But they never got to fully share that excitement at the time of release. As the scope for Burlesque grew, the script underwent tweaks with help from writers John Patrick Shanley (Moonstruck), Diablo Cody (Juno), and Susannah Grant (Erin Brockovich). CHER (Tess): I loved performing "Welcome to Burlesque" so much that I decided to recreate a version of it for my live show. 2. I got really inspired. When he stumbles over words, she says "Jack, we're friends for Christ's sake. None of us thought she could do it, and honestly, we weren't concerned because we had the double ready to go. Steven got it and achieved his vision. Cher revealed that, other than herself, the oldest actress in the cast was just 32 (interview with Charlie Stayt on BBC's Breakfast (2000) / 17 Dec. 2010). [17][18] In the United States, the soundtrack was certified Gold by the RIAA for shipments of 500,000 copies in October 2011.[19]. 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. Cam Gigandet learned how to play the piano especially for the film. Marla (as Wendy Benson) Tisha French . It wasnt a good film, the Moonstruck star told the Los Angeles Times. ANTIN: For the role of Ali, we wanted an actress with a very big voice. Did Christina Aguilera actually dance in Burlesque? She owned it. [9] Nolfi applauded Burlesque as "a campy, niche classic". She'd never really done it before, and suddenly she was the lead, carrying a movie. The audience loves it. Don't come back to me without Cher!" Then there are the custom shoes and the blisters. One of Christina's costumes was made completely of pearls wired together. CULPEPPER: We both had the idea of doing something that harkened back [to] old musicals from the '40s. For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews Subscribe on YouTube! 60 Photos From History You Probably Haven't Seen Yet - MSN In mid-2010, a melodramatic trailer that didn't match the film's tone was poorly received ("everyone thought it was going to be Showgirls," Culpepper jokes), though a second cut fared better. Antin never returned to direct a motion picture although he did find success with his commercials. 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. With a budget of $55 million, Burlesque is one of Screen Gems' most expensive films outside of the Resident Evil franchise. Keep your legs straight while you bend and then bring your body back up, running your hands up your legs. It was a bunch of 13-year-old girls who've loved it and grown with it. The theatrical trailer was attached to screenings of Step Up 3D and Easy A. Despite the club's growing popularity, Tess struggles with a bank loan indicted to her owning the rights of the building. Ali wants to audition but finds herself working at the club as a waitress. Watch Burlesque | Netflix Cher. CULPEPPER: We [later] went out to dinner with Christina and her [then-husband Jordan Bratman], we went to her house and listened to a bunch of music and got to know each other. Peter Gallagher and Cam Gigandet appeared together in The O.C. Burlesque is a 2010 American backstage musical film written and directed by Steven Antin. I feel like this was pre-judged before everyone saw it. Stars You Forgot Were in 'Burlesque' - Us Weekly I wasnt there for that meeting, and I believe Clint helped in getting her to say yes, Antin revealed in the same interview. The simple idea was to set it in a small burlesque club: A girl escaping her life shows up with a big voice. I mean, hello. First, Alan Cumming (plays the money taker at Burlesque) famously starred as the Emcee in the 1991 stage version of Cabaret. 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. The film tells the story of Ali (Aguilera), an aspiring singer who leaves her small hometown for Los Angeles, where she becomes a dancer at a struggling burlesque lounge owned by Tess (Cher). She was sweet, cool, and very casual, and she somehow made it all seem normal. Fearing the obstruction of his prospective purchasers' view, he buys the air rights to the club's property from Tess. They hit it off great. I always did," he says). Unless you're Christopher Nolan. One is a timely, provocative story inspired by a classic movie, and one is related to Burlesque. Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. Honestly, I didn't do a very good job. 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." Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window). 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. The Dirrty singer added that she channeled her lack of acting experience into the character. I also had to have a balance of starting out very vulnerable and wide-eyed and naive, she explained. Having earned Nikki's respect, Ali performs "Show Me How You Burlesque", a song written by Jack, with all of the dancers on stage, delighting the crowd. 