NINE Film Casting Rumors from Page Six- Page 3

[Mojojo5]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 4:31pm

I think Toni Collete would be stunning as Carla and hilarious to boot. Her "Simple" would also be great I think. I have never understood why people assume Luisa needs to be dowdy or "plain." She sings that she was an "actress with dreams and a life of her own" so I would assume that she was pretty enough to get some film work. Also, if Luisa is as attractive or more so than Carla it just shows how Guido has put his wife on a pedastal that even he feels like shouldn't be touched. And really, all Luisa needs to be is a repressed bitch who lets it all fly in "Be On Your Own." I think Zeta-Jones is the gal for the job.

Z.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 4:35pm

Well for me, its not the dowdy factor - its the vulnerability factor. Luisa sings she was an actress with dreams and a life of her own...20 years ago. She gave up her career and her life for Guido. That's the point.

I just don't see Zeta Jones playing that well. She seems like the type that would never put up with Guido's behavior.

[ChiChi]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 4:36pm

"Did you really not get that? Or do you think your personal opinion of her talent is more important than hundreds of millions of dollars and a Best Picture Oscar?"

Why are people on this board so nasty to one another. Someone voices an opinion (one that quite a few people share despite the awards garnered) and you come at them with that? Sad, sad, sad.

[Mojojo5]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 4:42pm

Yeah, I think Zeta-Jones-Douglas-Sparticus-Kirk would need to work on the vulnerability but if I have to pick a woman from that list to play Luisa I'd rather it be her than Kidman. I know Marshall keeps talking about tailoring the material to fit the actor but I just don't know if I can handle listening to Kidman's whispy soprano on "My Husband Makes Movies" or "Be On Your Own."

Z.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 4:46pm

I think we also have to assume some new songs may be written for the movie. Who knows if Luisa will even sing those songs.

[Mojojo5]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 5:06pm

New songs? Good Lord, they can't cut "My Husband Makes Movies" or "Be On Your Own." I can deal without "The Germans at the Shh-pa" (which proabably doesn't have a prayer anyways) or that mess mock opera "Grande Canal" but those two I will not be amused if they don't make it.

Z.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 5:10pm

Sure they can cut them. If the movie of THE FANTASTICKS managed to cut "Try To Remember" then nothing is sacred.

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 5:21pm

Here's the way I see it... but of course this can be changed (and probably will be!)...

Luisa - The neglected wife. You can see that she was once an amazing woman, but physically and emotionally has become a shadow of her former self. This is the best acting role for any of the ladies in "Nine." She has the most story to tell, and has changed the most in Guido's life.

Claudia - His current mistress. A gorgeous, sexy established actress in her prime (meaning not too old now, still a successful leading lady). But things aren't going well between them any longer.

Carla - His one-night stand that he never got rid of... she is the ultimate sex goddess. Too young for him (probably) and fiercely attractive. Not the marrying kind, but she loves Guido very much. She COULD be older, but I see Carla as Guido's last ditch effort at "capturing youth." And he's struggling to keep up with her.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 5:26pm

I hadn't even thought about that, MichaelBennett, I REALLY hope they don't cut Luisa's songs, they both are some of the best in the show. Actually, I wouldn't mind if they cut the title song (which I assume they won't do), and it's probably 90% sure that they will cut "The Germans at the Spa," even if it's a fun song I don't see it working on film.
I still see Toni Collette as more of a Luisa than a Carla but I think I get your point MichaelBennett, Luisa is a very obvious/typical role for her whereas Carla would be a more interesting casting. Even so, I definitely see her as the forgotten wife who 20 years ago was an up-and-coming movie actress. Catherine Z. Jones is all wrong for the role, I think she'd punch Guido the first time he looked at another woman or tried impeding her from doing a film. I know it is called "acting" (and I'm a fan of hers) but the actors' personas will definitely play a role in the casting of a show like NINE.
I guess no one but me can see Salma Hayek as Carla, I still believe she'd be exciting in the role.
I think Judi Dench is probably being considered for Guido's mother, not Liliane.
What should be Liliane's age? I know Montevecci was not in her 70s when she played the role in the original production (unlike Chita).

