"[27][28] Mick LaSalle from San Francisco Chronicle gave the movie a full score and praised Aguilera's acting, calling her "jaw-droppingly good in several numbers" and said, "Aguilera knows how to listen to her fellow actors, to react and be spontaneous, and it makes all the difference". 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. 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. 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. I think you should give it to someone else. I had an initial meeting with Amy Pascal and Clint Culpepper, and I said, I just dont think shes for me. Burlesque was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Picture [and won for Diane Warren's song]. Her performance is an instant success to which Tess casts her in an upcoming show. Sean encourages Jack to end the engagement, as Ali is a better person than his shallow fiance. I never saw [Steven] after that. One night after the club closes, Tess grows increasingly worried about her financiallity before a drunken Nikki shows up, accusing Tess of rejecting their long friendship. Her performance was good and she looked great. So, I did. It's important to have a communication and a special understanding of each other. [24], Burlesque received mixed reviews from critics. 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. 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 first time I saw it in the movie was the night of the premiere, and it got a standing ovation. If you look at that number, the amount of coverage that he was able to get, when we took it into the cutting room, it gave him so much to work with. The soundtrack includes a mix of original and cover songs. "Cher always put her imprint on everything she was wearing. It was a very time-consuming number, but well worth it! Peter played Hank, Amy's (Mila Kunis') father. There Ali attends multiple auditions with little success. Cam Gigandet and Peter Gallagher both previously starred on the television series The O.C. Ali (CHRISTINA AGUILERA) has had enough of Iowa and moves to Los Angeles where she hopes to find a job singing. I wasn't there for that meeting, and I believe Clint helped in getting her to say yes. I wanted to write Cher's "My Way." A third TV spot also aired the following day during Dancing with the Stars, later followed by another during MTV's Jersey Shore. But Clint came up with and loved the idea of Cher. 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. There Ali attends multiple auditions with little success. It was a bunch of 13-year-old girls who've loved it and grown with it. "I have this Forrest Gump-ian way of touching something and it becomes a hit!" Offers may be subject to change without notice. Background Ali Rose (Aguilera) moves to Los Angeles after she quits her bar job when her boss refuses to pay her. The soundtrack album features ten tracks: eight performed by Aguilera including "Express"; and two performed by Cher which are her first original recordings in 7 years. Jack refers her to Tess for an audition, but is rejected instantly and ushered out by Sean (Tucci). Unless you're Christopher Nolan. Ali also meets songwriter Jack Miller (Cam Gigandet) at the club's bar. "The truth was that I didnt have any idea where to stand, not that I know where to stand now. I went to her house alone with just the two of us for another meeting. Greg: Wendy Benson-Landes . That, Culpepper says, is where Burlesque found wider audiences outside the largely queer demographic that supported its theatrical run. The theatrical trailer was attached to screenings of Step Up 3D and Easy A. When Georgia (Julianne Hough), one of the leading dancers, becomes pregnant, auditions are held in search of a replacement to fill her role. On Thursday, November 25, 2010, it dropped down to fourth place in the box office behind Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, Tangled and Unstoppable and went down to fifth on Friday, November 26, 2010. Amazed by the flamboyant costumes and the breathtaking choreography, Ali swears to herself that one day she too will be on the stage. She's not a quitter. The meeting went well. 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. Lisa Kudrow was considered for the role of Ali. alum shines in a few scenes as Tess' ex-husband, Vince, who wants to sell the burlesque club to Marcus. Its been more than a decade since Burlesque released and Steve Antins passion project is still considered one of the most memorable musicals Hollywood has produced. "I also had to have a balance of starting out very vulnerable and wide-eyed and naive," she explained. Then there are the custom shoes and the blisters. One of Christina's costumes was made completely of pearls wired together. So did Christina. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Shipped to theaters under the code name "Former Glory". She overcame a lot. I got some cameras and shot the show over a few nights and edited together a little movie. Let's humor them!". Little by little, the young woman discovered the life of this small world. But a campy, niche classic isn't exactly what the Burlesque crew set out to make. From rehearsing with other actors to learning lines to embracing the moment and the realness of it all. CHER: One of my favorite scenes is when I was helping Christina with her makeup. She later tells Tess about his plan, and they inform the owner (James Brolin) of new million-dollar condos being sold across the street. Sony Pictures Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA. Christina Aguilera's first choice for the role of Nikki was Emma Stone. This is all her, working hard and being spectacular. One is a timely, provocative story inspired by a classic movie, and one is related to Burlesque. While preparing her Hollywood debut, Aguilera was simultaneously finishing her sixth studio album, Bionic, which released in June 2010. But, Christina worked so hard. 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. How many songs are left out of the soundtrack? Stanley Tucci's character smokes in many of his scenes at The Burlesque Lounge, including in the front of the house. He is the brother of the group's creator, Robin Antin. When you're upright again, swirl your hips to the side towards the audience. Now that it's taken on this cult following, Cher has a whole new audience of young girls. I called Steven [and told him] it was a sign he should make this movie. 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! TV series. 