AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY Film Casting?

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 3:23am

I know there was a thread on this a long time ago, but I was curious who everyone has thought of recently for potential casing in the AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY film adaptation?

After seeing the show for the third time today (with the fabulous Susanne Marley on as Violet,) I came up with:

Violet Weston... Judy Davis
Beverly Weston... James Cromwell
Barbara Fordham... Laura Linney
Bill Fordham... Bill Paxton
Jean Fordham... Dakota Fanning
Ivy Weston... Gwyneth Paltrow
Karen Weston... Christina Applegate
Steve Heidebrecht... Thomas Haden Church
Mattie Fae Aiken... Kathy Bates
Charles Aiken... Martin Sheen
Little Charles Aiken... Paul Rudd
Deon Gilbeau... Josh Brolin
Johnna Monevata... Catalina Sandino Moreno

Updated On: 2/22/09 at 03:23 AM

[TimeSquare3]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 3:36am

Debbie Reynolds as Violet!!!

Updated On: 2/22/09 at 03:36 AM

[jessica0414]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 6:04am

I'm way out of the loop on this one but if (I'm assuming it's for sure?) there is a film version I would LOVE to see Rondi Reed! I missed the production when it premiered in Chicago and in New York and it would be great to see her performance (since she's fierce, imo).

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 6:10am

I was thinking about this the other day and cannot remember who specifically I was thinking of. The idea of Laura Linney in the role is quite fascinating to me, though I think Rachel Griffiths (not name enough though she is an Oscar-nominated actress) and Toni Collette would both be marvelous as well.
My ideal cast:
Violet Weston-Lily Tomlin or Meryl Streep
Beverly Weston-Richard Jenkins
Barbara Weston-Toni Collette or Laura Linney
Ivy Weston-Mary-Louise Parker
Karen Weston-Lauren Ambrose or Christina Applegate (great idea, somethingwicked)
Mattie Fae-Jean Smart

What I do wonder is who they are actually pursuing for the film. I can't wait for an announcement.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 6:51am

I don't know if they are in the casting phase yet...I know the screenplay adaptation (by Tracey Letts) has been commissioned -- or whatever the hell it is called.

I hope to got they dont' go with ALL names. I understand that a FEW big names are necessary...but I don't want to see an all-star production.

And Dakota Fanning? Really?

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 10:59am

"And Dakota Fanning? Really?"

I agree that having Dakota Fanning in the movie is a bit campy, but I thought she was great in Secret Life of Bees.

[BroadwayBoy2]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 11:09am

"ray-andallthatjazz86....Mattie Fae-Jean Smart "


I LOVE YOU!

[faithzilla]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 12:06pm

I HATE DAKOTA FANNING.

[EveHarrington]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 12:10pm

Laura Linney MUST play Barbara.

[Vespertine1228]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 12:13pm

I just hope it's not Meryl. We don't need to give her everything.

The first time this thread came around, I remember someone mentioned Sissy Spacek for Violet. That seems like a terrific choice to me.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 1:08pm

Dakota Fanning is growing into her own as an actress. I wouldn't mind seeing Madeleine Martin reprising her role, she's a regular in CALIFORNICATION so it's not a far-fetched idea.
I don't know if I'd want Laura Linney or Toni Collette as Barbara, I feel that both would be pretty good in the role.
More than the casting, I'm concerned about them having a good director. I liked DOUBT but thought it could have been ten times better with an actual film director helming the project. I think Todd Field would do a good job with it.

[birdboy782]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 1:24pm

Have any of you seen the play? Read the play? ... Looked at a poster for the play?

90% of these casting suggestions seem way off to me.

Kathy Bates as Mattie Fay is a great idea though.

[Kad]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 1:30pm

I don't see why Estelle Parsons shouldn't reprise Violet on screen. She's incredible. And it's not like she's an obscure theatre actor- she's won an Oscar. And god knows she certainly doesn't look or act her 81 years.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 1:52pm

In terms of a director, both Mike Nichols and Steven Spielberg have come to see the show (and, of course, were then rumored to want to have involvement with the film.)

