THE GREATEST SHOWMAN

[qwerty]

Isn't Hugh attending the MTV movie awards tomorrow/today? Cause Zac is attending to so I hope we see photos of them together!

[mamaleh]

Yes. According to the entertainment news shows, Hugh is supposed to be sitting next to Emma Watson at the awards.

Ellen

[jo]

www.deseretnews.com/article/865679451/6La-La-Land7-6Beauty-and-the-Beast7-may-have-revived-musical-movies.html

Chris Hicks: ‘La La Land,’ ‘Beauty and the Beast’ may have revived musical movies

By Chris Hicks
Published: May 8, 2017 10:15 a.m.
Updated: 2 hours ago



20th Century Fox
Hugh Jackman stars as P.T. Barnum in the 2018 biographical movie musical "The Greatest Showman."


Earlier this year, my wife and I went to a couple of musical movies that played in the wake of “La La Land,” whose huge, and unexpected, success — both at the box office and with Oscar wins — naturally had pundits suggesting that the genre had been officially resurrected and that there’d be a lot more musicals on the way.
Of course, the two my wife and I saw were not new: “Carousel” (1956) on Jan. 11 and “Singin’ in the Rain” (1952) on Jan. 18, vintage revivals that were shown at local Cinemark multiplexes.


But there was a new one, sort of, when “Beauty and the Beast” opened in March. And it opened big.
Of course, that’s a remake of a 1991 cartoon, so I’m not sure that counts.
And before that, in April, there was “Rock Dog” — yes, a cartoon. So I’m not sure that counts, either. Not even if it’s made into a live-action musical 25 years from now.

In fact, for our purposes here, let’s just agree to exclude cartoons.

If the traditional musical — that is, movies in which characters impulsively break into song and dance, and an orchestra swells from out of nowhere — really has been resurrected as a viable genre, let’s just stick to the real deal. Like “La La Land.”

So here comes summer.

And I see on imdb.com that we have lots of comic books, cartoons, fantasies, sequels and other franchise features on the way: “Alien: Covenant,” “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales,” “Wonder Woman,” “Cars 3,” “Transformers: The Last Light,” “Despicable Me 3,” “Amityville: The Awakening,” “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” “War for the Planet of the Apes,” “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets,” “Annabelle: Creation,” “The Lego Ninjago Movie,” “The Nut Job 2: Nutty By Nature.”
And the requisite remakes, of both movies and TV shows: “Baywatch,” “The Mummy,” “My Cousin Rachel,” “The Beguiled.”


But where are the musicals?

This seems a pertinent query, since a lot of us associate summertime viewing with musical movies.

Years ago, when the Avalon Theater was a venue exclusively dedicated to vintage movies, the programming schedule deliberately filled the summer months with musicals, and business was always booming.

Especially since fans of the genre weren’t getting any kind of steady diet of first-run theatrical movie musicals anymore.

Even into the 1990s we saw nothing particularly notable — Woody Allen’s “Everyone Says I Love You,” Jennifer Lopez in the biographical film “Selena,” the sequel “Blues Brothers 2000.” But none that set the genre on fire.
In the 2000s, things began to look up with the innovative “Moulin Rouge!” in 2001, followed in 2002 by the adaptation of the Broadway hit “Chicago,” along with such later successes as “School of Rock” (2003), “Dreamgirls” (2006), “Hairspray” (2007) and “Mamma Mia!” (2008).

With those hits came a lot of promises of more musicals to come. But it only takes a few less-than-stellar box-office results to keep studios at arm’s length, especially for such an expensive genre. And too many others underperformed, including the highly anticipated film versions of the Broadway hits “Phantom of the Opera” (2004), “The Producers” (2005) and “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” (2007).
But the 2010s may have helped musicals turn a corner, thanks to “Pitch Perfect” (2012) and “Pitch Perfect 2” (2015) and especially last year’s “La La Land” and this year’s “Beauty and the Beast.”


As a result, quite a few musicals are scheduled for the next couple of years.


