Monsieur D'Arque
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If you could have ONE SAY in the Les Mis movie...What would it be? One casting, one cut, one portrayal, one detail or article or somethign that YOU INSIST MUST BE IN THE FILM.
For me, it would be that Thenardier would not be "fat and jolly." He's a skinny little rat-like guy, isn't he?
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Disney-Bway27
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I would say, cast Lea Salonga in the movie in some way. Fantine or Eppy, I really don't care.
That, or cast a manly Marius. C'mon, grow a pair!
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curlyhairedsoprano91
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Y'all could have probably guessed what mine is.
...
...
...
Don't abuse Cosette.
I want a girl who's actually pretty, not in a prom-queen obnoxious way, but a classically pretty girl with a good voice, not shrill, not poppy. Put her in a pretty dress. And don't make her dull or snotty. The entire point of Cosette is that she's pretty and innocent and lively... I will be very, very annoyed if they make her a "contrast" to a cute, spunky, sane, likeable Eponine.
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Disney-Bway27
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^ Agreed. I've always preferred Cosette more to Eponine, actually. It might be due to Judy Kuhn actually having a decent voice...*cough* Frances Ruffelle. 
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jackrussell
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Mine would be... Don't do it, do Miss Saigon instead
(if that's allowed)
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wtfchuck
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Make the names Zac Efron and Marius be as far away from each other as possible.
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CabaretGirl
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Have all the actors sing their part. For me that's the most essential thing for a movie musical.
Specifically for Les Mis, though, I'm gonna say cast an in-character Eponine, to complement what has been said above about about the contrast between her and Cosette.
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Sweeney Hyde
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Compete and uncut + well scene.
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SmallTownIngenue
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| curlyhairedsoprano91 wrote: | Y'all could have probably guessed what mine is.
...
...
...
Don't abuse Cosette.
I want a girl who's actually pretty, not in a prom-queen obnoxious way, but a classically pretty girl with a good voice, not shrill, not poppy. Put her in a pretty dress. And don't make her dull or snotty. The entire point of Cosette is that she's pretty and innocent and lively... I will be very, very annoyed if they make her a "contrast" to a cute, spunky, sane, likeable Eponine. |
That's pretty much exactly what I was going to say.
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lizavert
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| curlyhairedsoprano91 wrote: |
Don't abuse Cosette.
I want a girl who's actually pretty, not in a prom-queen obnoxious way, but a classically pretty girl with a good voice, not shrill, not poppy. Put her in a pretty dress. And don't make her dull or snotty. The entire point of Cosette is that she's pretty and innocent and lively... I will be very, very annoyed if they make her a "contrast" to a cute, spunky, sane, likeable Eponine. |
THANK YOU! Of course in a perfect world, I would be playing Cosette. *cough*
Anyway, what I would like to see is period costumes. Pretty dresses for Cosette, natch, and I would like to see Enjolras in something other than that bright red and gold thing.
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lesmisloony
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Actually, mine would be MAKE EPONINE ICKY.
I know it's an overstatement and not even all that Hugo-y, but that's what I'd truly like to see.
Though if I had a second option it'd be yours, soprano. Of course.
No wait! What am I thinking? Forget everything I just said. Mine would be BOOK-ACCURATE MONTPARNASSE PLZ?
There.
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EponineBarker
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| lesmisloony wrote: | Actually, mine would be MAKE EPONINE ICKY.
I know it's an overstatement and not even all that Hugo-y, but that's what I'd truly like to see.
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I agree, I don't want her to be extremely pretty.
How's this?
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Vanessa20
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A good, Brick-accurate, slashy yet not over-the-top portrayal of Grantaire. Just cause I like watching him.
(And I wanted to contribute something that doesn't involve girls whose names start with E and C. I agree with all the statements made so far about those two. Who is that icky girl, by the way?)
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Thom_Boyer
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Attach Alfonso Cuaron as director, and I'll be in the front row. Chris Columbus, and I'm going down to the pub to drown the thought of it with twenty pints of Guinness. I won't mind cuts, so long as they're made smartly (ie: the point of "Turning" is to give everyone else in the show a breather after a technically grueling half-act, so why feature it in a version not being presented live?), and the blow of odd casting choices can be softened by the right coach on set. Get someone with an artful eye to present it, and I'll guarantee at least my interest; get a studio hack, and I'll find something better to do. Like catch a live performance with monkeys.
