Samantha Barks to Play Eponine in LES MIS Film- Page 6

[jpbran]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 1:15pm

"Did you even see it? Its main theme is redemption - of a father who neglected a son he knew nothing about and found a way..."

I know, I know... and it even got some good reviews. However, most of those reviews had to add thoughts like "yes, really" when praising it. And it was jokingly referred to as the "Rock-Em Sock-Em Robots" movie (the kids game) multiple times, including I believe on SNL.

But I stand by my point -- it's a kids friendly robot movie with lots of CG characters. Good or bad, a safer bet than a lavish sung-through France-set musical.

And his bankability in a live one-man show has nothing to to with this. 1500 people per performance for a limited run with a chance to see a heartthrob in person at ONE location is a far cry from a movie that I'd guess will have to sell 25-30 MILLION tickets to break even.

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 2:46pm

"But I stand by my point -- it's a kids friendly robot movie with lots of CG characters. Good or bad, a safer bet than a lavish sung-through France-set musical."

I'm not so sure. I know a LOT of women who went to what seemed to them an intolerable bore of an "action movie for kids" just to ogle Hugh Jackman. Surely they will show up in droves once they hear him sing.

[ggersten]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 3:44pm

with respect to Hugh's drawing power - two words might scare the producers: Viva Laughlin.

[Mrs Mangel]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 4:05pm

Oh God- can someone PLEASE cast Melanie Griffith in this movie? Has she ever played Fantine? She can be alongside LuPone as one of the factory workers.

[My Oh My]

Posted: 2/2/12 at 10:14pm

Meh. As usual, I agree with all of 2 people in this thread and think the rest are either high or very sloppy fans.

As for my reaction to Barks' casting in the film version; I saw her play the role on stage in London and the first words outta my mouth after seeing her was "Good, but safe."

Am I disappointed at the Swift deal falling through? Can't say because I have yet to see what she'd do with the role. It seems the majority of people are all about aesthetics.

I'm still all about the WORK.

[Mrs Mangel]

Posted: 2/3/12 at 3:26am

...and some of us can be proud of the fact that we're both high AND sloppy fans...

[My Oh My]

Posted: 2/3/12 at 7:53am

High is good. Sloppy leads to crap like the Phantom film. As much as I love fellow fans, thank God none of ya'll are directing these things, rofl.

[Dave19]

Posted: 2/3/12 at 8:44am

No, if people don't understand that excellent musical theatre skills are needed for a film like this and only cast actors or names, THAT leads to crap like the Phantom film.

Thank god they seem to understand this at the last moment.

[My Oh My]

Posted: 2/3/12 at 8:49am

Who said Samantha Barks is a bad casting choice?

I'd like to smoke some of what you're smoking but if it makes me interpret "safe" as "omfg, the movie is ruuiiined!!!" then no thank you. XD

[Dave19]

Posted: 2/3/12 at 9:03am

Well, you said:

"As usual, I agree with all of 2 people in this thread and think the rest are either high or very sloppy fans."

Basically everyone likes Samantha Barks as Eponine, except 2 people. So what exactly do you agree with?

"As for my reaction to Barks' casting in the film version; I saw her play the role on stage in London and the first words outta my mouth after seeing her was "Good, but safe."

Actually, I'm all about the work and if you were too then why would you prefer anyone "not safe" (without the singing skills for the material for example) over someone of which we know that she can do it, can sing it, can play it and is the right type?

"Sloppy leads to crap like the Phantom film"

Like I said, unsafe choices, like casting actors that can't sing the material or names, lead to crap like the phantom film.


So what is your point exactly?

Updated On: 2/3/12 at 09:03 AM

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/3/12 at 9:12am

The role of Christine in "Phantom of the Opera" is an entirely different scenario.

The character is a singer. She is supposedly "well taught" and a serious vocal rival for the current opera diva Carlotta.

Casting a talented young actress with the singing voice of a newbie boy soprano was inexcusable.

[Dave19]

Posted: 2/3/12 at 9:19am

True. Unacceptable.

And what about the singing of the Phantom?

On the other hand, I don't accept bad singing in a movie musical, even if the singer doesn't play a singer.

Updated On: 2/3/12 at 09:19 AM

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/3/12 at 9:24am

When you cast singers in musicals it's the character that counts above all else, not how "pretty" a voice is (unless, as my example, the character is supposed to be a singer).

The Phantom's singing voice is moot. Michael Crawford had a very interesting character voice. He also had great control over it. I would never say he was a "great singer" though. But he was perfect for the part. I didn't mind Gerard Butler's singing voice, but I minded that he was completely miscast in the role by the director, who decided the Phantom was a "Batmanesque" sexy super hero. It was another huge misstep in a film filled with them.

