Sunset Blvd - Movie musical- Page 2

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 3:26pm

the Jets theme is the same as Maria?

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 3:26pm

I'm with Rath - I hated the way Close sang Sunset (of course, I hated the show in it's entirety)...but I think there are plenty of better actresses for the part - I saw Elaine Paige do it and she was AWESOME.
I'm kinda liking the idea of Liza also...

[Sant]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 3:28pm

"Could be Liza's big comeback! Liza's current situation would be akin to where Gloria Swanson was in her life/career when she did the original, no?"

Yes, with the exception that Gloria Swanson really WAS a forgotten star and I wouldn't call Liza forgotten. True, she hasn't been in a movie for a long while, but still I wouldn't say she's forgotten and therefore wouldn't compare these two ladies. And because of that I don't want to see Liza playing "Norma-fied" version of herself.

I'd rather see Glenn Close to play Norma even if Liza is a much better singer than Close.

I'm still hoping MERYL STREEP will finally get to play this part she lost to Patti over ten years ago.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 3:32pm

Streep would have to have some major Joan Lader work in order to handle that score.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 3:33pm

I'd rather hear Streep try to sing it then hear Close butcher it as she has in the past...lol...

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 3:35pm

I'd rather a real singer than either one of those two.

I saw Buckley a few times, and I also saw Karen Mason. Mason's acting wasn't up to Buckley's, but she sang the score much better. In fact, I remarked to her that she should have been the singer on the OBCR.

[Plum]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 3:36pm

The first three notes of the Jets theme- you know- bu buuuuuh, BUH! That's the same three notes as "Maria" in the song of the same title. Or at least the same intervals.

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 3:38pm

At the end of the year we'll be gearing up for two other big movie musicals: Rent and The Producers... I hear Dreamgirls and Hairspray are still "in talks", but does anyone else know of any others that are considered?


Sunset Blvd for Christmas 2006 would be awesome.

[Plum]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 3:40pm

If Sam Mendes ever gets around to it, he's set to direct Sweeney Todd.

[Sant]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 3:41pm

Streep actually has a rather good voice! She has sung in two of her movies: A Postcard From the Edge and in Death Becomes Her.

Her song in DBH wasn't that much of a stretch but her final number ("... I'm leaving this heartbreak hotel...') in APFTE was really good! She showed that she can pull off even more demanding songs. Yes, the movies were made some time ago, but we are talking about MERYL STREEP... the woman who can learn to do anything... and considering she had a singing teacher before her movie career took off singing isn't a new thing to her.

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 3:41pm

Plum,but those notes are not obvious, at least not to me. Are you saying they work subliminaly?

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 3:42pm

I'm sorry, people, but I never got over La LuPone. To me, she is the only Norma. But, in reality, for the movie, I'd go for Liza.

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 3:43pm

Sam Mendes and Sweeney Todd, huh ? Can you say rated R? Updated On: 2/16/05 at 03:43 PM

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 3:46pm

Streep also sang (brilliantly) in "Ironweed."

"Dreamgirls" is definitely beyond "in talks" -- it's been greenlighted, Condon is finishing up the final draft of the script, pre-production has begun and casting is underway.

[Plum]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 3:46pm

Adam Chris, I think that repetition in that sense helps tie a large, sprawling score together. Sondheim does the same thing all the time in Sunday in the Park With George and Sweeney Todd. I find it's more subtle than outright reprises.

Reprises work sometimes, when they fit in with the characters' actions. The little "People Will Say We're In Love" reprise in Oklahoma! works that way. But in Sunset Boulevard, things just get repeated and repeated and repeated for no apparent reason except to fill up space, and that drove me nuts. I did like the music a whole lot better than I do a lot of ALW's stuff, but for heaven's sake, that doesn't mean I want to hear the same theme 36 times.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 3:47pm

Sant - her songs in POSTCARDS weren't difficult by any stretch either. The SUNSET score is rangy and taxing. Maybe she could do it - but it would take a lot of work. If you have so many people who are right who already can handle the score, why bother?

[nystateomind04]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 3:48pm

"Sam Mendes and Sweeney Todd, huh ? Can you say rated R?"

Can you say "I CAN'T WAIT" ? !!! Updated On: 2/16/05 at 03:48 PM

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 3:49pm

OK Rath - for instance? what major hollywood star is the right age and can handle the vocals, acting and total feel of the piece?

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 3:50pm

Oh, my god! When Meryl sang "He's My Pal" in IRONWEED, I cried like a baby. That was some brilliant acting right there.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 3:51pm

I've still got my fingers crossed that Streisand will somehow sneak in there and take the part, even though I know it won't happen.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 3:51pm

I didn't say anything about major Hollywood stars. Although hello, Liza is pretty major in my book. I'd have to think about that - but I was talking more on the lines of Minnelli, LuPone, etc.

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 3:56pm

Lupone would never agree to do it. She hates ALWEBBER and for mercy's sake...lets not bring up Barbara. Norma was suppose to be a beautiful face, something Barbara never was. Updated On: 2/16/05 at 03:56 PM

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 3:59pm

Beautiful? Or just very expressive...

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 4:00pm

Rath- though I agree with you - Movies are about selling tickets and the midwest public doesn't have any idea who lupone is, for the most part. I think hollywood insists on names that are instantly recognizable by the masses..

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 4:01pm

Beautiful... Expressive...same thing for silent movies. Only thing Baps can express is "bird".