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. Burlesque (2010) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Once I hit a kick pattern, she loved it, and she started rapping. Christina was on the other side of the lot rehearsing. She unknowingly walks into a burlesque club run by Tess (Cher), which is facing financial hardship despite its talented group of dancers. vevo arrestato volte biglietti contatto un conoscenza ad esempio ospita autorita aspetto di burlesque. ANTIN: It's inspired by Burlesque: A re-imagination. First, Alan Cumming (plays the money taker at Burlesque) famously starred as the Emcee in the 1991 stage version of Cabaret. The former Dancing With the Stars judge played Georgia, a dancer whose sudden pregnancy opens up a spot for Ali to audition. More meetings and many more conversations followed. Your Visual Guide To The Timeless Queens Of Pin-Up - HuffPost ANTIN: I certainly didn't set out to make a camp movie that people laugh at. Cher actually got the copy of the script via her producer friend David Geffen who knew about the project since Culpepper and his boyfriend Antin had come up with the project on his yacht during a week-long vacation. You know whats funny? 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. [9] Circa 2002, the group performed at the Roxy Theatre, West Hollywood, with multiple artistsamong them Christina Aguileraand Steven Antin directed some of these shows. When Jack first plays his piano in his apartment, he is playing an instrumental of 'Bound to You' - a song which Ali later sings in the show. Burlesque: Ali Saves The Show (Kristen Bell, Christina Aguilera HD MOVIE SCENE) Scene City 1.09M subscribers Subscribe 6.2M views 1 year ago Despite Nikki's (Kristen Bell) attempt to thwart. [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. "I also had to have a balance of starting out very vulnerable and wide-eyed and naive," she explained. By the Christmas weekend, it was number 15 at the box office. The film earned a nomination for Best Motion Picture Musical or Comedy at the 66th Golden Globe Awards, where Cher's performance of "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me", written by Diane Warren won the for Best Original Song. 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. Burlesque marks Aguilera's first leading role, as well as Cher's first musical performance on screen. Sign up for Us Weekly's free, daily newsletter and never miss breaking news or exclusive stories about your favorite celebrities, TV shows and more! At first, I was interested in Queen Latifah or Michelle Pfeiffer. Aguilera and Cher developed a close bond behind-the-scenes of the film that emulated their characters budding mother-daughter relationship in the movie. But I don't have one number in that movie that I wish was a different number. Christina Aguilera's "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" fantasy was the first scene shot. I got some cameras and shot the show over a few nights and edited together a little movie. Cher and Christina Aguilera in 'Burlesque', Cher, Christina Aguilera sing justice for. I tried to put her at ease. I also have two TV shows in development now, both involving music. Milla Jovovich was considered for the role of Tess. It was a joke between us, because after I met Cher at her house for three hours with Donald [De Line, the executive producer] and Steve, we called Christina as we left. "[36] The New York Times said that the story line "had already gathered dust by the time [of] the 1933 musical 42nd Street". She then uses the money to buy out Vince's share, pay off the bank, and redecorate the club in her own vision. The disagreements came from, we didn't have time, we have to move on. Once in L.A., she tries and fails at every audition she does until one night, she finds herself unknowingly in a burlesque club when she hears the music on the street. Heather Graham was considered for the role of Ali. The brand also featured in classic Dirty Love (2005), starring Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg and Carmen Electra. [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. 'Burlesque': A Cliche Is Born (Entertainingly, Too) - NPR [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? So, he introduced Aguilera to her idol on the Sony lot after Cher committed to the project. She was sweet and said she knew about the script, but hadn't read it yet. Aguilera told Collider in November 2010 that she wanted Ali's character to be rewritten before she agreed to sign on to the project. This, however, infuriates Nikki (Kristen Bell), a lead performer struggling with alcoholism. [33] Time Out labelled the drama "perfunctory"[34] while Roger Ebert said that "Burlesque shows Cher and Christina Aguilera being all that they can be, and that's more than enough. I am more attracted to slow artsy fartsy movies that try make grand points about society or existence. The Believe singer told Collider in November 2010 that she felt an immediate connection to Aguilera, whom she tried to mentor during filming. The role of Tess could've gone several ways. She unknowingly walks into a burlesque club run by Tess (Cher), which is facing financial hardship despite its talented group of dancers. The Easy A actor played snarky stage manager Sean, who is best friends with Tess. She knew what it was, and Cher doesn't always know what the right song is. and this one she loved from day one. It's not like we're brother and sister," to which Jack replies "No, we certainly are not." But it takes luck and extraordinary talent for a star to shine to the point of dazzling the public. But it was the right song for her and the movie. Aguilera told Collider in November 2010 that she wanted Alis character to be rewritten before she agreed to sign on to the project. Her performance was good and she looked great. Part of the a360media Entertainment Group. Paula van Oppen, former member of the girl group G.R.L, plays one of the burlesque dancers, Anna. Kristen Bell (Nikki) and David Walton (Mark the DJ) starred in Bad Moms (2016) as Kiki and Mike, respectively. Ali Rose: If I'm not 20 times better than "b*obs for brains" over there, you don't have to pay me. 