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Melpomene
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A book-accurate Eponine.
(And pleasepleaseplease no Disney stars. PLEASE.)
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lesmisloony
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I used to be an uppity film student type, but then I decided that I loved accuracy more than ~*~artsy-ness~*~ and, quite frankly, the first two Harry Potter movies capture the world I imagined in the books so perfectly that I couldn't do anything but dislike those that followed. And I think the Rent movie did a pretty darn good job capturing the tone and feel of the musical (albeit losing some of the grittiness). If that makes me a plebe in the world of fancypants movies, so be it. I like Chris Columbus's choices in direction movie adaptations, and I'd be tickled if he were tacked on to this imaginary production.
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Artemis Entreri
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No film stars, only good musical singers.
Same with the director. It must be someone who made more theatre productions than movies, knows the era well, and is French if possible.
How about Patrice Ch�reau?
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Monsieur D'Arque
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| Artemis Entreri wrote: | No film stars, only good musical singers.
Same with the director. It must be someone who made more theatre productions than movies, knows the era well, and is French if possible.
How about Patrice Ch�reau? |
You realize that most of the suggestions you just made are the things that sunk The Producers movie? Stage and film are two different media, and it's hard to transition something "seamlessly" from one to the other by saying "well, let's reproduce what they did before."
If that's what you want, just find a well-filmed version of the stage show, in the language of your choice. I can't tell you where to find them, but damn! I've seen some bootlegs of this show that look nicer than this movie will when it's done.
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lesmisloony
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^ You beat me to it!
Yeah, the Producers movie was borderline awful because not one person was able to tone their character down enough for the screen. Though I do agree that it would be nice if the movie was entirely made up of talented unknowns.
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EponineBarker
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| Vanessa20 wrote: | | (And I wanted to contribute something that doesn't involve girls whose names start with E and C. I agree with all the statements made so far about those two. Who is that icky girl, by the way?) |
That's Natalie Portman when she played in the movie Goya's Ghosts. I saw the movie and that look struck me as a good Eponine look for some reason.
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Catherine
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Oh that girl is perfect! Yeah that's my wish, make Eponine like that!
Or a masked Claquesous would be nice.
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Thom_Boyer
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Re: my mention of Cuaron, I was actually thinking of the job he did on Children of Men more than his HP contribution (though film 3 is still my favorite of the bunch and the only one to make me feel any sense of wonder). I'm still soured on the studio turning down Rowling's personal choice of Terry Gilliam, but that's just a silly personal bias of mine.
As for Chris Columbus, my bias against comes entirely from the Rent film, which was somehow simultaneously too faithful and not faithful enough to the source material -- too much middling sap, coupled with a complete lack of the raw, youthful energy that made the original stage production soar.
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Moci
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This sounds really corny, but I suppose that I'd just ask the people involved to treat it with love and to try to remain true to the reasons why so many people have loved it over the years.
I think that I might have just made myself need to vomit.
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mezzogeek
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| Moci wrote: | | This sounds really corny, but I suppose that I'd just ask the people involved to treat it with love and to try to remain true to the reasons why so many people have loved it over the years. |
Corny, but very true 
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eponine5
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I'd like to make sure that they return to the original novel wherever possible, for locations etc. They shouldn't restrict themselves to how the original production is staged.
For example, the Robbery shouldn't have to be in a street, and Cosette's part in In My Life doesn't have to all be in the garden.
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Mistress
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My main wish is that no one named Holmes, Cruise, or Schumacher goes within 100 feet of the film
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MunkustrapQC
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No new songs/cut songs (original plot)
and
Jayne Wisener to play Cosette
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Orestes Fasting
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Jayne Wisener? The Johanna from the Sweeney Todd movie? God, the last thing we need as Cosette is an anemic doll-like non-entity, even if she's pretty. Ingenues are a dime a dozen; get someone with a little more spunk.
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lesmisloony
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^ Ah, you beat me to it. Though my response was simply going to be "NO."
*sigh* Virginie Ledoyen was such a perfect Cosette. Too bad Gerard Depardieu was forced (by the script) to perv on her.
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Monsieur D'Arque
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Referring to my original comment as to the perfect Thenardier- I'm now thinkign Anthony Stewart Head.
Anyone see Repo? He'd be a GREAT Thenardier.
