By Gabriella Zicarelli
From the flashy costumes to catchy song and dance numbers, everyone loves a great Broadway play, so it only makes sense that many theatre hits eventually make their way from stage to film. Here are ten Broadway plays that made the leap to the big screen.
Chicago
Proving to be just as good as the play, in 2002, Rob Marshall brilliantly brought Bob Fosse’s Chicago to movie theaters. Set in the 1920s, Roxy Hart (Renee Zellweger) and Velma Kelly (Catherine-Zeta Jones) are both facing murder charges after killing the men in their lives. When they both enlist the help of the best attorney in Chicago, Billy Flynn (played by Richard Gere), they find themselves in a battle not only with death row but with each other over fame, that is until the decide to join forces to become on stage partners.
I love how the story focuses on, let’s say, female hutzpah and teaches men to never piss off a b*tch
Les Miserables
Last night was like watching the Tony Awards as the 2013 Oscars were jam packed with performances ranging from Seth Mcfarlane all the way to Shirley Bassey. The best part of last nights festivities were no doubt the performances. Um, hello? THE Barbra Streisand performing? Yes, please.
My personal favourite performances was Les Mis for the sole reason that experienced and talented broadway actors like Aaron Tveit got to perform on the Oscar stage for the very first time — they now have it made. Also, I can watch Hugh Jackman perform any day, all day. He can really do ANYTHING. He and Anne Hathaway look and sound so great together on screen and on stage (think back to when she performed with him when he was hosting a few years ago).
For your viewing pleasure, may we present all the night’s performances in one place!
We Saw Your Boobs (Seth Mcfarlane)
I wonder if this song was offensive or not…I have yet to decide. I just enjoyed Jennifer Lawrence being really happy we haven’t seen her boobs.
Les Mis performance
Sing it Aaron Tveit, werk that Oscar stage girl (thanks patrick-dempsey for his gif-able catwalk)
Goldfinger (Shirley Bassey) Read more…
A friend of mine recently commented on one of the many Oscar links I’ve shared on Facebook and said reading the story I just posted made him care less about the Oscars (blasphemy!). He also added the following:
“My Oscar nominations are based on: Number of aliens slain by Iron Man, quality of wizard/hobbit relations, and whether or not the lead character would survive in the Hunger Games.”
Touché, friend. Touché. But I have to wonder: who would win based on his criteria?
Considering Academy’s best picture nominees do not include Iron Man, aliens, wizards or hobbits, we’re going to pick our Oscar favourites based on the lead character’s ability to survive The Hunger Games. Here we go!
(Graphic by Kathleen Obtinario)
I’ll have to find out if he was right during tomorrow’s Oscar broadcast!
The Oscars are this weekend and we’re placing our bets on Anne Hathaway to win Best Supporting Actress. Her rendition of “I Dream A Dream” in Les Misérables had us crying like little babies in the theatre. Except unlike babies who are adorable even when they’re crying (minus the wailing. That’s never fun), it was a full blown ugly cry session (Think Lauren Conrad with the single mascara tear running down her face).
This video of YouTuber Ijameswalters singing “I Dream A Dream” has us crying for other reasons. He had the brilliant idea to sing the iconic song as Gollum from Lord of the Rings. His facial impressions are pretty priceless. If the studios ever re-make the series (please don’t) and Andy Serkis, the actor who plays Gollum via CGI technology, isn’t available, we hope that Ijameswaters get the role.
Watch Gollum Sing “I Dream A Dream”
Anne Hathaway’s Oscar campaigning for her role in Les Miserables may be getting on some people’s nerves having won a string of awards including the SAG, a Critic’s Choice Award and a Golden Globe. Performing awkward and super chipper awards’ speeches, it has become a little too obvious that Hathaway wants the Oscar REALLY, REALLY BADLY.
While I can’t deny how brilliant she was in Fantine (I mean she cut her hair and sang live in one take, bitches!!), this parody really knocks the ball out of the park. Reminding the Academy one last time why she MUST win at the 85th Academy Awards, I present to you…The Anne Hathaway “For Your Consideration” video.
Do you remember those poor kids who left the theatre SOBBING after watching The Odd Life of Timothy Green? Well, we’ve found a movie that will draw out the exact same reaction, but from PARENTS.
The video below is the aftermath of a family trip to the movie musical Les Miserables starring Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway. “We’ve been to funerals of family members and haven’t cried like this,” the father said half laughing, half crying.
When I went to see Les Mis the reaction was the exact same. The entire theatre was bawling save two grown men who played on their phones and grumpily walked out midway through. My sister and I were crying during the whole ride home and re-cried later while listening to the songs.
Did you see the movie? What was your reaction?
Watch it here
While we’re used to upbeat, cheery movies around the Christmas season, this year we’re being treated to two films that are on the bleaker side: Les Misérables and Django Unchained.
Two stars of those movies, Anne Hathaway (Les Mis) and Samuel L. Jackson (Django) got a little competitive over just which one was more sad. Sh*t gets real when the two actors have a sad-off.
While they indulge in typical holiday activities, like making a gingerbread house and decorating the tree, they argue over poverty, death and slavery.
There’s no winner in this competition because they ultimately come to the conclusion that their silly competition is wrong and doesn’t capture the Christmas spirit. “Christmas is about bringing people together,” says Jackson, “like prostitution does.”
“Nothing says Christmas like slaves and whores,” Hathaway adds thoughtfully.
The Funny or Die sketch really reminds you of the true meaning of the holidays.
To celebrate the release of Les Misérables, ANDPOP and Universal are giving away a wicked package to one lucky winner.
The winner will receive:
It’s easy to enter! All you have to do is like our Facebook page fill out the contest form below before Jan. 4 at midnight. Don’t forget to read more about the film and watch the trailer after the jump.
*The contest is open to everyone in Canada, excluding Quebec.*
Sorry! We already picked our winners on Jan. 4 2013!
Watch the trailer below Read more…
After watching her promo tour for Les Miserables, I have to say Amanda Seyfried is becoming one of my favourite personalities ever. Every interview she does is ridiculously entertaining, case in point, her interview with Ellen Degeneres.
She has so many talents but here’s one you didn’t expect from her — or anyone really. Seyfried rapped 2Pac’s “California Love” while inexplicably wearing a frog mask. The YouTube comments are mixed so far, though matheuswoww‘s comment led the pack when I wrote this: “That’s the whitest thing i’ve seen.”
Watch it here
Perhaps she had a little liquid courage in her system? She admitted to David Letterman the other day that she indulges in a little alcohol before big talk shows so she can enjoy them more. Before Letterman’s show she had three drinks, partially supplied by his colleagues.
“I’ve never done a live television show — or afternoon — without some kind of liquid courage,” she said. “I understand that I have a problem maybe, but you know what? It really gets me through. I really want to enjoy my experience out here because it’s special.”
I’m crossing my fingers we never hear about Seyfried enrolling in a rehab program, but in the meantime this girl is absolutely hilarious. She totally owned rapping in a frog mask and I’m guessing that’s no easy feat.
Watch it here Read more…
