RIALTO CHATTER: Andrew Garfield Joins Linda Edmond & Philip Seymour Hoffman in DEATH OF A SALESMAN?- Page 2

[Kad]

Posted: 8/12/11 at 11:01am

I don't see why it would have to close then. How to Succeed continued past the opening of Deathly Hallows Pt. 2.

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/12/11 at 11:03am

Ah, right. For some reason I thought SPIDER-MAN wasn't coming out until August. He'll have to do press and they probably won't want to continue the show without him, so it probably will close right around Tony time. That would give it about a 12-week run.

But since the Lomans are being played by actors who are all a decade too young for their parts, I'm really starting to think that they should just change characters' ages in the script for this production. It is explicitly stated onstage that Willy is 63 and Biff is 34.

Just for argument's sake, Lee J. Cobb was 38 when he originated the role. Dustin Hoffman was 47, not far off from Hoffman's 44. I believe George C. Scott was mid-to-late 40s, as well.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 8/12/11 at 11:41am

I'm not trying to knock his acting abilities. I think he was killer in "The Social Network." When he walks in and slams the computer down: brilliant.

I just don't see this as ideal casting. I would think of someone like a young Patrick Wilson as an ideal Biff. But the idea of Hoffman and Garfield is intriguing. That seems like weird chemistry.

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/12/11 at 11:47am

Wilson was stiff as wood in ALL MY SONS. If he were cast as Biff it would be a chief reason not to go. (Moot point, as he has a TV show next year)

[Kad]

Posted: 8/12/11 at 12:18pm

Philip Seymour Hoffman has the potential to read older onstage, I think.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 8/12/11 at 1:36pm

Linda Emond will have her work cut out for her. Who'd believe that a Linda Loman married to PS Hoffman's Willy would be at all sorry he was dead?

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 8/12/11 at 2:05pm

Garfield is the real deal. His performance in Never Let Me Go was fantastic.

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/12/11 at 2:09pm

^ I felt that was the performance he deserved to be nominated for. One of last year's best films, and criminally overlooked.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 8/12/11 at 2:11pm

Agreed about NEVER LET ME GO, sadly overlooked and unfairly dismissed.

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/12/11 at 2:16pm

Anyone who doubts Keira Knightley's acting abilities should watch it.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 8/12/11 at 2:54pm

I'm of the opinion that Hoffman is one of the finest American film actors working today, and since the first rumbles about this project, I never had any concerns about his age. It does make me curious, though, what -- if anything -- they'll do in the way of makeup for him.

But I do question the judgment -- that's right; I QUESTION YOUR JUDGMENT -- of anyone who saw "Synecdoche, New York" and still has concerns about him playing older.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 8/12/11 at 3:46pm

Others have probably pointed this out, but PS Hoffman is older than Lee J. Cobb was when Cobb originated the role. Doesn't really matter to me, as there's no way I'm going to see it. I think PS Hoffman is among the most overrated actors around -- entirely adequate in every way, to be sure, but absolutely nothing special.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 8/12/11 at 4:26pm

AC, I thought Garfield's performance was criminally overlooked as well, and that Knightley also gave lovely and mature performance. This, and several other posts - including our mutual admiration for Lesley Manville and Julia Murney - make me think that, generally speaking, we have very similar tastes in acting.
Updated On: 8/12/11 at 04:26 PM

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/12/11 at 5:21pm

I'd say that's accurate, Henrik!

[PopAria]

Posted: 8/13/11 at 12:34pm

How can I become an investor in this?

[romgitsean]

Posted: 8/13/11 at 4:02pm

I enjoy the Synecdoche, New York-inspired casting. Regardless, I'll be there.

[The Josh]

Posted: 8/13/11 at 11:07pm

I'm looking forward to seeing who's cast as Happy!