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Jman383
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| Mistress wrote: | | My main wish is that no one named Holmes, Cruise, or Schumacher goes within 100 feet of the film |
Hahaha this reminds me, did anyone ever see the episode of Dawson's Creek where Holmes sang "On My Own"? Omg, I almost died laughing. Bitch can't sing for shit.
Now, as far as my suggestion: Either Kerry Ellis or Lea Salonga as Fantine. Done.
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lesmisloony
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Anthony Steward Head is definitely one of the coolest dudes ever. I've only seen him in, uh, dignified roles, though, so I wonder if he could do the scrappy look...
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CabaretGirl
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| MunkustrapQC wrote: | | Jayne Wisener to play Cosette |
Please, no! I really enjoyed the Sweeney Todd movie, except for her performance... I'd rather have Emmy Rossum, and that's saying something.
| lesmisloony wrote: | | Anthony Steward Head is definitely one of the coolest dudes ever. I've only seen him in, uh, dignified roles, though, so I wonder if he could do the scrappy look... |
I heard he played Dr. Frank-N-Further in the Rocky Horror Show, so I guess he could manage with Th�nardier  ... Never heard or seen him play the part, though. The only thing I've ever seen him in was Buffy... which brings me a couple of years back...
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curlyhairedsoprano91
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Why would anyone want Jayne Wisener to play Cosette? Frankly, I haven't seen any young actresses lately that have struck me as Cosette material (young being the key word... Anne Hathaway and Amy Adams both have potential, but they're a bit too old).
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Vice
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I'd prefer if an unknown actress were Cosette. (But that's just me.)
How about Rickman as Javert!?  *shot* lol jk
I just hope that One Day More is kept intact. (That'll be hard to figure out how to do cinematically... at least to me. )
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curlyhairedsoprano91
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Actually, Rickman might work for Javert. He's a publicity draw and he's played that kind of role before. Modern movie-musicals aren't looking to showcase highly-trained voices, anyway, for better or for worse.
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Monsieur D'Arque
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Neither is modern musical theater, though.
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curlyhairedsoprano91
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Don't get me started.
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Ulkis
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| Quote: | | I'd rather have Emmy Rossum, and that's saying something. |
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.
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jackrussell
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| Jman383 wrote: | | Mistress wrote: | | My main wish is that no one named Holmes, Cruise, or Schumacher goes within 100 feet of the film |
Hahaha this reminds me, did anyone ever see the episode of Dawson's Creek where Holmes sang "On My Own"? Omg, I almost died laughing. Bitch can't sing for |
Lol, yes I remember that, was a tad embarrassing. To be fair though IIRC she was playing a girl who was reluctantly persuaded to enter a local talent contest, so if she had given a performance worthy of a professional singer it would have been a bit out of character.
However I think it has probably guaranteed that she won't get cast in any musicals!
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kozafluitmusique
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Make sure the actors are classically trained or at least can sing opera.
Make sure the actors CAN act and understand completely the story.
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High-baritonne
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I don't feel the need for operatic singers, I am very pleased with actors who manage to capture the magic of the music. I don't feel that musical actors shall have "pretty voices", those little faults in the voices, like Merryl Streep's are exactly what makes it believable!
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SmallTownIngenue
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You definitely don't have to be an opera singer to be in Les Mis. I just hope they cast people who have had experience singing, and can sing well, , not just some really popular actor and think "oh, they probably can sing" and then they can't.
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Monsieur D'Arque
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Good points, both of you.
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What you own
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| MunkustrapQC wrote: | No new songs/cut songs (original plot)
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Sometimes they put an new song or a song that was cut before so that they can qaulify for an oscar. Since the songs has already been done on B-way it can't win a oscar.
Or at least thats what I thought.
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Catherine
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As much as I would salivate over a Les Mis movie with any cuts, it's never going to happen. I just wish they'd keep in the barricade segments: "Here upon these stones" "Now we pledge ourselves" and "Parnasse, what are you doing.." as well. I don't kbow what I'd prefer them to cut, to be honest, except perhaps Turning.
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SmallTownIngenue
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If the add a new song, it has to be for Cosette. I would be seriously upset if they added another song but it was for a character that already had a song like Eponine.
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jackrussell
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| SmallTownIngenue wrote: | | If the add a new song, it has to be for Cosette. I would be seriously upset if they added another song but it was for a character that already had a song like Eponine. |
How about a new Valjean/Cosette duet? I know they have In My Life but that develops into a song for Marius and Eponine as well. After all, the relationship between Valjean and Cosette is pretty crucial to the book, but rather glossed over in the musical.
