Cher was really pissed off. It was brilliant, then it was like, no, this is Tess' club, back to zero! 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. Keep your legs straight while you bend and then bring your body back up, running your hands up your legs. They were becoming a popular thing, so she decided to do a bigger show at the Roxy. [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. 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. WILHELM SCREAM: Occurs in the last seconds of the final number, "Show Me How You Burlesque". She was completely in it, she wasn't trying to change it at all, she wasn't trying to make it comfortable for herself. In the same amount of time it takes to snap your fingers and command a "Wagon Wheel Watusi," a decade can shimmy by. A small-town girl ventures to Los Angeles and finds her place in a neo-burlesque club run by a former dancer. I can do it." 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. 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! In order to view the gallery, please allow Manage Cookies. But there were many more meetings and conversations before she actually said yes. Sean: [from trailer] So, is Ali short for anything? Surprisingly, this is Cher's first musical film. In the scene where Nikki is singing about a dentist, the song is "Long John Blues" sung by Megan Mullally. At Georgia's wedding, Jack appears to call off his engagement, getting drunk. You're always against a clock, and that will always be every project's nemesis. I played her the song, because what did I have to lose? 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. When she got to my office, she was impressed with everything she saw. Overall, it has grossed over $30,053,366 on video sales (DVD and Blu-ray sales) in United States alone. It was still the early days of the Pussycat Dolls, before they were a pop group. 'Burlesque': A Cliche Is Born (Entertainingly, Too) - NPR 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. 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 . 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. More meetings and many more conversations followed. The American style of burlesque evolved and spread across the country, but with an increased emphasis the . But they never got to fully share that excitement at the time of release. I was offered Mamma Mia with Meryl Streep but I was on the road so I couldn't do it. There wasnt anything Steven wanted, creatively, that anybody disagreed with. Ali learns that Marcus is interested in the "air rights" above the club; he hopes to build a skyscraper on the property. But it was the right song for her and the movie. That's just what happens in movies. It's a very tough move that requires a lot of skill. 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. ANTIN: Directors fight for what they believe in. 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. 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. Judy Greer was considered for the role of Ali. 64-year-old For the first time in a decade, she's starring in a feature film, "Burlesque". 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. Cam Gigandet and Peter Gallagher both previously starred on the television series The O.C. Here you will find iconic scenes, moments, and lines from all the films, characters, celebrities and actors you love. There Ali attends multiple auditions with little success. She overcame a lot. So, Clint and I wrote an outline together, then started writing the script. The film marked Aguilera's film debut and Cher's first musical. I am more attracted to slow artsy fartsy movies that try make grand points about society or existence. 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. The first time I saw it in the movie was the night of the premiere, and it got a standing ovation. She was actually really funny about it, and I was surprised that she agreed to join us! When she came to set, we needed to have a melting time to coalesce the whole thing into what it ultimately became. I don't hold grudges. Many people may not know this but The Pussycat Dolls was actually a burlesque dance troupe and Antins sister Robin created a show at the Sunset Strips Viper Room that would also see quite a few celebrity performances. There Ali attends multiple auditions with little success. Naughtiness without being crass! Did Christina Aguilera actually dance in Burlesque? That's what we grew up on! 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 asked really smart questions. I wasn't there for that meeting, and I believe Clint helped in getting her to say yes. It was Jack and Ali saying goodbye, and then he gets into a taxi to go to the airport to go somewhere. It was about "a girl escaping her life", showing up in a neo-burlesque club and launching a career as a performer. This is the last sound heard as the screen blacks out and the film ends. The resulting money is enough for Tess to buy out Vince's share, pay off the bank, and re-fashion the club to her own vision. What Is Life Without Burlesque? - The New York Times Burlesque was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Picture [and won for Diane Warren's song]. I tried to put her at ease. The Glee alum made a cameo appearance as Jack's fiance, Natalie, who returns from New York to find her beau in bed with Ali. So did Christina. I went to her house alone with just the two of us for another meeting. 