Travolta and Latifah officially signed for HAIRSPRAY film- Page 4

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 11:24am

Glad they are casting some STARS in this film - sorry fanboys/girls - get over it - maybe this movie will actually do well at the box office. We had a movie that was made for the fans - it was called RENT - and it was a huge artistic and financial flop. I can only imagine how people here screamed when the leads for the CHICAGO film were announced - and I know they ALL boycotted it...absurd.

That said - I was kind of hoping they snagged Jack Nicholson as Edna - that would have made the movie an EVENT!

P.S. Stop lying Margo - you know you will be there opening day.

Updated On: 3/3/06 at 11:24 AM

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 11:26am

Is it bad that I can actually see Jack Nicholson making the role work?

[jimnysf]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 11:39am

I think Jack Nicholson can carry a tune so he might not be a bad choice. His song was cut from the film version of "On A Clear Day" but I have it on an album of cut film songs and as I remember, he was OK.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 11:40am

Plus people ADORE Nicholson - he can do no wrong in Hollywood. That said, I think Travolta will be more than fine.

[runfreedomrunKC]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 11:45am

Okay, so I'm sure I'm going to be virtually bitch-slapped for this, but...

I'd like to note that Divine IS Edna Turnblad, and many of the character traits and "gags" the incredible Harvey used on stage were originated by Divine. I loved Harvey's performance on Broadway...he was phenomenal (hahaha, Travolta was in Phenomenon)but many other men have played Edna on stage and have been wonderful...I've seen 3 others, all outragious and hilarious. What's wrong with someone else adding their take on Edna to the mass market. If you don't like it, stop bitching, don't see the movie, and sit in your room in the dark, listening to the OBCR and picturing Harvey in your mind.

Now let the wrath rain down...

[shermanslave]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 11:52am

I know I am in the minority her, but I did not like the stage show. Maybe it was my seats being all the way in the back that took away from it, but I just thought it was weak. And yes, I saw the original cast. I think it would be nice to see the film and actually be able to understand all the lyrics which was not te case the night I saw Harvey.

John Travolta could possibly be very good in the role, who knows. Maybe it would have been nice for Harvey to get to do the film role, but as Runfreedomrun mentioned above, the role is essentially a Divine role. And if Divine was alive when the stage show came around does anyone think that Divine would have played it on Broadway? No way.

Let's just wait and see what the film is like and continue this discussion in 2007.

Updated On: 3/3/06 at 11:52 AM

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 11:56am

Ya know, I have no interest in slamming this film before it even starts pre-production, but the lack of imagination in the casting has put me off. There's a very closed Hollywood mindset at work here that leads me to believe that the film is going to be another in that LONG LONG list of musical misfires over the years.

I know Travolta had been long rumored for the role and I was hoping it wouldn't be true. Now that it is, I can't describe how incredibly underwhelmed I am by the choice.

Queen Latifah. She's closer in age to Little Inez than Motormouth. And she CAN'T SING THE ROLE. It's as if all the thought that went into it was "So we need a black woman to play this Motor Mouth character. Who's black and female and popular? Oh yeah, Queen Latifah [who's last few projects have bombed]. Stick her in the role." Who cares that she can't sing it or that she's a few decades too young to play it. Had they gotten Aretha Franklin or Patti Labelle (who have both proven that they can act in the past), I'd be right there on opening day. That would have indicated to me that the filmmakers understood this property and were willing to take a little bit of a risk to add excitement to the film. Instead, it's safe (and wrong) casting by committee, which given the subversive origins of this material clearly means they don't "get it" and will probably ruin it.

But who really cares what I think about anything? Let everyone go and enjoy themselves. I won't be there. I'm just not interested. I'm under no obligation to go and see things I'm not interested in and not getting my $11 won't make or break this film. If I want to see Hairspray, I'll go back and see it in the theatre or pop in my tape of the Waters' film version.

[sanda]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 12:12pm

Can't they cast a real woman for Edna? I thought they cast a man in dress because they need a low voice and also that is a trick to be funny. But on big screen? Please.

Who cares, I dislike that mediocre show anyway.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 12:15pm

The role has ALWAYS been played by a man...even in the original movie.

DEAL with it.

[sanda]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 12:18pm

I said that I didn't care. What do you ask me to deal with?

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 12:21pm

Craig---I'm with you! Fender's sock is a very big deal.

*ponders Freudian slip*

Regardless, it's something to keep an eye on.

[BSoBW3]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 12:23pm

Corine - your ideas are exactly what is wrong with the world.