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SmallTownIngenue
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Eh, that would be fine. I was thinking more of a solo in the second act when both Valjean and Marius are at the barricades, she should sing of the possibility of losing the two people she loves in her life. Maybe right after On My Own, but putting two depressing songs right after each other might not be a good idea.
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Vice
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| curlyhairedsoprano91 wrote: | | Actually, Rickman might work for Javert. He's a publicity draw and he's played that kind of role before. Modern movie-musicals aren't looking to showcase highly-trained voices, anyway, for better or for worse. |
I'm just a hopeless Rickman fangirl. I do know that he would work though... (I do like his singing voice... But I'm wierd. XP)
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KristinT
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My request would be.... Don't mess with the material.
What made Burton's "Sweeney Todd" horrible for me was the fact that Burton's vision (I call it ego, frankly) led him to cast people who were simply not vocally up to the task that Sondheim sets in the score. Yes, it was a visually sumptuous movie, but to be honest Burton may as well have done it as a straight talkie, not basing it on Sondheim at all. A good movie, but a mockery of the musical.
There is NO NEED to insert songs for Eponine or Enjolras or whatever. The score works as it is, and what made the original show so striking was how cinematic it needed to be, especially in the entire prologue sequence and at the barricades. Hence the damn turntable, LOL.
So, yeah. A director and production team who will respect the material.
Obviously I'd hate to see a "movie star" who can't sing cast just because they're a movie star. But just because someone's Hollywood doesn't mean they wouldn't be right either. Kevin Spacey can sing and could be an incredibly effective Javert, for instance.
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jackrussell
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| KristinT wrote: |
So, yeah. A director and production team who will respect the material.
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Hear hear!
The trouble is they always feel they have to be "creative" with it...
Plus the fact that if they want to be eligible for a best music Oscar, it has to have at least one original song in it.
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KristinT
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| Quote: | | Plus the fact that if they want to be eligible for a best music Oscar, it has to have at least one original song in it. |
Does it count if it's done over the closing credits? I reckon they'd go down that path, a la Lloyd Webber's "Learn To Be Lonely". I don't see how they could insert a new solo number into the score, simply because the score is so damn well put together as it is. Adding another solo song, for any character, would be pointless as they're all covered as it is and would throw the entire structure out.
So much fun could be had, speculating what the Obligatory "Best Song" Nomination Attempt would be about, what it would be called, and just how embarrassingly awkwardly and power ballady it would be. I'm sure Schonberg's got something in his bottom drawer left over from, say, Pirate Queen...
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Monsieur D'Arque
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"Barricade of Looooooove!"
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EponineBarker
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| KristinT wrote: | | Quote: | | Plus the fact that if they want to be eligible for a best music Oscar, it has to have at least one original song in it. |
Does it count if it's done over the closing credits? I reckon they'd go down that path, a la Lloyd Webber's "Learn To Be Lonely". I don't see how they could insert a new solo number into the score, simply because the score is so damn well put together as it is. Adding another solo song, for any character, would be pointless as they're all covered as it is and would throw the entire structure out. |
Maybe the credits song doesn't have to be just about one character...maybe they song could be about some common theme in the movie so that everyone is covered?
| KristinT wrote: | | What made Burton's "Sweeney Todd" horrible for me was the fact that Burton's vision (I call it ego, frankly) led him to cast people who were simply not vocally up to the task that Sondheim sets in the score. Yes, it was a visually sumptuous movie, but to be honest Burton may as well have done it as a straight talkie, not basing it on Sondheim at all. A good movie, but a mockery of the musical. |
I was just watching one of the behind-the-scenes featurettes on the Sweeney Todd DVD and Sondheim said that he wasn't excatly trying to adapt his stage musical, but reinvent it in the movie or something like that.
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Robinflamingo
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I just want Colm.
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Monsieur D'Arque
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Okay... Jean Valjean's actions can be more miraculous due to the fact that he perfrms all of them at approximately one hundred and infinity years of age- then ages forty years before the end of the film.
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Artemis Entreri
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Enjolras could get A La Volont� Du Peuple back. I liked OFC the best - in this particular song. And if they find an E with really fantastic voice, it would work. Sometimes bad Courfeyrac/'Ferre/Feuilly ruins the song. (CSR Feuilly... ahem).