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. There's not that separation of civility because it's like you're dealing with your husband or wife [but] you compromise. As a result, she manages to get a job as a waitress at the club. Your Visual Guide To The Timeless Queens Of Pin-Up - HuffPost It's not like we're brother and sister," to which Jack replies "No, we certainly are not." It reminded me of when I was a young girl and my mom and all her friends would put on makeup together. First, Alan Cumming (plays the money taker at Burlesque) famously starred as the Emcee in the 1991 stage version of Cabaret. It was a lifetime of lessons compacted into a short period of time, in so many ways. 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. FAYE: She was dancing in styles she hadn't before, and you can see how gorgeously she did. Aguilera was also one of the celebrities Antins sister Robin directed for a cameo at The Pussycat Dollss Viper Room show. After her role in "Burlesque", in 2011 Christina Aguilera won the MSN Entertainment Award for Best Attempt at Acting. For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews Subscribe on YouTube! Despite the club's growing success, Tess is still unable to pay the bank. The disagreements came from, we didn't have time, we have to move on. Sony Pictures Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA. AGUILERA: She's truly an incredible woman and a force of nature. She later tells Tess about his plan, and they inform the owner (James Brolin) of new million-dollar condos being sold across the street. [9] In 2019, a full-length Burlesque tour, based on the movie, embarked, including at British venues. Writer and burlesque entertainer Gypsy Rose Lee, working at her desk, 1941. She was adorable, reading off her iPhone kind of scared with something prepared, and the songs blew us away. What's happening in this Burlesque movie clip?Ali and the Burlesque Lounge Troupe perform "Express" on stage at the Burlesque.Click to Buy/Rent Burlesque on . Steven and I are deep into this. 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). NEXT:The 10 Greatest Movies About Music, Ranked (According To IMDb), JJ Rankin is a culture and entertainment writer. 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). Marla (as Wendy Benson) Tisha French . It was a bunch of 13-year-old girls who've loved it and grown with it. Burlesque: Ali Saves The Show (Kristen Bell, Christina - YouTube Peter Gallagher and Cam Gigandet appeared together in The O.C. She was sweet, cool, and very casual, and she somehow made it all seem normal. 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. It can only be 50s burlesque. STEVEN ANTIN (writer-director): My sister, Robin Antin, had a show that she created at the Viper Room [for] the Pussycat Dolls. AGUILERA: Cher definitely felt like my mama bear during shooting. 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. [9], In January 2021, Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue won the gold medal at the U.S. They look out for you in a real way, and it was an honor to work alongside Cher. Second, similar choreography. She and Steven sat and played ideas for music, [later] she went into his office and saw all the books he'd collected on production design and photography all stuff that appealed to her. The Twilight star's character, Jack, is a bartender at the club who captures Ali's heart despite being engaged to another woman (Dianna Agron). Aguilera told Collider in November 2010 that she wanted Ali's character to be rewritten before she agreed to sign on to the project. CULPEPPER: Cher called me to say she was on the lot [on a different stage] rehearsing her Vegas act, and to drop by. 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. Movies. I gave her the song thinking nothing was going to happen. How come individuals court relationship where the son is a lot old versus lady? Aguilera told Collider in November 2010 that she wanted Alis character to be rewritten before she agreed to sign on to the project. Genre: Musical. Later, a sobered Nikki admits that she lied about sleeping with Vince out of anger, and Tess rehires her. They started the number, and. ANTIN: We tested the movie several times of course, and the final test was with an audience in Arizona. Because she dreams of a career in show business, Ali (Christina Aguilera) leaves her small town for Los Angeles. That's what I was aiming for. And so, they rewrote it." Faye says each number went through a "series of versions," evolving from magical fantasy and ending as "the poor version" that would actually be feasible in an underground club struggling to make money. She then performed a track from the soundtrack, the Etta James track "Something's Got a Hold on Me". AGUILERA: I had always been inspired by throwback classic pin-up art and burlesque style, essentially all things celebrating the female body and sexuality, so I was already versed in the history and appeal of this world, conceptually. I rolled up my sleeves and wrote something really great. Clint was driven to get her on board, and he made it happen. The DVD and Blu-ray sales exceed one million units and have grossed $20,563,918 in the United States alone;[22] and, as of May19, 2011[update], it is the 19th highest selling movie of the year. 