A slew of movie musicals are in production or in pre-production casting. The one that really gets my attention is Mamma Mia! with Meryl Streep and, be still my heart, Pierce Brosnan. Okay, during filming of Dante's Peak, I discovered I could be 5 feet from him and still act professional. But as an eighth grader, at least one other classmate was enthralled with him in Remington Steele. Can he sing? Frankly, I don't know and I don't care. He's set to play Sam, one of three potential fathers of the bride, in the ABBA musical/rock concert. In the stage show, Sam gets "SOS" and "Knowing Me, Knowing You." Will the movie be as fun as the show? The live stage concert has so much energy, the audience is dancing in their seats. Concerts on film don't have that, and it's doubtful the movie can live up to the "most popular musical in the world."So what else is going on in the movie musical world?
Hairspray: John Travolta put it best when he stood next to the film's co-star Queen Latifah and said "I love a full figured woman who can stand in front of a camera and sing her heart out. But that’s enough about me." The photos are incredible, especially of Travolta in the prosthetics. (WOW!) Having just had the show come through Spokane in January, it's still very fresh in my mind, and the high energy from the cast still infuses the recording. The big disappointment: Mama I'm a Big Girl Now is out, because it "doesn't move the plot along." Two new songs are added. Coming July, New Line Cinema. (And yes, Disney ain't the only ones with fashion dolls! But these girls are more realistic than princesses.)
Johnny Depp as Sweeney Todd. The mixture of Depp, Tim Burton, and Stephen Sondheim could result in mad genius. Consider that Sacha Baron Cohen is cast as Pirelli, a rival barber, and the contest scene will be wild at the very least! Burton's significant other, Helena Bonham Carter, is Mrs. Lovett, a part that requires significant singing experience. "Worst Pies in London" doesn't even have space to breathe. I'm hoping for the best, but wondering how well they'll pull it off. A co-production of DreamWorks and Warner Bros.
UPDATE: Filming is back on track after Depp's young daughter was "critically ill" at a British hospital; she's doing much better and home with her parents now. (I'm not a celebrity-seeker, but I always feel for the parents of hospitalized children. Not to mention the kids!) Burton is aiming for a wide release of January 2008, limited release Dec. 21. Sweeney at Christmas??? Now that's macabre.
Across the Universe. The trailer makes it seem like a cross between Hair and Moulin Rouge, with Beatles songs. The story of young love in the '60s and '70s, crossing continents and political conflicts. Julie Taymor's vision made the Lion King a hit (along with Lebo M's music), and her stage work is remarkable. In film, she has no boundaries at all; some sequences are downright psychadelic. I hope I don't have to go to Seattle or New York to see it.
Enchanted. Disney takes an animated princess tale (a take-off on Snow White) and sends the characters into modern-day New York City, with live-action. Songs are by Alan Menkin (music) and Stephen Schwartz (lyrics). Susan Sarandon (remember her singing in Rocky Horror Picture Show?) is the evil queen. I admit, I'm a Disney-holic, and enjoy Belle, Ariel, Aurora, etc. (Fortunately, our daughter does not -- yet) Giselle will make a nice addition to the Princess line (yes, the dolls -- animated version and person version -- are ready for the Christmas rush.)
Bob, The Musical. Disney takes another off-beat direction, where a guy who hates musicals suddenly hears the "inner song" of people's hearts after being struck in the head. (The TV show Scrubs did a similar theme this season where a woman with a brain condition suddenly starts hearing everything as a musical.) Songs are being done by Marc Shaiman (Hairspray). Expected in 2008.
Other projects being thought about:
Sunset Boulevard with Glenn Close; Rapunzel, another Disney princess movie, with Kristin Chenoweth. There are lots of other rumors, most of them involving Hugh Jackman.
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