LuPone lacks any of the grand sophistication required to play Phyllis. Phyllis is supposed to "look like a queen or something (...) like Jackie Kennedy," LuPone ain't it. Even if she were, she isn't a name and would never be considered for the role in a film.
I still like the idea of Mary-Louise Parker as Phyllis in 2012, it'd be wonderful. Laura Linney as Sally. Love PRS' idea of Matthew Broderick as Buddy. Get Daniel Day-Lewis for Ben and you got a top-notch cast. Then round them up with the cream of the crop of Hollywood's older actors and I'd be the happiest.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"