Samantha Barks to Play Eponine in LES MIS Film- Page 2

[BroadwayFan12]

Posted: 1/31/12 at 7:07pm

beautywickedlover, are you for real? If so, you are an idiot.

[sueb1863]

Posted: 1/31/12 at 7:09pm

I'm sure she'll be rougher in the film. Hooper wouldn't have cast her if he didn't think he could get the performance he wants out of her.

[TBFL]

Posted: 1/31/12 at 7:10pm

But thats exactely what the 25th anniversary concert was, A CONCERT. Everyone spoke straight front, no interaction and not much acting. Seeing her in performance was so much more thrilling. I think the 25th concert recording must have played a huge hand in her getting the role. It showed that she can play it down, look gorgeous on a huge screen and have the clear big chops to carry the emotion of the piece.

It also doesnt hurt the film that she's got the lead role in a new Disney Channel series starting very soon - Groove High

[Wildcard]

Posted: 1/31/12 at 7:11pm

The big question is whether we can expect a new single from Taylor Swift about how she almost got the part and ended up losing it.

[Taryn]

Posted: 1/31/12 at 7:11pm

I remember seeing her "On My Own" in the concert back when clips came out and finding it pretty dull. It's the same as I remember: generic, loud, and stilted. I'm not particularly excited.

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/31/12 at 7:18pm

It's not just her blocking. Her voice isn't special either. It's good, but not memorable.

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 1/31/12 at 7:18pm

I'll drink to that.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 1/31/12 at 7:18pm

Besty, I never saw Ruffelle live but I've always loved her version of "On My Own," (and the rest of the stuff she does with the score) she has a raw sensibility to her performance that makes her special. I agree that Barks' version is too squeaky clean and I was hoping Hooper wanted to return to the Ruffelle model. Having said that, Barks does seem to have presence which is always the main worry with stage actors doing film (and vice-versa). I would have loved to see what Evan Rachel Wood would've brought to the part, but it's also a case where we have to trust the director.
I wonder if the non-star casting for Eponine means the screenplay for the film will focus more on the Cosette(sp)/Marius storyline. They have so many stars cast in so many characters, it'll be interesting to see what stories the final cut will focus on.

[Rainbow High2]

Posted: 1/31/12 at 7:20pm

FINALLY! SOMETHING RIGHT HAS BEEN DONE

[JP2]

Posted: 1/31/12 at 7:26pm

I have never seen Frances Ruffelle, and I know I can't judge. All I can say is that I find her grating on my cast recording. Like she's doing a voice over for a cartoon.

[Miranda3]

Posted: 1/31/12 at 7:33pm

Wasn't Samantha Barks a contestant on that British show whereby the public picked final winner, who was then cast in a then-current London show? I saw several episodes in which a number of women contestants vied for the role of Nancy in the London production of Oliver. I think I'm remembering correctly that Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cameron Mackintosh disagreed on the final choice and on the larger question of whether a cast member should be chosen in this way.

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 1/31/12 at 7:48pm

"beautywickedlover, are you for real? If so, you are an idiot"

Perhaps I am. Still, Hooper and Mackintosh took a very safe route with this casting decision. If Swift was unavailable or they could not work out a deal with her, then that's fine. However, I find it disappointing that both of these men were able to cast people, who had never done this musical before, in every principle role except this one. Having Scarlett Johansson or Evan Rachel Wood play the role would also have not been too safe either.

[JP2]

Posted: 1/31/12 at 7:50pm

You have a twisted definition of the word "safe".

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 1/31/12 at 7:54pm

I really would be disappointed though if this decision was made ONLY because of the backlash of Swift being rumored for the role.

[JP2]

Posted: 1/31/12 at 7:56pm

And yet you will never have proof of that.

An actress won the part based on talent instead of name recognition. I see no harm nor foul.

[michellek45]

Posted: 1/31/12 at 8:24pm

I'm really excited for this movie now. I think Samantha Barks showed a lot of promise in the concert, and her voice is nicely in between Frances Rufelle's (which I find way too whiny) and Lea Salonga's (which I like, but is too polished for this role).

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/31/12 at 8:29pm

I liked her in Les Miz 25 even if she was more on the generic side than anything else. Still, this choice is enough to make me believe in a god.

[HBP]

Posted: 1/31/12 at 8:33pm

I'm sure she performed a little differently live.
cough cough

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 1/31/12 at 8:36pm

YES!! Now if only they'd gone with a musical theatre person for Cosette. I'm afraid that Samantha will outsing Amanda and Eponine yet again will get the better deal than Cosette.

Or is Amanda not yet finalized either? I mean, I thought Taylor was a done deal and I was wrong about that, so can I hope? Heh.

Updated On: 1/31/12 at 08:36 PM

[michellek45]

Posted: 1/31/12 at 8:46pm

Sort of off-topic, but I just watched HBP's video, and I hope Tom Hooper (since I assume this is a director's choice) lets her sing "A Little Fall of Rain" likes she's actually dying. This is always a pet peeve of mine when it comes to Eponines.

[sueb1863]

Posted: 1/31/12 at 9:10pm

Amanda Seyfried's confirmed. I think it was on the Les Miz official site.

I'm not a big fan of hers either, but Cosette's a pretty small part, she isn't even in the second half of the story until the end.

I think Hooper will be going for the gusto as far as realism goes, and Barks won't have to worry about being heard in the back seats, so my guess is Eponine's death will be more realistic in the film.

[showchoirguy]

Posted: 1/31/12 at 9:14pm

I'm now extremely excited for this movie once again.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 1/31/12 at 9:24pm

I'm now extremely excited for this movie once again

Here here!

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 1/31/12 at 9:26pm

The more I think I about it I really think that Swift and Mackintosh just could not come up with a deal when she visited his offices in London the other day. Tomorrow, the month of February begins and pretty soon they start principal photography at the same time. The Grammys are on February 15 and Swift will be performing that night. They probably could not reach a deal for her to rehearse for the Grammys and do principal photography. They also begin filming in March and she will be touring in Australia that month. It also possible they could not work that out either.

ETA: I'm also pretty sure that Swift said that her upcoming album, tour, and music are her main priorities for this year. So, it's very likely that filming this movie would have not allowed to really focus on these things.




Updated On: 1/31/12 at 09:26 PM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 1/31/12 at 9:36pm

I'm not a big fan of hers either, but Cosette's a pretty small part, she isn't even in the second half of the story until the end.

I doubt that Cosette will be a "small part" if they went for Amanda Seyfried to play the role. I imagine Seyfried will be featured prominently in the movie, the screenplay won't be the stage show so I'm curious to see what changes they make, and how much each member of the ensemble will be featured. Like I said earlier, I wonder if casting a non-star as Eponine means Seyfried will have a more significant role (or at least more screen time), perhaps not, but it's not outside the realm of possibility.