If you can help us with this wiki please sign up and help us! I rolled up my sleeves and wrote something really great. I was vocal about saying this isn't the best version of how this works. Clint heard she was there. Well, welcome to Wonderland. This was Aguileras debut acting venture and though her performance was praised, the film got mixed reviews and experienced dismal box office earnings. But leaving her star persona behind to disappear into a character was new to her, and she committed to a grueling rehearsal schedule atop heavy contributions to the soundtrack. I want someone with more bite and more passion for what she wants in life.' Watch Burlesque: Christina Aguilera as Ali Rose, Watch Burlesque: He Bats For The Other Team, The photo of seven-year-old Ali with her mother is actually a photo of a much younger. She wanted it to reflect more of today's woman. [44][45], Last edited on 18 February 2023, at 19:10, Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media, Burlesque: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Awards 2010, Best Sound Editing: Music in a Musical Feature, Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film, "Behind the scenes of Christina Aguilera's Burlesque movie", "Julianne Hough Grooves On With New Projects", "Peter Gallagher/ Hershey Felder ideal duo for Drury Lane Water Tower stage", "Cher, Christina Aguilera sing justice for Burlesque, 10 years later", "Screen Gems enlists Antin for 'Burlesque', "Movie projector: 'Harry Potter' to rule again as four new movies open, three competing for women", "Burlesque Filming Locations (With Cher and Christina Aguilera)", "Christina Aguilera "Soundtrack and Poster Bundle" @ Burlesque Global Store", "RIAA - Gold & Platinum Searchable Database - November 05, 2015", "Rihanna, Christina Aguilera X Factor Performances Branded 'Porn', "Burlesque Movie Review & Film Summary (2010)", "Weekend Report: 'Harry Potter,' 'Tangled' Tower Over Thanksgiving Weekend", "Weekend Report: 'Tangled' Takes Reins from 'Potter', "Exclusive: RuPaul's Drag Race star Farrah Moan talks wanting change to the All Stars format and touring with Chad Michaels", "Does Burlesque hold the key to RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 3 twist? Although director Steven Antin wrote the original screenplay, Diablo Cody (Juno) revised it uncredited. You know whats funny? Marla (as Wendy Benson) Tisha French . I also had to have a balance of starting out very vulnerable and wide-eyed and naive, she explained. The opening scene of Burlesque tells the story: Ali, our plucky ingenue, logs time as a diner waitress in the corn-tinted town of Genericsville . CHER: One of my favorite scenes is when I was helping Christina with her makeup. Burlesque was an extension of "Glam" and "Prima Donna" from Bionic, a continuation of that fabulousness, but with a controlled theme and narrative. EW's oral history with the cast and crew celebrates the musical's 10-year anniversary with candid secrets from the set. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. That, Culpepper says, is where Burlesque found wider audiences outside the largely queer demographic that supported its theatrical run. The difference is, in every movie, the director isn't in a relationship with the studio. FAYE: When Cher started working on that, she wanted to work at her house with her person, meaning one of her dancers coming to our rehearsals and bringing the work back to her. The Beautiful singer portrayed Ali, a small-town girl who heads to Los Angeles with big dreams and a dynamic voice to back up her determination to see her name in lights. FAYE: She was dancing in styles she hadn't before, and you can see how gorgeously she did. Upon seeing the waitress shortage, Ali picks up a tray and begins serving. It was Jack and Ali saying goodbye, and then he gets into a taxi to go to the airport to go somewhere. 2. One has to be quick and prepared for someone like Christina in a meeting. The Golden Globes drew a lot of adverse criticism when they announced their 2010 nominations as two of the year's most critically derided films - Burlesque and The Tourist (2010) - both were nominated for Best Film Musical or Comedy. says the actress. Michael Kaplan who designed costumes for the film revealed in an interview that he wanted to assign a color to Chers character Tess and actually believed Tess and Cher to be alike in various ways, especially with respect to their professionalism. She manages to get hired as a waitress by Tess (Cher from Silkwood and Moonstruck), the owner of the club, an uncompromising