Tim Burton & Johnny Depp Team For 'SWEENEY TODD' Movie Musical Adaptation- Page 5

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 1/8/06 at 8:10pm

LilBwayLady, I don't think you need to worry about Burton making it child-like. The man has directed numerous films that aren't for children. Just because his last two movies were children's films and he has a few on his resume doesn't mean he'll make all of his films for children. Ed Wood, Big Fish, and Sleepy Hollow are more "adult" films. And I wouldn't necessarily say that Edward Scissorhands is for children, either.

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 11:17am

I think a film version of this is a terrible plan. Movies of musicals have not done so well lately and this may be silly, but I'd rather not taint the name of Sondheim with a subpar film of a musical that may totally flop. My opinion is not just based on the Depp/Burton stuff, but I am opposed to this movie no matter who is in it or directing it. I respect both Tim Burton and Johnny Depp very, very much, but I don't like the idea of a film.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 11:27am

I don't see why Movie Musicals are not "art house" movies, with very low budgets (which would mean casting actual Broadway performers becomes an option) limited releases, very little advertising. But the audience that exists would search them out.

I doubt a failed film would sully Sondheim's rep, I mean even the A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC movie didn't do that.

I just want to see what could happen. If a movie is made there is always the chance it can be great, as long as there is no movie, that can't happen. (Of course it also can't be terrible.)

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 11:37am

I see your point, penguin, even though I myself have not seen the Night Music movie. (Where can you find it? Must see it.) But there are toooonnnnnnnnns of people who haven't heard of Sondheim and to suddenly have him marketed as a major motion picture would bring him to the forefront. This is itself would not be bad, but if the movie were to be poor or to flop, later on, people would be saying, "Oh, that Sondheim guy. Wasn't he the one with that crappy movie?"

You're right and it totally may do well or be amazing, and God knows I'll be first in line to see it. But does every musical have to be a movie? If it's already amazing onstage and perfect as it is, why push it any further?

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 11:44am

I am not sure the best place to find the NIGHT MUSIC movie, I have seen it online for sale, but I can't recall where. (I can't look for it, because I am prone to impulse buy that sort of thing.)

I see your point about a SWEENEY movie, although there is that chance they never mention him at all. I can't recall much "Kandler and Ebb" talk when the CHICAGO movie came out. Yet there was extensive Webber talk when POTO came out. It remains a crapshoot.

Which is why I am advocating small, independent, movie musicals as the way to go.

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 11:48am

Yes, yes, I see your point. Knowing the general public, people will probably think Tim Burton and Danny Elfman composed the show. (But, seriously, I love them both heartily.)

I like your idea of independent musicals. This makes much sense, penguin-is-mightier-than-the-sword friend.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 11:51am

I dont think that a Sweeney movie would make much of a difference to people's opinion of Sondheim. If someone doesnt know who his is yet, they wont care. Those who know who he is will not fault him if the film version fails.
I would agree that all musicals should NOT become films, but not in the case of Sweeney. I think would come off as a tremendous film if done properly and cast well.
The story has been on film already with Joanna Lumly and Ben Kingsley (for Showtime I think) but I did not see that version.

I am definitely in the Streep for Lovett corner, but LOVE Lauper as a possiblity too. She would also make a good beggar woman.

[LostLeander]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 3:32pm

Tim Burton... eh.

Maybe. He could do something new and inventive but still stay within the Sweeney Todd as we know it, very much like the Doyle version.

Johnny Depp. This will NOT be another Gerard Butler (or whatever his name is) raw, rough not-really-a-singer-but-fits-the-look casting. I will protest, and burn down a building if I have to. I'm sure, I'm positive actually, that he could act this role very well, but this is a MUSICAL. Singing is very much an integral part of casting. We saw Phantom, kind-of singers don't work.

I would LOVE to see this movie done in a Dogville (which is a GREAT movie) type style. Very stagey, not very realistic, and live singing.

I hate dubbing, and lip synching.

I would love Streep in this role. They showed a clip of her singing (belting, actually) on Inside the Actor's Studio. I can't remember the movie, but it sounded good!

