(Late) Casting Coup Tuesday: Funny Face

Sorry for the lateness of this: packing for a trip, constant working, etc., etc.: it's been a busy time.

Hard to preface Funny Face without just bursting to song. It's one of my all-time favorite movies. Of ever. Definitely in my Top 100, definitely in the 50, maybe the 25...? And yet, because I'm the kind of mind who thinks that way, I wonder what a remake made now would look like...

Not that they could ever make it nowadays. They'd have to punch up the Audrey Hepburn character, an intellectual who runs a philosophical bookshop only to find herself the model of a new French fashion line when a magazine photographer becomes enchanted with her face...her sunny, funny face. Not that there's anything wrong with a young woman becoming a model, but when the guy you want her to wind up with says, "He cares as much for your intellect as I do" and sings, "If you could cook/The way you look/I'd swim the ocean wide/Just to have you by my side". It's seems like quite a sexist film, even down to a musical number where Kay Thompson teaches Audrey how to be a proper, lovely woman.



Kay Thompson! My God, but that's the most challenging aspect of this recasting! Hepburn and Astaire are fantastic in their roles, but their roles are stock characters from the House of Musical Theatre. But Thompson??? In the middle of what seems like a sexist film is this powerhouse, editor-in-chief of a leading fashion magazine, an Anna Wintour 20 years before Wintour even landed a job. Thompson's portrayal of Maggie Prescott is one of the greatest ever committed to film, a tour-de-force of PERSONALITY. This is the woman who created Eloise, trained Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland, and yet to me, she will first and foremost be Maggie Prescott. Maggie!



Anyway, I think I did the old girl proud. Take a gander and you'll see:

PAUL DUVAL

Who is He: The fashion designer whose line Jo is set to model in Paris.

Originally played by:

Robert Flemyng (The Man Who Never Was, Shadowlands)

My Choice:

David Bowie (Labyrinth, Zoolander)
Bringing a sense of style all his own, Bowie easily commands a room, as Duval undoubtedly does as well. His coolness would be an interesting flip from Flemyng's more harried interpretation.

EMILE FLOSTRE

Who is He: A French philosopher, founder of a philosophy called Empathy. He frequents an artsy club in Montmartre, and has a lavish apartment where he holds meetings for his fellow intellectuals. Oh, and he totally just wants to lay some hotties.

Originally played by:

Michel Auclair (Beauty and the Beast, The Day of the Jackal)

My Choice:

Vincent Cassel (Irreversible, Black Swan)
My goodness, but he's rather good at playing these dominating, manipulative, sexual types, isn't he? And he's so FRRRRENCH, you know?

MAGGIE PRESCOTT

Who is She: Editor-in-chief of a leading fashion magazine. She realizes that a new look is necessary to appeal to the new consumer -- and Paul Duval -- though she believes it is a regular model in an intellectual background. She is the most amazing human being in the world.

Songs: Think Pink, Bonjour Paris, On How to Be Lovely, Clap Yo' Hands

Originally played by:

Kay Thompson (Manhattan Merry-Go-Round, Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon)

My Choice:

Jenifer Lewis (Meet the Browns, The Princess and the Frog)
Oh my God, when I saw her in Madea's Family Reunion, it was like Maggie Prescott reborn! She's fun and fabulous, equally great in supporting turns and diva roles. And she can SING!


DICK AVERY
Who is He: A professional photographer. He thinks little of Jo's intellectual studies, believing that such things are not meant for pretty young things...even though he clearly respects powerful women like Maggie. Dick realizes that Jo is perfect for the New It Girl wanted by Maggie and Duval, and he volunteers to watch her when they bring her to Paris. He does, and he photographs her, and...he falls in love with her.

Songs: Funny Face, Bonjour Paris, Let's Kiss and Make Up, He Loves and She Loves, S'wonderful

Originally played by: Academy Award Nominee/BAFTA Award/Golden Globe Winner for Best Supporting Actor (The Towering Inferno), Golden Globe Winner for Best Actor in a Musical/Comedy (Three Little Words)

Fred Astaire (Top Hat, On the Beach)

My Choice: Golden Globe Nominee for Best Actor in a Musical/Comedy (Kate & Leopold)

Hugh Jackman (Australia, Real Steel)
How few there are that can cut a rug, sing to bring down the house, and never lose a shred of their masculinity. Dick's a red-blooded male, though artsy. And Jackman? He can bring both of those aspects, as well as that incredible voice.


