Sunset Blvd - Movie musical- Page 7

[sharon1]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 3:21pm

Me either

[bwaybaby891]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 5:30pm

I think this movie will be a better movie than it was a show. I think it begged to be a movie.

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 2/28/05 at 6:04pm

Yes, you're right, it should be a movie...afterall it is about the dark side of showbiz. Which is why I think Alfonso Cuaron (Y tu mama tambien and prisoner of azkaban) would make an excelent director. He is not afraid of gritty, dark and taboo subject matter. Updated On: 2/28/05 at 06:04 PM

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 3/4/05 at 10:44am

Can anyone picuture Nathan Lane in drag singing Surrender and With One Look? That would make a great gag real if/when they release the DVD.

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 3/11/05 at 6:02pm

I remember when Nathan dressed in drag in a skit on Saturday Night Live... it reminded me of Norma. Ha!

[Dolly_Levi]

Posted: 3/11/05 at 11:27pm

Liza!

Liza!

Liza!

I still say Hollywood loves a comeback ...

Stay tuned.

[Sant]

Posted: 3/12/05 at 9:12am

Oh yes, Liza as Norma and Michael Jackson as Joe.

I think Liza is a great singer and has done some great acting, but I don't think people would be able (I know I wouln't be) of forgetting all the tabloids and stuff about her personal life if they cast her. It would be too much of 'watching Liza PLAY Norma" than 'watching Norma', if you get my point. Like someone here said, Liza brings too much of baggage. It is true, no matter how great she is, and I do think she is great. But I just don't think she's the right person to play Norma.

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 3/15/05 at 10:19am

wow.
check out liza.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=2520

How many touch ups were done to this photo?

[Matt_G]

Posted: 3/15/05 at 10:20am

Not too many, I would imagine. Having just seen her a few weeks ago I can tell you that the woman looks FABULOUS!

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 3/23/05 at 4:55pm

I feel really bad Phantom was not the box office draw or award winning show it was hoped to be in the cinema.
Next on the plate: S U N S E T B O U L V E V A R D .
Here is what I think: This is probably Andrew Lloyd Webber's last chance to make a big-time movie musical.
After this, what is left?
Starlight Express, Whistle Down the Wind, Woman in White and Beautiful Game?
None of these titles would generate enough excitement for a theatrical release.
In my opinon, this is it! His last chance to make an impressive mark in the world of film.

I really hope he does well.

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 6:50pm

Has anyone heard anymore about this upcoming project?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 6:57pm

Latest News: Paramount who owns the original film has granted Webber's film company the rights to make the movie, with a first refusal option on distribution rights.

Webber has supposedly attached Glenn Close to star, and has approached Hugh Jackman, Gerald Butler and Matt Damon about playing Joe. Anne Hathaway who has had a nice relationship with Webber since she auditioned for the film of PHANTOM has been tapped to play Betty.

But the project doesn't have a script or director attached which probably makes it about 2 years down the road, if it ever happens at all.
Updated On: 3/31/05 at 06:57 PM

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 8:17pm

M Bennett - Thanks for responding. I've read elsewhere (though I can't remember which thread) that you work in the film industry. I surprised you mentioned Matt Damon's name. I didn't even know he could sing.
I think Anne would be good as Betty. So with no director annoucned, who do you think would be a good choice? Do you think they should go for a 'glamourous' look or for something more 'gritty'? I ask because I wonder if Alfonzo Cuaron could bring out some of the gritty and taboo feel of the show. Just wondering what your thoughts are.

Thanks,

[kangaroo]

Posted: 3/31/05 at 8:34pm

All I'm going to say is:
HUGH JACKMAN and GLENN CLOSE... I know it's not fathomable for Michael Ball

no ifs, ands, or buts

Posted: 4/1/05 at 11:55am

I'm with you Kangaroo - I think Glen & Hugh would be great together...the chemistry would be amazing! I already have visions of the opening pool scene and also the pool scene where Joe shows some skin!