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 5:31pm

Its funny and interesting how we all interpret things so differently! I actually never thought that Guido has had a sexual relationship with Claudia - I always assumed she was his ideal of a perfect woman - that she is a goddess, a muse and someone he is deeply connected to on an emotional level - and obviously there is sexual attraction - but I always thought she represented something more aesthetically cerebral (if thats possible).

I agree that Claudia is a one night stand gone wrong but I've always seen her as someone sort of grotesque sexually (a throw back of sorts to his relationship with Saraghina). I see her as someone common - but not necessarily beautiful or young. She does say she's married and is getting a divorce.

I think La Fleur is in her 50s (the age Montevecci was when she created the role).



Updated On: 4/16/07 at 05:31 PM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 5:41pm

I always thought Guido had a sexual relationship if not a sexual tension with Claudia. When she sings "one woman's not enough for you, Guido" and he replies "One's plenty if it's you, Claudia," I get the sense they are having a relationship. I feel like he is unable to actually attach to her in any other way than through the camera though. Their scene together that evolves into "Unusual Way" seems very awkward and yet she's her one source of inspiration. I always felt she wasn't real for him, sort of an ethereal figure which is why I'd love for a very classy, goddess-like actress to get cast in the role.
I think Carla can be read in different ways. Jane Krakowski was the ultimate sex goddess but I believe Anita Morris was more a la par with the grotesque sexuality that MichaelBennett mentions. Isn't she Guido's current mistress in 8 1/2? Now in the film she was VERY common, vulgar, and annoying. I don't see her as being young either, both Morris and Krakowski read as contemporary with their respective Guidos. She is definitely Guido's search for another Serraghena, which is the sense I get from the strong sexuality and eroticism that is expressed in "A Call from the Vatican."
Frankly, I don't see ANY of the women as being young. Claudia is moving in with a 53 year old man and has been working with Guido for a while, Luisa was an actress 20 years ago, and Carla has been married already.

Updated On: 4/16/07 at 05:41 PM

[Mojojo5]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 5:41pm

I see Carla being older than Claudia and possibly even Luisa. For some reason, I just picture Carla being an ol' tart who will still look (or try to look) 35 even when she's far removed from that age. Claudia I feel should be young but not too young where marrying a much older man would seem lecherous. If Anne Hathaway were 5 to 10 years older I think she'd be perfect. Claudia seems to me to be a woman who knows her limitations and uses them to accentuate the positive.

Z.

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 5:47pm

I agree it is interesting how a lot of these women are open to varying interpretations.

...which presents a lot of options in casting the film and adapting the screenplay.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 5:51pm

The screenwriter hasn't been announced, has it?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 5:51pm

"One woman's not enough for you Guido. It's plenty if its you Claudia." -- I don't see anything that necessarily suggests a sexual relationship there -- I guess I'd like to think that 8 1/2 (or NINE) is a little bit more sophisticated than that. I think its about a man's emotional connections to all the women in his life.

As a writer, I have definitely had female muses in my life - that I have had hugely emotional relationshps with - its something deeper and more special than anything sexual. I'm probably drawing my own feelings about art into analysis - but I don't think Guido would ever sleep with Claudia - it would taint his image of her as something perfect artistically.

P.S. Yes - Arthur Kopit is being given a chance to write the first draft of the screenplay.
Updated On: 4/16/07 at 05:51 PM

[wickedfan]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 5:54pm

I would love Toni Collette as Carla. The woman's got gorgeous gams.

"I see Carla being older than Claudia and possibly even Luisa. For some reason, I just picture Carla being an ol' tart who will still look (or try to look) 35 even when she's far removed from that age."-I understand what you mean by this, but seriously, if you see pictures or watch old performances of Anita Morris, you will realize that Carla can't be what you described. She needs to literally OOZE sex appeal.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 5:56pm

Actually change that. Anita Morris didn't have sex appeal. She was sex. Walking sex.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 5:57pm

MB, I should've explained myself better regarding the sophistication of the lyrics, I didn't mean to say that "one's plenty if it's you, Claudia" had an immediate sexual connotation but that it suggested they had a romantic relationship and that Guido is re-assuring her (and as with most romantic relationship I'd think they were sexually active). Also, the fact that during "Only With You," he mentions her along with Carla and Luisa has always suggested to me that they were romantically involved. Claudia at least seems to want something more with him. I definitely do see your point about tainting the image of Claudia, she is after all, an ethereal goddess to him (IMO) so you're reading of their relationship makes perfect sense.