JO STOCKTON
Who is He: Owner of a book shop in Greenwich Village catering to intellectuals and pseudo-intellectuals. When Maggie and Dick burst in to use her place as a set for their new shoot, they wind up running into this headstrong, intelligent young woman. Dick brings her on as a model and whisks her off to Paris, but she's much more interested in meeting philosopher Emile Flostre. Still, she can't deny a certain attraction to Mr. Avery...

Songs: How Long Has This Been Going On, Bonjour Paris, On How to Be Lovely, S'wonderful

Originally played by: Academy Award/Golden Globe Winner for Best Actress [in a Drama] (Roman Holiday), BAFTA Award Winner for Best British Actress (Roman Holiday, The Nun's Story, Charade)

Audrey Hepburn (Sabrina, My Fair Lady)

My Choice: Hollmann Award Nominee for Best Actress (Avatar)

Zoe Saldana (Star Trek, The Losers)
A beauty, a dancer, and a singer, if I'm not mistaken. Most importantly, though, a fine actress, believably integrating good looks with intelligence.

Casting Coup Wednesday: A Wrinkle in Time

Finally! After many delays and broken promises, I've finally got A Wrinkle in Time CCT'd...on a Wednesday. Hey, it got done, right?

I took so long, though, because I did want this to be just right. You see, the novel was recommended to me last summer by an actor and friend I greatly admire; a year later, one of my close friends waxed rhapsodic about it, so I finally got around to reading it. If two people I hold in high esteem love Madeline L'Engle's popular novel as much as they do, then it must be worth the read, right?

Right indeed. I was charmed by the Murrys: I could identify with Meg, and while the idea of a sex-year-old as genius as young Charles Wallace seems absurd...eh, I went with it. There are a lot of impressively brilliant children out there, so I didn't see why a telepathic pre-kindergartener who communicates with angels should be bizarre. Then, of course, the Mrs. Ws, especially dear Mrs. Whatsit, who quickly became my favorite character in the book. The plot itself was one that had me re-reading certain passages to reassure myself of what I was reading. But it was there: a mode of travel through space and time called "tesseracting"; a cold, clammy Black Thing that is attacking the universe; and a distant planet turned into a warless, fascist world of conformity by a large brain known only as IT. It was weird. It was glorious.

It was the perfect subject for a film! Certainly, the casting seemed off when I looked up the television version from 2004. Twenty-year-olds to play the leads? It's not like we're short on child actors, people. Besides, I had some ideas of my own while reading it, and some more well after. The only major characters not to show up here are the Murry twins and Charles Wallace. The twins are bit parts, and probably could go to unknowns -- also, I don't know of many twins actors. As for Charles Wallace, that has to go to an unknown, for it will be a rare thing indeed to find a child of that age range that could play the character. As for the rest...well, judge for yourselves.

THE MAN WITH RED EYES

Who is He: Prime Coordinator of Camazotz, he is the vessel through which IT speaks to Meg, Calvin and Charles Wallace. He communicates telepathically. IT enters into Charles Wallace when the boy looks in the eyes of the Man with Red Eyes.

My Choice:

Doug Jones (Hellboy, Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer)

This time we get to see his face. And what a menacing, terrifying face it is. Not in a bad way, though, in a "could totally pull off this role" way. And with red contacts, the effect would be terrifying.

AUNT BEAST

Who is She: The blind, telepathic, tentacled creature who nurses Meg after she is frozen by the Black Thing. Aunt Beast is nurturing and loving, with a soft and motherly voice.

My Choice: Academy Award Nominee for Best Actress (Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons) and Best Supporting Actress (The World According to Garp, The Big Chill, The Natural), BAFTA Award Nominee for Best Actress (Dangerous Liaisons), Golden Globe Nominee for Best Actress in a Drama or Musical/Comedy (Fatal Attraction, Maxie, 101 Dalmatians)

Glenn Close (Tarzan, Hoodwinked!)

Of course, Aunt Beast herself would have to be played by a Where the Wild Things-esque blend of costume and VFX, but the soothing tones of a mother should be done by one whose voice is soft and reassuring. Remember her work in Tarzan? Of course you do, she was magnificent.

THE HAPPY MEDIUM

Who is She: A jolly woman whose crystal ball reveals the Black Thing, an evil being attacking the universe. She lives in a cavern on a planet in Orion's Belt.

My Choice:

Della Reese (Harlem Nights, Beauty Shop)

She's got a kind of mystical quality to her...probably from all those years as Tess on "Touched by an Angel". She's also got a wonderfully jolly smile and laugh, which I think would help in playing a character who's "jolly".

