Neil LaBute May Direct Film Version Of Stephen Sondheim’s Musical ‘Company’

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 11/26/10 at 6:08am

Didn't see this posted yet. I love company, the two previously filmed versions are great and I look forward to the upcoming concert, But I don't see it working as a movie.

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/neil_labute_may_direct_film_version_of_stephen_sondheims_musical_company/

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 11/26/10 at 6:40am

I think Company would work fantastically as a movie...it would especially work well now I think...maybe with a different title though?

[binau]

Posted: 11/26/10 at 6:51am

And a different director?

[AC126748]

Posted: 11/26/10 at 7:04am

So in this version, Bobby will be more of a misanthropic masochistic misogynist than he already is, no?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/26/10 at 8:20am

LaBute is a fantastic director so I have full faith if this happens he'll do s wonderful job.

[aasjb4ever]

Posted: 11/26/10 at 8:52am

oy.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/26/10 at 12:18pm

I think it would work deliciously if they kept it in its original time period: 1969-1970.

As a period musical it would add an extra element to the score, the plot, the costumes, the entire 'look', etc. Recreating the Manhattan of the late 1960's-early 1970's would also be a treat.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 11/26/10 at 12:30pm

Neil LaBute directed an incredibly misogynistic re-make of THE WICKER MAN which is not only notorious for it's blatant misogyny but because it's one of the worst movies that have come out in recent years. His version of Bobby would be completely misguided, and it's a shame that Sondheim would allow him to get anywhere near COMPANY. I love the idea of a movie version of COMPANY, just not one directed by LaBute whose politics I just simply can't stand.

[wonkit]

Posted: 11/26/10 at 1:15pm

The very fact that LaBute describes COMPANY as "CARNAL KNOWLEDGE with music" is so indicative of the potential disaster it is likely to be. Sondheim needs to care more - he let them make hash out of SWEENEY, and now this. ugh.

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/26/10 at 1:17pm

The Sweeney movie is actually quite good. They actually did a good job of being faithful to the source material. When the movie was announced, no one and I mean NO ONE expected them to keep "Wait" and "By The Sea" - and they did. Sure cutting all choral singing was a bit ridiculous though.

Anyway, I would rather see Follies than Company.

Updated On: 11/26/10 at 01:17 PM

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 11/26/10 at 1:45pm

I semi-agree with ljay. SWEENEY is not a bad film because of the direction or the design elements. And the faithfulness to the source material is excellent (though I sorely missed the "Ballad" and its reprises). The problem with the film came from the casting of two inappropriate singers for the leads. That's where it all fell apart.

I don't see why Neil LaBute would direct COMPANY on film. It just... doesn't seem to fit his niche. Not to mention that he's the brains behind the abomination that it is "The Wicker Man" as someone else said. I'm morbidly curious, however.

[Boq101]

Posted: 11/26/10 at 2:22pm

I wanted Tom Ford to do it, I loved A Single Man with Colin Firth.

[strummergirl]

Posted: 11/26/10 at 2:30pm

Sweeney is hardly an example of a bad musical adaptation to the screen of Sondheim. That said, Neil Labute should stay away from a film about male and female relationships that were not written by him. There are times when I think he is fully aware of what he is doing but I don't want him to use Company as an example and I can only imagine how uncomfortable he could make Company on film. Surely better directors have inquired about bringing this to the screen.

[Overkill]

Posted: 11/26/10 at 2:36pm

NO! NONONONONONONONOOOO! WES ANDERSON MUST DIRECT THE COMPANY MOVIE!!!

Wanna see a bad Sondheim movie? Watch A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 11/26/10 at 2:44pm

Overkill, you forgot the movie version of Night Music...directed by Hal Prince for God's sake!

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 11/26/10 at 3:10pm

Sweeney Todd was well-received by critics (86% on Rotten Tomatoes), won an Oscar and Stephen Sondheim himself loved it, so I sincerely doubt he would have a problem if a Company movie did turn out like Sweeney Todd.

[DMsquared2]

Posted: 11/26/10 at 4:59pm

I like Neil LaBute but I don't like the possibility of him as the director of a film version of Company. Tom Ford is an very interesting choice but I read he has plans to work on another movie which would make him unavailable. I do agree with the previous poster's idea of the film taking place in its original time period.

On the other hand I agree that Follies screams to be made into film.

[Boq101]

Posted: 11/26/10 at 11:32pm

I feel like anyone making a follies film will keep the songs in the past and will keep the songs they sing in the party but might do away with the book songs. I wouldn't want that to happen AT ALL, but I feel like that's the "safest" way to turn Follies into a film.

[americanboy99]

Posted: 11/26/10 at 11:51pm

I just don't see COMPANY transferring very well to film, honestly. I think it would take so major re-imagining, a very smart screenwriter, a star studded/ mega-talented cast and one clever director to pull it off.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/27/10 at 12:24am

I don't think we can judge a movie that hasn't been made yet.

Having said that, I abhor the talentless hack, Neil LaBute and would much prefer he star in an actual snuff film directed by Eli Roth. "Hostile 1" it could be called.

[hottieho13]

Posted: 11/27/10 at 12:36am

Wait a minute! it was Neil LaBute who made that monstrosity! No NO NO NO NO NO! Sondheim no!Don't let him do it!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/27/10 at 12:58am

No, Eli Roth did. LaBute makes other monstrosities.

[Overkill]

Posted: 11/27/10 at 2:39am

Company
Directed by: Wes Anderson

Adrien Brody as Robert
Christine Baranski as Joanne
Bill Murray as Larry
John C. McGinley as Harry
Amy Poehler as Sarah
Jason Bateman as David
Amy Adams as Jenny
Steven Weber as Paul
Toni Collette as Amy
Jason Schwartzman as Peter
Kristin Chenoweth as Susan
Natalie Portman as Kathy
Zooey Deschanel as Marta
Malin Akerman as April


...Please?

Posted: 11/27/10 at 5:12am

That cast list would be funny if it wasn't so terrifying.

[lull89]

Posted: 11/27/10 at 11:05am

Is this where I can start my Neil Patrick Harris as Bobby campaign?