It has just been announced that Netflix will co-finance Bradley Cooper’s Leonard Bernstein biopic, produced by Steven Spielberg, Todd Phillips, and Martin Scorsese.
Presumably no major studio thought it was viable.
Our attention has been drawn to this incident…
A social media activist has circulated a video…
From my monthly essay in the new issue…
From the wires: FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (WFOR) –…
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I shudder to imagine any script that these people could possibly come up withl
The Hangover meets West Side Story meets Goodfellas meets Borat
Good one, Karlo!
My prediction; the Leonard Bernstein theme park. He will be depicted as “brave”, “original” and, of course, a luvvie.
Have you been drinking with Nijinsky? Do you consider Travis Bickle a “luvvie”? Paulie Cicero? Jake LaMotta? The Joker? Oskar Schindler or Amon Goth? Quint? Rudolf Abel?
What a demented little world you live in.
What is it with you neo-con hate slingers? You’ve worked for years to make ‘justice’ a dirty word, and now you’re after the word “love.” … “At long last, have you no shame?”
I would watch that tbh
Keep shuddering – I’d love to see a list of the films you’ve written, directed or produced alongside those of Spielberg and Scorsese.
Salty. I’m sure the names producers appreciate your white knight routine.
Scorsese is over-rated and Spielberg is no artist.
Oh, I don’t know…take a look at their IMDb credits and get back to me with a revised view, you unutterable snob.
McDonald’s is the most popular restaurant in the world, but that doesn’t mean it’s good.
Not sure why you presume that. He essentially sold half the pic to Netflix, which is mega-acquisitive these days and probably paid a pretty penny.
Indeed. A list of Emmy, Oscar, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, and other nominees over the past few years shows that Netflix is very much a “major studio.” And it’s not a charitable organization: if it bought into the picture, it expects to make money on it.
Can’t wait 🙂
Where does this leave Jake Gyllenhaal’s competing Bernstein film? Relegated to Amazon Prime I suppose.
https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/periods-genres/film-tv/bradley-cooper-leonard-bernstein-biopic/
It leaves the Jake film nowhere because the Bernstein estate, jealously guarded by the offspring, won’t allow any of Lenny’s music to the played in it.
Scrapped. As Playbill recently noted: “A separate biopic had also been in the works with Jake Gyllenhaal set to play Bernstein. That film, to be directed by Cary Fukunaga, was scrapped after the Bernstein estate boarded the Cooper project.”
Get the popcorn.
Presume Michael Doulglas will play LB.
A good likeness.
I’m sure they paid good money and perhaps outbid other contenders but it’s an odd fit for Spielberg since he fundamentally dislikes the Netflix model.
https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2019/03/spielberg-vs-netflix/584530/
Lenny’s life “had it all” especially as seen from Hollywood: plenty of sex (from all sides–sorry about the dreadful pun); creator of some of the greatest music of all time (turned into films even); flamboyant people; tension; being an international super star; groupie/protoge to famous composers and conductors; moneymaker; author and Harvard star; hobnober of the rich, the famous and the powerful even to the extent of being one of all of them; and sets possible in just about any city in the world.
My prediction is that it will be a big hit if it is done correctly.
Catch up guys, Netflix IS a major studio these days !
The only question (in my mind this will be a blockbuster that makes you ask, who was Schindler?) is who can play Bernstein? He was a very good looking man, hugely talented, and could do everything he did (from teaching to conducting to diplomacy) at the highest levels. Plus, Bernstein has lots of crossover potential (again a bad pun) and enjoyed some pop music groups. It’s a great way to introduce people of all walks to classical music.
I have no idea; suggestions please? Who could do that little jig (with a trademarkws skip to ectasy) he did on the podium? Who could scoop up a baton with two hands and wave it at the orchestra like it was Merlin’s sword? Who could alter tempi as Bernstein very successfully did (with, for instance, Elgar’s Enigma Variations) thus turning something very good into something sublime?
A younger Robert DeNiro had the looks and the acting chops but he is much too old now. Jude Law perhaps (but he is probably too British). Maybe DeNiro could play the final years of Bernstein?
Speculation is invited.
Um, Bradley Cooper …
I’ve got it.
The film opens with a mature Bernstein (played by Robert DeNiro) who reminisces about his past. It’s the same successful technique used in The Titanic.
Then, a younger actor (Alec Baldwin? Robert Downey, Jr.?) plays him in his younger days. This in fact might recquire a 3rd man for the really younger days (remember, Lenny was a star at the age of 25).
By the way, here’s more info on this project with Scorcese already set as the director. https://www.wnpr.org/post/scorsese-direct-bernstein-biopic-who-should-play-lenny
No longer. Bradley Cooper will star and direct
Josh O’ Conner as the young Bernstein?