For some reason I can't imagine this done in a realistic fashion. Like on-set locations, and outdoor sets, ala the Rent Movie, and POTO. It's such a theatrical piece, and I think Burton could do something really inventive with it, but casting is SO key.

And NOT Cerveris. I tire of him.

[Plum]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 3:42pm

The fact that someone is good doesn't mean they're good at everything. You wouldn't cast a younger Audra McDonald in Rent, for example, because her voice is too legit for it. She's probably the most acclaimed musical theater actress of her generation, but she can't play every female musical role in existence. So even though Johnny Depp is great at playing a bizarro pirate or a guy with scissor hands, that doesn't mean that he would ace every role that calls for a male actor. He isn't remotely like any Sweeney I've ever seen, and certainly not like the Sweeney described in the libretto.

"TODD is a heavy-set, saturnine man in his forties who might, say, be a blacksmith or a dockhand. There is about him an air of brooding, slightly nerve-chilling self-absorption."

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 3:45pm

Well that sounds a bit like John C Reily, who think would also be awful.

ETA: I am watching both DVD's right now, I must say I don't think Hearn is perfectly cast either.

Updated On: 1/12/06 at 03:45 PM

[lovinlife]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 3:56pm

Streep in Death Becomes Her? If what happened in the movie during her singing is a reflection of what will happen to the general public during the viewing of the film, than we better come up with someone new.

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 4:01pm

*gasp*

Penguin, you don't like George Hearn? *gasp again*

What isn't that you don't like entirely about him. (Personally I was devastated that Len Cariou wasn't recorded on film, but George Hearn is amazing.) But I swear I'll listen respectfully to your opinion.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 4:08pm

I don't "dislike" Hearn, well not on the original DVD at least.

First, I love the extra darkness that Cariou and Cerveris bring to the character.
Hearn sounds great, his voice is fabulous, but I perfer an "acting based" Sweeney.
In the concert, he is delivering his lines way to fast, and many of the spoken parts lose a great deal of their effectivness, for me. I don't like that performance overall.

Hearn is always crazy, about to snap. Cariou builds with an undercurrent of intenisty until you feel him breaking. Cerveris is always "brooding away" but has more control, a rage that seems to curdle.

I like the slower build better than the rapid swings of Hearn. Again, not that I dislike Hearn.

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 4:13pm

I absolutely see your point. I think it's wonderful that we have two such different portrayals of Sweeney at our disposal. I prefer Cariou's as well, especially with Epiphany, but I appreciate Georgy Boy, whose voice is really beautiful.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 4:16pm

As George says on the FOLLIES DVD, he wanted to be an opera singer, and his Sweeney is very "operattic" and sounds great. It is just not my favorite acting.

He can really pull it off "vocally" though.

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 4:20pm

Oh, I love him on the Follies DVD. He's so clueless about which microphone to aim for during the finale.

Sorry, that was totally random.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 4:21pm

I finally got the SONDHEIM COLLECTION yesterday, so I have been on a bit of a binge. Not that I am not obsessively listening to Sondheim all the time anyway.

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 4:29pm

Wait, wait, wait. What's the Sondheim Collection?

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 4:31pm

You have not heard? Wow, I thought I was the last to learn.

It is the DVD set

FOLLIES in concert
SWEENEY in concert
A Celebration at Carnegie Hall
SITPWG
INTO THE WOODS
and
PASSION

all in one box for less than $100.

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 4:35pm

Oh, I had no idea you could get them all together. I actually have all of those, except the Sweeney concert. And I definitely paid a good $30 for each of them. You are truly a bargain hunter.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 4:37pm

I was lucky to hear about the set before I bought them seperately.
I kept almost buying them, then I found the set.

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 4:43pm

Where were you when I was shopping at Borders, penguin? I thought you had my back!

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 4:50pm

im too lazy to read this whole thing, so- this is confirmed, like this is definitely happening? or is this still a rumor?

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 4:54pm

It is one of those early stage rumors that has some possible truth.

I have your back SG, it is hard to do it retroactively though.

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 5:06pm

Again, you have a very good point.