MRS. WHICH

Who is She: One of the angelic Mrs. Ws. Unable to completely materialize, she is a ghostly, ethereal presence, with an echoing voice. Mrs. Which is the wisest and leader of the Mrs. Ws.

My Choice: Academy Award/BAFTA Winner/Golden Globe/SAG Award Nominee for Best Supporting Actress (Michael Clayton), Golden Globe/Indie Spirit Nominee for Best Actress [in a Drama] (The Deep End), SAG Award Nominee for Best Ensemble (Adaptation., The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Hollmann Award Nominee for Best Supporting Actress (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)

Tilda Swinton (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Julia)

An otherworldly woman. She's got a great voice for the angelic, echoey effect, too.

MRS. WHO

Who is She: One of the Mrs. Ws. Round and bespectacled, Mrs. Who speaks in various languages and often quotes the Bible and Shakespeare. She finds it difficult to use her own words to express herself.

My Choice: BAFTA Award Winner for Best Supporting Actress (The Age of Innocence)

Miriam Margolyes (Romeo + Juliet, Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone)

She is a plump woman who would look owlish with spectacles. A wonderful supporting actress, you could just plop glasses on that face above and she'd be good to go.

MRS. WHATSIT

Who is She: An elderly woman in appearance, she is actually the youngest of the Mrs. Ws. Because of this, she has the easiest time communicating with the children, and it is she makes contact with Charles Wallace and the Murrys. Mrs. Whatsit is a tiny woman wrapped in various layers of clothes, and it is rumored that her house is haunted.

My Choice: Academy Award Winner/Golden Globe Nominee for Best Supporting Actress (The Year of Living Dangerously)

Linda Hunt (Ready to Wear, Stranger Than Fiction)

As soon as this character appeared, I immediately thought of Linda Hunt.

DR. ALEXANDER MURRY
Who is He: An astrophysicist, he's been missing for some time at the novel's opening. As it turns out, he's been researching fifth-dimensional traveling, or tesseracting -- that is, the same method of travel the Mrs. Ws use. Unfortunately, his research puts him at the mercy of the Black Thing, and he becomes a prisoner of IT. Long-haired, bespectacled, handsome, and a devoted father.

My Choice: Golden Globe Nominee for Best Actor in a Musical/Comedy (Kate & Leopold)

Hugh Jackman (Scoop, Australia)
Much of the story is spent in anticipation of eventually seeing him, so why not cast someone audiences will anticipate seeing? Plus, he can rock the long haired, bespectacled handsomeness.

DR. KATHERINE MURRY
Who is She: Microbiologist and beautiful, red-headed wife of Alex. She is a devoted mother, working from home in her own laboratory. Her beauty and intelligence, though, unknowingly put pressure on Meg.

My Choice: Academy Award/SAG Award Nominee for Best Actress (The End of the Affair, Far from Heaven) and Best Supporting Actress (Boogie Nights, The Hours), BAFTA Award Nominee for Best Actress (The End of the Affair) and Best Supporting Actress (The Hours), Golden Globe Nominee for Best Actress in a Drama or Musical/Comedy (The End of the Affair, An Ideal Husband, Far from Heaven) and Best Supporting Actress (Boogie Nights, A Single Man), Indie Spirit Winner for Best Actress (Far from Heaven), SAG Award Nominee for Best Supporting Actress (Magnolia) and Best Ensemble (Boogie Nights, Magnolia, The Hours), Hollmann Award Nominee for Best Supporting Actress (A Single Man)

Julianne Moore (Savage Grace, The Kids Are All Right)
Beautiful. Intelligent. Red-headed. Really, the only other option would be my girlfriend, but she's not old enough to have a fourteen-year-old daughter. So, Julianne Moore it is, then.

CALVIN O'KEEFE
Who is He: Fourteen-year-old high school junior who plays basketball. He likes being around the Murrys far better than being with his own inattentive family, and he winds up traveling with them to Camazotz. Of course, there also seems to be a "thing" between him and Meg.

My Choice:

Dylan Minnette (Let Me In, Fred Claus)
I was having a lot of difficulty with this role, but then I saw Let Me In. This kid walked on-screen and I immediately went, "Of course! Perfect!" It may seem bizarre of me to choose someone based on their portrayal of a sadistic bully, but he was also good as Jack's son on "Lost", so I think Calvin's in good hands here.

