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Post by jo on Mar 1, 2013 15:47:42 GMT -5
I think CamMack is simply being the Master Impresario -- *Beefing up the chorus from 24 to 48, partly at his personal expense, made the number much more impressive and added to the appeal of the show number. This would shoot up the recognition factor of the show which he intends to revive (again) on Broadway and which he is scheduling for other cities worldwide ( one in Melbourne, Toronto, and other US cities). As the Oscars has a wide viewership ( supposedly a billion worldwide) - -that is really free publicity for the show -- and to see the big movie stars clapping at the end is a great endorsement! *The post-performance party for the chorus is a nice personal touch and would endear him to these people whom he can call on again for other roles in the future. In the chorus were musical theatre leads like Ramin Karimloo who was Enjolras in the 25th anniversary concert, sang Valjean later on at the West End and will be Valjean in the Toronto...and who has also sang the role in the Phantom anniversary concert and Love Never Dies). Re the "who are you wearing?" -- I didn't want to make a comment here because it might offend some people if I say that the American lady commentators ( and males too - I used to remember Ryan Seacrest) could take a lesson from the British BAFTA commentators who did a great job of talking to the actresses/actors about their movies and not their Chanels or Diors or Pradas! US TV even devotes a show just to put down the actresses's choice ( Joan Rivers  ). It dumbs down the coverage and does not really contribute to awareness for movies. I guess that is why the fashion and jewelry houses are so aggressive in pushing for their merchandise to the movie stars! Jo |
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alma
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Post by alma on Mar 2, 2013 0:48:30 GMT -5
Although it's been almost a week, I'm only now going to add my two bits' worth of comments on the Oscars. I was having problems with the cable that connects my laptop to the outlet, and the battery would run low, so I had to use the laptop for work stuff only! Got a new cable now. I was very sad when Hugh did not win the Oscar for best actor. I held on to a tiny bit of hope up to the very last instant. And yes, I think Hugh was up against "Lincoln" the president, not DDL the actor. I also thought it very strange that the First Lady announced best picture winner Argo, accompanied by distinguished military men and women. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the Obamas. I wish I knew them personally, and had them as friends. But would the Oscar show producers have set it up this way if they hadn't already KNOWN Argo was the winner? Would they have taken the chance of setting this up for her to announce Life of Pi, or Les Miserables? I wonder... The absolutely best part of the whole show for me was when the cast sang One Day More. It was soooo moving and so classy. At no other moment did the production reach this point of excellence. I just wished it had been longer! I think Hugh should have sung the ENTIRE song Suddenly, and then have the whole cast come in to sing One Day More as they did. Although I am familiar with none of them, I also wish the invited guests from theater versions of Les Mis had been given more time, more exposure, more close-ups, because they are the ones that have kept audiences coming back and loving Les Mis for so many years. Has anyone found a really good picture that shows all the faces singing One Day More at the Oscars in really good resolution? I also liked that little number in the opening sequence with Charlize Theron and Channing Tatum dancing "à la Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers". Must be because I'm a sucker for those musicals, and Gene Kelly's too. In the rest of the show I thought there were a lot of cheap moments and loooong boring sequences. Bring back Hugh. I had not realized it was Hugh who rushed to help Jennifer Lawrence when she tripped. Figures! Gentleman Hugh. So I searched the internet for video or pictures of the moment, and I came upon an article about what a good sport Hugh is and how he was all smiles signing autographs for fans at LAX airport "the day after losing to DDL" at the Oscars. It had some great pix (and yes, Ellen, he's wearing those snazzy sneakers!) but what I really loved was a couple of comments (most of them are very positive) at the bottom, and here they are: QUOTE: The difference between Daniel Day Lewis and Hugh Jackman, and why the academy made such a colossal error in their decision to give the Oscar to D.L. Lewis - is this: Hugh could have played equally well the part that won Daniel Day Lewis the Oscar... but Daniel could NOT have played the role of Jean Val Jean as Hugh