Sweeney Todd; Filmimg starts feb 5th — Page 3

Best12Bars, you've read the original (Logan) script, right? If so, what did you generally think of it given what they've cut out or shortened? I'm actually glad they cut out my least favorite song in the show. Do you think this script will work in the style of Burton?

re: Sondheim's desire to scare his audience.

"I don't think that will translate to film."

Gothampc --- I sure hope you're wrong about that. This is exactly where they will grab the wider crossover movie audiences. Without it, no matter how "good" the movie is to us Broadway folk, it will just be a curiosity to most people... at best.

Wildcard --- I haven't read the original (Logan) script myself. I've only talked with a few people who have. So I have no firsthand opinion of it.

---

I remember when Into The Woods was to be filmed. They had already begun construction on the sets when the plug was pulled. I think the second Giant was supposed to be male, if not the same Giant from Jack's story. Also, "Children Will Listen" was sung as we saw the survivors rebuilding their lives.

But who would think that mainstream audiences will be so eager to see a movie called "Snakes On A Plane"?

Mainstream audiences aren't necessarily as shallow and dumb as we expect them to be. Something different, like Sweeney Todd, may be just what the modern audiences need. It's guaranteed to have quite a big audience draw with Tim Burton directing and Johnny Depp starring in it. Plus, the theatre supporters are automatically attracted to see it.

On another note, Broadway musicals and the composers are far from being household names. Sad to say, but people around where I live are just now hearing about Wicked. Stories like Sweeney Todd and composers like Sondheim may never be seen or heard any other way by the audiences that this movie has a potential to reach.

Overall, I think it should be a decent adaptation. I'm not sure about Johnny Depp, but I'll give him a chance.

---

Lots of intelligent moviegoers still haven't warmed up to musicals, altoid.

I hate that the film industry seems to think that only people in New York and LA are worthy of good 'thinking' movies. I wanted so badly to see The Great New Wonderful, but did that come to Ohio? Of course not. If the cultural powers that be want Middle America to stop being so bland, they ought to learn how to share.

//rant.

I think Sweeney's niche will be Burton fans and people who have seen and liked Johnny Depp in movies besides Pirates. Whoever said that the Hot Topic clone set will latch onto it is probably correct.


ETA: (didn't see Emcee's post) That's the biggest problem with Burton. His enviroments are over-the-top. His characters are certainly more sincere, but if you take Sweeney out of his gritty enviroment, the whole serial killer thing just looks lame.

Updated On: 8/17/06 at 09:30 PM

"I don't think that mainstream audiences want to see a singing murderer."

I agree... and therein lies the challenge!

I'll tell you one thing... they won't walk out saying they've seen it before.

I vote for the "Silence of the Lambs" approach to the horror genre... not the blood-spurting, gross-out approach.

Although the blood and gore is required (and expected) to a certain extent. I just hope it's not just a Stan Winston smorgasbord. They need to concentrate on the psychological terror of it, instead.

---

Excuse me but isn't CHICAGO filled with singing murderers and violence?

I think SWEENEY TODD could work on film but I do not think Tim Burton is talented enough and I do not think Depp is right. He is a fine actor but at the age of 40 still looks like he is 25.

I say Ralph Fiennes and Emma Thompson directed by Mike Nichols.

Or to go older, Bob Hoskins and Julie Walters.

Or to stay American, Jack Nicholson and Barbra Streisand. I think that would be marvelous.

---

"Excuse me but isn't CHICAGO filled with singing murderers and violence?"

Yes, but I think Sondheim intended the musical to really SCARE an audience. Chicago was not meant to scare.

---

Thought the people on this site mite b interested to know that I have an audition for johanna on thursday! And by the way johnny depp can sing hes had voice tests!

I think part of the biggest problem when it comes to movie musicals lately is that producers and executives shoot themselves in the foot by releasing them around the holidays and presenting them in such a way that reinforces the idea that the movie is different or a special event for a certain contigent of people. Dragging out the release from the end of the year in certain cities to the begging of the next year for wide release is also a part of that. That's why I think releasing Hairspray in the summer is a good idea. Hopefully, the movie will be good enough that that sort of release date will become common for musicals.

Then there's also the advertising for musicals thats often so convoluted that people end up not even knowing what to think about the movie. I think if you just present the movie as what it is, and more importantly, as an interesting and entertaining movie, then most likely enough people will show up to make it a success. I think it's better to just try to get to a point where musicals are as close to being "just another movie" as possible.

There's also the fact that the most recent film musicals just haven't been very good and didn't really have many actors who were box office draws in them.

---

Have they annouced who is playing Mrs.Lovett? Anyone here anything about it?

Success doesn't always have to do with casting movie stars.

If RENT and THE PRODUCERS had been directed by people who actually knew what they were doing, the movies would have been a lot better. RENT did not fail financially because of the casting - it failed because it was not a good film. If RENT was a brilliant film and still did horribly at the box office, then I guess you could say it was casting. But, that's not the case. It got mostly negative reviews - and negative reviews on top of a lukewarm interest to begin with doesn't make for much success.

---