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Burlesque – The Movie

Posted 16th November, 2010 by

So some of you may have heard there is a movie coming out called “Burlesque” starring Christina Aguilera and Cher.  Here is a little synopsis of the film fromWiki:
Ali Rose (Christina Aguilera) is a small-town girl with a big voice who escapes hardship and an uncertain future to follow her dreams to Los Angeles. After stumbling upon The Burlesque Lounge, a majestic but ailing theater that is home to an inspired musical revue, Ali lands a job as a cocktail waitress from Tess (Cher), the club’s proprietor and headliner. Burlesque’s outrageous costumes and bold choreography enrapture the young ingenue, who vows to perform there one day. Soon enough, Ali builds a friendship with a featured dancer named Georgia (Julianne Hough), finds an enemy in a troubled, jealous performer named Nikki (Kristen Bell), and garners the affection of a bartender and fellow musician, Jack (Cam Gigadet). With the help of a sharp-witted stage manager, Sean (Stanley Tucci), and gender-bending host, Alexis (Alan Cumming), Ali makes her way from the bar to the stage. Her spectacular voice restores The Burlesque Lounge to its former glory, though not before a charismatic entrepreneur Marcus Gerber (Eric Dane) arrives with an enticing proposal.

And here’s the trailer for your perusal:

I am really not sure how to feel about this film.  Lots of people have asked me and I just don’t know.  On one hand, it will bring burlesque more into the forefront of peoples minds.  It looks like it has beautiful costumes and amazing sets.  It also has Stanley Tucci and Alan Cumming, two of my favourite man loves of all time.

On the other, is this the kind of burlesque that you want people thinking about, if it is even burlesque at all?

There has been a pretty severe backlash to this movie within the burlesque community, especially in the States.  I would say judging by the trailer that the performances they are doing are much more cabaret/ musical theatre, which is fine in itself.  We certainly have numbers like this in our shows.  But it’s not all we have.  I think most burly-q lads and ladies have a problem with this film because it only displays one side of the very multifaceted coin that is burlesque.  It’s really only showing the candy coated, saccarine song and dance style (I hear it may be rated PG).  It’s very broadway.  Not all burl-q starlets are amazing dancers.  But they are amazing performers.  We are not all tiny and toned (but some people are).  We are all different.  I think the biggest worry for performers is this just wont be an accurate display of burlesque and this is all people will expect when coming to a burlesque show.  I can tell you right now, you’d be hard pressed to find a burlesque club anywhere in the world with amazing sets like that.  The burlesque community has worked so hard to get to where it is and this is a potential step backwards.

I’m not getting into in too much.  I will reserve my judgement until the movie comes out (three months later here than in the States – typical!).  I will leave you with one last little interesting comparison brought up my Jo Boobs Weldon.  The first clip is a routine performed at the Crazy Horse in Paris.  They have been performing if for some time.  The second is a routine from the movie.  It makes me go hmmmmmmm.

What do you think lovelies?

Clara
xoxo

p.s. How amazing are the fan kicks in the crazy horse clip?  I can’t stop watching it!

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