Nichols would actually be a rather inspired choice, but whether he actually wants to do it or not is a completely different story.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 2:25pm

Funny, I was going to suggest Mike Nichols, but I just love Todd Field's family dramas like IN THE BEDROOM and LITTLE CHILDREN. I think he does a wonderful work with character studies and he understands how to deconstruct families. I do agree that Nichols would be an inspired choice. If he does it, then I do think it's likely that we'd see Meryl as Violet though. Either way, one thing I like about his films is his brilliant casting from getting Mary-Louise Parker to play Harper in ANGELS IN AMERICA to Cher in SILKWOOD to Natalie Portman as Alice in CLOSER.

And I have seen the play twice, own the script (and have read it multiple times), and I still stick to my choices and to somethingwicked's choices.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 2:26pm

Estelle playing 20 years younger onstage and playing 20 years younger on film are two totally different things. She'll read 81 on screen. The camera is not a very friendly thing.

As for your casting, somethingwicked, I disagree with your Violet and Bev. Putting Dakota as Jean may be a little too... "She's a child actress and it's a child actress part so what the hell." She's becoming quite the actress, but I don't think Jean's part requires a name. I also don't agree with Madeleine reprising her role. Her voice is like nails on a chalkboard to me.

Also, ray-andallthatjazz, Lauren Ambrose? She's not even remotely old enough. Not close at all. Christina Applegate would be perfect. I agree with somethingwicked's ideas for the most part, minus Vi, Bev, and Jean. And I don't think Josh Brolin would take a part as small as Sheriff Gilbeau. Kathy Bates would be exceptional as Mattie Fae.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 2:32pm

Yeah, I guess Ambrose is almost 10 years too young for Karen. Debra Messing and Applegate would both be great though.
Parsons looks too old to play Violet on film, I believe.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 4:33pm

ColorTheHours048, my suggestion of Fanning for Jean has nothing to do with any sort of "she's-the-only-child-name-available" theory. After seeing her work in Hide and Seek and Push, I think she has the ability to handle a darker role with the appropriate charisma.

Kad, Estelle Parsons would never get cast as Violet when names like Helen Mirren (who would be fantastic) and Meryl Streep (who is completely wrong for it) are said to be expressing interest to the studio. As I've said before, this is going to be an A-list affair.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 4:39pm

I rather see Sissy Spacek before Helen Mirren, whom I just don't think would work for such an American piece. How is Streep completely wrong for it? I think she possesses all the stamina, the anger, the sadness, and the commanding presence that the role requires. Plus, she has shown how unglamorous she can be in her roles in SILKWOOD and IRONWEED.
And it should be an A-list affair. It has the potential to be a wonderful film (though I almost feel it'd make a better mini-series).

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 4:57pm

There's only one person I can think of to play the role of Violet and that is Ellen Burstyn. Can you even begin to imagine what a performance she would give in that role? She would with no doubt finally win her long overdue Academy Award, as well.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 5:09pm

Ellen Burstyn won an Academy Award for Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 5:11pm

ray-andallthatjazz, Violet needs to be like a rattlesnake who lies sleeping in the grass waiting to strike at any second. Although I think Streep is a master of her craft and could undeniably pull off the role, she lacks that element of dangerous ferocity and unpredictability that would make her an ideal choice.

Keep in mind that the character is written to be 65. Streep is 59, and unlike someone like Judy Davis (who is 53,) she doesn't tend to skew much older.

After all, she just convincingly played the mother of a 20 year old in Mamma Mia! and the mother of an 18 year old in A Prairie Home Companion. Could you honestly see her playing someone with children in their 40s?

Updated On: 2/22/09 at 05:11 PM

[TimeSquare3]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 5:13pm

It doesn't get anymore unpredictable than Debbie Reynolds.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 5:31pm

Well, she does look young for her age.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 5:45pm

Sorry, I MEANT a long overdue 2nd Academy Award. She's still owed one for REQUIEM FOR A DREam.