Rob Marshall to Bring FOLLIES to the Big Screen?- Page 14

[broadwaybabywannabe2]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 8:41am

showface i AGREE with you..."it just has to make money"...that is the basis of my idea about hot named younger actors for the younger selves of the four leads...this WILL assure it making more money...that was my point...:)

[MadAboutTheBoy]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 9:22am

"I think that Streep would be a great Phyllis. I would still love to see Bernadette play Sally as long as she fixes some of things that weren't great in her previous performance. She may not be a huge star, but most people still know who she is and Streep would already be the anchor star."

I have heard this mentioned before regarding Ms. Peters' performance in this. I was fortunate to see this in L.A. with Victoria Clark in the role. But what exactly was the problem with Bernadette's Sally?

[artscallion]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 9:41am

She was overwrought and not in good voice. At the performance I saw, she actually dropped to her knees wringing her hands and wailing during Losing My Mind. And that was one of the more subtle moments in her performance.

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 9:46am

The only way that a Follies film would make its money back is if it were loaded with film stars (that means stars who register in the "general pop" consciousness today, not a Murder She Wrote "who is that" reunion).

And they shouldn't mess with updating the era(s). It should be an "Ice Storm" kind of movie, grounded in the time period but relevant and resonating today.

The problem with casting it younger (and actually age-appropriate) is that people in their late 40s today don't think of themselves the way these characters do. Maybe that would work, but I honestly think it would turn off even the "art house" crowd of their peers.

If Kate Winslet and Leonard di Caprio are reflecting on their golden years, it will send a chilly "reality check" to audiences that could easily result in a backlash or a rejection of the whole premise as being ludicrous and maudlin.

It's a tough enough "sell" as it is, and a reunion of self-aware, self-centered "show people" begs the question to most (non-theatre) people as "who the f*ck cares?" "Get over yourselves, grow up, and move on!"

[sanda]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 10:14am

"who the f*ck cares?" "Get over yourselves, grow up, and move on!"

That's exactly how I felt when I saw the show. Loved the music but OMG those annoying people!

[lovebwy]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 11:40am

"But what exactly was the problem with Bernadette's Sally?"

Bernadette was ok. But Bernadette was Bernadette. The sobbing during Losing My Mind did her no favors.

HOWEVER, Vicki Clark was absolutely wonderful. During Clark's run, it became clear that Ron Raines had been holding back during Ben and Sally's duets because of Bernadette's vocal limitations. When he was singing with Clark he (along with Clark) went FULL VOLUME and it was devastating. I believe I recall Raines tweeting "It's a different show in Los Angeles" and I know exactly what he means.

Peters was good and brought unquestioned star power to the show. But Clark was just a better Sally vocally.

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 3:32pm

When I saw Bernadette's performance, she didn't sob and fall to her knees. She just stood there on stage.

[lovebwy]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 3:57pm

I saw her five times. One time she didn't cry at all. Twice she had tears in her eyes. Twice she sobbed with the whole 9 yards- runny nose, sniffing, ect. That was not good.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 4:04pm

When I saw Bernadette, at the end of the song, she opened her arms and threw her head back. Another time, she hugged herself and threw her head back. And there was the time she hugged a pair of men's cowboy boots and threw her head back. And one time, she bent over, squeezed her boobs together, and threw her head back.

But I never saw her in Follies. When did she throw her head back?

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 4:26pm

Bernadette Peters' performance as Sally was completely misguided. Honestly, though I enjoyed the production when I first saw it, it's hard for me to recall much about that evening except for the stunning performances by Danny Butstein and Jan Maxwell. The Encores! concert is one of my most cherished stage memories, and maybe just the nature of a limited set of performances made every single musical moment feel like an event.
I would love to see a star-packed FOLLIES on film. I think Marshall could do a terrific job with it.

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 4:31pm

I saw Bernadette 9x, including twice in DC. She maybe only went overly dramatic in Losing My Mind once. Her performances were inconsistent but NEVER boring. She tried new line readings all throughout the run. Sometimes she went over the top, other times she was perfect. Brantley gave her a great review, and I truly believe she deserved a Tony nomination.

