Going from guy-who-measures-volume-in-terms-of-dead-gooks to director of jukebox musicals has to be one of the all-time abrupt career pivots, but if anyone can pull it off, it’s Clint Eastwood. Today brings us a first look at the Eastwood-directed adaptation of the Tony-winning musical Jersey Boys, starring John Lloyd Young, Erich Bergen, Vincent Piazza, and Michael Lomenda, in a musical biopic about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.
Most of the stars come from Broadway (John Lloyd Young, who won a Tony for playing Valli on Broadway, reprises the role for the film), though of course you may know Vincent Piazza from his role as Charles “Lucky” “Horse Cock” Luciano on Boardwalk Empire. The film also stars Christopher Walken as Gyp DeCarlo. I don’t know who that is, or why Italians are always giving each other racist nicknames, but I hope the film has a split screen to show Walken dancing during every song.
I’ve heard Jersey Boys is very good, though I still think jukebox musicals are lame. Also, I’ve taken the liberty of improving the picture:
Starring Frank Stallone as “Usher.”
[still via WarnerBros/RopeofSilicon/TheFilmStage]