Sondheim Talks FOLLIES Movie Musical- Page 7

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 1:05pm

Some of the comments Sondheim has made about movie musicals make me wonder exactly how this is going to turn out. I hope a happy medium can be found between making the show work as a movie and completely gutting it.

[heathurrr]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 1:09pm

To whomever suggested Rachel Griffiths, I love it!
I never would have even thought of her for this, but now I am, and I think it could work :)

Posted: 5/21/08 at 6:56pm

Without a doubt Kathy Bates would make the most outstanding Stella for "Who's That Woman?" Shirley McClain or Eartha Kitt as Carlotta-someone who has truly been there and back.

For the male leads what about John C.Riley as Buddy-Kevin Kline is a good choice as well, but slightly too old-but that is that make-up is for. In fact he could play Ben as well. Maybe Tom Hanks as Ben?

When is comes to Phyllis and Sally...Goldie Hawn or Michelle Pfeiffer as Phyllis and Diane Weist or Diane Keaton as Sally. At least we know all those ladies can sing on top of act.

The younger ones could be almost anyone-I think some actors from CW series or Disney shows would bring in younger audiences that the movie would DESPERATLY need.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/11/08 at 9:31am

What about Matthew Broderick as Buddy?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/4/08 at 5:19pm

Now, I don't put any stock into anything that imdb says, and I still don't really believe we'll ever see a movie of this, but it's now listing Follies for 2012, which would make my choices for Phyllis and Sally (Vanessa Williams and Natasha Richardson), the perfect ages.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 12/5/08 at 3:30pm

So is Mishy your #2 choice for Phyllis?

[D2]

Posted: 12/5/08 at 3:48pm

Love your casting choices, PRS. Spot on.

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/5/08 at 4:05pm

Love Williams for Phyllis. But Richardson could not sing Sally. And they would have to lower IN BUDDY'S EYES and TOO MANY MORNINGS a lot for her, which would suck.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/5/08 at 4:13pm

Eh, they could tweak her in the studio. I'm not really that much of a purist about dubbing for musicals on film, as long as the voice looks like it fits the actor. Acting-wise, I think she would be positively glorious in the role.

MrM, was that Mishy Obama or Mishy Pfeiffer? I think Miss Mishy P would be my second choice. I could also see her as Sally, though she'd have the same vocal limitations as Natasha.

Now we just have to get Aaron Sorkin's name off this and get my screenplay in Mendes's hands.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 12/5/08 at 4:25pm

Heh. Yes, I meant The Pfeiff.

[logan0215]

Posted: 12/5/08 at 5:12pm

I wish it was made 5-10 years ago with Bette Midler playing both roles and just changing wigs...

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/5/08 at 5:23pm

So that it would have been awful?

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/5/08 at 5:32pm

LOL

[logan0215]

Posted: 12/5/08 at 7:48pm

You're right, we should wait 5 (more) years so that Vanessa Williams is to the point where she literally can't take her face out of the permanent "one-fierce-eyebrow-up" look.

[LadyDramaturg2]

Posted: 12/5/08 at 10:13pm

yeah, so Phyllis R Stone, who's gonna sing for Nicole?

You?

[mattonstage]

Posted: 12/6/08 at 9:12am

Just throwing it out there: Carrie Fisher as Carlotta?

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 12/6/08 at 10:13am

I wouldn't mind her. I like her voice. However, I haven't heard her sing in 20 years and I'm not sure if she'd be interested in doing it.

[laura is broadway]

Posted: 12/6/08 at 10:36am

Has anybody ever thought about Lupone for Phyllis? I mean, idk if it would work, but I think it's weird that I've at least never heard it mentioned... maybe?

[Usnavi]

Posted: 12/6/08 at 11:06am

i don't see this movie being made at all. they would have to get a really stellar cast with box office pull not to mention reach a large demographic.

i could see it work as a smaller release aimed at an older demo more familiar with the original production and the theatre demo familiar with the show.
Updated On: 12/6/08 at 11:06 AM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/6/08 at 1:58pm

LuPone lacks any of the grand sophistication required to play Phyllis. Phyllis is supposed to "look like a queen or something (...) like Jackie Kennedy," LuPone ain't it. Even if she were, she isn't a name and would never be considered for the role in a film.
I still like the idea of Mary-Louise Parker as Phyllis in 2012, it'd be wonderful. Laura Linney as Sally. Love PRS' idea of Matthew Broderick as Buddy. Get Daniel Day-Lewis for Ben and you got a top-notch cast. Then round them up with the cream of the crop of Hollywood's older actors and I'd be the happiest.

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/6/08 at 2:17pm

LOL Patti LuPone is 11 years too old for Phyllis. She was never really right for either role.

Give her Stella.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/6/08 at 2:28pm

LuPone is perfect for Stella.

[logan0215]

Posted: 12/6/08 at 2:31pm

I was just thinking about this film further and realistically speaking: could it even work?

The Rob Marshall "Chicago" treatment is fine for "Lucy and Jessie" and a few other numbers, but aside from the story thread about the two couples, the rest of the show is (at its most watered down core) a concert of stellar Sondheim songs. I feel that in a movie the songs would begin come off as tiresome.

For instance, in Dreamgirls (wherein the songs advance the plot) people were beginning to laugh in the theater when the cast sang their dialogue leading in to "Family" all 3 times I saw it in the theater. I’m having trouble seeing much of the greatness of the score staying intact and ending up in the film...

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 12/6/08 at 2:37pm

I wouldn't pick Broderick for Buddy, but I find him generally annoying. Still, I can't think of anyone.

And YES to Kathy Bates as Stella.

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/6/08 at 2:43pm

For instance, in Dreamgirls (wherein the songs advance the plot) people were beginning to laugh in the theater when the cast sang their dialogue leading in to "Family" all 3 times I saw it in the theater. I’m having trouble seeing much of the greatness of the score staying intact and ending up in the film...

- Well it worked for SWEENEY TODD. Burton didn't create some lame concept to excuse the singing. And the only time I remember people laughing was when Anthony sang JOHANNA after being beaten.