did. The difference in difficulty between the two roles is unquestionable. Hugh Jackman was robbed - but you can't steal the truth about who was the better actor. - coffeefirst , Hamilton, United States, 26/2/2013 19:44 Agreed....let's recall what Laurence Olivier said to Dustin Hoffman about method acting..."Why not try acting? It's much easier." - John , Orpington, 26/2/2013 22:41 END OF QUOTE. Are any of you guys signing as "coffeefirst" or "John"? Hahaha... O course not. There are many, many people who recognize and appreciate Hugh's talent. Here is the link to that article: www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2284553/Hugh-Jackman-graciously-signs-autographs-fans-day-losing-Best-Actor-Oscar-Daniel-Day-Lewis.html?ito=feeds-newsxmlI know Hugh will get an Oscar, maybe several, in the future. But he REALLY deserved it for his role as Jean Valjean. Still, I worry: some really good actors never received the Oscars they deserved, only "lifetime achievement" sort of Oscars. Here I am still upset by this, and Hugh has let it go and moved by now. I should learn... Alma |
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Post by foxie on Mar 2, 2013 7:53:02 GMT -5
For sure! :'(
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Post by annetter on Mar 2, 2013 8:16:50 GMT -5
Alma I feel the exact same way
Our guy was robbed and a week later I'm still upset. It's so unfair and just wrong!
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Post by mamaleh on Mar 2, 2013 9:00:28 GMT -5
Well phrased, Alma. It was just bad luck that LES MIZ was released the same year DDL returned to the screen, especially in that persona. Ever since that first photo of DDL--widely revered as probably today's finest English-speaking film actor--in full Lincoln makeup appeared, it was "game over." That image seared into the the national consciousness, instantly imprinting on our brains that the actor WAS Lincoln, the Great Emancipator, one of the most beloved figures in American history. How could the Oscar go to anyone else, regardless of how magnificent the performance? DDL's actual acting in the movie was almost an afterthought after that perception took hold.
Too bad NINE and LES MIZ couldn't have been released the same year. This year's Oscars story would have had a much happier (for Hugh and us) and more just ending.
Ellen
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Post by foxie on Mar 2, 2013 12:20:05 GMT -5
I sure wish everyone on FB would stop telling me I am obseesed not in a good way it is a good way!!
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alma
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Post by alma on Mar 2, 2013 18:13:06 GMT -5
Ellen, you have a way with words; something I've admired for a long time, since I started following the Ozalot board (the old one!). Did you major in English? ;-) If NINE and LES MIZ had been released the same year, everyone involved with NINE would have crawled into a hole. There's no comparison! Not in story, heart-wrenching acting, singing, film-making; not the labor of love it truly is. I have a bone to pick about Lincoln: not particularly DDL, but rather Spielberg and Kushner (screenwriter). Is it just me who is bothered by the blatant distortion of history? As a teacher, I realize we are reading fewer and fewer books, and to have a film loftily presented as "historical" will have viewers --who might not look up proven sources-- think this is an accurate portrayal of facts as they actually happened. Lincoln is possibly the greatest president the US has ever had, and he does not need "fixing up" by Spielberg or anyone else. He was a human being, product of his time, and the mistakes he made, the transformations he underwent in his views and convictions are part of history and should not be "tweaked". To me, the last straw was to read that Spielberg had offered a free copy of his film "to any school that requested one." Whaaaaaaat? If you had such lofty aspirations, Mr. Spielberg, like having your film become a historical document in schools, YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN LESS BIASED, AND MORE HONEST. These are a few articles I came across, and I share them with you: Lincoln Film Forgets D.C.'s Frederick Douglass -- And African American Leadership Michael Shank George Mason University Adjunct Professor www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-shank/lincoln-film-forgets-dcs_b_2208603.htmlPosted: 11/28/2012 11:13 pm “Lincoln” ignores historic self-agency of black Washingtonians thelionofanacostia.wordpress.com/2012/11/15/lincoln-ignores-historic-self-agency-of-black-washingtonians/In Spielberg's 'Lincoln,' Passive Black Characters Historian Kate Masur says movie disappoints in the way it portrays African-Americans www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2012/11/opinion-masur-nyt.htmlNovember 19, 2012 How can I add the little emoticon that is fuming, with smoking ears? I think Mr. Spielberg should stick to ET, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and other products of the imagination. Alma |