[sharon1]

Posted: 4/1/05 at 12:13pm

I agree with Glenn Close but not sure abut Jackman. I wish it was Michael Ball. He and Jackman look about the same age even though MB is older. But he is not into films. Can Clive Owen ??? sing

[Fan2]

Posted: 4/1/05 at 12:38pm

Hugh won the Australian Tony Award (the "MO" Award) for playing Joe Gills in Australia in 1996, which was directed by Trevor Nunn. I have seen snippets of his performance in an Australian documentary on the show, and I think he would be fabulous as Joe. He mentioned in a USA Today article last year that he had been in contact with Lloyd-Webber about it, so I guess only time will tell.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 4/1/05 at 12:50pm

Anne Hathaway for Betty????? How does that sound??????????

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/1/05 at 1:17pm

Hey Adam -- Several years back, Martin Scorsese had expressed interest in directing the movie, which would be a fascinating choice. Webber has had a working relationship with Shekhar Kapur, who directed ELIZABETH, and who clearly knows something about strong women and striking physical worlds.

While I enjoyed the film of PHANTOM overall, I do think it was in many ways a wasted opportunity. I hope Webber will hire a more ambitiously creative director if he moves forward with a film of SUNSET.

And yes Matt Damon apparently sings quite well. He did a number of musicals in his school days -- WEST SIDE STORY, PIPPIN etc in the lead roles -- so again, he probably sings well enough to carry off a film, though perhaps not the stage production.

[LA Guy]

Posted: 4/1/05 at 3:02pm

Trust me - this movie is NOT going to be made. Even though Gail Berman - a former producer on B'Way (and of Joseph..., no less) is now President of Paramount (who owns the rights and would probably co-produce), the economics don't make sense.

Phantom is probably the best known and most widely popular Webber show, and it tanked at the box office. "Sunset" couldn't even break even on B'Way, where it had Glenn Close and a $30m+ advance.

It failed on the road, as well, because the title means nothing to anyone outside the BWay and classic film circles. No studio is going to invest $80 million on a film with such a bad track record and little name recognition, plus another $40million on marketing. Not to mention, if the film flops, it taints the original property, which is sucha classic.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/1/05 at 4:28pm

If Glenn Close had stayed with the Broadway run for its entire engagement, it would have made a sizable profit. The problems came when the replacement stars -- Buckley, Paige, etc. couldn't sell out the theatre.

Clark, who played the role on tour, and Diahann Carroll also don't possess the kind of box office clout needed to attract an audience to the material.

Now if say Close had been replaced by Meryl Streep, Liza Minnelli and Cher, nobody would be questioning the logistics of the show being a success.

I agree that the film is a risky proposition. However, if Webber is able to get suitable star involvement -- Close, Jackman or Damon, and is able to do the film for a relatively small budget -- SUNSET is after all a fairly small story, despite the grandeur of its main character -- it could make money.

I would expect the budget to be in the 40 million dollar zone - not 80 unless the two leads are Will Smith and Julia Roberts.

It's certainly the last of the unfilmed Webber musicals that has any box office potential, which may be why Webber is hankering to get it made. I don't expect we will be seeing movies of ASPECTS, WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND, or A BEAUTIFUL GAME anytime soon.

And Gail Berman's involvement would be a moot point. Paramount would only distribute the film. As with PHANTOM, Webber's production company would completely finance the production.




Updated On: 4/1/05 at 04:28 PM

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 4/1/05 at 4:53pm

A question to anybody who has heard/seen the Berlin production of SUNSET---Is the cast album worth buying? I speak German, so the language barrier is no problem. But are the performances good?

[Plum]

Posted: 4/1/05 at 5:08pm

I think I heard somewhere the Max on that recording is really good. But I can't help you much more than that. Sorry.

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 4/1/05 at 6:15pm

I agree with Bennett. This is it for Andrew Lloyd Webber. He has nothing else under his belt he can offer to cinema. I actually said this in an earlier post as well, but the other shows he has done don't really lend it's self well to the big screen. What I mean, is they don't generate enough audience appeal.
So yes, I think Andrew will see this project through.
I believe he will be more careful with this than PHANTOM.
It seemed like they took PHANTOM for granted and assumed it would not have to "prove" anything since the show had so much appeal.
It would be great if this would be his "crowning achievement" in the film industry.
Updated On: 6/20/05 at 06:15 PM

[YankeeMate]

Posted: 4/7/05 at 10:42pm

Norma - Bette Midler (marquee name)
Joe - Hugh Jackman (marquee name)
Max - Robert Goulet
Betty - Renée Zellweger (marquee name)