Sondheim Talks FOLLIES Movie Musical — Page 5

Vanessa Williams is 45, Linney is 44. I still like Kevin Kline as Buddy, and Victor Garber as Ben.

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"I should have to gone a good film school, that seems clear"

I was thinking last night of how wonderful Bette Midler would be as Stella and then her lines with Max came into my head and I think Jason Alexander would be perfect. Now I know it's a bit part with about 4 lines, but he vocally sounds like John J. Martin and his age seems appropriately matched to Bette's. There's another little piece of casting done in my dream cast. PLUS, he comes from a theatrical background (and a Sondheim credit) and has some audience appeal.

I concur about Spacey's "pop up tent" acting. Throw him onstage and watch the same performance unfurl. Not to say he can't have multi-layered characters come out of some brilliant performances, but lately seems to be more of the same.

I can live with Bette Midler as Stella, but I really prefer Kathy Bates.

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Yeah, Bette is alright, but Kathy Bates would simply nail Stella. I can just hear her, "he turned to me and said 'Stella, baby, this is a load of crap!"

Vanessa Williams is 45, Linney is 44.

Well, there you have it, ladies and gentleman, Phyllis Rogers Stone, and Sally Durant...Plummer (I love the little pause she makes after Durant, it's so telling and one of my favorite FOLLIES moments).

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God, I wish they had made this movie 10 years ago with Meryl as Phyllis and Sally Fields as Sally. Fields would have been so perfect in the role, oh well.
Isn't Kevin Kline a bit too old for the role, or are we okay with Ben and Buddy being a good 10-20 years older than Sally and Phyllis? I think he would be great, but opposite the older gals not Linney/Williams.
Oh, I would love to see what they do with "Waiting Around for the Girls Upstairs" in terms of the theatre location, Phyllis. I can just imagine the girls in their dressing room "Waiting around for the boys downstairs, stalling as long as we daaaaaare." And I can see a flood of chorus girls when the guys sing "girls in their undies blushing but trying not to duck out of sight." Oh, God, how spectacular! The film has SO much potential.

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madbrian, I love the idea of Victor Garber as Ben!

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Well, I still like Spacey

Anyways, aren't women in their 40's too young for these characters? I thought they were all in their 50's.

Also, if Victoria Clark because a big star after her role in "The Happening" then she could reprise her role as Sally :)

People looked older then.

I was 15 and I looked old enough to get into gay bars. I had a big mustache and people said I looked like Geraldo Rivera.

That was a compliment then.

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Not a chance. ;-}

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Sorry to ruin the lovefest, but although I love Ms. Williams, I think there are better film actresses that can portray Phyllis.