What will come of the SWEENEY TODD movie?- Page 2

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 3:00pm

Haha.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 3:05pm

I suppose if you were being REALLY cruel you'd have said Black as Sweeney.

Oh, getting back to possible Sweeneys, I have to admit I prefer the thought of Depp over Kevin Kline. Depp's certainly more of a quirky charmer these days but he does have dark character history in his credits.
Personally, I wish Jack Nicholson could both sing AND do a standard British accent.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 3:07pm

I dislike fantasy casting for a variety of reasons but I will say that NP Harris couldn't be in it if Toby is written as a child. Not possible at all.

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 3:08pm

I still like the idea of Russell Crowe as Sweeney and Meryl Streep as Lovett.

Some "young newbie" with a killer soprano as Johanna. And you HAVE to use a relative unknown for the Beggar Woman, unless you want to telegraph to everyone that she's "more than you think she is" from her very first entrance. Not a good idea.

How about Ben Kingsley as the Judge? And Josh Grobin as Anthony (provided he can pass an "acting" screen test)?

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 3:12pm

Lord. I despise Crowe so very much, even Streep couldn't make me enjoy him.
I agree with you on the Beggar Woman, although there are a lot of "Supporting" Hollywood players who wouldn't necessarilly draw undue attention upon the role...of course, I can't think of one at the moment.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 3:13pm

In my opinion, ALL movie musicals depend on the success of Dreamgirls, Across The Universe, and Hairspray. By this I only mean that if all these films bomb miserabely, then I think this will have a negative impact on future movie musicals on the big screen.

HOWEVER, DREAMGIRLS is likely to be a hit. Perhaps even a blockbuster hit a la Chicago. Then it won't matter if Across The Universe & Hairspray fail or not.

That being said, I don't think either of these films will impact Sweeney Todd. I think it'll happen...if its Burton/Depp. If Burton/Depp don't do it, it'll float around in the pool of musicals waiting to have a turn on the big screen, joining Bat Boy, Contact, Sunset Blvd, Mamma Mia, etc.

[blaxx]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 3:14pm

Why not Burton? A fantastic/horror Burtonesque setting will be ideal for a creepy movie that has its killers...singing.

I'm sorry, but I wouldn't buy the movie (and doubt it will be found scary) if it happened in a realistic setting and the characters start singing. Not really screen friendly, and the problem with a lot of recent movie musicals.

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 3:37pm

blaxx---You have a good point. I don't think it's going to be easy to both "scare" and "sing." But I do think it's possible.

(Certainly not in any recent examples, unless you go back to Lucille Ball in "Mame.")

Personally? I see the whole thing starting as a melodrama in a dark London theatre (for the opening "Ballad of Sweeney"), and then branching out both in song and physically into the streets of the city. I think you've got to "ease" an audience into it, not take for granted that they'll go along for the ride just because you want them to.

Updated On: 5/18/06 at 03:37 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 3:41pm

It's going to need a concept to work the singing in. Point blank.

Rent and The Producers looked SO corny at times, because they didn't work the singing in with a concept, like Chicago.

[jv92]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 3:53pm

The Producers could have been great if Stroman used some inventive camera work and if Leo Bloom and Ula were recast.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 3:59pm

I would be interested to see a Burton version, but worried nonetheless.
I mean you've all seen his movies...theres a specific style to them that could really work against Sweeney.

Plus with Burton directing and Depp playing Sweeney...take a wild guess on who would be playing Lovett.
Helena Bonham Carter. I dont want it, you dont want it....Burton/Depp always wants it.
Unfortunately, I feel like if Burton signed on for this - she could snag that role if she wanted it (irregardless of talent)

[Ghosthost999]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 4:05pm

I would love Burton to do it. My dream cast for it so far is:

Sweeney Todd: Alan Rickman
Lovett: Meryl Streep
Beggar Woman: Helena Bohnam Carter(If Burton does the movie I would bet my last dollar this role is hers)
Judge Turpin: Christopher Lee
Johanna: Scarlett Johanson
Pierlli: Jim Carrey

More to come, this is how I like it so far.