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. I think you should give it to someone else.' I'd take dailies and I'd give it to an editor to put dance numbers and scenes together like a promo reel, and I showed it to Cher to show what we'd done for the last two months while she was in Vegas. Overall, it has grossed over $30,053,366 on video sales (DVD and Blu-ray sales) in United States alone. And it was. He believed in the project, but I just couldn't get my head wrapped around a story that I thought worked. CULPEPPER: When you show it to an audience that doesn't know [the controversy], it's like The Voice: you parse it down to the voice, nothing else. What is the Hindi language plot outline for Burlesque (2010)? After a few days, Denise said we weren't going to need a body double. Well, welcome to Wonderland. The first TV spot premiered during the season 2 premiere of Fox's Glee on September 21, 2010. Started shooting on November 9, 2009 and ended on March 3, 2010. 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. It was a very good meeting. That night, Ali and Jack sleep together, but the following morning Jack'sfianc, Natalie (Agron), returns unexpectedly from her play inNew Yorkand tells Ali that the engagement is still on. And so I thought this may be the last time I will be able to sing in a film and I just wanted to do it, Cher had revealed during the red carpet of the films premiere. ANTIN: Besides David [Geffen], her manager was also talking to her about the script, so she was very aware of it. Aguilera was also one of the celebrities Antins sister Robin directed for a cameo at The Pussycat Dollss Viper Room show. The MCUs tiniest heroes are kicking off its biggest phase yet, setting up the next several years of storytelling. The soundtrack album features ten tracks: eight performed by Aguilera, including "Express"; and two performed by Cher, which are her first original recordings in 7 years. [jwplayer eTtrv57w-zhNYySv2] She was coming out with words, going back and forth. 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! It was the most challenging to everybody. It had boys, then the boys were gone, then it had boys and girls, but it ended up being pretty simple and beautiful. Credit: Thierry Carpico/News Pictures/Shutterstock. 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. As Aguilera boarded, Antin also sought technical collaborators to bring Burlesque's aesthetic to life, including Kaplan, production designer Jon Gary Steele, and choreographers Joey Pizzi and Denise Faye a Broadway dancer who'd worked with Rob Marshall on Chicago and Nine in early 2009. 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]. I played her the song, because what did I have to lose? I think it was my 19th song I'd done with Cher, and I knew what it would sound like in my head, but it sounded better, if that's possible. 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. and then came Cher. [Georgia shakes her head and starts crying] Oh no. Aguilera and Cher developed a close bond behind-the-scenes of the film that emulated their characters budding mother-daughter relationship in the movie. She also added that had it been shorter, it would "have squeaked by and been a really good popcorn movie". We camped outside of the stage and waited for her to exit. I thought I was going to fail at capturing this opening number for Cher. You have shown that you can dance, and you know we are not really so much brother and sister as to make it improper," to which Mr. Knightley replies "Brother and sister! But, like Tess and her wise, right-hand gay, Sean (Stanley Tucci), the film's journey became all about making do with what you have and throwing a little glitter over the grease when the odds are stacked against you. Others, I lost. Once I hit a kick pattern, she loved it, and she started rapping. When she discovers the spectacular revue of the Burlesque Lounge, a cabaret that was once the reference, the young woman is immediately fascinated. 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. The restaurant she worked for. ANTIN: I'd talked to a few different studios and networks about the project with my ex-producing partner, Joe Voci. You're always against a clock, and that will always be every project's nemesis. Ali wants to audition but finds herself working at the club as a waitress. I do wish our differences weren't so public. 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. In order to view the gallery, please allow Manage Cookies. Steven and I are deep into this. 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). Marcus calls Ali, and Sean prompts her to go out with him. Looking back now, I'm thankful he kept it in. She'd never really done it before, and suddenly she was the lead, carrying a movie. [23] In all, the DVD has sold over 1.4 million units in the United States. She unknowingly walks into a burlesque club run by Tess (Cher), which is facing financial hardship despite its talented group of dancers. Steven and Christina were, creatively, on the same page. 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. The O.C. She has sold more than 30 million albums . Cher was reportedly at a soundstage recording for Zootopia and when Culpepper found out she was there, he and Antin camped outside for quite a while, waiting for her exit, and eventually introduced themselves. Aguilera also gave an interview to show host Chelsea Handler to discuss the film and other subjects. That was one of the things where Steve rolled up his sleeves and got in there for two or three days of [angles]. Although Cher enjoyed her time working on the movie, she admitted in 2013 that she wasnt proud of the project. We wanted her to come to my office to see all the renderings of the set and my references plastered all over the walls, storyboards, and the endless preparation. . Timing can play a big factor in balancing between album and touring cycles. [29] Kirk Honeycutt of The Hollywood Reporter called Burlesque "a refreshing throwback to movie musicals that celebrates its stars while indulging in sexy fun" and also praised Aguilera's acting and singing. "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." The film marked Aguilera's film debut and Cher's first musical. Michelle Rodriguez was considered for the role of Tess. [21] A Blu-ray/DVD combo has been released as well. We tested it with an audience, and everyone agreed reshoot it! It was about "a girl escaping her life", showing up in a neo-burlesque club and launching a career as a performer. Antin wanted a big, familiar face for the role of Tess, and Antin had considered Queen Latifah or Michelle Pfeiffer for the role of the club owner Tess. Tess then angrily smashes the passenger side window on Nikki's convertible with a crowbar after she leaves. reading the script, because that character is a lot like Cher. She then performed a track from the soundtrack, the Etta James track "Something's Got a Hold on Me". 2023 Oscars predictions: See who will win at the 95th Academy Awards. After a performance is sabotaged by her rival, Nikki (Bell), Ali sings the song herself, impressing Tess and leading to her becoming the main attraction of the lounge. You know whats funny? FAYE: The dancers were exhausted, the costumes were gorgeous, but I think some of the girls got scratches on their underarms from the jewels!