MEG MURRY
Who is She:  Our protagonist. Bespectacled, brace-faced, and mousy, Meg is unruly and unpopular. Though brilliant in mathematics, she is considered hopeless in other school subjects, and often does not apply the gifts bestowed upon her by God and good genes. She misses her father, is protective of her youngest brother Charles Wallace, is attracted to Calvin, and goes on a tesseracting journey through time and space.

My Choice:

Madeline Carroll (Swing Vote, Flipped)
Can you believe I'm basing this off of a commercial I saw her in? Those 30 seconds impressed me more than most other young actresses in whole films. Carroll seems to be admired in the industry, though, and what with being age-appropriate and someone who is obviously one to watch, I feel like she's just what this film needs to anchor it.

Things to Like About X-Men Origins: Wolverine

The opening credit sequence, in which we are given a history of Sabretooth and Wolverine via their involvement in every war from the Civil one through Vietnam. It's pretty cool, I have to admit. The music's right, the cinematography is awesome, hell yeah.


Liev Schreiber as Sabretooth/Victor Creed. Thank goodness someone can balance fun with awesome. I wish we could see more of him.

The trailers that played before the movie were good, too. I'm super-excited for Transformers: Rise of the Fallen. Looks like a big pile of awesome. I love Michael Bay. He makes what he wants and never apologizes for it.

And...yeah, that's about it. Not a good movie. Nope. Not even if you stretch your imagination a little. Oh, don't get me wrong, there's fun to be had -- some parts have just enough awesome stupidity to make you go, "Okay, what next?" Then the "next" comes, and it's thoroughly disappointing.

C? C-? Somewhere along those lines.

Shame on you, Hugh Jackman.

Casting Coup Month: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

When the Month of Oscar arrives, we here at dbarrymoresbeau -- and when I say we, I refer to myself and best friend Philip Baker Hall (let me dream) -- like to take a trip down memory lane. And when I say trip, I mean revamp.

Casting Coup Month officially begins!

We begin in the early days of Oscar. Picture it: Ambassador Hotel, 1932. It's the fifth Oscar ceremony ever. The nominees look very different than how they will in twenty years. Actress, Actor, and Director have only three nominees each, and there is no supporting category. Oh, and eight movies are nominated for Best Picture. Odd, isn't it? What else is odd? One of these categories ended in a tie. That category was Best Actor, and poor Alfred Lunt (The Guardsman) had to console himself with being the only loser in the category. The winners were Wallace Beery for The Champ (a film that also won original screenplay) and Fredric March for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

I first saw Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde when I was in elementary school. And I was shocked. This was pre-code, and I had yet to see movies from that period. Imagine my surprise when a prostitute showed up, then faked an injury to get Dr. Jekyll into her room. Then put his hand between her naked thighs as she clasped him to her nude chest. It was SHOCKING, I can tell you, as were the special makeup effects. This was around the time of evolutionary theory going mad, and so Mr. Hyde was designed after the Neanderthal Man. An interesting idea, that, with the savage side of Jekyll being literally devolved from the man. Of course, I didn't get this at the time, as I was eight. But still, it's quite fascinating.

For March, it was vindication. The studio did not want him in the lead, since at that point he was best-known for his Oscar-nominated role in The Royal Family of Broadway -- a comedy. Comedy and drama just did not mix in those days. Nevertheless, director Rouben Mamoulian insisted that March was the only actor who could play both Jekyll and Hyde, and so March got the role and the Oscar! He would be nominated thrice later -- A Star is Born, The Best Years of Our Lives (WIN), and Death of a Salesman.

Though nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay (Samuel Hoffenstein and Percy Heath, losing to Bad Girl by Edwin J. Burke), it had less to do with the credited work of Robert Louis Stevenson, and more with T.R. Sullivan's stage adaptation. It was here that the idea of two women, both fighting for Jekyll's soul, was first introduced. It was here that Sir Danvers Carew, a random murder victim in the novella, became Jekyll's future father-in-law. Utterson, the protagonist of Stevenson's story, is reduced to a cameo role. And so on, and so forth.

Several versions have been made of the tale, including a popular Broadway production, music by Frank Wildhorn, lyrics by Leslie Bricusse. There have been a number of rumors and ideas about the film adaptation of the show, but nothing has ever really come to fruition. So, I think it's about time that someone give more than just a partial bit of an idea. My remake of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde would be an adaptation of the musical, Jekyll & Hyde, but I think it would be neat to employ the same makeup effects.