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jo
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Post by jo on Mar 2, 2013 19:07:16 GMT -5
Are you looking for these, Alma  --  Argo and Zero Dark Thirty have also been accused of some sensationalizing of the truth - I think they call it artistic license ;D What I am not liking was the posturing by Steven Spielberg to promote the movie -- as if he has just put together a true historical document and that his movie was a cut above the rest. Let's see if his movie can stand the test of time - say, around 150 years, like how the novel of Victor Hugo has educated students with his social and political commentaries and his themes of faith, redemption and love, while engaging us with the story of Valjean et al. Jo |
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Post by birchie on Mar 2, 2013 19:07:35 GMT -5
Ellen, you have a way with words; something I've admired for a long time, since I started following the Ozalot board (the old one!). Did you major in English? ;-) If NINE and LES MIZ had been released the same year, everyone involved with NINE would have crawled into a hole. There's no comparison! Not in story, heart-wrenching acting, singing, film-making; not the labor of love it truly is. I have a bone to pick about Lincoln: not particularly DDL, but rather Spielberg and Kushner (screenwriter). Is it just me who is bothered by the blatant distortion of history? As a teacher, I realize we are reading fewer and fewer books, and to have a film loftily presented as "historical" will have viewers --who might not look up proven sources-- think this is an accurate portrayal of facts as they actually happened. Lincoln is possibly the greatest president the US has ever had, and he does not need "fixing up" by Spielberg or anyone else. He was a human being, product of his time, and the mistakes he made, the transformations he underwent in his views and convictions are part of history and should not be "tweaked". To me, the last straw was to read that Spielberg had offered a free copy of his film "to any school that requested one." Whaaaaaaat? If you had such lofty aspirations, Mr. Spielberg, like having your film become a historical document in schools, YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN LESS BIASED, AND MORE HONEST. These are a few articles I came across, and I share them with you: Lincoln Film Forgets D.C.'s Frederick Douglass -- And African American Leadership Michael Shank George Mason University Adjunct Professor www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-shank/lincoln-film-forgets-dcs_b_2208603.htmlPosted: 11/28/2012 11:13 pm “Lincoln” ignores historic self-agency of black Washingtonians thelionofanacostia.wordpress.com/2012/11/15/lincoln-ignores-historic-self-agency-of-black-washingtonians/In Spielberg's 'Lincoln,' Passive Black Characters Historian Kate Masur says movie disappoints in the way it portrays African-Americans www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2012/11/opinion-masur-nyt.htmlNovember 19, 2012 How can I add the little emoticon that is fuming, with smoking ears? I think Mr. Spielberg should stick to ET, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and other products of the imagination. Alma You're right about that Alma. I mentioned early on that it was not historically accurate in the portrayal of Lincoln. We can love Lincoln and all that he did without sugar coating him. I agree about the movie for schools thing too. I went bonkers when I heard that. There are so many good books about the man why not encourage the kids to read Mr. S! Alma FYI...right above the box where you type a reply (if you his the quote button) there is a red emoticon, if you click it you can add it to what you're writing like this...  The red guy doesn't show up till you click the post reply button. To continue: It wasn't the only movie that took liberties. The exciting ending of Argo with the race of the authorities against the plane never happened and I heard that liberties were taken with the character that Affleck played too. Also some mentions were made that there were some inaccuracies in Zero Dark Thirty not the least of which was that Jessica Chastain's character was actually a team of brilliant, courageous women, not just one. Unfortunately, it's the way Hollywood does things. I'm so glad that Tom Hooper gave us such an accurate representation of Victor Hugo's novel as well as being true to the musical. In addition to rewriting history, many movies suffer from changes to fictional source material too...we only have to look at the 1998 Les Miserables for an