You are foregoing a movie of a show you claim to love. Yet it is obvious you are more infatuated with the cast than the stars.

If you truly liked Hairspray, you would see the movie whether it was Harvey, Travolta, or Dakota Fanning as Edna.

Give me a break.

I think the Queen will do a good job. Maybe not fantastic, as it should be. But I agree, it always seems to be Queen LaTifah in the token black role. At least she isn't Effie, though, right?

They should have brought in Patti LaBelle or Darlene Love (not to mention Mary Bond, but that's besides the point) to do the role. I'm sure Patti would have been great!

Updated On: 3/3/06 at 12:23 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 12:25pm

Dakota Fanning as Edna...



...YES!!!!!

I think she's ready for it.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 12:38pm

They MUST cast Harvey as Tracy now

Actually I think John Goodman would've been a good choice for Edna.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 12:40pm

They could have gone the way of Little Shop and cast the best person for the leads and put the name stars in the supporting roles. (Robin Williams as Wilbur, Bette Midler as Velma...and dare I say, Travolta as Corny?)

And Margo, I couldn't agree with you more.

Updated On: 3/3/06 at 12:40 PM

[catstagestud]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 12:51pm

I'd thought that Goodman would be an enjoyable Edna also. As for Travolta I'm not going to pre-judge anything because I've seen two different Edna's and each have their own spin. Would I have liked to see Harvey in the role? Yes, but I understand where New Line is coming from with Travolta. He's had some flops (big ones) in the past decade or so but who knows...it's too early to tell.

As for the Queen I'm excited for her as Motormouth. She's 36 in two weeks and who's to say that people didn't have kids in their late teens. Maybe they'll age her up a little bit, who knows. As for singing I'm hoping she'll be wonderful on "I Know Where I've Been" simply because I love the song. But I highly doubt that Mr. Shaiman and Wittman will let her be nothing but amazing vocally...I guess we'll see when Summer '07 rolls around.

Cheers,

C.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 12:57pm

At 36, where the hell has Latifah been? Like "I'm Still Here" you have to have been around a while to sing that song and have it have the necessary resonance and impact and even make any sense whatsoever. Queen "No Range/No Belt/No Power" Latifah knows where she's been? Well, good for her. She's not even middle aged. It'd be a sad thing if she didn't.

Dumb, Dumb, Dumb, Dumb, Dumb.......

Updated On: 3/3/06 at 12:57 PM

[Magical_Ms._Mistoffeles_72]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 12:58pm

If Jack Nicholson were to be cast in this movie I would run away. Im serious he scares me. Since I saw the shining, I cannot watch anything with him in it without my bladder threatening to explode with fear. But since he is not, I will be first in line.

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 1:39pm

Here's a (not so new) thought...

Maybe they'll write a new song for Latifah that better fits her age, skills and personality in that scene. They can get their same points across from a "younger" African-American perspective. Song-swapping has been done before... sometimes successfully and sometimes not so.

But she's not exactly OBLIGATED to sing "I Know Where I've Been" in the Hairspray film, anymore than Liza was obligated to sing "Perfectly Marvelous" or "Don't Tell Mama" in Cabaret.

[TabooPhan1]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 1:40pm

RunFreedomRun- The only problem here with someone adding their interpretation is that it's not just a passing thing. He's not playing the role for a few months, offering his interpretation, then leaving. He's recording that performance for movie-musical history. I personally am extremely turned off by the idea of John Travolta in the role. Harvey's performance was amazing, whereas I though John Travolta was apalling in every musical he ever did. I feel like they just keep making the same mistake over and over again. Did anyone see West Side? Is no one getting the idea?

I agree, Queen Latifah (although I usually enjoy her performances) is wrong for this part. She's just too young, or rather, young looking.

Best12Bars- Let the jokes go. They're getting old.

[BSoBW3]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 1:45pm

Well, it is called acting.

And make-up.

They can make Latifah look the part.

And with work, I am sure she could get it.

[NCGuy]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 2:06pm

Harvey's performance was amazing, whereas I though John Travolta was apalling in every musical he ever did.

What other musicals besides Grease has Travolta done?

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 2:10pm

"Well it's called acting."

Yes it is... and actresses seem to be able to pull of "older" than "younger" on film with the help of makeup, wigs, etc.

I'm glad they went with Latifah over Aretha or Patti LaBelle. Seaweed is supposed to be her son, not her grandson.

Of course, they could have changed that in the script as well...

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 2:16pm

Do you all think Carly has a chance at Tracy?

[BSoBW3]

Posted: 3/3/06 at 2:18pm

I think Marissa could and should do it.