THE SPIDER
Who is He: A pimp, and proprietor of The Red Rat. One of those nice guys that beats his women and threatens their lives when they show up late.

Songs: Facade (Reprise 87)

Quote: "If you live around here,
Lotsa people, I fear,
Will make promises
They will not honour, my dear,
An' the truth is,
You end up getting scarred!"

Originally played by: Actually, this is a character that has no real equivalent in the original film. But, he does get a solo piece.

My Choice:

Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead, Kinky Boots)
The person in question needs a sleazy persona, the kind that Frost showcased in Kinky Boots. They would also need to be a bit intimidating, and look at that guy. If he got angry, you would be dead. No question. But can he sing? Well, it's the Spider. It doesn't matter.


POOLE
Who is He: Jekyll's loyal butler.

Songs: None! Haha!

Originally played by: Funnily enough, he originated the role onstage!

Edgar Norton (Top Hat, Son of Frankenstein)

My Choice:

Benjamin Whitrow (Poirot: After the Funeral, Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice)
Fortunately, Poole doesn't sing, so I don't have to find a real singer. Whitrow is known and respected in England, but he's somewhat of an unknown here. So, a big enough name to get some people in, but small enough so that no one's wondering why he's just the butler. Also, he's a pretty great actor. I mean, shit, he did Poirot.


SIMON STRIDE
Who is He: Secretary of the Board of Governors of St. Jude's Hospital, he fully supports the Board's decision to no longer fund or support Jekyll's theories or practices. It must be ridiculous, right? That man is not one, but two? Crazyness. Oh, also, he does not care for Jekyll because he tot's wants a piece of his fiancee.

Songs: Emma's Reasons

Quote: "Emma Carew,
Can this be you?
What kind of man
Is this you've taken?
Can you not see
The kind of life
That this would be?
You are mistaken!"

Originally played by: Well, there's not really an equivalent for him in the original, but the closest we get is a colleague of Jekyll's who remains skeptical: Dr. Lanyon.

Holmes Herbert (Mystery of the Wax Museum, The Invisible Man)

My Choice:

Eddie Izzard (Across the Universe, Romance & Cigarettes)
Have you ever seen Izzard in a drama? The guy's serious work is equal to his stand-up: The Riches, The Cat's Meow, Valkyrie, etc. He's not the best singer, but it's one little snippet of a song, and he can act it, and Rex Harrison had a whole career in musicals, so I think it could work.


SIR DANVERS CAREW
Who is He: Chairman of the Board of Governors and father to Emma, making him the future father-in-law of Jekyll. He is a gentleman, loving but protective. In the film, he is beaten to death by a crazed Hyde. In the musical, he lives! I don't know why, but it happens.

Songs: Letting Go, Your Work--and Nothing More

Quote: "I am only trying to protect you!
What else would you have your father do?
I think I would die,
If any harm should come to you."

Originally played by:

Halliwell Hobbes (Dracula's Daughter, You Can't Take It With You)

My Choice: SAG Award Nominee for Best Ensemble (The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers)

Christopher Lee (The Wicker Man, The Return of Captain Invincible)
Look, people, Lee has to do a musical at some point. I mean, he did Captain Invincible, but come on. Have you seen it? It just barely counts. He's played the Criminologist in Rocky Horror on stage before. He's at that age where he seems warm and inviting. I think it would be fun to see him in such an "against type" role. Where he can sing.


JOHN UTTERSON
Who is He: A solicitor, Jekyll's best friend.

Songs: Pursue the Truth, Your Work--and Nothing More

Quote: "You have your work
And nothing more!
You are possessed -
What is your demon?"

Originally played by: Curiously enough, the most important role in the novella, the second male lead in the play, is reduced to an uncredited cameo in the film.

Arnold Lucy (All Quiet on the Western Front, Sherlock Holmes)

My Choice: Academy Award Nominee for Best Actor (The English Patient) and Best Supporting Actor (Schindler's List), BAFTA Award Winner for Best Supporting Actor (Schindler's List), Golden Globe Nominee for Best Actor in a Drama (The English Patient) and Best Supporting Actor (Schindler's List, The Duchess), SAG Award Nominee for Best Actor (The English Patient) and Best Ensemble (The English Patient), Hollmann Award Nominee for Best Supporting Actor (The Duchess)

Ralph Fiennes (The Prince of Egypt, Bernard and Doris)
Have you seen The Prince of Egypt? If you have, then you remember Ramses? The pharaoh? Yeah, that was Ralph Fiennes, and he does his own singing. Because Ralph Fiennes can sing. His deep, authoritative voice works for the role of Utterson. But he's also friendly enough so that we can believe that he and Jekyll are palsies.


