The Follies Movie Casting Thread- Page 2

[jewishboy]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 6:21pm

MomofOZ, I think James Naughton would be ideal for a stage version of Follies. Just that he would HAVE to play Ben! His speaking voice alone would explain why all these women fall in love with him.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 6:24pm

Jewishboy, my casting choices are of people who would be right for the roles in about 5 years or so. Goldie Hawn is good if the film were to go into production today, and I couldn't agree more about the "older" Jane Krakowski comment! I do disagree that Krakowski would be serving the drinks instead of guzzling them down.
Kevin Spacey just doesn't strike as the sexy ex-politician that every woman wanted to do (and did) back in the days.
Think how hot and power-couple-ish would Daniel Day-Lewis and Mary-Louise Parker look together...now think Kevin Spacey and Mary-Louise Parker would look...

[MomofOZ]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 6:24pm

I couldn't agree more Jewishboy :)

Updated On: 1/21/08 at 06:24 PM

[jv92]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 6:37pm

I can't see Meryl Streep as Sally. Phyllis, probably. Sally, no. There are only two people alive who I could see as Sally- Vicki Clark and Catherine O'Hara.
James Naughton would be a wonderful Buddy.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 6:38pm

I understand about the 5 years thing, but my last comment about Krakowski (and we can just argue about it in the next thread) is that her actual delivery of the song, knowing and loving her vocal style, would not be that moving.

Oh, and the only reason I think Kevin Spacey would be perfect is if Annette Bening was to be cast also.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 6:50pm

jv92- What makes Naughton so ideal for Buddy?

I actually think that based off of Spacey's performance in American Beauty (watch the scene where he's stoned in his car and rocking out to "American Woman"), he could make a great Buddy. If Spacey were to play Ben he would need to wear nice, broad shoulder pads, a corset, and a thick, convincing toupe.

ray-I'm semi with you about Krakowski. I wouldn't say 5 years, maybe more like 10. I'm actually in love with the idea of Goldie Hawn as Carlotta if the film were to be done now. Age wise, it could totally work. If Ben were a few years older than Phyllis and Carlotta a few years older than Ben (Ben having the affair with a woman, all the while dating a girl). Once the WGA comes to agreements, let's get this flick rolling.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 7:22pm

Krakowski's delivery wouldn't be moving, but I think it would be "interesting," perhaps a fiasco as much as Baranski, or perhaps a revelation.
There's no one that has yet presented a suggestion that is age-appropriate and works with all of Carlotta's material (which as I said before, goes way beyond the song). Goldie Hawn, I like, but seriously the film would have to go into production tomorrow and shoot all her scenes first, she is THAT close of being too old for it.
People have become so used to seeing Streep in these tough-as-nails roles that they forget how incredibly vulnerable, needy, and confused she can look on screen. If you have seen SOPHIE'S CHOICE, THE FRENCH LIEUTENANT'S WOMAN, KRAMER V. KRAMER, MUSIC OF THE HEART (the first few scenes), and DEER HUNTER, you can see why some of us think she would be ideal as Sally. However, some of my fellow FOLLIES lovers have convinced me she is too old for the role at this point.

Updated On: 1/21/08 at 07:22 PM

[wickedfan]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 7:31pm

It has nothing to do with her not being able to play vulnerable. The woman can play ANYTHING. Hell, she's able to play a man convincingly (Angels in America), but age wise and just in terms of over all feel, I don't think she's right for it. If she were to do it, she would be amazing-as she is amazing in everything she's in. But she would still seem a bit off.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 7:40pm

I can maybe see Meryl as Carlotta. I think she is too tall/big for Sally.

[jv92]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 7:52pm

Naughton is just very charming. That's why I can see him as Buddy.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 8:29pm

Most of these choices are TOO OLD.

Phyllis - Michelle Pfeiffer
Sally - Eh, I can't ever find one that I think would work
Ben - Alec Baldwin
Buddy - Timothy Hutton
Carlotta - Vanessa Williams

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 10:06pm

Kringasland, I think Baldwin is better for Buddy (I have this image of Buddy being slightly chubby). However, his role in 30 ROCK is a comic take on the Benjamin Stone type, so I can see where you're coming from. Having said that they're gonna go for big B.O names for this movie, hence my George Clooney and Will Smith suggestions which are more realistic (not necessarily more appropriate).
I do love your Carlotta suggestion, now that's someone who is age-appropriate and right for the role.
I'm not particularly fond of Pfeiffer so I won't join you on that wagon.
Jewishboy, I can't see Streep as Carlotta AT ALL. She is beautiful but I don't think she could ever be described as a "sloe-eyed vamp."