Just no Tim Burton, no Tom Cruise, no Keira Knightley. *shudders* Why do the directors love that boring, talentless hussy?
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High-baritonne
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| KristinT wrote: | | I'm sure Schonberg's got something in his bottom drawer left over from, say, Pirate Queen... |
I'm sure Sch�nberg would never do such a thing! He always compose music out of the content of the score, he would never use a song that was left out of another musical! But it is not to unlikely if he put in one of the unused songs from the concept album.
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jackrussell
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| KristinT wrote: | | Quote: | | Plus the fact that if they want to be eligible for a best music Oscar, it has to have at least one original song in it. |
Does it count if it's done over the closing credits? I reckon they'd go down that path, a la Lloyd Webber's "Learn To Be Lonely". I don't see how they could insert a new solo number into the score, simply because the score is so damn well put together as it is. Adding another solo song, for any character, would be pointless as they're all covered as it is and would throw the entire structure out.
So much fun could be had, speculating what the Obligatory "Best Song" Nomination Attempt would be about, what it would be called, and just how embarrassingly awkwardly and power ballady it would be. I'm sure Schonberg's got something in his bottom drawer left over from, say, Pirate Queen... |
Yes, it would count if it's over the closing credits.
I wonder if there are any songs that were cut prior to the original London opening (like Too Much For One Heart in Miss Saigon) and thus have never been performed? After all there are some songs on the French album that don't have English equivalents.
If there were any songs cut for timing purposes that could be restored, that would solve the Oscar problem without destroying the integrity of the score.
btw I like your posts, Kristin!
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fanpainter
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| EponineBarker wrote: | | lesmisloony wrote: | Actually, mine would be MAKE EPONINE ICKY.
I know it's an overstatement and not even all that Hugo-y, but that's what I'd truly like to see.
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I agree, I don't want her to be extremely pretty.
How's this?
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Where'd you get that picture from? It would be a perfect Eponine.
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fanpainter
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I would say, "Put Eponine and everyone of the Les Amis in it!" unlike most of the movies...
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Disney-Bway27
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I want Jeff Leyton as Valjean. He's my favorite!
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Orestes Fasting
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| fanpainter wrote: | | I would say, "Put Eponine and everyone of the Les Amis in it!" unlike most of the movies... |
By which you mean one movie, right?
P.S. "Les" is the plural form of "the" in French. So "the Les Amis" is redundant, although it'd make a really awesome name for a lesbian rock band.
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lovesinging
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| KristinT wrote: | My request would be.... Don't mess with the material.
What made Burton's "Sweeney Todd" horrible for me was the fact that Burton's vision (I call it ego, frankly) led him to cast people who were simply not vocally up to the task that Sondheim sets in the score. Yes, it was a visually sumptuous movie, but to be honest Burton may as well have done it as a straight talkie, not basing it on Sondheim at all. A good movie, but a mockery of the musical.
There is NO NEED to insert songs for Eponine or Enjolras or whatever. The score works as it is, and what made the original show so striking was how cinematic it needed to be, especially in the entire prologue sequence and at the barricades. Hence the damn turntable, LOL.
So, yeah. A director and production team who will respect the material.
Obviously I'd hate to see a "movie star" who can't sing cast just because they're a movie star. But just because someone's Hollywood doesn't mean they wouldn't be right either. Kevin Spacey can sing and could be an incredibly effective Javert, for instance. |
I like you. I agree with basically everything said here.
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EponineBarker
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| fanpainter wrote: | | EponineBarker wrote: | | lesmisloony wrote: | Actually, mine would be MAKE EPONINE ICKY.
I know it's an overstatement and not even all that Hugo-y, but that's what I'd truly like to see.
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I agree, I don't want her to be extremely pretty.
How's this?
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Where'd you get that picture from? It would be a perfect Eponine. |
I found it in Google images. I searched "Goya's Ghosts" and I managed to find this. ^
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Mistress
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One apprehension I do have is how this show will translate to film...I mean the long, epic story and the score are very different from Rent or Hairspray or any of the stuff that's recently been on film. But hey, if Phantom worked on onscreen (well it sort of did) than so can Les Mis. But I certainly hope that Boublil and Schonberg learned from ALW's mistakes and don't let Joel Schumacher come anywhere close to the movie, although I think I've already said that
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KristinT
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| Quote: | | One apprehension I do have is how this show will translate to film |
Actually (please bear with me)...