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 4:11pm

I LOVED Matthew as Leo but I`d rather of seen Martin Short as Leo!!!! Uma did ok as Ulla but she wasn`t terrific. I LOVED it!! It`s my favorite movie.....EVER!!!!!!!!

Someone commented on how bad Kelsey was in LA. People who saw it keep telling me that. But I can toatally picture him in the role!!!!

I had the idea at first for Meryl Streep on IMDB but I didn`t want to seem like a copy cat (In a nice word)

I need comments on Alan Cumming as Pirelli,Andrea Martin as Beggar Woman and George Hearn as Judge Turpin!

To the poster above me.......JIM CARREY AS PIRELLI!?!??! THAT`S THE STUPIDEST THING I`VE EVER HEARD!!!!!!!!!

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 4:16pm

The thought of Depp as Sweeney Todd makes me a little sick. Would love to see Burton tackle it, though.

[Brennan88]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 4:18pm

If Helena Bonham Carter can carry a tune, she'd be a much more interesting choice than Meryl Streep. Yeah, I love Meryl too, but I don't quite understand why she's always everybody's first choice for everything.

I think Judy Davis would make a really fun Mrs. Lovett. Or Emma Thompson. Or Angelica Houston...Or even Cher...How fun would that be?

And whoever said Andrea Martin for the beggar woman--I think her voice is better suited to Lovett (not that it's perfect for that either, but who cares...it's not like Angela's voice was
perfect.)

And please understand, I am not bashing Meryl...she's great, but there are other great film actresses as well.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 4:20pm

"Beggar Woman: Helena Bohnam Carter(If Burton does the movie I would bet my last dollar this role is hers)"

Ghosthost - someone mentioned earlier that the beggar woman couldn't be someone really well known because then it sort of gives away the "theres more to her" thing. People will be expecting some key plot points coming from her if shes well-known. Burton's audiences will see Helena and know that he wouldn't cast her in such a seemingly insignificant role.
You know what I'm saying?

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 4:37pm

You know what.....I NEVER would`ve thought of that!!!!!!

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 4:40pm

I wouldn't say that Helena Bonham Carter is someone really well known.

[mrslovett7]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 4:46pm

Michael Bennet,

didn't you say awhile back that you had read the script and they were cutting such songs as Epiphany and Wait?

can you tell us more?

[Scottie310]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 4:48pm

Meryl Streep would make such an incredible creepy, yet lovable Lovett. I also think Toni Collete would be incredible

[Brennan88]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 4:53pm

Toni Colette--yes! That's the spirit, Scottie, think outside the box a little.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 5:24pm

Bette Midler as Mrs. Lovett. Lovett doesn't need to be so much creepy as just cuckoo-bananas.

I like the idea of Alan Rickman as Sweeney. Or possibly Jonathan Pryce or Tim Curry.

[TheaterAddict7652]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 5:38pm

I feel uneasy with the rumor that Burton is directing Sweeney only because it's a musical. If it wasn't a musical, I think that Burton would be a good choice as a director. But because its a musical, I really don't want him to direct it. Its hard for directors to make a good movie musical because its hard to decide what elements from the stage work well on screen, and how to make it less "cheesy" for people to start singing.

I would feel much better if it was directed by Mendes or Rob Marshall- someone who understands theatre and what elements of it need to be preserved on screen.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 6:33pm

We need to remember one thing.

CHICAGO was a major success greatly due to it's cast. Had they cast unknowns (a la RENT) it probably would have bombed or, at least, not have been as big as it was.

Helena Bonham Carter, Toni Colette, and Alan Rickman - while fantastic actors - have NO name value or draw.

To sell SWEENEY you need a dymamite everything: Cast, Director, Concept and Creative Team.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 7:00pm

Would the current revival concept work as a way to easy the audience into the story? If Toby is written for a child, would it be possible to have him tell the story from the asulym(sp?) at an older age, like as a teenager.