Bernadette greatly displayed the "little girl" aspect of Sally. Much more than Victoria Clark in Encores and in the clips I've seen of LA. I do love Clark though. Bernadette's powerful entrance and exit will forever be seared in my memory. it was just so "Sally" for me and how I understand and enjoy the character. I found it very thrilling to have a Sally-centric production. Updated On: 3/19/15 at 04:31 PM

[binau]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 4:55pm

Bernadette captured the subtext and vulnerability of "In Buddy's Eyes" so perfectly. I only hope whoever they cast as Sally 'gets' the song like she (and/or the director) did.

[darquegk]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 4:55pm

Sondheim has three shows about aging. "Merrily" is about the act of being young, "Company" is the act of being middle-aged, and "Follies" is the act of being old.

Bu because of a change in health care and lifestyle since the early 1970s, the last two are considered masterpieces that, to some extent, have not aged particularly well, because 35 is no longer thought of as middle age, nor 48-50 as growing elderly. What was once "the September of my years" is now a late July.

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 3/19/15 at 5:42pm

I think we will see the Sunday movie first. Sondheim said in an interview recently a producer was interested in doing Sunday as of late.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/21/15 at 2:56pm

He's "Looking Into" Still Bringing It To The Screen

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 4/21/15 at 3:02pm

I am deeply ambivalent about this. 

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/21/15 at 3:04pm

At this point, I say just let it happen while Sondheim is still alive. If it's a good movie, great! If it's dreadful, I don't think it will change the greatness and legacy of the stage piece. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/21/15 at 3:08pm

Sondheim being around doesn't mean it'll be good, though. If anything it means he'll give the OK to set it in space.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/21/15 at 3:10pm

I love BWW's loose interpretation of the term "Breaking News." Rob Marshall basically just said what he has said before, that he is interested in the project.

I would love for it to happen. No one is going to make a FOLLIES movie, so why not let Marshall have a crack at it? I agree with you, Ljay, worst case scenario, it just turns out to be a bad movie like NINE. The beauty and brilliance of the show will remain intact. And really, it is obvious when watching NINE that Marshall wanted to make FOLLIES-- partly of why NINE fails so spectacularly is because Marshall treated it like FOLLIES.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/21/15 at 3:11pm

I agree, doesn't mean it will be good because of Sondheim, but it will be nice to have his input and participation. 

it just turns out to be a bad movie like NINE. The beauty and brilliance of the show will remain intact. And really, it is obvious when watching NINE that Marshall wanted to make FOLLIES-- partly of why NINE fails so spectacularly is because Marshall treated it like FOLLIES.

Exactly!

[gypsy101]

Posted: 4/21/15 at 5:47pm

I never realized, but you guys are right. That really is what is so wrong with the film version of Nine. It's really just a mediocre film.

As for this breaking news, it's not really breaking. I've been listening to Sunday in the Park with George a lot recently and thinking of how it would work cinematically. That's a Sondheim movie I'd love to see.

[Showface]

Posted: 4/21/15 at 9:56pm

I haven't seen the NINE film (I've seen clips), but can anyone talk about how it was treated like a Follies film? If so, then Marshall very well may be the right director for the job.

 

I think this is actually gonna happen! Marshall is clearly very interested, and by now, I'm sure he knows that fans are too...

 

(And I've been imagining a Sunday in the Park With George film, too!)

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/21/15 at 9:58pm

Well there's all that plus he cut pretty much the entire score. I really want someone else to do. FOLLIES film. I'm sorry, but I just don't trust him to do it. 

[Owen22]

Posted: 4/22/15 at 8:05am

I loved Bernadette's Sally and was not at all thrilled with Victoria Clark's. I know, I know, Victoria (like her daughter Kelli) can do no wrong on these boards, but she was just wrong, surrounded by an entire cast of right.

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 4/22/15 at 1:35pm

I agree with you Jordan.

After seeing Marshall do Into the Woods, I really don't want him to do Follies.  I thought his Into the Woods was mediocre and he had no excuse for it.  He had fantastic resources (Sondheim, Lapine, Streep) and he didn't use them to their full potential.

While everyone else was complaining about cut songs, I was outraged by the absolute butchering of the story.  The book was practically unrecognizable. 

If Marshall wants a movie, he should do Kiss Of The Spider Woman and stay away from Sondheim. 

Btw, Sunday would make such a beautiful film with so many possibilities.