- Period setting with background of actual historical events
- A central iconic protagonist with a very effective antagonist, backed up by heaps of lesser characters, all of them striking and also iconic
- Two of the female characters suffer epically and then die
- A bit of starcrossed love
- Battle scenes and handsome young men dying heroically
- Themes of social awareness, justice, love, redemption, etc etc, articulated to varying degrees
- Running time of over two hours
If you forget the fact they're singing, this is the sort of thing that the Academy generally pees itself with excitement over.
Who actually owns the rights currently? Did Cameron Mackintosh actually sell them all those years ago and a studio's just yet to do something with it?
If a movie doesn't happen soon, I wouldn't be surprised if Cameron Mackintosh releases a DVD of the original London production, with or without "Making Of" and "Looking Back, Looking Forward" documentaries attached.
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jackissensational
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| Robinflamingo wrote: | | I just want Colm. |
Colmsister.
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Gargamel
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Hello! Back from a looong period of "Les Mis�rables" pause...
Well... I have to say that I don't really know how to feel about that movie project.
As a hardcore fan of both the brick and the musical from the release of the OFC (years before the London premiere), maybe my concerns could be differents than some of the majority.
I really don't care about who will be cast, as long as they're good. I mean... I even could be OK with a Zac Efron Marius as long as the director is able to deal with actors...
What bugs me more is about historical and geographical points. To have a respectable succes in France, the movie will have to be sung in french. I know that the movie will more than probably be filmed in English. But it is very important that all the songs will have to be in french when shown in france...
Les Mis�rables (as a novel) is one of the most popular book of french litterature. I would be very surprised if I could meet a french who's not able to name Cosette, Valjean and Gavroche... Most of the caracters are now almost common names. When someone say about another that he/she is a Thenardier, everybody understand what that means...
Then, as most of the story takes places in places that really exists (Paris for example), It would be ridiculous to see views of Paris that are not accurate. Don't even imagine seeing an eiffel tower: It was not build at that time!
As a fan, I would love to see Gavroche like it should be in the show: an older one, cocky, quite vulgar but very cool... Not the gentle little boy we can see today in the show. For example, I realy love, in the OFC, how we can hear him sing in "Demain" (One day more) and "Donnez, donnez" (Look down).
I also would be very happy to see "Little people" back, but for the lyrics, it would be a translation of the original one, as in the book "Je suis tomb� par terre, c'est la faute � Voltaire". The same for "castle in the cloud": Change the lyric for the ones about the doll in the window... It is so true to the book!
there is one episode that I was always surprised not to see in the show and that I love: the "Petit gervais" �pisode, when Valjean decides to act good after meeting the Bishop.
A little boy is passing by Jean Valjean, playing with a golden coin. The coin falls on the ground. Valjean put his foot on it. The boy see it and ask Valjean for his golden coin. Valjean pretends that he hasn't seen that coin, and refuse to remove his foot. The boy tries to lift Valjean's foot, almost crying. Then Valjean stands up and scares the boy. he runs away. A few minutes later, he remembers about the bishop and runs all day to find the boy, without finding him. Since then, the old valjean is gone.
I would LOVE to see that in the movie!
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Orestes Fasting
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Hmmmm. The Petit-Gervais incident would be neat to see in a movie, and I do wish they had preserved the parallel of the momentous event (the bishop giving Valjean the candlesticks, Valjean letting Javert go) not having its impact until it's "set off" by a smaller event to confirm it (Petit-Gervais, Valjean rescuing Marius). But since Les Mis is entirely sung through except for one line, adding in Petit-Gervais would require new music, which might disrupt the flow and balance of the show.
I do hope that if this movie comes to fruition, they use "Ten Little Bullets" for Gavroche's death scene, and maybe even Fenton's "You" instead of the full "Little People." The "Little People" used in Gavroche's death scene bears no lyrical resemblance to "La Faute � Voltaire" anyway, so substituting "Ten Little Bullets" wouldn't be doing any further damage to Gavroche's iconic moment. And it captures the real spirit of Gavroche better: not a cute spunky little urchin like something out of Oliver, but a cocky, defiant, joyous little brat who loves making jabs at authority.
Unfortunately it would be almost impossible to film on location in Paris and have it be accurate... the city has changed way too much since the early 19th century, and those lovely rows of Haussmann buildings would be just as anachronistic as a big fat Eiffel Tower.