In 2017 (again, according to imdb.com) we can expect “All Eyez On Me” (June 22), a rap-music biography of Tupac Shakur; Anna Kendrick returning for the sequel “Pitch Perfect 3” (Dec. 22); “The Greatest Showman” (Dec. 25), with Hugh Jackman as P.T. Barnum, and “Hello Again” (no scheduled date), an episodic story of 10 romances over 10 decades of the 20th century, with Audra McDonald.


And further down the road, in 2018, we should see yet another version of “A Star Is Born,” directed by and starring Bradley Cooper; “Bohemian Rhapsody,” a biography of Freddie Mercury, frontman for the 1970s/’80s progressive-rock band Queen; the Disney sequel “Mary Poppins Returns,” with Emily Blunt taking over for Julie Andrews; Disney’s live-action remake of “The Lion King,” and an adaptation of the Broadway smash “Wicked,” a reworking of “The Wizard of Oz.”


All of which is encouraging. But unless a bunch more show up in between these officially announced titles, it still seems like a rather thin selection to me.

A few annual entries in a particular genre do not a revival make.

If you doubt that, just look to what’s happened with Westerns.

Lol - he didn't even acknowledge LES MISERABLES, as having both critical and commercial success! He cites Pitch Perfect for having helped turn the corner in 2012 (the same year as Les Miserables) *rolleyes*


He expects an abundance of movie musicals, when what should really be lamented is the loss of dramas and excellent comedies ( not the mindless variety) from the usual staples of movie fare! Now we have indies! Now we have mindless blockbusters and animated movies that have helped in what one filmmaker has called " the infantilization of Hollywood"!

Re his analogy to westerns --

*The musical genre is always alive but seen in another medium of the performing arts -- musical theatre on Broadway and the regional communities and cities! There is always a new source of musicalized story-telling!

*The new westerns are the new stories of conflict in a world that has to come to grip with terrorism and other confrontational events borne out of geo-political and economic conflicts! Or even the sad stories of school shootings or school suicides!


I think the movie musical genre should be revived not as references to the golden age of Hollywood musicals and the neo-revivals in more recent  years, but it has to adjust to present-day culture! More of a contemporary feel even to period- piece film musicals! The new generation of movie audiences is younger, socially-invested, and wants things to move at a faster pace!

We'll see how THE GREATEST SHOWMAN can fit those wants of the desired movie demographics

For one, SHOWMAN seems to be partly influenced by current day desire for inclusivity ( such as partly presented at CinemaCon). And its composers are young and write with a contemporary feel ( whose recent success is with LaLaLand and a Broadway show that deals with the angst of young adults called Dear Evan Hansen)! The cast is diverse ( and has representatives from the younger crop of Hollywood talent), plus Jackman is an ex-future fanboy favorite ... And on top of this, a hint of nostalgia for the past!


Jo

[jo]

Zac Efron also attended the MTV Awards event -- but he and Hugh did not seem to connect to each other that evening. Hugh did meet Zendaya that night.

[jo]

Stiff competition from the next Spielberg movie with Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep...

but the Variety article mentions THE GREATEST SHOWMAN as among the Oscar hopefuls --


variety.com/2017/film/news/steven-spielberg-tom-hanks-meryl-streep-oscars-1202392948/

The opening slot puts the Spielberg film in the hunt for Academy Awards gold along with the likes of Alexander Payne’s “Downsizing,” “The Current War” with Benedict Cumberbatch, and “The Greatest Showman” with Hugh Jackman.

[jo]

The Film Experience BLOG by Nathaniel R does running Oscar predictions every year!

90th Oscars. Oscar Contenders of 2017 - For prediction, discussion, entertainment purposes only 

Also, they can change as the movies are released and reviewed!

Take them for what they are -- informed speculations!


Do read the details on each section -- it's fun

thefilmexperience.net/best-picture/

Tier 1
Rank # 3
The Greatest Showman
(Fox)
Michael Gracey
Dec 25th
If it builds on the people love musicals momentum and it's actually good, watch out. Hugh Jackman is due for some industry love, isn't he in his Wolverine wrap up year.


