Uma/Ulla- Page 2
Uma/Ulla
directorkid
Stand-by Joined: 5/4/04
#25re: Uma/Ulla
Posted: 12/29/05 at 1:48pmcomparing Uma to C-ZJ is disgusting! Catherine know how to dance! Uma doesn't dance! She twirls and shakes her breast! she can't sing either! Catherine Zeta-Jones so far has probably given the best performance in a movie musical so far!
#26re: Uma/Ulla
Posted: 12/29/05 at 1:50pm
^ I hope you aren't talking about EVERY movie musical so far. If so, you've missed some FABULOUS and legendary performances. Like Gwen Verdon as Lola in the DAMN YANKEES movie, who makes CZJ and Uma look like amatures. And I love CZJ!
Anyway Velma is LEAD role. Velma gets a lot more shine than Ulla. Comparing the roles is ridiculous.
Updated On: 12/29/05 at 01:50 PM
sanda
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/10/04
#27re: Uma/Ulla
Posted: 12/29/05 at 1:51pmUma is the best part in the movie. But better than Zeta-Jones? You are kidding me.
roquat
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/25/05
#28re: Uma/Ulla
Posted: 12/29/05 at 6:14pm
Numerous people defended Renee Zellwegger's casting in "Chicago" with "Roxie isn't supposed to be talented." Neither is Ulla.
And I remember getting flayed alive when I questioned the casting of Natasha Richardson in "Cabaret" owing to her shaky-at-best vocals. So Natasha gets a pass because she's a hoity-toity "legit" actress, while poor Uma, who has done some rather hard work in the past (I'm sure it wasn't a picnic to learn and execute all that "Kill Bill" fight choreography) gets slammed. I see.
I ask in all honesty/What would life be?/Without a song and a dance, what are we?/So I say "Thank you for the music/For giving it to me."
roquat
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/25/05
#29re: Uma/Ulla
Posted: 12/29/05 at 6:21pmAnd, to clarify--I wasn't comparing the two ladies' complete performances, only their performances of two songs--"If You've Got It, Flaunt It" from "The Producers" and "All That Jazz" from "Chicago". Uma had two undeniable advantages--she has a lot more body to throw around, and her number wasn't cut into with fancy camera angles every two seconds
I ask in all honesty/What would life be?/Without a song and a dance, what are we?/So I say "Thank you for the music/For giving it to me."
#30re: Uma/Ulla
Posted: 12/29/05 at 6:28pm
But how do the numbers "When You Got It,Flaunt It" and "All That Jazz" compare? Starting with the fact that the former is a silly song written to get laughs in a silly show and the latter crates a world of jazz,booze,and sex and is described as one of the best opening numbers in musical theatre history, I don't think the numbers can be compared in any way. You can't compare any actress playing Ulla to an actress playing Velma Kelly.
I believe Uma Thurman did a great job, I mean, Catherine Z. Jones had a well-written, interesting show to work with, while poor Uma was stuck with a flat rather negligible role in a negligible movie with negligible score.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
Updated On: 12/29/05 at 06:28 PM
#31re: Uma/Ulla
Posted: 12/29/05 at 7:12pmI don't think anyone is slamming Uma, but she CAN'T SING roquat! It's not a put down, it's the truth. She's a fine actress, and an okay dancer, but to compare even the two performances ("When You Got It,Flaunt It" and "All That Jazz") doesn't make sense to me. Why not compare Chita Rivera to Catherine Zeta-Jones--they played the same role and sang the same song. Anyway, what difference does it make? You clearly prefer one over the other, and that's fine. But clearly not everyone shares your view.
"You ask four guys, you get four different versions" ~ Tommy DeVito, Jersey Boys
roquat
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/25/05
#32re: Uma/Ulla
Posted: 12/29/05 at 7:13pmYes, it is silly. Wonderfully silly. It never pretends to be anything else. It jumps sky-high during the opening credits and never comes down. IMHO, all the complaints from critics and others ("Too stagey!" "Gay stereotypes!") are niggling. Their loss.
I ask in all honesty/What would life be?/Without a song and a dance, what are we?/So I say "Thank you for the music/For giving it to me."
#33re: Uma/Ulla
Posted: 12/29/05 at 7:15pm
I just don't get why we are comparing two roles that are NOTHING alike and two actresses that are NOTHING alike.
The role of Velma was written to have many moments that "WOW" an audience. It's a leading role, with multiple musical numbers. Ulla is not nearly as big a role. Ulla only gets really once chance to shine.
Uma did fine with the singing. They cut which is probally Ulla's toughest singing parts The "Act 1 Finale." I really wish they didn't cut that though!
#34re: Uma/Ulla
Posted: 12/29/05 at 7:15pm
"Yes, it is silly. Wonderfully silly. It never pretends to be anything else. It jumps sky-high during the opening credits and never comes down. IMHO, all the complaints from critics and others ("Too stagey!" "Gay stereotypes!") are niggling. Their loss. "
Well said! It's FUN, it's campy, it's a throwback in it's look and feel, and it's Mel Brooks!! Just fabulous!