EMMA CAREW
Who is She: Jekyll's fiancee, a proper lady of society.

Songs: Emma's Reasons, I Must Go On, Take Me As I Am, Letting Go, Your Work--and Nothing More, Once Upon a Dream, In His Eyes, Finale

Quotes: "Love meaning me,
Love meaning you,
We'll make that one dream come true!
You know who I am...
Take me as I am."

Originally played by: In the film, her name is Muriel Carew. I hate the name Muriel. It's ugly.

Rose Hobart (Tower of London, Ziegfeld Girl)

My Choice:

Rachel McAdams (Mean Girls, The Family Stone)
This is her. This is what she would look like: innocent, fragile, blonde. Married Life was a fantastic demonstration of her talents, as a girl in love with a man who behaves abominably. Like, say, Jekyll? HMMM?


LUCY HARRIS
Who is She: The star of The Red Rat, she falls for Jekyll when he shows her kindness, but becomes entangles with the abusive and possessive Hyde.

Songs: No One Knows Who I Am, Good 'N' Evil, Sympathy, Tenderness, Someone Like You, In His Eyes, Dangerous Game, A New Life

Quotes: "Look at me,
And tell me who I am,
Why I am
What I am.

Will I survive?
Who will give a damn,
If no one knows
Who I am?"

Originally played by: Academy Award Nominee for Best Actress (Becky Sharp), Golden Globe Nominee for Best Supporting Actress (The Heiress)

Miriam Hopkins (The Children's Hour, Fanny Hill), but in this version she was known as Ivy Pearson, a name I prefer.

My Choice: Academy Award Nominee for Best Supporting Actress (Good Will Hunting), SAG Award Nominee for Best Supporting Actress (Good Will Hunting) and Best Ensemble (Good Will Hunting)

Minnie Driver (GoldenEye, The Phantom of the Opera)
Driver is a bit older than Rachel McAdams, and I want to stress that. It hints at how long she's been doing this, at the idea of a life that's been shitty for forty years. And it sucks. I think it will pack more of a wallop in "A New Life", especially with the scene that comes after.


DR. HENRY JEKYLL/MR. EDWARD HYDE
Who Are They: Jekyll is a good doctor with radical theories pertaining to the good and evil inherent in all men. And women. Hyde is his evil alter-ego, a murderer and rapist with no morals or conscience. Jekyll hates Hyde, but is addicted to the freedom the transformation gives him.

Songs: Lost In The Darkness, Pursue The Truth, I Must Go On, Take Me As I Am, Now There Is No Choice, This Is The Moment, First Transformation, Alive, Your Work- And Nothing More, Alive (Reprise), Murder, Murder, Obsession, Dangerous Game, Confrontation

Quotes: "All that you are
Is a face in the mirror!
I close my eyes and you'll disappear!

I'm what you face
When you face in the mirror!
Long as you live, I will still be here!"

Originally played by: Academy Award Winner for Best Actor (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Best Years of Our Lives), BAFTA Award Nominee for Best Foreign Actor (Death of a Salesman, Executive Suite, Inherit the Wind), Golden Globe Winner for Best Actor in a Drama (Death of a Salesman)

Fredric March (The Desperate Hours, The Iceman Cometh)

My Choice: Golden Globe Nominee for Best Actor in a Musical/Comedy (Kate & Leopold)

Hugh Jackman (X-Men, Australia)
Jackman is a fantastic singer, and he has the Tony to prove it. He can be manly and sexy and polite and a gentleman. But he can also be animalistic, cruel, manipulative, and a monster. Jackman is an incredible actor that would do wonderfully here. But could he repeat history and get the Oscar nom, much less the win? Interesting question...

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION:
Best Actor -- Hugh Jackman
Best Actress -- Minnie Driver
Best Supporting Actor -- Ralph Fiennes, Christopher Lee
Best Supporting Actress -- Rachel McAdams

Holy Shit....

Holy shit, this trailer for Australia is my cup of tea.