On the other hand, we already have two fine sets of French lyrics to work with for the French release, and I suspect that if Boublil and Sch�nberg wrote new material for a movie, they'd write the French translation themselves.
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Gargamel
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| Orestes Fasting wrote: | | Hmmmm. The Petit-Gervais incident would be neat to see in a movie, and I do wish they had preserved the parallel of the momentous event (the bishop giving Valjean the candlesticks, Valjean letting Javert go) not having its impact until it's "set off" by a smaller event to confirm it (Petit-Gervais, Valjean rescuing Marius). But since Les Mis is entirely sung through except for one line, adding in Petit-Gervais would require new music, which might disrupt the flow and balance of the show. |
I really think they have to reinvent the musical in order to have a good movie... Think "West Side Story"! the movie is quite different from the musical. And I love both. Some musical parts have been rewritten, and the orchestration has been redone.
I think you will agree with me that the flow and balance of the WSS movie is not as good as the musical!
I know that it is possible to add some new musical parts for the movie! and i do hope that the movie will not mimic the show. As part of an audience, I am not going to the theatre or to the cinema with the same expectations.
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Mistress
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| jackissensational wrote: | | Robinflamingo wrote: | | I just want Colm. |
Colmsister. |
I don't think he'll be JVJ, but it would be totally awsome if he were, say, one of the soloists in the Chain Gang at the beginning. Or perhaps the bishop?
Another idea that recently came to me was Hugh Laurie as Thenardier. The guy sings well enough, and he's got the acting chops for it. The part's not extremely large so it would resonable to try and fit in the filming in between the House shoots, or after...
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What you own
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[/quote]
Another idea that recently came to me was Hugh Laurie as Thenardier. The guy sings well enough, and he's got the acting chops for it. The part's not extremely large so it would resonable to try and fit in the filming in between the House shoots, or after...[/quote]
I can see that working.
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Thom_Boyer
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On the Thenardier front, I would think to go a more sinister route and put Ian McShane into the role, though I do wholeheartedly approve of Hugh Laurie on every level as well.
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TheHappySandMan
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My suggestion for whoever ends up directing would be not to adapt Cameron Mackintosh's stage version. It's just not filmable in its current state. Rather I would create an original, more film-friendly adaptation based on the original French production/concept album and the novel. I've always wanted to see that beautiful little song for Eponine from the concept albm incorporated into the show somehow, as well as some aspects of Rose Laurens' more soulful Fantine, etc. This would also be a good opportunity to concoct some better translations; there are some embarassingly awkward lyrics in the present English version.
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Vice
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| What you own wrote: | | Quote: |
Another idea that recently came to me was Hugh Laurie as Thenardier. The guy sings well enough, and he's got the acting chops for it. The part's not extremely large so it would resonable to try and fit in the filming in between the House shoots, or after... |
I can see that working. |
...
OMGYES.
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lesmisloony
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I can't get the image of Anthony Stewart Head as Valjean out of my brain. I still haven't decided whether or not this is actually a good idea, but he'd certainly be a smashing Madeleine. And I know he can do a growly voice... 
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jackrussell
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| Thom_Boyer wrote: | | On the Thenardier front, I would think to go a more sinister route and put Ian McShane into the role, though I do wholeheartedly approve of Hugh Laurie on every level as well. |
I'm with you on McShane!
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Mistress
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I've been thinking, if he wanted to, Philip Quast could reprise Javert. I mean he has screen experience, and we all know he has the voice (duh!), the only problem is that he may be too uknown outside of MT and Australia, I suppose. I mean they had no problems casting fairly uknown actors in the leads in Phantom, but perhaps Quast is too uknown...?
In that case, I think Alan Rickman could handle it...or Paul Sorvino...dude's got opera training...but perhaps he's too large physically for the role?
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EponineBarker
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| Mistress wrote: | I've been thinking, if he wanted to, Philip Quast could reprise Javert. I mean he has screen experience, and we all know he has the voice (duh!), the only problem is that he may be too uknown outside of MT and Australia, I suppose. I mean they had problems casting fairly uknown actors in the leads in Phantom, but perhaps Quast is too uknown...?