example of how not to adapt a book! As for the book, I do hope you take the time to read it. It's an experience! Not many novels can say that. I've read it a couple times all through and perused favorite parts many more times. There are several sections where Hugo goes off on his well known digressions, that can discourage some. Some find these sections enjoyable and he does give a lot of background detail and history that a history buff like me enjoyed. Being forewarned should be enough to get you through! The biggest digression is the section on Waterloo. Most of it is very 'skimable'! Even I only read it through the first time (I think, it was a long time ago). the second time I skimmed. Some of the other long digressions are...A long section about the history of the sect of nuns that run the convent where JVJ hides with Cosette and the elaborate way Fauchlevent gets them invited to stay by Mother Superior is a bit over long. Then there is another lengthy section about the Paris sewer system with much unnecessary detail and about a dozen pages detailing the use of slang in Paris. It would be pretty easy to skim the things that don't interest you since you can easily see when the story and character interactions begins again. Some people find the opening a bit slow because it details the back story of the Bishop. I loved that part and it's worth reading in order to understand the man and his ultimate affect on JVJ and the rest of the story. I will be reading it again soon because I want to get a copy of the movie tie in edition of the novel. While there are some sad parts to be sure, it is ultimately an uplifting story. If you liked the movie, you will probably like the book. As previously mentioned, it's quite long but if you plan on a certain number pages a day/week/sitting...it won't seem so daunting. There are some sections that you won't want to stop reading even if you reach you page limit It's in public domain so you can get a free computer or kindle version here: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/135 It was #1 on the Project Gutenberg's top 100! I hope you enjoy it. It's one of my all time favorite books and one of the greatest novels ever written. If you do read it be sure to come back and say how you liked it. Sue |
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Post by mamaleh on Mar 2, 2013 19:30:47 GMT -5
Thanks, Alma. Yes, I did have a misspent youth: English was indeed my major--in grad school, too.  In addition to the legitimate criticism heaped on LINCOLN concerning the relative absence of black figures, I believe a Connecticut official recently pointed out that its vote on the slavery issue was incorrectly depicted and therefore defamatory regarding the state's moral history. Yes, as Jo pointed out, filmmakers often do exercise "artistic license" to make a dramatic point. In most cases, it's fairly innocuous. But when most students learn history from popular culture rather than accurate historical documents, that's a cause for alarm. Colorfully presented half-truths tend to go down more easily and are better remembered. Remember that iconic line from THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE?: 'When the legend becomes fact, print the legend." Especially when it fits the filmmaker's political-social agenda. Ellen |
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Post by jo on Mar 2, 2013 19:32:17 GMT -5
If I may digress -- I saw NINE onstage with Antonio Banderas and while it made excellent theatrical material, I never thought that it would translate well to film. Maybe Rob Marshall tried to re-invent it too much ( I have not bought a DVD as I intended to, just to complete my musical theatre/movie musicals collection) because he was successful with CHICAGO? But NINE did not successfully follow the path of LES MISERABLES. It was based on a classic movie, called " 8 1/2", based on the middle-age crisis musings of famed Italian film director Federico Fellini! It was one of the revered arthouse films of the time! Then it was musicalized on stage as NINE - I think there were other incarnations before Banderas portrayed the role of Guido...then DDLewis thought he could lead a successful translation of the stage musical to a movie musical. Sorry, DDL - tough luck!! LES MISERABLES was a successful novel, was adapted on film many times, was musicalized 30 years ago and shown in many countries ( with various translations and recordings), and attempted as a movie musical in 2012! Its box office receipts have crossed over $ 400 million, and it has won acclaim among award bodies. It was probably the most applauded number during the last Oscar event! DDLewis was seen applauding it, among the thrilled audience ... What was the difference - people fell in love with Les Miserables - its story and its music, and in the Hooper reincarnation, with its masterful and powerful storytelling expressed through music! Could DDLewis have been a great Valjean? Dramatically, maybe? Singing-wise -- er...most likely not! Could any of the ladies in NINE been a great Fantine? Nicole, if she could sing it -- maybe? Penelope - maybe one of the Lovely Ladies? Marion Cotillard -- if she could also sing well ( her Edith Piaf was completely dubbed) - she might have been a great alternative Fantine. Besides, she's French ...Sophia Loren - er, maybe in her younger years - she could also be a Fantine ( I saw her in Man of LaMancha as Dulcinea/Aldonza) or maybe even a Mme Thenardier?? Such a group of great talent - what a pity it was a bit squandered on a movie musical like NINE  Jo |