[jewishboy]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 10:50pm

Good point, Ray. I've been trying to think of actors appropriate for the role, and it's really hard. She might be too british (I don't even know if that should be a real concern), but I think Kristin Scott Thomas might be a good choice. Thomas would be my first choice for Joanne if they were making Company into a movie.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 10:59pm

Really? Now there's a role I think Streep is ideal for.
What do you think of PRS' Vanessa Williams suggestion?

[jewishboy]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 11:04pm

You know, I think that her voice is too popish/refined for it. I think Vanessa Williams really doesn't seem like 1) she would have had that particular life of a Follies girl and 2) that she has really struggled. Maybe its because I'm expecting something more "raw" than both Krakowski and Ms. Williams (who I do like for Phyllis, but more for a stage production). Are you not a fan of Kristin Scott Thomas?

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 11:23pm

Jewishboy, I must confess I'm not really familiar with her work. I am probably the only person left who hasn't seen THE ENGLISH PATIENT and I've only seen bits and pieces of GOSFORD PARK.
One of the reasons I think Krakowski should be in the running is because I think she has this sort of non-beauty about her. She is almost typically beautiful, but there is something...odd that makes her sexy, incredibly attractive, but not beautiful. (Remember the line in A CHORUS LINE: "different, she said, with a personal something and a very very personal flair...now, different is nice but it sure isn't pretty." That's the kind of woman I think should play Carlotta.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 1/22/08 at 12:00am

You must go out right now and rent Four Weddings and a Funeral! It's a "chick flick," but it has some really great acting in it (including Ms. Thomas).

[LadyRosecoe]

Posted: 1/22/08 at 3:22am

After seeing Stardust tonight, I'm further convinced PRS has it right with Pfeiffer. She just astounds me in any type of role and her age at this very moment is spot on, her looks reflect that. She has grown in my head so much as Phyllis that I think she beats anyone else.

Maybe Anne Hathaway as Young Heidi for One More Kiss.

Annette Benning, although very polished, could SO easily do a homebody and she has the shape for her. Plus her acting skills knock almost everyone else out of the park.

As for Carlotta, I'm stumped.

[MomofOZ]

Posted: 1/22/08 at 9:22am

Ok, I just searched IMDB for people who are turning 50 this year. I just picked out well known names that could possibly work. What do you think....
Miranda Richardson
Sharon Stone ( Carlotta maybe?)
Holly Hunter( if she can lose the accent)
Alec Baldwin
Michelle Pfeiffer
Annette Bening
Kevin Bacon ( he can dance..maybe Buddy)
Angela Basset
Madonna
Shaun Cassidy (my childhood crush)
Tim Robbins
Megan Mullaly
Bebe Neuwirth

Now don't get irate with me for some of these, I'm just throwing names out there :)
Updated On: 1/22/08 at 09:22 AM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 1/22/08 at 12:04pm

I think Vanessa Williams really doesn't seem like 1) she would have had that particular life of a Follies girl and 2) that she has really struggled.

Well, not to put too fine a point on it, her entire entertainment career was derailed when those nudie pics came out in the early 80s. Vanessa Williams is living proof of making a silk purse out of a sow's ear, so if one has to have someone who has "lived it," you could give her that. Plus, she WAS Miss America, which ain't the Follies, but certainly has could prove to be something of a parallel.

Personally, I think all that "it only works if the actors lived it" is kind of a straw man argument. Yes, I know it added an extra level of gravitas to the original production, but since it's almost 40 years since the original, I don't feel like it's a necessity to have any of these people really "be" the characters they're portraying.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 1/22/08 at 12:44pm

I think its just that the way Vanessa Williams comes across on film and stage is very regal and smooth. Yes, she has attitude and can play a bitch, but I just can't see her adding anything to I'm Still Here the way other actresses can.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 1/27/08 at 10:06am

"Sally - Eh, I can't ever find one that I think would work"

How about Amy Irving?

Posted: 1/27/08 at 10:53am

i'm having fun imagining how Robert Altman would've directed a film of FOLLIES.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 1/27/08 at 11:39am

If we are just going to name appropriate actresses in hopes of them being vcoally capable, I'd go with:

Sally- Laura Linney
Phyllis- Annette Bening
Carlotta- Frances McDormand

[RetroBoy]

Posted: 1/27/08 at 12:57pm

Sally: Sally Field, Laura Linney or Renée Zellweger

Laura Linney, Sally Field and Renee Zellweger being considered for the SAME part? They are AGES apart. This makes no sense at all.