Casting Coup: Gone with the Wind

*The very first entry in the very first Casting Coup Month. I know it's heresy to recast Gone with the Wind. Looking at it now, I really don't know if this was the best cast I could have come up with. But hey, it was my first time, it was 2008, and hullabaloo. I have replaced all the pics used then with new ones, since I only hot-linked back in the day. I also didn't use screencaps then, for some bizarre reason. Enjoy.*

CASTING COUP MONTH begins now, with a remake I've been planning for ages.

I am speaking of the romantic Civil War/Reconstruction epic, Gone with the Wind (in glorious Technicolor!)

It was quite a landmark film. Though Victor Fleming won the Oscar for directing duties, everyone knows that it's really David O. Selznick's picture. Besides, Fleming was, what, the fourth or fifth director to work on the film? He was much busier with a film of his own; The Wizard of Oz.

Gone with the Wind is worthy of note, if just for the number of Oscars it garnered. Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (you better believe it) for the great Vivien Leigh, Best Screenplay for Sidney Howard's single-handed adaptation of the 1024-page tome, Best Cinematography (Color--Ernest Hailer/Ray Rennahan), Best Film Editing, Best Art Direction. Most significant, of course, was the Best Supporting Actress win lobbed at Hattie McDaniel, the first black actor ever honored with such an honor. Thomas Mitchell, who played Scarlett's dad, also won Supporting Actor, but that was for another movie--Stagecoach. And the immortal score somehow lost out to the cringe-inducing Wizard of Oz.

So, why a remake? That's a fair question. Let me explain. Actually,

THE TARLETON TWINS
Who Are They: Hopeful suitors of Miss Scarlett, important mainly to show how desirable she is.

Originally played by: George Reeves (you know, Superman?) played Brent, while Fred Crane played Stuart.


My Choices: I, too, can get jock-types who vaguely look alike to play twins. And Walter only makes all-star extravaganzas.

Channing Tatum (She's the Man, Step Up) as Brent (or Stuart)
Chad Michael Murray ("One Tree Hill"[?], House of Wax) as Stuart (or Brent)


JONAS WILKERSON
Who is He: The overseer over at Tara, until he knocks up Emmy Slattery. After the war, they lord it over the fallen Southern aristocrats, but who cares? They'll always be trash.

Originally played by: Victor Jory (just add mustache)


My Choice: Come on. Like there's any doubt?

Josh Brolin (No Country for Old Men, American Gangster, In the Valley of Elah, Grindhouse)


EMMY SLATTERY
Who is She: No good piece of white trash impregnated by the overseer. Trash.

Originally played by: Isabel Jewell


My Choice: There is this one actress I admire. She could do this role.

Heather Graham (Boogie Nights, From Hell)


BELLE WATLING
Who is She: A Woman of the World, if you know what I mean. She knows her way around town, if you get my drift. She's pals with Rhett Butler, if you catch my meaning. But she's got a heart of gold, and actually winds up being one of the five best characters in the film.

Originally played by: Ona Munson


My Choice: La Muse

Drew Barrymore (Music and Lyrics, Lucky You)


DOLLY MERRIWETHER
Who is She: An old Atlanta gossip.

Originally played by: Academy Award Winner Jane Darwell (The Grapes of Wrath)


My Choice: To the left.

Kathy Lamkin (No Country for Old Men, Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning)


DR. MEADE
Who is He: An awesome Atlanta doctor who does not suffer fools gladly. Number Four of the Awesome Five.

Originally played by: Harry Davenport


My Choice: In keeping with the 1939 tradition of having Brits play Southerners...

Alan Rickman (Truly Madly Deeply, Something the Lord Made)


AUNT PITTYPAT HAMILTON
Who is She: Scarlett's aunt by marriage, Melanie's aunt by blood, Pittypat is a flighty woman who insists on wearing shoes way too small for her ample figure. Says one of my favorite lines in the movie: "Yankees in Georgia!"

Originally played by: Laura Hope Crews, who should just come back from the dead and replay the part.


My Choice: But since that's impossible, we have...

Margo Martindale (Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, The Hours)


FRANK KENNEDY
Who is He: Captain Hugo P. Sideburns himself, his muttonchops are a force to be reckoned with. Suellen's intended, but he winds up being the second Mr. Scarlett O'Hara. And, to be honest, he's kind of a pushover.

Originally played by: Carroll Nye (tiny pic, but look at those sideburns!)


My Choice: Maybe too old?

Hugh Jackman ("Viva Laughlin", Someone Like You...) -- and look at those muttonchops!


CHARLES HAMILTON
Who is He: Melanie's dorky brother. Becomes the first Mr. Scarlett O'Hara; Scarlett does this to get back at Ashley for marrying Melanie.