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. Musically, everyone anticipated Aguilera delivering natural talent. Jessica Biel and Lindsay Lohan were considered for the role of Nikki. "They had to rewrite the character because I was just like, 'This girl doesnt have a lot of drive,'" she said at the time. When Georgia (Julianne Hough), one of the leading dancers, becomes pregnant, auditions are held in search of a replacement to fill her role. [7] Keep your back straight while you bend forward. CHER: One of my favorite scenes is when I was helping Christina with her makeup. . Ali Rose: Christina Aguilera made her big-screen debut alongside Cher in the 2010 musical Burlesque, and the film's cast was rounded out with a few forgotten stars. Ali replaces Nikki one night to host a performance after the latter is too intoxicated to perform. Cher and [her character] Tess are not that unalike both are show business troupers, Kaplan said. Tess then angrily smashes the passenger side window on Nikki's convertible with a crowbar after she leaves. I'd told Cher that Christina loved her so much: "You don't understand, this chick would drink your bathwater!" Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. 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. AGUILERA: I wanted to make sure Burlesque felt right before confirming, so it was important to meet Steven in person. But, I think she'll outlive the cockroaches. (2003), as Kevin Volchok and Sandy Cohen, respectively. CULPEPPER: Christina kept saying, "Please, Clint, get Cher! [20], The DVD and Blu-ray were released in North America on March 1, 2011. 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). No need to waste time endlessly browsing here's the entire lineup of new movies and TV shows streaming on Netflix this month. 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. She was like, "This is so great!" The theatrical trailer was attached to screenings of Step Up 3D and Easy A. And it was. She smiled and said, "Oh my God, this is going to be fun!" 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 . It's a collaborativeart form, and the studio is writing the check, so they have opinions about mostly everything, which is understandable. At Georgia's wedding, Jack appears to call off his engagement and becomes drunk. Burlesque oral history: Cher, Christina Aguilera celebrate movie's 10 CULPEPPER: Christina said, "Trust me, you're not going to have a problem. Steve Antin got the idea for this film after watching Christina Aguilera perform as a featured vocalist for The Pussycat Dolls in 2002. In the United States, the soundtrack was certified Gold by the RIAA for shipments of 500,000 copies in October 2011. It was Pretty Woman on a fire escape. Her game is good. Ali also meets songwriter Jack Miller (Cam Gigandet) at the club's bar. In the scene where Marcus meets with Tess about his offer, he is seen playing with a ring on his wedding finger when the camera pans to him after Tess's Sandbox comment. Aguilera and Cher developed a close bond behind-the-scenes of the film that emulated their characters' budding mother-daughter relationship in the movie. I got really inspired. In my experience of meeting and working with some of the greatest legends, the best ones usually are that way. Show me how you burlesque! They had to rewrite the character because I was just like, This girl doesnt have a lot of drive,' she said at the time. As time went by, she felt a lot more comfortable." Why did Cher regret Burlesque? CULPEPPER: When you want somebody and they're not available, before you move on, you have to see if it's logistically possible [to accommodate], so that's what we did: We frontloaded [Christina's solo parts] before Christmas, and we shot everything with Cher after Christmas. The soundtrack includes a mix of original and cover songs. First, Alan Cumming (plays the money taker at Burlesque) famously starred as the Emcee in the 1991 stage version of Cabaret. A few years later Antin sent her the script for the movie. Marcus calls Ali, and Sean prompts her to go out with him. [When Cher arrived] I'd play stuff that I'd cut together. She was sweet and said she knew about the script, but hadn't read it yet. I'm in Cher's trailer dressing room, just hanging out and chatting. The film opens in every movie version of every small town ever. She laughed and turned to her assistant and said, "We have a few minutes. It all worked out! Burlesque is a 2010 American backstage musical film written and directed by Steven Antin.