Tier 4 - This early anything feels possible depending on box office, critical respect, precursor love, and zeitgeist fever
Logan



thefilmexperience.net/director/

Tier 2 - Also Could Be Strong
Michael Gracey
THE GREATEST SHOWMAN
(Fox)
Dec 25th
Currently unknown but that will change if this is good / a success



thefilmexperience.net/best-actor/

Tier 1
Rank #2 --
Hugh Jackman
48 yrs old | 30 films | 1 nomination
THE GREATEST SHOWMAN
Dec 25th
If he's as strong here as he was in Logan, they'll want to honor him. And Logan success will only help


Tier 5 - Other Male Leads
Logan




thefilmexperience.net/best-supporting-actress/

Tier 2
Rank #
Michelle Williams
(4 noms)
THE GREATEST SHOWMAN
Dec 25th
Does she have a great song? A substantial arc? Or is this just the Jackman show? And 5 nominations is quite a threshold. Can she really get there so young?



thefilmexperience.net/best-supporting-actor/

Tier 4 Too early to rule anyone out!

Patrick Stewart
(never nominated)
LOGAN
March 3rd
He won much praise for this last go at Professor Xavier. But in the end it's still a superhero film and they'd have to fight hard for a nomination


Zac Efron
(never nominated)
THE GREATEST SHOWMAN
Dec 25th
He's fun in musical mode but will the role be seen as a challenge? He'll need to stretch in some way to be considered a 'serious' actor


thefilmexperience.net/screenplays/

Tier 3 - Or Maybe...

The Greatest Showman
Michael Arndt (2/1), Jenny Bicks (0/0), Bill Condon (2/1)


thefilmexperience.net/visual/

CINEMATOGRAPHY

Tier 2 - Also Could Be Strong
The Greatest Showman
Seamus McGarvey
(2 nominations)
He was recently in the mix (if not nominated) for Nocturnal Animals. Will this musical fare better?


PRODUCTION DESIGN

Tier 1 - Predicted 5
Rank # 1
The Greatest Showman
Nathan Crowley
(3 nominations)
The circus milieu gives Crowley plenty of chances to shine. And if they don't fall for this he's also got Dunkirk


COSTUME DESIGN

Tier 1 - Predicted 5
Rank # 5
The Greatest Showman
Ellen Mirojnick
(never nominated)
Circus costumes, top hats, etcetera. It better look great


FILM EDITING
No ranking for GREATEST SHOWMAN - for the reason that it is "Unknown"

VISUAL EFFECTS
No ranking for GREATEST SHOWMAN or LOGAN


MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

Tier 1 - Predicted 3
Rank # 3
 
Logan
Joel Harlow (3 noms / 1 win), Gloria Pasqua Casny (1 nomination)
The X-franchise has not been an Oscar favorite but they like Harlow's work and this film, more serious and definitely better reviewed could make a play for this prize.


Tier 2 - Also Could Be Strong
Greatest Showman
Nicki Ledermann (never nominated)
The circus setting could well mean lots of fun makeup and definitely wigs. But will they prefer showier genre fare instead?

 

thefilmexperience.net/aural/


ORIGINAL SCORE
No ranking for GREATEST SHOWMAN for reason that it is unknown ( Pasek and Paul are doing the musical score).


ORIGINAL SONG

2 Songs are considered for GREATEST SHOWMAN ( Rank #2 and #3)

Original songs for Beauty and the Beast are part of the Second Tier.



SOUND MIXING

Tier 1 - Predicted 5
Rank # 1
The Greatest Showman
Todd A Maitland
(3 nominations)


SOUND EDITING

Tier 2 - Also Could Be Strong
The Greatest Showman

Btw, Nathaniel has been doing this for some time now. I remember reading his blog since LES MISERABLES time


C'est tout! That's all!

[jo]

It will be a musical Christmas this December!


Apart from THE GREATEST SHOWMAN opening on Christmas Day itself on the big screen --

Fox has also announced that a live musical on TV ( A Christmas Story : The Musical) will be aired during the month!

www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/fox-sets-a-christmas-story-live-musical-december-1003254



Pasek and Paul will write a few songs for the show!



Will the TV show help set the mood for THE GREATEST SHOWMAN?