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alma
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Post by alma on Mar 5, 2013 13:52:10 GMT -5
How it bothers me when I can't get right back to these 'conversations'! But picking up the thread again: That's exactly how I feel, Jo!!! I resent how manipulative the whole industry can be and the arrogance with which Spielberg and others want us to consider them our modern-day philosophers, whom we should "follow". Thanks for the tips, Sue! I'm trying to follow your instructions. I see "quote" right above each MESSAGE on the page, but no "quote" above this box where I'm typing. Did I miss a step or click on something that made it disappear? I clicked the "quote" above your message and can see all the emoticons, but then the only way I can figure out to get back to continuing my reply is click on the "previous page" arrow beside the page address... I can also NOT figure out how to "quote" --include-- all or part of a message. I'm feeling frustrated... I'm going to have to spend a good while some weekend just fiddling around with all this stuff to try to figure it out... Yes, I read that the producers, screenwriters and directors responsible for Argo, Zero Dark Thirty and Lincoln want to tout them as great films, yet when their inaccuracies --errr, artistic liberties-- are pointed out, they say "hey, it's just a movie." So they want to have it both ways? Thank you for the link to the kindle version. You and Jo have changed my mind: I think I'll just go ahead and get the old-fashioned book, being an old-fashioned girl! Ellen, you make me laugh at the most unexpected moments: "misspent youth". Now where is that emoticon of ROFL? I can't see it among the rest. Yes, as you can all see, I'm afraid I am very tech-challenged. I was reading about what you mentioned, the Connecticut House Members who objected to the way their state was portrayed in the voting (in the Lincoln film). Here's one article: Connecticut congressman sees factual flaw in 'Lincoln' movies.msn.com/movies/article.aspx?news=789279&_p=43bf8d8e-0d5c-481b-8e29-be954be7dac4Why do I continue to be surprised by the attitude of Tony Kushner? 'Lincoln' Screenwriter Fires Back at Connecticut House Member Disgruntled Over Errors www.nationaljournal.com/congress/lincoln-screenwriter-fires-back-at-connecticut-house-member-disgruntled-over-errors-20130208'Snarky', 'caustic' and 'combative' are some of the words used to describe Kushner's response to the Congressman. Did they forget 'arrogance'? On a more positive note, I think in addition to the novel, the DVD and the CD, I'll also get the "From Stage to Screen" book. But I should post this elsewhere, as that's the subject of another thread! Last night I saw that PBS will be showing the Les Miserables 25th Anniversary Concert at the O2" next Sunday, March 10, as part of their pledge campaign. That will be the first time I see any other version of the musical. On cable I get a PBS station from, of all places, Montana. Ooops! But this is also the subject of another thread! Alma |
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Post by ADMIN on Mar 5, 2013 15:11:23 GMT -5
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alma
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Post by alma on Mar 5, 2013 21:52:48 GMT -5
How kind of you. Thank you! I posted a couple more questions over there... Alma |
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Post by marymagdalene on Mar 5, 2013 23:53:09 GMT -5
Ellen and Alma:
Thank you for commenting AND posting article links to the fact that one of Connecticut's Representatives, Joe Courtney, commenting on how Connecticut voted against abolishing slavery, which is a HUGE error on both Spielberg's and Kushner's part...
If you had not, I WOULD have, especially since I am FROM Connecticut...
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). It dumbs down the coverage and does not really contribute to awareness for movies. I guess that is why the fashion and jewelry houses are so aggressive in pushing for their merchandise to the movie stars!
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