Glenn Close gives a 'Sunset Boulevard' movie update- Page 2

[Fosse76]

Call_me_jorge said: "Ashford is still attached to this?
Not only film, it’s been a bit he’s directed for the stage, correct?
They should bring on Damian Chazelle or Alfonso Cuarón"

I'm on board with Cuarón, but Chazelle is overrated.

[David10086]

nealb1 said: "I saw the 2017 Broadway revival twice. That's so interesting that when you saw it, you had that experience.

The nights we saw it, there was no mugging, playing it for laughs, or having the audience laugh. We didn't experience that at all. Having seen her in the original version multiple times, and knowing the cast album by heart - for the most part, it was so wonderful to see her Norma, being done in a different take/style. She was fantastic!

"

I saw it once, a week before closing, and that's the great performance I saw as well. The audience wasn't laughing, she wasn't playing it for laughs, and there was no mugging. It was an incredible performance, and she stole the hearts of the audience. 

[David10086]

Jarethan said: "I am happy that she stopped saying it 4 1/2 years ago. It doesn't change my argument...4 1/2 years ago, she was too damn old to play Mama Rose, who starts out with 2 kids who are under 10. It was sad then...happy that she was not able to make it; on the other hand, it is sad that she didn't try to make it 30 years ago, when she was age appropriate...that was 29 years after the Rosalind Russell movie, more than a respectable time interval to re-do it, with someone who could sing the score."

According to Laurents in an interview from 1993 when the Bette Midler TV movie was ready to air, he said that Streisand approached him in late 1988 / early 1989  about doing the movie (which is the time period you're referring to in your post). She wanted to star in a new movie musical of 'Gypsy', and direct it as well.

In the interview, Laurents said he only refused her proposal because he was working on the Broadway revival with Tyne Daly, which was to open later in 1989. He didn't want the highly anticipated stage revival competing with a Streisand movie. Once the revival was coming to an end in 1991, Laurents approached Streisand about the movie but she was no longer interested (she was doing 'Prince of Tides'. He went with Bette Midler, with a TV movie instead (1993). 

 

[NOWaWarning]

The Rob Ashford choice is so weird to me. He’s already got a spotty record with stage musicals. Why would they trust him with this film? Is really no one interested?

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

Speaking of Gypsy, isn't Amy Sherman-Palladino (creator of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Gilmore Girls) working on a new film adaptation?

[AEA AGMA SM]

It was announced, but there hasn't been any real news on it since the announcement became public back in February of 2019. It's mentioned in a small handful of press releases since then, but they are just reiterating what was said last year with no indication that there has been any movement forward.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

A draft of the screenplay for Barbra's attempt has since leaked, and it proved, if she wasn't right for the role age-wise, that at least she and the creative team were on the right track for what I'd call a solid Gypsy movie.

[chernjam]

David10086 said: "nealb1 said: "I saw the 2017 Broadway revival twice. That's so interesting that when you saw it, you had that experience.

The nights we saw it, there was no mugging, playing it for laughs, or having the audience laugh. We didn't experience that at all. Having seen her in the original version multiple times, and knowing the cast album by heart - for the most part, it was so wonderful to see her Norma, being done in a different take/style. She was fantastic!

"

I saw it once, a week before closing, and that's the great performance I saw as well. The audience wasn't laughing, she wasn't playing it for laughs, and there was no mugging. It was an incredible performance, and she stole the hearts of the audience."

Yeah I second this.  I saw the Original Broadway Production at least 8 times and the revival 4 (or 5)  The first time in Previews in February 2017 I was anxious she wouldn't be able to hit the notes - and wasn't sure how it would be with her in the role 20 some odd years later - but she was absolutely brilliant.  And the score with that symphonic orchestra was just such an amazing experience.  Complete BS that they received 0 Tony noms that year.  

As to the movie/film - I'm curious what makes the script "brilliant".  I think I saw the same interview with Close where she was saying how some of the big songs (With One Look / As If We Never said Goodbye) kind of explore emotions that would be more internalized.  So I'm guessing it will be opportunities for more flashback scenes.  And the other plus with the film would that the auto-tuning and vocal editing should tighten up the performances :)  

But honestly, at this point, get the Napier sets, let Lonny direct it (much better then Nunns original directing) get that 50 piece orchestra and just film Live from stage...

[David10086]

Chernjam, it's all because of you I went to see it in June, 2017. I was undecided, and asked on this board - and you said "Go see it! Go see it! Go see it!"  - so I did and I'm forever thankful to you. 

[chernjam]

David10086 said: "Chernjam, it's all because of you I went to see it in June, 2017. I was undecided, and asked on this board - and you said "Go see it! Go see it! Go see it!" - so I did and I'm forever thankful to you."

Too bad RUG/producers weren't giving commissions out :)  So happy that my recommendation got you there and that you were able to enjoy and experience such a unique theatrical experience.  To me it was one of the best experiences of the magic that is live theatre.

