Catherine Zeta-Jones in the FOLLIES film?- Page 3

[evic]

Posted: 12/10/09 at 3:12pm

Hey PPC- As long as you're casting Goldie as Phyllis...how about Kate Hudson as young Phyllis? Goldie is alas too old for the role. My vote goes to Zeta-Jones Or just use everyone in "Nine"-jus kidding- ..love Bette as Stella- perfect....NO to Shirley Mclaine-the woman has no charm...Debbie Reynolds is a the better choice for Hattie..how bout Daniel Craig as Ben? Gotta keep Bolero-the thought of Maxim and Edyta gives me goosebumps dancing with some brilliant older couple, Rain on Roof-Steve and Edie, Ah Paree-Leslie Caron, and Broadway Baby-NOT with Stritch! One More Kiss-with Jane Powell/ Cheno is great!!!!2 tiny sopranos!.. all young/old scenes with minor characters could be brilliantly done and would be a hoot with great casting. Big no for Carol Burnett- while likable- I hate how she sings Sondheim. Add Christine Baranski as a big NO for Carlotta. Maybe Meryl for that one......hope this one happens- should have been done 20 years ago- Is there anything left for Liza?-Sally??????

[madbrian]

Posted: 12/10/09 at 3:23pm

Oh, good. Another chance for me to share my thoughts on a movie cast for Follies:

Phyllis - Vanessa Williams
Sally - Laura Linney
Buddy - Donny Osmond
Ben - ???
Stella - Kathy Bates
The Whitmans - Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme
Hattie - Debbie Reynolds

[Gavin Rehfeldt]

Posted: 12/10/09 at 3:40pm

Cool ideas. I think a remake of Evening Primrose should be made first, though. =)

Posted: 12/10/09 at 7:15pm

Even though this is all imaginary-the thing to remember is that STARS need to be in the film version-people that every knows-not just us crazy theatre groupies.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/10/09 at 7:31pm

This is more who Hollywood is going to have in mind:

Phyllis: Nicole Kidman or Cate Blanchett
Ben: George Clooney or Hugh Jackman
Sally: Renee Zelwegger or Reese Witherspoon
Buddy: Matt Damon or Daniel Craig
Carlotta; Catherine Zeta Jones or Michelle Pfeiffer
Stella: Queen Latifah or Kathy Bates (that's good casting - I'l let you have that one).

[Pgenre]

Posted: 12/10/09 at 7:48pm

LOVE LOVE LOVE your suggestions, MB.

How about Ben Affleck for Ben? I'd love Damon as Buddy, too, and I really don't like him usually but that seems like a perfect fit.

They both have passable singing voices too.

My Picks
First Choice (2nd choice):
Phyllis: CZJ
Sally: Zelwegger (or Witherspoon)
Carlotta: Pfeiffer (or Streep)
Ben: Ben Affleck
Buddy: Matt Damon
Solange: Sarandon (or Leslie Caron)
Hattie: Bernadette Peters (or Dame Judi)
Stella: Queen Latifah
Dmitri: Paul Sorvino

Heidi(s): Powell and Chenowith

P

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/10/09 at 11:30pm

Is it possible that - at least for the main characters - that the actor would play both the young and older versions?

I can't see Kidman as Phyllis but I could see her as Sally.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/10/09 at 11:34pm

PS - I think someone else once suggested this - maybe ray? - but if we're looking at women in their 30s for the main roles, what about Kate Winslet as Sally?

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/10/09 at 11:35pm

I too can see Kidman as Sally. Wouldn't mind seeing her opposite Zeta-Jones as Phyllis.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/10/09 at 11:37pm

I would love to see Nicole Kidman play Sally. She'd really have to act Sally. I think her Phyllis would be very surface-y and one-note.

Solange should be cut. That kind of character doesn't exist anymore.

One More Kiss could only work if it faded into a voice-over to a book scene: something like a silent montage of the drunken night Ben took Sally's virginity and left her in a cheap hotel room, at 4 am, without giving her...One Last Kiss.

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/10/09 at 11:43pm

Out of the supporting females I can only really see Carlotta, Hattie, and Stella being kept.

Solange and Heidi could very possibly end up being cut.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/10/09 at 11:48pm

The Whitmans could be cut, too. Really all three of that montage could, but if one were to remain, it would be Hattie.

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/10/09 at 11:49pm

Agreed. I only see Hattie and Broadway Baby remaining from the montage. Updated On: 12/10/09 at 11:49 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/10/09 at 11:52pm

Awwww...keep the Whitmans and Bolero D'Amour.

A little dance is always good, to relieve the melodrama.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/10/09 at 11:53pm

Now see I like the idea of keeping bits of those songs from the montage but using them sporatically as sort of cross fades for dialogue scenes - they could have a nice sort of surrealist effect as the evening goes on.

I also like Pal Joey's idea of taking those songs and finding ways to apply them as a sort of soundtrack for the back story of the leads.

And though it could be perverse, I think they should get someone like David Lynch to direct it. Sam Mendes would come up with something that looks just like Rob Marshall. Lynch would make it something haunting. Updated On: 12/11/09 at 11:53 PM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/11/09 at 12:04am

PalJoey, in a perfect world I'd keep everything ("I'd" - like anyone that matters is looking for my guidance), but I just feel like that's the stuff that plucks right out.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/11/09 at 12:08am

See I think the montage numbers should stay because they are heightened theatrically and would be interesting on film. As I said above, its all the ballads that the audience is going to squirm through.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/11/09 at 12:10am

See I think the montage numbers should stay because they are heightened theatrically and would be interesting on film

Unless they're done like the current version of the script has them, which is that they are actually happening in real time at the theatre, which I HATE.

I'm okay with cuts. I just really hope there doesn't have to be some sort of convoluted conceit to "justify" the book numbers that are kept.

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/11/09 at 12:12am

Yeah, I am sure many of the ballads would be cut. Though I will cry if TOO MANY MORNINGS is cut. I don't think it's possible to cut LOSING MY MIND. I just can't fathom a director cutting that song.
There's certainly a possibility that IN BUDDY'S EYES would get cut.
Updated On: 12/11/09 at 12:12 AM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/11/09 at 12:12am

"Bolero D'Amour" is the kind of song that could jump cut from the two dancers to Ben taking Sally for her back-alley abortion.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/11/09 at 12:15am

EL OH EL

[madbrian]

Posted: 12/11/09 at 12:56pm

Emma Thompson as Sally?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/11/09 at 12:58pm

Approved.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/11/09 at 3:19pm

Emma Thompson as Sally could actually stir up some enthusiasm in me to see a film of Follies. It would need some visual overload, however. Especially if there are major cuts in the score. The book is far too weak to be laid any more bare without some huge rewrites in back story and characterization. And those Carlotta monologues. It would be tough to make them work on film, but without them, there's little reason for her number (already featured in Postcards From the Edge).

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 12/11/09 at 4:18pm

Oooh...Emma Thompson as Sally. I like. Perhaps opposite the Phyllis of Annette Bening (sp??). Why don't we THEN put Thompson with her Primary Colors co-star, Travolta, as Buddy and Bening with her American Beauty co-star, Spacey, as Ben. The late 90's nostalgia, I tell you!