Originally played by: Rand Brooks


My Choice: This is a tough one, and I still don't think I made the right call here.

A.J. Trauth ("Evens Stevens", Happy Endings), who, in this photo, appears to be giving the "come hither" look to Joey Lawrence.


INDIA WILKES
Who is She: Ashley's sister, who seems to, shall we say, not have the best of friendships of Scarlett.

Originally played by: Alicia Rhett


My Choice:

Jenna Fischer (Walk Hard, Blades of Glory), who may be way too hot for this role.


BIG SAM
Who is He: The foreman on Tara, he is a devoted servant both before and after the War and Reconstruction.

Originally played by: Everett Brown


My Choice:

Academy Award Nominee Michael Clarke Duncan (The Green Mile, The Island), and holy shit he's a gorilla.


PRISSY
Who is She: A whiny servant who don't know nothin' 'bout birthin' no babies. She gets smacked around a lot.

Originally played by: How can anyone forget Butterfly McQueen?


My Choice:

Sharon Leal (This Christmas, Dreamgirls)


PORK
Who is He: Another devoted slave, this one working in the house.

Originally played by: Oscar Polk


My Choice: Okay, it's another Dreamgirls star.

Danny Glover (Gone Fishin', The Royal Tenenbaums)


ELLEN O'HARA
Who is She: The O'Hara matriarch, the beautiful Ellen is in control of her household affairs, ruling Tara with an iron, but lovingly matriarchal, fist.

Originally played by: Barbara O'Neil, and she was wonderful


My Choice: Speaking of powerful beauties...

Academy Award Nominee Catherine Keener (Capote, Into the Wild)


GERALD O'HARA
Who is He: The Irish patriarch of the O'Hara clan, a horse-ridin' fellow who goes a little crazy post-Yankee victory.

Originally played by: Academy Award Winner Thomas Mitchell (Stagecoach)


My Choice: A writer/director/actor...

Peter Mullan (Children of Men, On a Clear Day)


MAMMY
Who is She: The real head of the household. She's not afraid to give an open, honest opinion to Scarlett. Or anyone else for that matter. We know who's pulling the strings! Number One of the Awesome Five.

Originally played by: Academy Award Winner Hattie McDaniel (Gone with the Wind)


My Choice: The always reliable...

JoMarie Payton ("Family Matters", "The Proud Family")


MELANIE HAMILTON
Who is She: The sweet and honest and selfless bride to Ashley, she is a weak creature. And the childbirth doesn't help. Come to think of it, I really don't like Melanie. Bloody do-gooder.

Originally played by: The STILL-LIVING Academy Award Winner Olivia de Haviland (To Each His Own, The Heiress)


My Choice: More Brits as Southerners...

Emmy Award Winner Kelly Macdonald (The Girl in the Park, No Country for Old Men)


ASHLEY WILKES
Who is He: Though he seems slightly fey in the film, in the book, Ashley is a stand-up kind of guy. With a mustache. Married to Melanie, he is faithful and true, while totally aware of Scarlett's feelings for him. He's not bad.

Originally played by: British wuss/Academy Award Nominee Leslie Howard (Berkeley Square, Pygmalion). Seriously, Scarlett? Him?


My Choice: Doesn't he look sensitive? Like Ashley?

Academy Award/Hollmann Award Nominee Ryan Gosling (Half Nelson, Lars and the Real Girl)


RHETT BUTLER
Who is He: You fucking know this guy. He's Number Two on the Awesome Five. He's the most quotable pre-Bond cinematic character. Hell, he's the most James Bond pre-Bond character.

Originally played by: Academy Award Winner/Bad-ass Clark Gable (It Happened One Night)

No one eye-fucks like the original.

My Choice: I'm sorry, but George Clooney's too old for the rest of the cast. But how about Choice #2?

Christian Bale (Newsies, Reign of Fire)


SCARLETT O'HARA
Who is She: The heiress of Tara, the heroine of the story, the bitch with the money.

Originally played by: Academy Award Winner Vivien Leigh (Gone with the Wind, A Streetcar Named Desire)


My Choice: Now this is a tough one. Someone unconventionally beautiful (the book says she was not, but everyone thought she was because of the way she carried herself). Someone with that dark hair/light eyes look. Someone that we could see chasing Ryan Gosling and getting chased by Christian Bale.

Rachel McAdams (Red Eye, The Family Stone)

And there you have it: Walter Hollmann Presents Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind.