Sunset Blvd Movie Adaptation Casting Ideas — Page 2

Damiensta said: "Javier Bardem as Max.
Someone unexpected"

If he has any singing ability, that's a big *DING DING DING* from me. I LOVE him, and I could totally see him playing a failing movie director.

dfrillsnedit said: "Damiensta said: "Javier Bardem as Max.
Someone unexpected"

If he has any singing ability, that's a big *DING DING DING* from me. I LOVE him, and I could totally see him playing a failing movie director."

Well, I surely hope the chosen performer can sing, because Max has to sing "The greatest star of all" which is not an easy task.

Dave28282 said: "dfrillsnedit said: "Damiensta said: "Javier Bardem as Max.
Someone unexpected"

If he has any singing ability, that's a big *DING DING DING* from me. I LOVE him, and I could totally see him playing a failing movie director."

Well, I surely hope the chosen performer can sing, because Max has to sing "The greatest star of all" which is not an easy task."

My biggest issue with coming up with my dream "Max" is I don't know that many "mainstream/box office" actors of that general mid-age group that can sing and also happen to have super, Max-level deep voices. If this was just a straight non musical remake of the original film sans the music, Javier would be perfect. But I have yet to look up if he has even legitimately sang before - because that's one of the best songs in the show imo, and I don't want to have another Russell Crowe in Les Miz situation.

Lol to that! It was also amusing to read that since the character of Wolverine was supposed to be only around 5'3' in height, they had to ask Hugh Jackman ( 6' 2" tall) to walk with knees bent or in ditches in some scenes... or other actors like James Marsden to walk on boxes... to make it appear more faithful to the comicbook characterization.

I really like the idea of Chris Pine, but wonder whether (if it really happens) whether he is too young for Close. Where does the 'yuk' factor kick in? With a little more back-story, couldn't they explain why Joe is almost 50 (could he also be a has-been?) and cast a Jackman or maybe a Patrick Wilson, who is at least mid-forties?

I imagine there must be some other handsome actors who can sing and are in their mid-to-late forties, who I am not remembering right this minute. Let's face it, the stage is more forgiving re age differences. On a large movie screen, Close and Pine would be gross IMO, although I would be on line to see it on day 1 of release.

QueenAlice said: "For the movie to work at all, the filmmakers have to be able to suspend the audiences belief that Close is her actual age. In this story, Close is playing a woman in her earlyt 50s. Period. The pure historical fact that film didn’t become popular entertainment until the 1910s dictates this. Unless they change the year the story is set in, Norma Desmond is 50ish.

I frankly think everyone is likely making too big a deal of Close’s actual age. Its not a stretch to believe that they mitght convincingly make her look like a women in her 50s as women of that age looked at that time. Women in their 50s then easily looked like women in their sixties now. And Close does look good for her age.

The right age for Joe Gillis is an actor in his 30s. The romance is supposed to seem creepy. Chris Pine is almost 40. Age wise he is fine to play opposite Close in this story."



I think you have built a very convincing argument, and I do think Pine could be excellent in the role. While I still don't think this will ever be made with Close-- unless someone can figure out how to do it on an M.Night Shamalan (sic) type of budget -- I really would love to see it filmed.

How about Kevin Kline for Max?

My initial reaction was I wonder he can carry a tune (probably more than that, given Max's songs), because it seemed like a great idea; then I though that, if they are going to try to make her seem younger, will they have to address the fact that he is so much older than her, like 30 years or so. Then I thought that it took place in 19650's Hollywood, and there were probably plenty of May - December marriages and romances. If he can sing (I guess they could dub him if he can't), I think he would be a great choice. Think of his performance in Remains of the Day. Perfect.

Jarethan said: "While I still don't think this will ever be made with Close-- unless someone can figure out how to do it on an M.Night Shamalan (sic) type of budget -- I really would love to see it filmed."

My biggest concerns with this project are that filmmakers today have no idea how to translate this artform and language to screen. In Sunset Boulevard all the solo songs are very non-literal, it is a sung thought, like a videoclip in their mind. There is also a lot of sung dialogue which constantly switches between inner talk and conversation. It either represents their thoughts without actually hearing eachother, or an actual conversation and they switch just like that all the time, which makes it so great. All 3 examples ask for a very non-literal world because it is a beautiful imaginary dance with the thoughts and the language.

Now, film doesn't have to be literal, but filmmakers are often intimidated by this language and make the mistake that as real and raw as possible works with this artform. It does not. Only with crying scenes.

There are great ways to enhance this non-literal world, such as pre-recorded tracks, use music as a voice over at times, filmic editing, non-literal sets, lighting, sung notes that take you on a journey, not apologizing for the language by making it standard dialogue voice, etc.

So I have a feeling that there is a danger that the director can't get the original film out of his mind, which is very literal, and that we end up with a normal film scene, in a literal house, where Joe and Norma sit on the couch, sing/bleating live in eachother's face. And then asking audiences to pretend it's all so raw and real. Well, sing/bleating in eachother's face is not. So the scene will never work that way on screen.

This makes me wonder if it hadn't been better if a stage performance was filmed, which is a non-literal world per definition which perfectly matches the chosen language. But then again, the last version was with Glenn Close, who doesn't master the craft of acting through song at all (she acts in spite of the struggle with notes), which also makes it very insincere.

Lots of pitfalls here.

Updated On: 3/8/19 at 04:58 AM

ScottyDoesn'tKnow2 said: "If they cast a "name" for Max, wouldn't that run the risk of it being a bit too spoilerish?"

Why would that be a spoiler? We live in an era of starry ensembles, where superhero movies have 6+ names billed above the title. And if they can't get a major name for Joe, then Max is the best opportunity to cast someone semi-notable.

dfrillsnedit said: "I don't want to have another Russell Crowe in Les Miz situation."

Please, no.