In that case, I think Alan Rickman could handle it...or Paul Sorvino...dude's got opera training...but perhaps he's too large physiczlly for the roll? |
But at least us Les Mis fans know that Quast can sing (and boy can he sing!) I like the idea that they had with Phantom about casting unknowns who could do a decent job, (I know people are gonna disagree with me on this) rather then choosing big names with no talent just so people would come and see it.
As for Rickman, I'm a little iffy about whether he could handle the score vocally, but I know he'd do a brilliant acting job.
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Disney-Bway27
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Alan Rickman for Javert...
That's the best idea to come out of this thread.
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Moci
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| Orestes Fasting wrote: | | Jayne Wisener? The Johanna from the Sweeney Todd movie? God, the last thing we need as Cosette is an anemic doll-like non-entity, even if she's pretty. Ingenues are a dime a dozen; get someone with a little more spunk. |
Was just rereading this thread, but anyway, Jayne Wisener was very good in 'Parade' at the Donmar. It was quite hard to tell that it was the same person who was so boring in 'Sweeney Todd'.
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Vice
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| Disney-Bway27 wrote: | Alan Rickman for Javert...
That's the best idea to come out of this thread. |
...
I was joking when I said it. ^^; (But I do agree I'd be cool. )
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AzelmaCombeferre9430
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Anne Hathaway as Cosette:
a-she can sing soprano  (she was originally supposed to play Christine in PotO, but couldn't due to scheduling conflicts)
b-she is pretty, but not in a barbie-doll-all-made up-way. She's pretty in the way Cosette should be: natural, brunette, and innocent looking.
c-she's a good actress, she won't be an ingunue.
d-her name is big enough, most likely big name actors and actresses will be used.
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Quique
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Considering how nit-picky I am, I will likely be very disappointed about how it turns out no matter what, so I'm just gonna sit back, take it easy, and hope they don't produce something as horrific as the Phantom and A Chorus Line films.
I bet that...
...the cast will be very unconventional.
...they will completely redo the entire thing, doing away with the all sung-through format and do a more big screen-friendly dialogue - hit song - dialogue - song - and so on adaptation.
...there will be even more focus on Eponine's side of the story than in the stage version.
...enormous chunks of material will be cut.
...they will apply a heavy dose of Fantine and "I Dreamed a Dream" emphasis in the movie trailer, ads, and general marketing and promotion of the film.
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l'ivrogne transfigur�
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| Quique wrote: | I bet that...
...the cast will be very unconventional.
...they will completely redo the entire thing, doing away with the all sung-through format and do a more big screen-friendly dialogue - hit song - dialogue - song - and so on adaptation.
...there will be even more focus on Eponine's side of the story than in the stage version.
...enormous chunks of material will be cut.
...they will apply a heavy dose of Fantine and "I Dreamed a Dream" emphasis in the movie trailer, ads, and general marketing and promotion of the film. |
Pessimist!
Unfortunately I fear you may be proven correct...
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Quique
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I truly hope I'm wrong. There would be no better way to end the era of the original stage version than paying homage to it with a beautifully shot, epic film version.
If I had one say?
That the director be someone truly innovative with a unique vision that will allow a musical such a Les Mis�rables to transfer seamlessly to film without sacrificing the integrity of the original stage version.
I've thought it over and I consider myself a creative person but, I've yet to resolve some major problems in transferring it to film. There could always be a literal straight-to-film version in which the director has no concerns about whether this'll work or that'll work. Sometimes I think that's the best approach. Thinking of alternate or artsy ways of presenting a musical on film sort of tells me that there is a desire to try to mask the fact it is a musical. That bothers me. A part of me doesn't care if the public likes it or not and would do a literal transfer to film. If there are to be any changes, they would be improvements over the stage version and any necessary trimming of material that was specifically written to compliment the stage production. That's not to say it will be a bland, statically shot film. If anything, the original version is staged very cinematically. I would use John Napier's idea of the environment having a sense of perpetual motion throughout but without giving the audience motion sickness.
*Sigh* They should hire us to direct it. 
I'll be in charge of the film orchestra, soundtrack mixing, and general audio work. Orestes would be director (I trust her, lol). TVAW would handle casting and graphic design and the rest of us would all pitch in on production design. And you better believe that I'll throw a Cameron and meddle in everyone's business and make sure none of y'all eff the thing up. XD DCrowley would step in to direct ALL Eponine scenes (I don't trust Orestes with those, LOL!), then Orestes would take over again once he's done. 
It'd be grand.
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