuating that Patti actually thought she'd be asked to star: she's probably still waiting for that movie of THE BAKERS WIFE to roll around too :)

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 10:07am

I am shocked that Sondheim approved of this casting...I predict the movie will be a huge flop and now I will wait until it comes out on DVD to see it. Very very disappointed.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 10:09am

I'm sure she didn't expect it, Michael, but if I were her, I'd want to know there was someone either a)as close to as talented as I, and/or b)with major ticket-selling power to justify my not being cast.

[Kringas]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 10:11am

I don't understand why people are saying the movie will now flop or open terribly because HBC has been cast. It's still has Johnny Depp in it. Are actresses like Collette and Winslet (or even Streep, for that matter) really known for their ability to open a film?

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 10:12am

If Collette, Winslet or Streep had been cast, I would be much more excited about seeing this movie...just my opinion. I don't know how the masses will feel, but I know that I am extremely disappointed.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 10:13am

Winslet is entirely too young.

But Collette and Streep I daresay are both more popular in the eyes of the ticket-buying public than Bonham Carter.

Updated On: 10/18/06 at 10:13 AM

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 10:14am

Ugh.

This makes me mad.

EH!

Maybe she will be good?

It is just there are people who would have been better.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 10:16am

I have no doubts that she'll be good.

But...I would have rather seen someone else in the part.

For a film like this I feel casting is very important to the money it will take in.

I don't want to see it quickly dissappear from theatres.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 10:20am

"I don't want to see it quickly dissappear from theatres."

I don't want this either, but unfortunately, that is probably what will happen...

[Kringas]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 10:22am

But Collette and Streep I daresay are both more popular in the eyes of the ticket-buying public than Bonham Carter

I understand that, at least in the case of Streep (I'm not quite sure the general public has that much awareness of who Toni Collette is, but I could be wrong) but the draw here is really Depp, isn't it?

Besides I was just going by what I read on this thread. I saw "tank" followed by "huge flop." I was just wondering if someone like Collette or Streep would make that much of a difference in that case.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 10:23am

We still have to wait to hear about Anthony, Johanna and The Beggar Woman. Burton could still make some good choices.

[Ciaron McCarthy]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 10:25am

Toni Collette would not give this film a big opening. I think Tim Burton and Johnny Depp are enough to open a film. I think the film will be great (or at least I hope).

[Patronus]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 10:27am

I am trying to grasp why people who would have seen it otherwise are so quick to write it off and wait for the DVD because of the Helena Bonham Carter casting?

It seems safe to assume that we are all fans of musicals if we are posting on a Broadway message board. That in mind, if you are are type to believe that not seeing it would make a statement or that petitions work for things like this, wouldn't it send a better message to the film industry if we all saw it regardless of the casting to let them know that we want more movie musicals ? (assuming that we do).

I know it isn't an issue of the $10 because most of us are dropping down cash a couple of times a week to see theatre and often times people are paying hundreds of dollars to see the same show multiple times. A lot of us even pay to see shows that we think will be horrible just to say we saw it and have seen everything that opened. Why would this film be any different from that?

I just don't quite get how being on board with Burton and Depp can change so much simply from becoming Burton/Depp/Bonham Carter.

Burton seems like the key here. We all knew the film would take a different perspective when he was signed on rather than the tone from someone who might have been darker and (in my opinion) a better choice like Sam Mendes or Christopher Nolan. If you supported Burton and the vision that we all are assuming he will have then how can the addition of Bonham Carter really change your willingness to see the film?

Honestly, I am not sure this film would have been a commercial success regardless of who was playing the role of Lovett unless the vision was shifted so far out there that it further alienated the fans who are debating this casting right now.

If we are to believe all of the speculation that Sondheim has significant creative control over his material then I have to trust that and believe he will prevent terrible choices from being made.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 10:32am

I wonder if they'll go with an unknown for Johanna.

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 10:33am

*nods* Great post, Pat.

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 10:34am

Toni Collette is not that famous or popular.

[genius2]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 10:34am

I called it on this very board the day the project was announced..Burton took the project for her.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 10:35am

I will refrain from making any more comments about this movie until I see it.

[PaintWordPictures]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 10:35am

Ugh. Seriously? ...Argh!

I could still see her as the Beggar Woman but... blah blah blah. I'm starting to become seriously concerned. (I know that should have happened long ago but still...)

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 10:37am

Kate Winslet would make a lovely Johanna.

Or Alison Lohman.

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 10:38am

It's probably going to be cast with Burton's usuals.

[Pippin]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 10:43am

god, people!! get over it! these angry posts are so insane. no one knows what Burton's final project will look like, and I'm sure his vision with Helena will be a unique and wonderful one.

yes- let's all trash this wonderful actress and this sometimes wonderful director because it wasn't the choice that we wanted. very adult and not selfish at all. you all know that expectations can be changed, you've seen it with questionable casting choices in the past. take a deep breath, and wait to you see the final product to make judgement.

[Musical Director]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 10:45am

The more I hear about this whole project, the worse it sounds. Better to have no movie of this classic show, than a bad one. I have a feeling this could cause the death of movie musicals. CHICAGO made a brilliant transition from the stage to film, because the people behing it understood how important it was to faithfully represent the source material. The casting was excellent. So far, this stinks! I love SWEENEY TODD, but I have grave doubts about this...What happened to Meryl Streep? Miss Carter is a wonderful actress, but totally miscast here, in my opinion. Can she sing? It seems as if they are trying to cast this film with people who have lilttle or no musical ability. MISGUIDED!!!!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/18/06 at 10:46am

Next it will be animated!