"You ask four guys, you get four different versions" ~ Tommy DeVito, Jersey Boys
BwayBaby18
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/19/05
#35re: Uma/Ulla
Posted: 12/29/05 at 7:23pm
I don't think Uma did the flip into the split.... if you look at the clip it is cut very suspicously and the hair loks diffrent...
i think it was stunt doubled... like Geena Davis in A Legaue Of Their Own...the jump split she didn't do, it was a guy in a wig!
roquat
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/25/05
#36re: Uma/Ulla
Posted: 12/29/05 at 7:53pmI believe Susan Stroman said that Uma did do the jump/split. Regardless, would you have liked to find a seven foot three body double for Uma who could jump/split? It would probably take less time just to teach her how to do it! After all, she did all that "Kill Bill" fight choreography...
I ask in all honesty/What would life be?/Without a song and a dance, what are we?/So I say "Thank you for the music/For giving it to me."
#37re: Uma/Ulla
Posted: 12/29/05 at 7:55pm
Frankly, I don't care who did it. It's a great part of that number 
"You ask four guys, you get four different versions" ~ Tommy DeVito, Jersey Boys
Broadway Star Joined: 12/31/69
#38re: Uma/Ulla
Posted: 12/29/05 at 8:18pmI loved Uma and thought she was sensational as Ulla. I doubt that split was her - most likely a stunt dancer - but who cares? They probably lowered the key of her songs, but who cares? Not the greatest singing voice? Who cares? Isn't the point of Ulla that she's not all that talented, but she's on Broadway because she's the producer's girlfriend? Although Cady Huffman has a stunning voice, it's not required for the role. Uma is gorgeous and just lit up the screen every time she appeared in a scene. I consider her a very brave actress...she takes all kinds of risks. From "Kill Bill Volumes 1 & 2" to "The Producers." I admire her. Oh, and by the way, Gary Beach...THE BEST THING IN THE FILM, as usual. He should get an Oscar.
#39re: Uma/Ulla
Posted: 12/29/05 at 8:27pm
"Oh, and by the way, Gary Beach...THE BEST THING IN THE FILM, as usual. He should get an Oscar."
ABSOLUTELY--and if not, it should go to Roger Bart. Sensational!!
"You ask four guys, you get four different versions" ~ Tommy DeVito, Jersey Boys
#40re: Uma/Ulla
Posted: 12/29/05 at 8:46pmI agree! I have now seen the original movie, the musical, and the musical movie, and The charachters of Roger and Carmen are the best in all three. Gary and Roger also do the best job of protraying them in the musical and the movie musical. I seriously hope that atleast one of the gets a nomination.
~Now I'm standing centre stage, I'm at home at last!~
#41re: Uma/Ulla
Posted: 12/29/05 at 9:20pm
I HATED Uma Thurman as Ulla. She was terribly miscast. Her dancing was not impressive, her singing was fine, and her acting made the character forgettable. With everything else being so over the top, she was dull. Uma just doesn't pull it off. Plus she goes in and out of her accent the whole movie. When she says "Max? Leo?", it is downright laughable because what the hell accent was that??
Uma as Ulla is better than Catherine Zeta-Jones as Velma?? You have got to be kidding me. Seriously.
"Love is a many splendid thing, love lifts us up where we belong, all you need is love!"
Updated On: 12/29/05 at 09:20 PM
#42re: Uma/Ulla
Posted: 12/29/05 at 9:37pm
Horrible peformances, awful film...what a joke to think any of these deserve awards!!! They are so over the top, so corny, so "theatrical"...Uma is terrible, as are Beach and Lane. Broderick is beyond terrible...only Will Ferrell, not a fav, knows how to play broad film comedy.
Updated On: 12/29/05 at 09:37 PM
Broadway Star Joined: 12/31/69
#43re: Uma/Ulla
Posted: 12/29/05 at 9:57pmThe whole point of this Mel Brooks extravaganza is to be over the top and theatrical, and the characters are cartoon creatures. That's what this is all about. Will Ferrell? Oh, puleeeeeeeeezzzzzz. Any award nomination for him is purely political and a matter of who's PR rep is out there hustling. He is funny, but his role in The Producers is one-dimensional and typical Saturday Night Live fare. He will end up like Chevy Chase. My heart is breaking for the cast members who brought their Broadway roles to the screen so brilliantly and now have Will Ferrell getting all the attention.
Flahooley
Leading Actor Joined: 11/17/05
#44re: Uma/Ulla
Posted: 12/30/05 at 12:18am
I was a little disappointed with Uma and Will. They were both out of their element. Both did a very respectable job, but the musical theatre acting sytle of THE PRODUCERS is very specific.
Still they can both be very proud of their work. If you never saw or heard Cady Huffman or Brad Oscar you'd never miss them.
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