Sweeney Film... why cut the songs?- Page 3

[wickedfan]

Posted: 12/25/07 at 12:10pm

I still don't see HOW the Ballad or the Epilogue could've worked. Over the ending credits? That's basically the equivalent to "I Move On" playing over the credits of Chicago. During the opening credits? Most people wouldn't be listening to the lyrics anyway. I would just like one person to give a detailed account of how they would've included the Ballad and the Epilogue into the movie. Just saying "if done right, it would've been breathtaking" isn't sufficient. If "done right", Good Vibrations could've been made into a brilliant movie.

I, personally, feel that the new ending is haunting in its own way. Sure, it's much more quiet than the stage version's ending...oh but wait, this isn't the stage version! I think that the final shot is so beautiful and sad, that if the Epilogue were to start afterwards, I would've been pissed off and the audience would've started laughing. The Ballads work best on stage. I'm sure there is some screenwriter out there who could've made the Ballads work, but John Logan (after multiple tries) couldn't find a way. We have to accept that. What w have now is an incredible movie. Musical or otherwise.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 12/25/07 at 12:30pm

I began to miss "Kiss Me" when the Beadle started "Ladies...", to the extent we get a smidgeon of it. But I've made peace with "Kiss Me"'s demise, realizing that just because the ravashing quartet is among my favorite pieces in all of Sondheim doesn't justify its inclusion in this film. It's gone for a reason, not arbitrary timing issues. Burton made some strong, intelligently thought out elisions, and they help deliver a lean, mean machine that never really stops moving. As somone posted above, it's amazing how intact the score is. When you consider how prominent the vocals-free "Ballad" is in the score, you sense the overall wall of Sondheim sound is very much in place here.