LES MISERABLES - THE MOTION PICTURE is finally back on track! — Page 3

When I was in high school I used to say that if they made a movie they needed to cast Tim Curry as Javert. It's probably too late for that now but he's my dream film Javert.

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my choice for Valjean - not that anyone will care


Valjean

Why does the actor playing Javert, Valjean or Fontine or any character have to sing themselves? Have we learned nothing from Pierce Brosnan in Mamma Mia?
If the studios can dub Rita Moreno, they can dub Tom Cruise as Valjean.

"Why does the actor playing Javert, Valjean or Fontine or any character have to sing themselves? Have we learned nothing from Pierce Brosnan in Mamma Mia?
If the studios can dub Rita Moreno, they can dub Tom Cruise as Valjean."

Really? Dubbing is lame. If you are going to see one person, but hear another, why not simply cast the one you hear? There are plenty of Hollywood actors capable of singing, several have already been mentioned here. The answer to to Pierce Brsonan should simply have been to not cast him, or cut his song.

jdtp12, do you happen to know where Webber's on record with that? I've heard a lot of people talk about his beef(s) with the movie, but I've never actually read anything. It makes me very curious.

I ask because, despite what I often hear people say about the score being lowered *for* Madonna, I've never seen proof of that. I'd always heard that Parker lowered it because he thought that high key wouldn't work onscreen like it does onstage and wanted a more "conversational" sound for the movie... a decision I think works very well.

http://movies.uip.de/evita/soundtrack/index.html

Here's bits of some various interviewees on the subject.

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Michael Barrymore did an interview with Andrew Lloyd Webber which can be found on Youtube. ALW said something like "It would have been nice if we could have got somebody who could sing the role. We had to lower the keys for Madonna"

I don't think there was any option but to lower the keys for Madonna. Could she sing Rainbow High in C#m? Hell no.

songanddanceman2, I completely agree about SAIGON.

Cameron Mackintosh has hinted to Baz Bamigboye (The Daily Mail) that Alfie Boe might just be the one to sing Valjean in the film version:

A New Album, a Starring West End Role in Les Miserables... Suddenly it's all go for Alfie Boe

Updated On: 11/25/10 at 11:28 PM

Do we think Jenny Galloway has paid her dues to be in the film as Mme Thenardier or do you think they're going to for a well known comedienne?

I guess we'll see how the casting decisions develop.

The movie has been such a long time coming. But based on what Baz B has shared -

*Script will be sent to the producers ( including Universal Studios) before year-end 2010
*Alfie is going into a six-month run of the stage version starting June 2011

Then it seems filming won't start till no earlier than early 2012, if Alfie is cast in the role. That could take another year ( filming and post-prod) before the movie hits the cinemas!

Updated On: 11/26/10 at 12:43 AM

I'd also like to see a powerhouse actor in the role of Valjean, ClapYo'Hands.

Someone with strong dramatic skills and can competently sing Valjean's songs.

Updated On: 11/26/10 at 07:31 AM

a friend of mine was saying that they'll probably get Rosie O' Donnell to play Mme Thenardier.I hope not.

Les Mis is unusual in that people have very different perceptions of it. A lot of people view it as an epic, thunderous, overblown, beltfest; while others go the other extreme equating it with grand opera; and still others see it as something the likes of Tom Cruise, Will Ferrell; and Rosie O'Donnell would do it justice.

Not saying they aren't talented or that Les Mis is beneath or above them, but come now, if that style of performance is all it takes to fulfill the requirements of those roles in your minds and make y'all content, then any "funny guy" or "comedienne" is fair game. And why are people just now realizing they'd like to see someone who can actually act AND sing as Valjean? You'd think people wouldn't settle for less than one who could master both in such a role.

What's next? People not noticing they've been suckered into passively accepting the "new," "updated" orchestrations?

Oh, wait...

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