Bottom line: I don't care how "pretty" On My Own is sung in Les Mis. I want to see it sung by a performer who "is" Eponine and understands and embodies that character, getting to the heart and soul. What I see in Barks is someone who looks the part with a nice, pretty voice. But I don't see Eponine at all, even when she's playing the part in full costume, makeup, and performing the role at a huge concert in front of thousands of people. She has a long way to go to get there.

... and that isn't to say she won't. I really hope she does.

Updated On: 2/3/12 at 09:24 AM

[Dave19]

Posted: 2/3/12 at 9:41am

I agree that "being" the character is the most important thing in film. I just think that in a movie musical if the singing voice has the right intention, quality, depth, emotion, in each and every word, it makes the character too. In the Phantom film there was no connection between the characters and the singing at all. Just a bunch of actors that tried to imitate singers. Almost like karaoke. That's the problem I have with Amanda Seyfried too. Good actress, but only when she speaks. There is no connection with the singing, and that makes her sound like a karaoke singer. Living the song, telling her story and make the audience feel the song is not in her nature. Although I can see there is still a lot of work to do for Samantha Barks, she does have the ability to "live the music", to really tell a heartfelt story through song, and make the emotions real.
And I believe that is because of the fact that she knows how to handle her singing voice so well, then there is no worry about singing techniques etc, and then she really can use the phrases and words and placement of the notes to build up the emotion. That is a whole different art and also the reason why I love to see musical theatre performers in a film like this.

Updated On: 2/3/12 at 09:41 AM

[My Oh My]

Posted: 2/3/12 at 9:47am

What best12bars said.

One of my favorite Eponines is from the original Hungarian cast--Nagy Aniko. She can barely reach those high notes and sounds like a wounded animal. I love her.

[Dave19]

Posted: 2/3/12 at 9:54am

Her casting makes me think of Julie Andrews.

When they turned "My Fair Lady" into a film, the producers didn't want to cast Julie Andrews as Eliza Doolittle, even though she created the role on Broadway and the West End. She never played in a movie before and wasn't a known Hollywood actress. That's why they hired a (lip synching) Audrey Hepburn for the filmversion.

When the Sherman Brothers were writing songs for the upcoming film ‘Mary Poppins’ they saw Julie Andrews perform on Broadway in the musical ‘Camelot’. They were impressed and told Walt Disney about her qualities. They asked her to play Mary Poppins. Funny enough Julie Andrews won the oscar that year for "Best actress" in a film and Audrey Hepburn wasn't even nominated. The year after, Julie Andrews received another nomination, for The Sound of Music.. Millions of people grew up with these films and see her as a film-actress now. It's all very relative. Thanks Walt Disney! For seeing true talent and step out of the "boxes" casting with the crazy film and theatre separation

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/3/12 at 9:57am

I don't get that Samantha is "living the music" the way you do. So we just don't agree on that, dave19.

I also think Amanda is a great choice for Cosette. I was hoping they wouldn't cast a conventional but generic soprano (ala the Joanna in the Sweeney Todd movie). She had a pretty voice, but there was nothing special about it. Amanda has a specific voice which I happen to like with the right material. I wasn't 100-percent wowed with it in Mamma Mia! on the Abba songs. But she won me over completely with her screen presence, in the end. I think her voice is better suited for the Les Mis material, steering away from conventional "prettiness" and evoking a bit of the classic French singers (with her fast vibrato). I also think she can act while singing. She has a chance of succeeding really well in this ... but I could be wrong with the final effect of her "sound." It's a bit of a risk, sure, but it's an "interesting" choice for the ingenue, as opposed to a conventional one.

I know we don't agree here, and that's fine.

But I actually do know we agree on one thing: we both hope these singing actresses can pull it off!

Updated On: 2/3/12 at 09:57 AM

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/3/12 at 10:00am

She can barely reach those high notes and sounds like a wounded animal. I love her.

My Oh My, I haven't heard her, but just your description of her gets me interested. Eponine is an urchin of the streets. She should sound like it, with an edge and history in her voice ... even at a tender young age. She shouldn't sing "pretty."

Again, I go back to Frances Ruffelle, who was the best thing in the original cast (yes, I saw them in their fourth performance after opening night in NY).

[Dave19]

Posted: 2/3/12 at 10:03am

"What best12bars said.

One of my favorite Eponines is from the original Hungarian cast--Nagy Aniko. She can barely reach those high notes and sounds like a wounded animal. I love her."

