Streep, Roberts look set for August: Osage County film- Page 4

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/16/12 at 10:18pm

Oh what a shame. I was hoping for Jessica Lange, who would knock this out of the park.

Ugh, Lange would chew so much scenery, there'd hardly be any movie theatres left in America after she's through with them. Streep's hardly the best choice, but to say that Lange's histrionics would be better is hardly accurate either. I wish they had gone with one of the more interesting, somewhat underrated older actresses like Sissy Spaceck, Diane Keaton, Ellen Burstyn, Glenn Close, Susan Sarandon, etc; unfortunately, they don't sell movie tickets the way Streep does and these are the Weinsteins after all.

Portman is way too young for Ivy, the character is in her early 40s, Portman just turned 30. Marisa Tomei would do wonders with a role like this, though she's more of a natural for Karen.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/16/12 at 10:48pm

Giving that it's basically a sitcom, I think these actors might make something out of it.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 2/16/12 at 11:06pm

Giving that it's basically a sitcom-

I think I'd say soap opera meself- I mean- the "He's your brother" is something outta "As the Stomach Turns" from the Burnett show.

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 2/16/12 at 11:07pm

I really love this play. I'd so hoped it would be Sissy Spacek and Laura Linney, but I guess not.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 2/17/12 at 8:44am

Agree Portman is way too young for Ivy.

Tomei is a wonderful idea but she'd have to tone down her looks, which she can certainly do. Carrie Preston seems the perfect Karen to me.

And please, please, please, Kathleen Turner or Kate Nelligan or Angelica Huston as Mattie Fay! I had always hoped that Laurie Metcalf would have played Barbara.

Spacek would have been incredible as Violet. Jessica Lange would have been great and it might have also offered the interesting stunt casting of Sam Shepard as Beverly. Not only Jessica's partner (well, no longer....) but, like Beverly, a man of letters. And he would have been superb in the role. He'd still be a wonderful choice for the role.

But to me I always longed for a much older Violet, a great last movie role for Lansbury, Woodward or Laurie, each of whom seems ideal. Lansbury especially would have been fierce, amazing and it would have been career-crowning. I know Letts stage directions say Violet's in her mid 60s. But one thing I never understood is this: the older generation in August is supposed to represent, ironically, setting up that very funny scene for Karen, Barbara, and Ivy in the last act - "the greatest generation" If they are, that would mean they were young men and women during World War II.

But if the "matriarch" is only 65, she would have been born shortly after the war, not part of the war effort. With three daughters well into middle age, there is no reason Violet can't be far older, thereby bridging American history in the way this great and hilarious passage from the play (if not a trump-able stage direction) suggests.





Updated On: 2/17/12 at 08:44 AM

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 2/17/12 at 9:45am

Looking forward to this!

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 2/17/12 at 1:55pm

Please, please, Mary Louise Parker as Ivy.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/17/12 at 2:30pm

sabrelady, I was surprised when I saw it how taken in the audience was by everything. I remember thinking it was just Mama's Family with cursin'.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 2/17/12 at 2:34pm

There are days when you think, 'I'm all alone in the world. I'm the only one who feels this way. I can never tell anyone how I really feel.' And then, someone comes along and states clearly, 'No...I'm just like you. It gets better.'

Thank you, Namo. I thought I was the only one who felt this play was a bit absurd. Entertaining as hell. But absurd.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/17/12 at 2:48pm

To me, this play was like watching Christopher Durang's first draft attempt at realism. He started typing and didn't know when to stop.

[E.Davis]

Posted: 2/17/12 at 3:17pm

Margo Martindale for Mattie Fae please!

[AC126748]

Posted: 2/17/12 at 3:30pm

I'll second the idea of Margo Martindale as Mattie Fae!

Clarkson could not handle the caliber of acting needed for Barbara. No way. I'm slowly gaining respect for Clarkson for an actress after her horrendous performance in the T.V. 2002 version of Carrie, but I seriously doubt it.

This could possibly be the single-most ridiculous post I've ever seen on Broadway World. Clarkson is one of the best actresses alive, period. You're going to based Clarkson's entire acting ability on a single performance in a TV movie? I'm guessing you didn't bother to see PIECES OF APRIL, THE STATION AGENT, FAR FROM HEAVEN, THE DYING GAUL, HIGH ART, ELEGY, THE SAFETY OF OBJECTS, MARRIED LIFE, her Emmy-winning performance on SIX FEET UNDER, her stage work in THREE DAYS OF RAIN, RAISED IN CAPTIVITY, EASTERN STANDARD, etc. No. She's a low-caliber of actress because she was in a TV remake of CARRIE.

By those standards, half the actors in Hollywood who've done TV movies are irredeemable.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 2/17/12 at 3:47pm

Oh, AC. That comment was so beyond the pale that I thought no one would even bother responding. But I'm glad you did. It's one of the crazier things I've ever seen written here. And that's saying something. Though you didn't mention that she was an Oscar nominee for Pieces of April. But you're forgiven.

[AC126748]

Posted: 2/17/12 at 3:50pm

I felt it needed to be said, dear Robbie.

[E.Davis]

Posted: 2/17/12 at 3:53pm

I loved in Easy A. I know it was a fluff role but her chemistry with Stanley Tucci was just to good not to mention.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 2/18/12 at 10:26am

I think I've finally come up with the perfect Ivy:

Jennifer Ehle.

Love Martindale,for Mattie - thought it's hard for me to give up on my dream of Turner, who seems an ideal match for Streep!

Updated On: 2/18/12 at 10:26 AM

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 2/18/12 at 11:48am

Mary Louise Parker is as good as you can get for Ivy. Given that WEEDS will have finished shooting its final season by the end of the summer, I really hope we see her involved in this come the fall.

I have a feeling they may end up casting Karen a little younger than she's written in the play in order to emphasize the age difference between the sisters. If that's the case, Amy Adams would be pretty terrific in the role, though the suggestion I read elsewhere of Marisa Tomei is also one I really, really like.

Kathy Bates would be anyone's first choice for Mattie Fae, but if her television series prevents her from being able to participate, I agree that Margo Martindale would be an equally exciting possibility.

Updated On: 2/18/12 at 11:48 AM

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 2/18/12 at 2:02pm

I had always hoped that Laurie Metcalf would have played Barbara.



Metcalf didn't even get to play the part on Broadway! And I would have thought it would have been something that she could have done...She was IN NYC at the time, was a Steppenwolf Company member, had a relationship with Estelle Parsons from Roseanne...and because of that a bit of a "name" too!