Nine Casting — Page 3

This cast would be absolutely brilliant. So many talented people, which (hopefully) we contribute to the movie.


Marion Cotillard is one of the most talented actresses I have ever seen on screen. Her performance in La Vie En Rose gives me faith that she can pull anything off. The rest of the cast is fabulous as well, but thought I might as well chime in on my thoughts of Marion. She has said numerous times that if she weren't an actress, she would be a singer, so she has a background in music.

I'd love Cristine Rose (Momma Petrellie from Heroes) for Guido's mother or Liliane La Fleur, pending her singing ability.

Again, all my opinions on Cotillard are uninformed since I'm not familiar with her work but MichaelBennet does raise a very valid point. That's a little too young and fresh for Luisa.
I really do wonder if there's a special reason that all of the sudden they decided to go for a completely different direction for Claudia. Katie Holmes, Anne Hathaway, and Laura Benanti couldn't be more different from Catherine Z. Jones. Not complaining here, but still makes me wonder what made them change the concept.

---

Having seen LA VIE EN ROSE, I can say that Mme Cotillard can play just about any age, from early teens to late forties-looking-like-mid-eighties. She's more than capable of playing the role.

---

I'd hold off on thinking this is the official cast just yet.

None of the people in the Variety article (including those reported to have been offered their respective roles) have been cast.

Maury Yeston has final casting approval in addition to a producing credit, and none of the people mentioned in the story have even been in to sing for him (though Javier Bardem is scheduled to be seen this week.) In fact, Yeston hadn't even heard about one of the people reported to have been cast even being in the running for the film.

The Variety story also jumbled some roles and linked a certain actress to a part she's not even being considered for (though Rob Marshall is desperately trying to get that person in the movie,) so I caution everyone to take this story as nothing but further speculation.

---

Updated On: 8/22/07 at 03:28 PM

There is video of Marion singing on a French TV show with French singer Jenifer, the song 'Milord' by Edith Piaf. I don't think she sounds bad at all. Piaf's music is also a very specific style of singing, so who knows what she could do with something else.

The Variety story also jumbled some roles and linked a certain actress to a part she's not even being considered for (though Rob Marshall is desperately trying to get that person in the movie,)

Guessing that's Cruz as Carla?

I may be biased but in my mind the Penelope Cruz issue is not as easy as she can act in Spanish but she can't act in English.
I just think that the kind of image directors and whoever is attached to her in Hollywood try to give her is completely wrong. She's not Salma Hayek (who I think is a fantastic actress, by the way) and I think that's what Hollywood has try to do with her to no avail. She's a great actress when she is given the right material and the right director but in America they have no idea what to do with her. Judging from Marshall's previous work and the material in NINE I can tell that this project is actually suit for her.

---

Agreed, she definitely should have won last year, but it was so predictable that she was gonna lose. You know, I was kinda warming up to the idea of Renee as Carla, but I'm glad that they are looking at more European choices. I also agree that Marshall wants to detach himself not only from the recent revival, but probably from the Tune production also. I haven't seen La Vie En Rose (I always mix it up with the other French movie Ma Vie En Rose), but that actress sounds like an inspired choice.

Here are my choices for Saraghina and Stephanie Necrophorus:

SARAGHINA:





STEPHANIE NECROPHORUS:

---

I think LuPone would be fierce as Saraghina, she certainly has it in her, IMO.
Isn't Sara Ramirez too young for Saraghina? I'd love to see her in this film and her "Be Italian" would stop the show--or the movie, anyways. How come GREY'S ANATOMY has some of the best actors? Not only do they have Ramirez but they have the brilliant Chandra Wilson whom I'd love to see play Mrs.Muller in the film adaptation of DOUBT. Oh well, I still love me some GREY'S.
Besty, Nia Vardalos as Stephanie Necrophorus? Really? I see Necrophorus as a very sexy sort of imposing presence. I'd love to see Donna Murphy in that role actually or even Demi Moore who I believe auditioned for Luisa.

---

I love Nia, ray! I think she'd be great for this, yes. Imposing, "hard" (read: ball-busting), funny, "extreme" and I find her sexy! My alternate choice would be Marissa Tomei. She just wouldn't be as "in command" of Guido. More of a bitch on wheels, rather than someone who could actually take him DOWN.

And as far as LuPone, can we please have someone other than Loren that is at LEAST of Italian decent. Enough with Sara Ramiez! LuPone would add the haggard eccentricity, the theatrical sexiness... the world-weariness... with a face right out of a Felini film. And she'd sing the everlovin' sh*t out of Be Italian. Plus, she has a (small but highly respectable) film resume.

---

Besty, I love Nia too, don't get me wrong (Toni Collette and Nia Vardalos singing showtunes in CONNIE AND CARLA was a dream come true) but I cannot picture her as the critic turned producer who basically wants to ruin Guido's career. I don't see her being as much of a threat when she sings "The trouble with Contini..." section of "Folies Bergeres" (assuming the number is still there and that Necrophorus' section is still in). I can see why you'd suggest her though because Stephanie Necrophorus is a character that's so pretentious and obnoxious that you just have to laugh at her which Vardalos would play to a T. Still can't see it though.
Marissa Tomei should play Carla, she's beyond ideal for that part. One of the few actress I think could beautifully nail both of Carla's numbers.
I would really love to see at least a stage star like LuPone or Donna Murphy or Jane Krakowski (would've been the happiest if she had been asked to reprise her Tony-winning turn as Carla) somewhere in this movie.
It'd be great if Marshall did another nod to the original production like he did in both ANNIE and CHICAGO. Perhaps we'll get Liliane Montevecchi somewhere in the film? (I believe she's the only one of the cast who has some kind of film career and is...well...alive).

---