Then she should stop singing the material.
How am I supposed to go with the emotion and the placement of a note if she can't sing it?

Singing = emotion to me. A fine art. The placement of the notes, the building of the notes, the rising, the soaring, the intention, everything. It can make me laugh and cry.

If someone sounds like a wounded animal and doesn't reach the notes, then what's the point of singing? Please make your wounded animal sounds through speech but stay away from this artform.

I do agree that it is about true emotion from within, but this should MATCH with the singing. If one of those 2 things is missing, it doesn't satisfy me.

Updated On: 2/3/12 at 10:03 AM

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/3/12 at 10:08am

Dave19---you're missing a big factor in movie casting.

Stars.

My Fair Lady was a huge Broadway hit. It cost a fortune to bring to the screen, and they paid an enormous amount for the rights alone. There was no way they were going to even film it without one established star in a leading role. Even Rex Harrison, who had made many films, was not considered a "movie star" who could sell tickets. They almost didn't cast him in the film either, but once it was decided he had to be there, they also decided Eliza had to be a "big star." Julie didn't stand a chance of getting the movie. Was it a mistake? The movie was still a huge success and won a shelfful of Oscars. Audrey did get a lot of backlash, and Julie won the Oscar that year.

As far as Mary Poppins, Disney did his own thing. He always did. He also preferred to "make" stars and put them under contract rather than "borrow" them from other studios. P.L. Travers had creative approval on everything with the film version of Poppins, and many names apparently were suggested and showed to her for possibilities. Finally, Disney found Andrews when he went to see Camelot, and shortly after Travers approved her, despite there being a question about her age for the character, not just her lack of experience. But Disney was most definitely a risk-taker, and he believed in her. A very unique man with a unique approach.

EDIT: I should add that with both Eponine and Cosette, they're both supporting roles, and "star casting" is certainly optional. They're not going to carry the film, even if they might get a few more people in to see it. But I know exactly why Jackman and Crowe were cast. That got the movie into production, right there.

Updated On: 2/3/12 at 10:08 AM

[Dave19]

Posted: 2/3/12 at 10:10am

"But I actually do know we agree on one thing: we both hope these singing actresses can pull it off!"

Haha absolutely :)

I also have to add that I'm not particularly fond of Samantha's voice. It's a bit raw and shrill and dry and screechy to me.
BUT she knows how to handle her voice quite well, to convey the right emotions. I believe every word she sings. The singing is connected to the acting.

[jo]

Posted: 2/4/12 at 3:22am

>But I know exactly why Jackman and Crowe were cast. That got the movie into production, right there.<<<

Spot on!

According to Variety, it was Universal which first approached Jackman for the role...and which also eventually favored the casting of Crowe, over Bettany, in the role of Javert!

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118042451>http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118042451>http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118042451


>>...Variety first reported back in June that the studio had strong interest in Jackman and that the actor was also very high in playing Valjean.

The studio had also circled Crowe for some time but needed to finish up certain details on Hooper's deal before it could move forward on the actors' deals.

The plan is to begin shooting the pic sometime in the first quarter of 2012 so Jackman can squeeze it in before jumping into Fox's "The Wolverine."

Since announcing that the film would be Hooper's follow-up to "The King's Speech," the studio has taken some time in figuring out the cast.

U had approached Jackman for his part early in the project's development but had to figure out the scheduling.

With Crowe, the issue was a little different as the studio and director were weighing other options, such as Paul Bettany, for Javert.

In the end, Crowe's broader appeal and musical chops (he sings in his own band) led U to favoring the Aussie for the role...<<<


Updated On: 2/4/12 at 03:22 AM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 2/4/12 at 7:21am

Try this.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118042451

[Fan2]

Posted: 2/4/12 at 8:18am

Samantha talks about the audition process, including doing tests with Eddie and Amanda:

>>‘I have been in the running for this role for the last 15 weeks,’ she said. ‘I knew it hadn’t been cast yet. When you are auditioning for something you have to stay clear of rumours and just sort of stick to what you actually know and do the best you can.

‘It’s been quite a vigorous audition process with screen tests and camera tests with Eddie Redmayne and Amanda Seyfried. It’s been pretty mad really.’<<<





Audition Process

[theatrefreak0109]

Posted: 2/4/12 at 11:24am

Some clips of Samantha outside of the 25th for anyone who is interested. I for one am so excited for her casting and wish her the best of luck.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyfS55_W_A8 A Little Fall of Rain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbF5WS26RyA On my Own Royal Variety Performance