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 . Writer and burlesque entertainer Gypsy Rose Lee, working at her desk, 1941. She was actually really funny about it, and I was surprised that she agreed to join us! Ali Rose (Burlesque) | Heroes Wiki | Fandom Welcome to the Quantum Realm. The DVD audience didn't know the background, the budget, the controversy, they didn't know any of that. Overall, it has grossed over $30,053,366 on video sales (DVD and Blu-ray sales) in United States alone. I want someone with more bite and more passion for what she wants in life. And so, they rewrote it., In order to view the video, please allow Manage Cookies. I had an initial meeting with Amy Pascal and Clint Culpepper, and I said, 'I just dont think shes for me. I didn't believe those high numbers. Who Is The Actor Who Plays Natalie In Burlesque? - NickiSwift ANTIN: We opened on Thanksgiving weekend, which is generally a weekend for family movies. It's been a decade since Burlesque premiered, but the trivia surrounding the Christina Aguilera and Cher helmed movie is still just as interesting. -M-NUva. Dianna Agron shot her scene in just one afternoon. CULPEPPER: She had these little '70s glasses on, and she looked up, stopped, and said, "What are you two doing here?" First introduced by a visiting British dance troupe in the 1860s, burlesque took off in America even as its popularity dwindled in England. The first movie is The Devil Wears Prada (2006), when Tucci's character Nigel gives Anne Hathaway' a makeover, followed by a montage set to "Vogue.". The movie tested through the roof. A third TV spot also aired the following day during Dancing with the Stars, later followed by another during MTV's Jersey Shore. Pam Grier reflects on her most iconic roles, from Coffy to Jackie Brown. But Clint came up with and loved the idea of Cher. Burlesque: Ali Saves The Show (Kristen Bell, Christina - YouTube 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. But, Christina worked so hard. CULPEPPER: She had notes. At Georgia's wedding, Jack appears to call off his engagement and becomes drunk. [It's all a] normal process of making a movie. A small-town girl ventures to Los Angeles and finds her place in a neo-burlesque club run by a former dancer.A small-town girl ventures to Los Angeles and finds her place in a neo-burlesque club run by a former dancer.A small-town girl ventures to Los Angeles and finds her place in a neo-burlesque club run by a former dancer. I had six cameras set up on a gigantic soundstage with a massive crew, and a zillion dancers around Cher that she had never worked with. . 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. Im old but Im still pretty on top of everything.. I just learned what downstage and upstage is. One thing Antin initially wanted to remove from the film, however, has since grown into one of its most iconic moments: Cher's solo number, "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me," which sees her singing a meta tune (penned by longtime collaborator Diane Warren) about resilience. Musically, everyone anticipated Aguilera delivering natural talent. Christina Aguilera made her big-screen debut alongside Cher in the 2010 musical Burlesque, and the films cast was rounded out with a few forgotten stars. Steven and I are deep into this. She finds Tess (played by Cher) and the dancers performing Welcome to Burlesque and decides to pursue a career on stage once she meets Jack (Gigandet). It was Pretty Woman on a fire escape. Natalie angrily insists she and Jack never broke up though the latter denies this but asks Ali to leave. She had the best skin and the bluest eyes I'd ever seen. I was like, "No, tell her it's a new f---in' song!" Offers may be subject to change without notice. Julieth Restrepo was considered for the role of Ali. Second, similar choreography. Although director Steven Antin wrote the original screenplay, Diablo Cody (Juno) revised it uncredited. Burlesque: Ali performs "Express" (HD CLIP) - YouTube I wrote a story for her show that loosely weaved together their musical numbers. The truth was that I didnt have any idea where to stand, not that I know where to stand now. Somewhere along the way, Antin jokes, the infamous "air rights" plot device found its way into the story ("It was a feeble attempt at infusing story. This is all her, working hard and being spectacular. ANTIN: Denise and Joey wanted Christina to do a difficult dance move in "But I'm a Good Girl" an extended back-attitude kick to the head. 