EDIT: Toni Collette is not the first person that comes to mind when I think of someone who oozes sex appeal even I find her to be incredibly beautiful.

Updated On: 4/16/07 at 05:57 PM

[LostLeander]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 6:01pm

I always thought that Claudia was his muse, too sacred to do anything with. I think there was a possibility at one point, but it was passed. I think their working relationship far surpasses their personal relationship.

I don't think Collette, as much as I love her, has the vocal range, nor immediate sex appeal for Carla. I think you need a natural sexpot, and Collette is a fantastic actress, but film is different from theatre. Perhaps I'm just being narrow minded.

If Call From the Vatican is transposed for an alto, I will scream. I want belted high Es, and a high C.

I trust Marshall. As much as I wasn't the biggest fan of Zelwegger in Chicago, I certainly see what he saw in her, and I think she gave a pretty good performance, nonetheless.

He's the perfect person to direct this complex and gorgeous piece of theatre.

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 6:02pm

I agree, ray, that "Only With You" represents the three women he is romantically involved with currently. Part of why he can't grow up...

The one he should be with, and is.
The one he would love to be with, but can't.
The one he lusts for, and shouldn't.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 6:07pm

It has been said numerous times that the material will be adapted to suit the cast's voices/talents/bodies/et al. Yes, I'd love to have a Carla who can hit that high C at the end but we have about four cast recordings (plus Alice Ripley's version in The Maury Yeston Songbook) where we get to hear that. If I have to sacrifice the high C for a Salma Hayek, Toni Collette, Nicole Kidman, or any of the stars being considered, it'd be perfectly fine with me.
Besty, you really put it in perfect words.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 6:25pm

Well, he's definitely not having a current sexual relationship with Claudia, unless you believe that she is cheating on the man she lives with (which would completely spoil her in Guido's eyes).

I actually don't think that Guido and Claudia have seen each other in a number of years. He summons her to be in his movie - she arrives - and sings of their complex relationships and leaves when the shooting falls apart - She wouldn't be telling Guido about the man she lives with in Paris - and the routine of her day to day life - if he already knew that.

That song is about the three women he's in love with for sure - but that doesn't overtly mean he's sleeping with all of them. Frankly, he's probably only sleeping with Carla - as I doubt he and Luisa have much of a relaionship sexually anymore.
Updated On: 4/16/07 at 06:25 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 6:42pm

Oh, I don't think he's sleeping with Claudia while he's in Venice (although he acts like "the cat that ate the canary" with her)...

...I just think he's never "detached" from her... and in his mind their romance is alive and never ended.

I still say Claudia, Carla and Luisa are his three "current" loves.

EDIT: I also think that Claudia would leave her perfect man in Paris in a heartbeat if Guido would ever leave his wife. Which he won't, and she knows that.

Makes it more complicated and less "perfect" in their reality. And makes their scenes together have more subtext and suggestive romance.

Updated On: 4/16/07 at 06:42 PM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 6:46pm

I agree more with Best12 interpretation though I think MB's is valid as well.
MB, isn't Claudia telling Guido about Michel after the shooting falls apart? I thought that it was her way of "breaking up" with him. I figured she had decided to move in with him AFTER the "Casanova" fiasco because he realized not only that oen woman wasn't enough for Guido but that he merely "distracted her" (unlike Michel). I figured she had abandoned her life as a famous movie star to go live the routinary life that Guido would have never been able to give her.

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 6:49pm

I like MB's interpretation as well!

Which makes these scenes fascinating. They have some mystery to them... letting the audience draw their own conclusions about what has or hasn't happened.

Ah, the power of romance!

I'm beginning to remember the many reasons why I dig this show.