Sweeney Todd is the creation of Stephen Sondheim, the Altman of musical theater.
The man is 100% incapable of creating a memorable melody of any kind. (He shares this quality with Leonard Bernstein, who is only capable of writing music that goes "Ya-da-DAH! Ya-da-DAH!" really loudly over and over with a lot of brass instruments and idiots in sailor suits.) The only melody IN THE ENTIRE BULK of Sweeney Todd is the Deas Irae theme that he stole from Bartok. He sucks. A recording of Paul McCartney snoring has more musical quality than anything by Sondheim.
[Image] Johnny Depp is currently considering starring in a project to be directed by Michael Mann (Heat) about the Depression-era crime wave.
Mann has long been interested in mounting a screen adaptation of Brian Burrough's nonfiction book "Public Enemies: America's Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933-34" for Universal; at one point, Leonardo DiCaprio was attached to the project, but DiCaprio is headed into Martin Scorsese's "Shutter Island."
But Mann -- who has considered taking the helm of Columbia's spy thriller "Edwin A. Salt," has not committed to that project because he believes it needs a rewrite -- has an open slot.
As for Depp, he was to have starred in Warner/Initial Entertainment's "Shantaram" followed by Warner Independent's "The Rum Diaries," but both of those projects were postponed last month, leaving the star with an opening in his schedule.
So Depp and Mann are sitting down this week to discuss the possibility of joining forces; Depp is said to be eyeing the role of bank robber John Dillinger. Along with Mann, Kevin Misher is on board as producer; Robert De Niro and his partner Jane Rosenthal, who originally optioned the book, have been involved as exec producers; and the studio is looking at a March start in Chicago if all the elements come together.
"Johnny Depp in Michael Mann's Crime Film ;JPX first in line"
11 Comments -
But what will JPX do when Sweeny Todd opens? On one hand, his hatred of musicals is legendary. But on the other hand, his love is Depp is, too.
December 05, 2007 11:41 AM
He already said he won't see it, but I'm still trying to convince him.
December 05, 2007 12:32 PM
No way! When people spontaneously break out into song I want to kill myself.
December 05, 2007 12:53 PM
Cool avatar, WG!
December 05, 2007 12:53 PM
You're going JPX!
Thanks, it's a Polaroid of the bas-reliefs depicting biblical stories on the cathedral in Orvieto, Italy.
December 05, 2007 1:32 PM
Sweeney Todd is the creation of Stephen Sondheim, the Altman of musical theater.
The man is 100% incapable of creating a memorable melody of any kind. (He shares this quality with Leonard Bernstein, who is only capable of writing music that goes "Ya-da-DAH! Ya-da-DAH!" really loudly over and over with a lot of brass instruments and idiots in sailor suits.) The only melody IN THE ENTIRE BULK of Sweeney Todd is the Deas Irae theme that he stole from Bartok. He sucks. A recording of Paul McCartney snoring has more musical quality than anything by Sondheim.
December 05, 2007 2:01 PM
Damn straight, Jordan!
(I know nothing of Sweeny Todd but I always appreciate a good Jordan skewering.)
December 05, 2007 3:46 PM
Whirlygirl, if JPX won't go with you I will! I totally want to see this flick.
December 06, 2007 11:34 AM
Ah, you people will see anything with Johnny Depp in it.
I would say it's "weird" except that it's actually the textbook definition of "movie star."
December 06, 2007 11:54 AM
Of course, Johnny Depp is nice to look at and he can act too.
DCD, Let's go, forget JPX.
December 06, 2007 2:50 PM
It's a date!
December 07, 2007 8:02 AM