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). And really terrible script. I said, "We're ambushing you. FAYE: The biggest challenge is having the time to do the work that you want to do when timing is money. After her selfish boss refuses salary, Ali steals from him and moves to Los Angeles. "Express" is the fruit of actually having them explain their vision, then the vision [for that song] came out through the music. She came on the set with us, and thats a little bit nerve-wracking when youve done nothing in film. Marcus (Eric Dane), a wealthy clubgoer, becomes infatuated with Ali, who begins spending time with him, making Jack jealous. Culpepper felt Aguilera's deep admiration for Cher emotions complimentary to the dynamic between Ali and Tess in the film. 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. A few weeks later, Clint and I went to her house in Malibu for another meeting. My sister was getting all these celebs to appear as guest performers. What Is Life Without Burlesque? - The New York Times I'd basically given up, and I ended up going out to dinner the next week, where I ran into Loree Rodkin, Cher's best friend. No need to waste time endlessly browsing here's the entire lineup of new movies and TV shows streaming on Netflix this month. I mean, it was, like, she was really up there. In today's world, that's all you hope for. Tess asks Sean what happened to all the good dancers in LA, to which he responds Dancing with the Stars (2005). They just looked at it and went, "That's charming as s---." We begged for five minutes of her time. The O.C. 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! She was open to my direction, which was great. 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. [24], Burlesque received mixed reviews from critics. But, Christina worked so hard. There werent creative differences. I'm in Cher's trailer dressing room, just hanging out and chatting. You can hear feedback when Ali is onstage and Nikki sabotages the mixing console. What's happening in this Burlesque movie clip?Ali auditions to be one of the club's dancers and when she's done, she persuades Tess to take her much to the l. Jana Kramer was considered for the role of Tess. The film originally had a different ending a nod to the Julia Roberts classic Pretty Woman that Antin retooled. I tried to put her at ease. Burlesque (2010) - Trivia - IMDb Or, at least, the seemingly far-off fantasy of getting Cher who first received the script from Antin and Culpepper's friend, David Geffen to play the club owner, Tess, in her first movie role in seven years (and the Oscar winner's first-ever musical feature film). "Cher always put her imprint on everything she was wearing. It's important to have a communication and a special understanding of each other. Shawn Roberts was briefly considered for the role of Jack Miller. ANTIN: Directors fight for what they believe in. [9] In 2019, a full-length Burlesque tour, based on the movie, embarked, including at British venues. into a club called Burlesque and is instantly mesmerized by the choreographed and somewhat risqu dance numbers to old classic tunes performed by the likes of Nikki (KRISTEN BELL), Georgia (JULIANNE HOUGH) and Coco (CHELSEA . Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. Started shooting on November 9, 2009 and ended on March 3, 2010. It involves doing a back-kick where her heel touches the back of her head. . One decade after the film's Nov. 24, 2010 release, those who took writer-director Steven Antin's vision from far-off fantasy to a dream come true all attest: The memories of the magic they experienced on set are still as vivid as they were all those years ago. The film stars Christina Aguilera as a Burlesque ingenue Ali, who gets a chance to be the star of a Sunset Strip Burlesque club owned by a woman named Tess, played by Cher. Ali also meets songwriter Jack Miller (Cam Gigandet) at the club's bar. Christina realized this was new to her and she took it all very seriously, and was committed to working hard on getting it right. Stanley Tucci's character smokes in many of his scenes at The Burlesque Lounge, including in the front of the house. 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. CHER: One of my favorite scenes is when I was helping Christina with her makeup. I also developed and sold several TV shows I wrote the pilots for, so I've kept busy. Although Cher enjoyed her time working on the movie, she admitted in 2013 that she wasn't proud of the project. 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. [38], The week after Thanksgiving, Burlesque experienced a substantial decrease on ticket sales, earning $9.65 million ($6.1 million for the weekend), for a total of $26.98 million for its first twelve days. He believed in the project, but I just couldn't get my head wrapped around a story that I thought worked. Jack refers her to Tess for an audition, but is rejected instantly and ushered out by Sean (Tucci). Sony Pictures Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA. And he needed them to feel it, too. A couple of weeks later I heard from Cher's manager, who loved the song, and she ended up recording it. Burlesque: Audition (HD CLIP) - YouTube "[10] Canadian actor Shawn Roberts, who was previously cast in another Screen Gems production Resident Evil: Afterlife, was briefly considered for the role of Jack Miller. It wasn't about Cher's performance. Ali rekindles her relationship with Jack after he tells her about breaking up with Natalie, as she cared more about her job than her relationship with him.