Jo

[jo]

How will the issue of animal rights issue going to be treated in the movie and in the promotional campaign for THE GREATEST SHOWMAN?

www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/05/how-pt-barnum-helped-the-early-days-of-animal-rights/525489/?utm_source=twb

Excerpts --

"The showman P.T. Barnum, who died in 1891, takes a lot of heat as the original architect of the circus; he’s ostensibly the man who created callous demand for performing tigers and dancing elephants in the first place. Though there’s truth to this view, a look at Barnum’s career also reveals his surprising involvement with a movement that would, over a century later, cheer the end of his circus. Through his unlikely friendship with the prominent early animal-rights activist Henry Bergh in the late 1800s, Barnum found himself in the thick of the debate over the care and feeding of Victorian animal entertainers. In fact, the animal-rights movement might not have survived to exist in its modern form and breadth if not for the media exposure Barnum lent it in its fragile infancy..."

Will it be an important issue ( of that time and age) and highlighted in the movie...or will be simply a part of the storyline of this movie of entertainment in the past?

Will the movie focus on the many sides of Barnum's life and showbusiness history ? As the Ringling Bros, Barnum and Bailey Circus is closing soon -- will it just be part of history and included in the biopic of Barnum but no longer a current activism issue?

But maybe the other issue that could be treated with more attention ( one that touches on inclusivity) would be the story of the so-called circus freaks, well-established in the emotional song THIS IS ME?

It is likely going to be rated PG, which indicates family-friendly fare at a time when families get together!


Jo

[qwerty]

May 13, 2017 1:08:31 GMT -5 jo said:

How will the issue of animal rights issue going to be treated in the movie and in the promotional campaign for THE GREATEST SHOWMAN?

www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/05/how-pt-barnum-helped-the-early-days-of-animal-rights/525489/?utm_source=twb

Excerpts --

"The showman P.T. Barnum, who died in 1891, takes a lot of heat as the original architect of the circus; he’s ostensibly the man who created callous demand for performing tigers and dancing elephants in the first place. Though there’s truth to this view, a look at Barnum’s career also reveals his surprising involvement with a movement that would, over a century later, cheer the end of his circus. Through his unlikely friendship with the prominent early animal-rights activist Henry Bergh in the late 1800s, Barnum found himself in the thick of the debate over the care and feeding of Victorian animal entertainers. In fact, the animal-rights movement might not have survived to exist in its modern form and breadth if not for the media exposure Barnum lent it in its fragile infancy..."

Will it be an important issue ( of that time and age) and highlighted in the movie...or will be simply a part of the storyline of this movie of entertainment in the past?

Will the movie focus on the many sides of Barnum's life and showbusiness history ? As the Ringling Bros, Barnum and Bailey Circus is closing soon -- will it just be part of history and included in the biopic of Barnum but no longer a current activism issue?

But maybe the other issue that could be treated with more attention ( one that touches on inclusivity) would be the story of the so-called circus freaks, well-established in the emotional song THIS IS ME?

It is likely going to be rated PG, which indicates family-friendly fare at a time when families get together!


Jo

I'm pretty sure the scriptwriters and the director of this film will handle this movie well to avoid controversy. Although I was really afraid it will affect the movie's outcome, I'm sure they will try not to offend anyone in this movie.

[jo]

A little birdie has told me that we might be getting some exciting news within the month


Jo

[qwerty]

May 15, 2017 11:00:49 GMT -5 jo said:

A little birdie has told me that we might be getting some exciting news within the month


Jo

A trailer perhaps?

[jo]

Hugh was asked at the AlamoDrafthouse Q&A where LOGAN NOIR was screened re any possible postscript to the movie ( that was how I understood it) -- he sort of gave a heads up about his next film release -- as applied to Wolverine: " maybe a musical... a little circus-y? "

[mamaleh]

Entertainment Weekly has its first spread on SHOWMAN with photos! Looking good!

ew.com/movies/2017/05/17/greatest-showman-first-look-hugh-jackman-pt-barnum/

Ellen

[jo]

May 15, 2017 11:00:49 GMT -5 jo said:

A little birdie has told me that we might be getting some exciting news within the month


Jo

Yup


If I may print the photos --

















And I may print the rest of the EXCLUSIVE ( just in case we lose the link of this EXCLUSIVE -- online stories may not stay forever )

Exclusive
The Greatest Showman first look: Hugh Jackman heads to the big top as P.T. Barnum
Michelle Williams, Zac Efron, and Zendaya also star in next Christmas’ epic original musical

Tim Stack@EWTimStack
Posted on May 17, 2017 at 11:00am EDT



Walking the trapeze is a breeze compared with getting an original musical about P.T. Barnum off the ground. But after seven years of development, planning, and production, The Greatest Showman — starring Hugh Jackman as the godfather of the modern circus and Michelle Williams as his wife, Charity — will finally hit screens on Christmas Day.

“Up until La La Land, everyone was saying there hasn’t been an original musical in 23 years,” Jackman says. “So the prevailing thought in Hollywood was, unless you have a brand people know, it’s not a done thing. So it just took a long time.”

Showman, helmed by commercial director Michael Gracey, tracks Barnum’s rise from poverty-stricken childhood to the launch of his first circus in New York. Efron is Barnum’s business partner, who falls in love with a trapeze artist played by Zendaya. “This was also a time in America where puritans kind of ruled and the circus was the equivalent of some dark-alley-strip-show kind of thing,” Jackman says.


Initially, Showman was a traditional biopic, but changed after Gracey suggested adding song-and-dance numbers. “I said, ‘If you’re going to call it The Greatest Showman, you should play to your strengths and we should make it a musical,’” the director says. “That ridiculous remark cost me seven years of my life.”
The biggest surprise in Showman is that although it’s set throughout the mid-1800s, the songs — from La La Land’s Oscar-winning songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul — sound like current pop hits. “We were clear from the beginning that this wouldn’t feel like a period movie or a historical piece,” Jackman says. “What would Barnum do now? I have an almost-12-year-old daughter. I wanted [the movie] to be as exciting for her as listening to Katy Perry’s new song.”


Spoken like a true Showman.

[jo]

If the photos are here... can a teaser and/or trailer be far behind


Jo

[jo]

There are lots of comparisons with LaLaLand --

Big budget original musicals are a rare thing in Hollywood (yes, we had La La Land, but that cost a relatively small – by Hollywood standards – $30 million), which makes The Greatest Showman something a little bit special.

That's the major difference -- GREATEST SHOWMAN is backed by a major studio ( FOX) from production to distribution! And it's coming directly from another Jackman commercial and critical hit ( LOGAN), also from the same studio.

Let's hope it will get the same innovative marketing treatment as LOGAN, although they are very different in appeal. LOGAN is an R-rated superhero movie with dramatic depth...while SHOWMAN is expected to generate a PG ( at most, a PG-13) rating and is viewed as family-friendly entertainment! LaLaLand (rated PG-13) was basically rom-com with music and dance woven into it. The Greatest Showman is a musical biopic from one of the most successful stories in showbiz ( in fact, Mr. Barnum was supposed to have coined the word " show business" )!

I wonder if it's simple coincidence that the first publicity barrage for THE GREATEST SHOWMAN is coming right off the last publicity burst for LOGAN ( related to the release of home videos and LOGAN NOIR)? Even that response from Hugh ( when asked how WOLVERINE may reappear in the future at the AlamoDrafthouse Q&A) about " maybe a musical? maybe more circus-y" seemed not exactly sheer coincidence


Jo

[jo]

Maybe when Hugh travels to Japan ( May 23) for the last leg of LOGAN promotion ( the movie is due for release there on June 1) -- he may want to mention THE GREATEST SHOWMAN, a movie musical, as his next film release. It is from the same studio anyway.

Japanese audiences love musicals! It turned in $ 62 million dollars worth of box office for LES MISERABLES!


Jo

[jo]

Younger Phineas Taylor Barnum ?








Just kidding

[jo]

This is a very short clip from the FOX CinemaCon presentation ( see the big screen behind the dancers on stage) -- the longer clip on YT has been taken down by the FOX Police

Obviously, this photo still was taken from that footage.

[jo]

Costume detail for the Ringmaster --

http://instagram.com/p/BUQdZrqlmfm

Who plays the Ringmaster? Initially, I thought that would be Philip ( Zac Efron) as that was part of the role description when Zac was in talks for a role in the movie.

But it seems the Ringmaster will be Barnum himself. There is a hashtage #Barnum in the above Instagram post. Plus in the released photo still from the movie, it is Hugh who wears the RINGMASTER jacket!

Unless Philip ( who is supposed to be Barnum's assistant) inherits the RINGMASTER role eventually?

Jo

[jo]

I am curious as to how the romantic angle will play out in this movie.


Hugh was quoted at CinemaCon as saying that there will be rooftop ballroom dancing for Charity and PT Barnum. Is this the scene

[jo]

Semi-OT :

Are movie musicals becoming a more widely accepted genre?

There was an announcement of a likely prequel/sequel ( who knows?) to MAMMA MIA!, for a July 20, 2018 release --

ew.com/movies/2017/05/19/mamma-mia-movie-musical-sequel-here-we-go-again/

"If" ( and I am pretty sure it will be a "When" ) GREATEST SHOWMAN becomes a big hit ( released 7 months earlier), movie musicals will really enjoy a heyday among movie fans!

Following the path of LA LA LAND and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST!


Jo

[jo]

From an article re the life-saving value of the XMen franchise to FOX Studios ( posted on the XMen-as-a-Series thread) --

www.tracking-board.com/superheroes-continue-to-save-fox-allowing-them-to-balance-their-content-studio-series/

The same weekend as the new Star Wars film, Fox is giving us the animated Ferdinand, about the famous bull. The comedy adventure story from DWA and Blue Sky Animation features the voices of Kate McKinnon, David Tennant, Bobby Cannavale, and, as the title bull, John Cena, but it’s still curious why anyone would want to put up anything against The Last Jedi. Clearer is the decision to put Steven Spielberg’s untitled Pentagon Papers drama, starring Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep, a week later. While Ferdinand could be seen as having a similar audience to Jedi, it would be tough to make the same statement about the Spielberg movie.


Same goes for the studio’s Christmas Day release, The Greatest Showman on Earth, aka Fox’s Big Push to Get Hugh Jackman an Oscar Nomination for Best Actor. Jackman is playing P.T. Barnum in the musical biopic, perhaps the part he was born to play, but quite frankly, he’s going to have at least a little competition in the awards conversation from… well, himself, actually. His final turn as the mutant X-Man Wolverine in March’s Logan was something of a crowning achievement, and it wouldn’t be surprising if that got more play. Either way, the Christmas Day release can’t hurt, as the last time he fronted one, Les Miserables, it brought home worldwide box office to the tune of $442 million.

That would be quite a dilemma -- which portrayal will be pushed for Oscar consideration

How about the AMPAS ( more specifically, the SAG branch of the AMPAS which gives the recommendation for the nomination) recognizing both portrayals in one distinct nomination?? It has not been done before, but why not consider recognizing an actor's accomplishment which has been displayed in multi-performances for the same awards season? It is even more telling of an actor's talent, if his portrayals in multiple movies are all award-worthy!

Not good to give double nods because each one will cancel each other out. Of course, we still have to see Hugh's performance in SHOWMAN...but the key could be which performance would hold up well with other potential Oscar nods for Best Actor? The advantage of SHOWMAN is the display of rare true triple-threat talent...while the LOGAN dramatic portrayal carries with it 17 years of service to the film community.

Where will AMPAS (SAG) be more impressed -- what will carry its vote?

Rare Talent or Talent with sentiment


Jo

[jo]

The last performance of RINGLING BROS, BARNUM & BAILEY CIRCUS.



Replay of the entire act.





Jo

[jo]

Are the stars aligning for THE GREATEST SHOWMAN, not by itself, but from other events --

*The spectacular closing this year of a 147-year old American entertainment institution : The Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey CIRCUS!

*The success of LA LA LAND and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST ( 10TH place in all-time box office records), paving the way for more movie musicals!

*The critical and commercial success of Hugh Jackman's LOGAN, putting him in a big way in people's minds!



Jo