woman who is also the star of the show. The brand also featured in classic Dirty Love (2005), starring Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg and Carmen Electra. Enough said. Starring: Cher, Christina Aguilera, Alan Cumming Watch all you want. The films script was written by Antin but it was revised by names like Diablo Cody and Susannah Grant uncredited. CHER: I think everyone can relate to the message of that song. Jack denies this, and while trying to fix things, he asks Ali to leave. The film eventually pulled in $17.3 million over the five-day holiday frame in fourth place behind a Harry Potter film, Tangled, and the animated holdover Megamind. It was a long process. I didn't like the way it was written, and I didn't like the set. A few weeks later, Clint and I went to her house in Malibu for another meeting. She was like, "This is so great!" I wanted to write Cher's "My Way." Jana Kramer was considered for the role of Tess. In a fit of rage, Nikki sabotages the performance by turning off the music that the dancers usually lip sync to until Ali impresses everyone with her singing skills. These lines are modern inspired by Jane Austen's novel "Emma," when Mr. Knightley asks Emma to dance and she says "Indeed, I will. And he needed them to feel it, too. These girls were watching it time and time again on TV, they'd watch it with their friends or their mothers or buy the DVD. But, I think she'll outlive the cockroaches. Antin, along with Culpepper and the couples producer pal Donald De Line met Cher at her Malibu mansion and after quite a bit of convincing, Cher agreed to be a part of a twenty-day filming schedule, although the production lasted about four months. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. She had the best skin and the bluest eyes I'd ever seen. "'She doesnt have enough meat. The DVD has sold over 1.4 million units in the United States. RELATED:Hamilton: 10 Differences Between The Real-life Events And The Broadway Show. Glitter and shine might be the hallmarks of Burlesque's visual appeal, but the inspiration for the film's dance numbers required scaling back. Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. Clint always loved the idea of doing a more grounded Burlesque musical in a nightclub, not a broad comedy, and he pushed me to write the script. "It wasn't a good film," the Moonstruck star told the Los Angeles Times. FAYE: I directed and choreographed Cher for many years. There's not that separation of civility because it's like you're dealing with your husband or wife [but] you compromise. I also developed and sold several TV shows I wrote the pilots for, so I've kept busy. I'd never been taught or exposed to such a wide range of "technical" dance and so many different styles and levels all at once while rehearsing and filming this movie. And so, they rewrote it." CULPEPPER: Christina kept saying, "Please, Clint, get Cher! WARREN: I don't ever expect anything, but it was kind of shocking [that "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me" didn't get an Oscar nod]. Peter played Hank, Amy's (Mila Kunis') father. She asked really smart questions. Antin never returned to direct a motion picture although he did find success with his commercials. In the scene where Nikki is singing about a dentist, the song is "Long John Blues" sung by Megan Mullally. WARREN: At one point they were saying [Steven] wanted to test the movie without the song in it, and I think Cher was like, if you even test the movie without the song in, I will do no press! Third, the first number seen at the club is reminiscent of Cabaret's opening with Cher introducing the dancers with little adages about each one. AGUILERA: In songwriting, I had to tackle both the tender moments of Ali falling in love with Jack, while also tackling the opposite energy of the up-tempo [songs] where I needed to embody and exude the powerful, sensual, and celebratory sides that encompass a woman. At the head of it all is Cher's Tess, the club's tough-as-nails owner struggling to keep the venue afloat after the 2008 financial crisis, who gambles it all on Ali's voice as she attempts to turn a promising newcomer into a star and a profit in the process. [26], Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune said, "The choicest dialogue in Burlesque provokes the sort of laughter that other, intentionally funny films only dream of generating. It was brilliant, then it was like, no, this is Tess' club, back to zero! I tried to put her at ease. Promoting the film became a push-and-pull between appealing to mainstream audiences and staying true to the film's soul. Robert Pattinson, Kellan Lutz, Taylor Lautner were considered to play Jack, before the role went to fellow Twilight star Cam Gigandet. before the roles went to follow Planet Terror star Naveen Andrews. Her performance was good and she looked great. Amy really wanted Cher, and so did Clint. After finally quitting her waitressing job and getting out of Dodge (aka Iowa), Ali (Christina Aguilera) lands in Los Angeles, where her plan to get a singing gig quickly goes nowhere.Then she finds the Burlesque Lounge, a popular but down-on-its-high-heels nightclub -- owner Tess (Cher) is juggling two mortgages and has creditors and a real estate shark breathing down her neck -- where . Tess asks Sean what happened to all the good dancers in LA, to which he responds Dancing with the Stars (2005). I feel like this was pre-judged before everyone saw it. Once in L.A., she tries and fails at every audition she does until one night, she finds herself unknowingly in aburlesqueclub when she hears the music on the street. She smiled and said, "Oh my God, this is going to be fun!" I don't hold grudges. Aguilera and Cher developed a close bond behind-the-scenes of the film that emulated their characters budding mother-daughter relationship in the movie. By the Christmas weekend, it was number 15 at the box office. Its story is earnest and timeless: A vocally gifted, small-town waitress, Ali (Aguilera), leaves Iowa for Los Angeles with nothing but a bus ticket and raw talent in tow. She knew what it was, and Cher doesn't always know what the right song is. and this one she loved from day one. FAYE: "Tough Lover" went through an awful lot of changes. Once Ali slinks down into the "faded glamour" of the club for the first time, the whole thing unfolds like Alice down a rabbit hole, with each choreographed dance trimmed with both grit and glitz. WARREN: I was blown away. It's a collaborativeart form, and the studio is writing the check, so they have opinions about mostly everything, which is understandable. [24], Burlesque received mixed reviews from critics. Tensions arise between Ali and Jack as Marcus grows increasingly infatuated with Ali, making Jack jealous. CULPEPPER: She had these little '70s glasses on, and she looked up, stopped, and said, "What are you two doing here?" I can't even remember where. That song is hers. When Georgia (Hough) becomespregnant, auditions are held to replace her. But, the meat of the narrative was there, and the pair were ready to dot their call sheet with glistening stars beginning with courting Aguilera to play their budding ingenue. After her role in "Burlesque", in 2011 Christina Aguilera won the MSN Entertainment Award for Best Attempt at Acting. They had to rewrite the character because I was just like, This girl doesnt have a lot of drive,' she said at the time. I got really inspired. The simple idea was to set it in a small burlesque club: A girl escaping her life shows up with a big voice. So, he introduced Aguilera to her idol on the Sony lot after Cher committed to the project. She has sold more than 30 million albums . The film follows Ali played by Aguilera a small-town girl who finds her big break performing at a Burlesque Lounge. [9], Cher accepted the supporting role of Tess Scali because she wanted to sing in a movie and thought this would be her last opportunity to do so. It's unbelievable. The "Believe" singer told Collider in November 2010 that she felt an immediate connection to Aguilera, whom she tried to mentor during filming. There are several allusions to the Broadway show and film of Cabaret (possibly unintended). But it was the right song for her and the movie. STEWART: The set had been built out on a miniature scale, then we got to see the set built out into the real thing, and they had us walk through the whole set that was being built for those numbers so we could feel the essence of what needed to happen in those scenes. It was the most challenging to everybody. In it, 64-year-old Cher plays Tess, the golden-hearted proprietor of a down-on-its-luck club a character to whom Cher said she can relate. Loft Assistant: Katerina Kopel . "It was always sad that it was not a good film." She finally read it and agreed to a meeting with Clint and [then-Sony Motion Picture Chairperson] Amy Pascal. It's a hybrid television event/series taking the movie to the next level. Several years ago [RuPaul's Drag Race stars Farrah Moan and Chad Michaels] did a live drag version of the movie, which I thought was hilarious. [20], The DVD and Blu-ray were released in North America on March 1, 2011. That's what we grew up on! CHRISTINA AGUILERA (Ali/songwriter): I'd been presented other acting and movie opportunities, but was holding out for something that felt right. Surprisingly, this is Cher's first musical film. Their cast mate on this film, Julianne Hough, is one of the professional dancers on the Emmy-winning show. Both the ballads from the soundtrack "Bound to You" performed by Aguilera and "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me" performed by Cher were nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. We begged for five minutes of her time. In the [concepting] days of "forget money," actually, either "But I'm a Good Girl" or "Tough Lover" was supposed to have a conveyor belt that people were supposed to run on while it was moving. Despite its mixed reception, the film did modestly at the box office, grossing $91 million worldwide and earning an additional $42 million in domestic video sales. Ali's Hotel Manager: Michael Landes . CHER: It's not a surprise to me that it has been deeply embraced by the gay community. AGUILERA: Every dancer moved their body in a different unique way, and it's a beautiful thing to appreciate and fall in love with dance on the personal level that this movie provided for me. The idea for "Express," when the girls are crawling through the vanities, we came up with that there, and the idea for the "Burlesque" letters lighting up at the end, we came up with that and using the 360 degrees of the space because it was so gigantic there. Buzz snowballed ahead of the film's Nov. 24 theatrical bow, to the point where press for the project fixated on gossip, to Culpepper's chagrin. The revised ending had Jack and Ali reuniting backstage at Tess' club after a fight as Jack presents Ali with the finished version of a song hed been working on. Burlesque was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Picture [and won for Diane Warren's song]. TRICKY STEWART (songwriter/producer): Christina is a real diva, and being around her and watching her attention to detail, the vibe that she gives me always made me want to make music that I consider to be "fabulous." Tess: [upon seeing a nauseous Georgia emerge from the bathroom stall] Oh, God, Georgia. That's just what happens in movies. I should've. Paula van Oppen, former member of the girl group G.R.L, plays one of the burlesque dancers, Anna. While the days of Burlesque are now counted, Ali may have a chance to accomplish what she had not even dared to imagineCredits: 2010 Screen Gems, Inc. All Rights Reserved.Like this video if you want to see more episodes and tell us what you thought in the comments below.Don't forget to turn on notifications to catch our next videos!Keep up with us on Facebook!Binge Society | https://www.facebook.com/BingeSociety/Binge Society - Action | https://www.facebook.com/binge.society.action/Binge Society - Comedy | https://www.facebook.com/binge.society.comedy/Binge Society brings you the best of your favorite movies and TV shows! She'd never really done it before, and suddenly she was the lead, carrying a movie. 64-year-old For the first time in a decade, she's starring in a feature film, "Burlesque". After Ali's debut as the lead, she asks Jack what he thinks about her outfit. I went to her house alone with just the two of us for another meeting. As time went by, she felt a lot more comfortable." Beyonc Knowles was considered for the role of Ali. Ali Rose (Aguilera) moves toLos Angelesafter she quits herbarjob when her boss refuses to pay her. [30] Lou Lumenick of the New York Post said, "Aguilera can dance like nobody's business, but her acting debut isn't going to keep Anne Hathaway awake at night. She was adorable, reading off her iPhone kind of scared with something prepared, and the songs blew us away. That was the genesis. Marcus calls Ali, and Sean prompts her to go out with him. In order to view the gallery, please allow Manage Cookies. Here, that is his character's nickname for Ali. She came on the set with us, and thats a little bit nerve-wracking when youve done nothing in film. She was at the Chateau with some friends and she said, "Come here immediately. But a campy, niche classic isn't exactly what the Burlesque crew set out to make. Gabriela Spanic was considered for the role of Tess. Ali Larter was considered for the role of Tess. The movie tested through the roof. It reminded me of when I was a young girl and my mom and all her friends would put on makeup together. WILHELM SCREAM: Occurs in the last seconds of the final number, "Show Me How You Burlesque". NEXT:The 10 Greatest Movies About Music, Ranked (According To IMDb), JJ Rankin is a culture and entertainment writer. She will make friends and enemies, and by dint of perseverance, will manage to get closer to her dream. [jwplayer eTtrv57w-zhNYySv2] "[36] The New York Times said that the story line "had already gathered dust by the time [of] the 1933 musical 42nd Street". I put that energy into how I really was feeling, approaching acting in the first place, which was wide-eyed and as a newcomer, who was open and vulnerable to everyones opinions and ideas, and ready to learn.. In conjunction with the image of the modern, independent woman, these women were exploring their sexuality and flaunting their agency, although often in a manner directly dictated by the male gaze. Little by little, the young woman discovered the life of this small world. Part of the a360media Entertainment Group.Powered by WordPress VIP. So did Christina. But Christina quietly kept rehearsing it and trying it and working on it, and one day she said to me, "I don't need a dance double. See production, box office & company info. But Culpepper revealed in an interview that though they did have disagreements, they were not creative in nature but were about scheduling issues. The film follows Ali as she fights her way from the bar to the stage while juggling a love triangle between sensitive bartender Jack (Cam Gigandet) and wealthy real estate developer Marcus (Eric Dane). After her selfish boss refuses salary, Ali steals from him and moves to Los Angeles. Because she dreams of a career in show business, Ali (Christina Aguilera) leaves her small town for Los Angeles. Amazed by the flamboyant costumes and the breathtaking choreography, Ali swears to herself that one day she too will be on the stage. In her Best Original Song acceptance speech at the 2011 Golden Globes, Warren thanked Cher for being an "eternal badass" who fought "to get the song in the movie and keep the song in the movie," and Cher even released it as her first solo single since 2003's "Love One Another.". While spending time with Marcus, Ali finds out about "air rights", which refers to the empty space above a building and what can be done with it. "It had a few good moments, but I didn't even like my performance that much. Steven got it and achieved his vision. Lisa Kudrow was considered for the role of Ali. Peter Gallagher and Cam Gigandet appeared together in The O.C. Burlesque marks Aguilera's first leading role, as well as Cher's first musical performance on screen. Scroll down to see stars you may have forgot appeared in Burlesque. The DVD audience didn't know the background, the budget, the controversy, they didn't know any of that. Okay, so theres a movie like Burlesque that came out a long time ago and I was one of 900 writers that worked on it, and people will still ask me about my involvement in Burlesque. This is the last sound heard as the screen blacks out and the film ends. Clint was driven to get her on board, and he made it happen. When Georgia (Julianne Hough), one of the leading dancers, becomes pregnant, auditions are held in search of a replacement to fill her role. It was all of these numbers with Christina. She was actually really funny about it, and I was surprised that she agreed to join us! That's what I was aiming for. Kristen Bell (Nikki) and David Walton (Mark the DJ) starred in Bad Moms (2016) as Kiki and Mike, respectively. She didn't use any doubles. [9] Nolfi applauded Burlesque as "a campy, niche classic". Christina Aguilera's "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" fantasy was the first scene shot. She reminded me of the relationship that I had with Meryl Streep [on Silkwood], when Meryl took me under her wing, she said at the time. It starred Farrah Moan as Ali Rose and Chad Michaels as Tess Scali. The reason Cher accepted a supporting role in a film was that she believed this may be her last opportunity to be in a starring role where she gets to sing. Fearing the obstruction of his prospective purchasers' view, he buys the air rights to the club's property from Tess. According to Tricky Stewart, who co-penned and produced LP cuts "Glam," "Desnudate," and "Prima Donna" across intimate sessions at the superstar's home, their organic chemistry led to Aguilera inviting him and fellow Bionic songsmiths Sia, Claude Kelly, Ester Dean, Samuel Dixon, and Linda Perry to join her in creating the film's soundtrack. Cher [saw us] and went, "Ok, everybody, take five!" At times I can be a bit snobby about movies. There were many reports that circulated during the filming of Burlesque which suggested that Antin and Culpepper would have fights on set and it delayed filming. Yes, the gays love it, but there's no one in town that's surprised that the gays are going to love something that Christina Aguilera and Cher do together! At lunch, I went to Cher's trailer to say hi and check in. Really terrible director. The meeting went well. Others, I lost. Dandy Dillinger, a 33-year-old baker and burlesque performer living in the East Village, lost both her day job and her performance career when the pandemic hit. Culpepper felt Aguilera's deep admiration for Cher emotions complimentary to the dynamic between Ali and Tess in the film. What, I don't have a brain? CHER: When Diane Warren brought me the song, I told her there was no way I could ever reach those notes, but somehow, I managed. She finally read it and agreed to a meeting with Clint and [then-Sony Motion Picture Chairperson] Amy Pascal. Shawn Roberts was briefly considered for the role of Jack Miller. Antin revealed that he filmed these shows into a single movie which eventually inspired Burlesque. Patrick Dempsey, Sam Worthington, Casey Affleck, and Jamie Foxx were considered to play Marcus. The disagreements came from, we didnt have time, we have to move on, Culpepper said. I'm in Cher's trailer dressing room, just hanging out and chatting. Pam Grier reflects on her most iconic roles, from Coffy to Jackie Brown. The costumes for the film's finale were made from a variety of chains I bought at hardware stores. This is the second movie with Stanley Tucci where he provides the lead character with new clothing and a makeover which leads to a montage backed by Madonna music. Aguilera performed "Bound to You" on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and gave an interview and performance on Conan. The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the cast's performance and the soundtrack but criticized the cliche writing. ANTIN: I'd talked to a few different studios and networks about the project with my ex-producing partner, Joe Voci. There were a few scenes we shared where I learned from her that being a supportive costar really helps to create something special, and motivating each other is what makes for a great outcome. When she did, we introduced ourselves. Third, the first number seen at the club is reminiscent of Cabaret's opening with Cher introducing the dancers with little adages about each one. There's a bit of the Crazy Horse Saloon in Paris, the musical Cabaret, as well as the '60s TV show Hullabaloo as well as the Follies Bergre. Ali Rose: If I'm not 20 times better than "b*obs for brains" over there, you don't have to pay me. MICHAEL KAPLAN (costume designer): I wanted a modern take on burlesque with a retro feel and a nod to its history and origins. The film marked Aguilera's film debut and Cher's first musical. alum shines in a few scenes as Tess' ex-husband, Vince, who wants to sell the burlesque club to Marcus. The Grey's Anatomy alum's character, Marcus, attempts to seduce Ali while also making plans to build a skyscraper on the club's property. But, Christina worked so hard. The first TV spot premiered during the season 2 premiere of Fox's Glee on September 21, 2010. I'd put clothes in her room every day and she'd walk out combining them in a different way than I thought she would. The role of Tess could've gone several ways. Most of the flamboyant costumes worn by Cher were her own clothes, some of which were designed by her longtime friend Bob Mackie (interview on The Graham Norton Show (2007) / 18 Dec. 2010). She gave me some good advice, shared some personal insight and stories on love, and also encouragement along the way when I needed to hear it! [13] Burlesque is Screen Gems' most expensive film, with the exception of the Resident Evil films, with costs of $55 million. After leaving Iowa with stars in her eyes, Ali arrives at a Los Angeles burlesque lounge with dreams of taking the stage with her soaring voice. ANTIN: Directors fight for what they believe in. It can only be 50s burlesque. Burlesque (2010) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Jessica Biel and Lindsay Lohan were considered for the role of Nikki. Betty Grable, all those big, dance-y studio movies about putting on a show. There werent creative differences. At least that's the sentiment you get when talking to the artists behind the 2010 musical Burlesque, a true showgirl of a studio spectacle that never got its proper due in the Hollywood spotlight.