[A Director]

Dream on, Ms Close, "Sunset Boulevard" will never become a movie.  No studio is going to spend money for a musical with limited appeal.  On the other hand, it could be Ryan Murphy's next movie for Netflix.

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

I'm sure a lot of people have told Glenn Close to "dream on" a bunch of times in her career. Make fun of her all you want for "turning into Norma" with "Salome", but she did fight tooth and nail to get Albert Nobbs made. Whatever you think of that movie and her performance, it got her another Oscar nomination after more than a decade's absence, had a solid cast (with Janet McTeer also receiving an Oscar nomination), solid production value, and allowed Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Emerald Fennell the opportunity to meet each other leading to Kill Eve seasons 1 and 2, and thus further success for each of them.

Sometimes creatives are "delusional" but the only way that's determined is if nothing ever comes to fruition, not by us making assumptions. There's a fine line between delusion and being an underdog who actually succeeded when "nobody" else believed in them. Of course, we don't know if "nobody" believes in this project. Close would know more than any of us would.

[Jarethan]

chernjam said: "David10086 said: "nealb1 said: "I saw the 2017 Broadway revival twice. That's so interesting that when you saw it, you had that experience.

But honestly, at this point, get the Napier sets, let Lonny direct it (much better then Nunns original directing) get that 50 piece orchestra and just film Live from stage..."

I agree with everything you wrote. I did not see it as many times as you have, but i thought she was magnificent the four times I saw her...two in the original, two in the revival.  I have always thought that the musical would benefit from some judicious editing, but she was magnificent.  I have thought hard about this, but I think she gave one of the 5 or 6 top performances I have seen a leading lady in a musical give, along with Angela Lansbury in Mame and Gypsy, Patti Lupone in Anything Goes (and I am not a Lupone zealot), Barbara Harris in The Apple Tree, and probably Bebe Neuwirth in Chicago (I thought she was superior to Chita Rivera).  I know the most recent one (beside Close'e most recent Sunset) was about 25 years ago; but, for me, everyone deserves to be viewed as a legendary performance.  To this day, I am horrified that Lupone lost to the excellent Joanna Gleason performance, which should have been in the featured category,

[SmoothLover]

Please do not do this movie with Close. The role requires a better singer. Buckley was stunning on Broadway and her voice was out of this world.

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

Now talk about "dreaming".

[David10086]

SmoothLover said: "Please do not do this movie with Close. The role requires a better singer. Buckley was stunning on Broadway and her voice was out of this world."

Buckley was wonderful in the role - I saw her in 1996. But although she can sell theater tickets, I doubt she will sell movie tickets. 

[qolbinau]

She also cannot sing anywhere near the level she was able to when she recorded those Sunset tracks. Buckley’s vocals are exactly why I can’t enjoy Close as much as I wish I could but Buckley is not the answer in 2020.

What about Catherine Zeta Jones?

[Bettyboy72]

I don't think we need to worry about Glenn's singing voice for a film. It would certainly pass muster especially since she would be lip-syncing to recorded tracks that I'm sure would be finessed in the studio. If they can make Meryl sound as good as she does, Glenn would be fine. Meryl gets a lot of help in the studio. 

Actresses look much more robust now. Glenn and Meryl are contemporaries and both can play older or younger. Also, I think that viewers just think of Norma as past her prime and don't really slap an age on her. It's not until the lyric mentions she is 50 that there is any indication of her age. Maybe they would change that. 

I think it would make a good project for HBO or Netflix. 

[David10086]

qolbinau said: "She also cannot sing anywhere near the level she was able to when she recorded those Sunset tracks. Buckley’s vocals are exactly why I can’t enjoy Close as much as I wish I could but Buckley is not the answer in 2020.

What about Catherine Zeta Jones? "

Wasn’t there a rumor a while ago that ALW wanted Madonna but she didn’t want to work with him again after EVITA? 

[SouthernCakes]

Can we just get Hugh Jackman as the main guy and get this thing going?

[AEA AGMA SM]

At this point Zac Efron is the right age to play Joe; he's currently a year older than William Holden was in the original film. Now granted they'll probably go with an older actor, since Glenn is 20 some years older than the character of Norma. I'll also add that Glenn's age does not bother me, as she looks as good at 73 now as most of the 50 year old actresses did in 1950.

[SweetLips22]

This is not a stage musical that screams--Make me into a movie !

It now belongs on the Concert Platform.

[David10086]

AEA AGMA SM said: "At this point Zac Efron is the right age to play Joe; he's currently a year older than William Holden was in the original film. Now granted they'll probably go with an older actor, since Glenn is 20 some years older than the character of Norma. I'll also add that Glenn's age does not bother me, as she looks as good at 73 now as most of the 50 year old actresses did in 1950."

I'm curious as to why - for nearly two years - they've named the star, the director, the on / off start date and nothing else. None of the other cast members, set designers, etc. If Close believes this will start shooting after the New Year, then I'm sure there's more to share with the public.