Casting Coup Week: Chinatown

I was lucky when I first saw Chinatown: the final twenty minutes, among the most famous in all of cinema, was completely unknown to me. So I had the dropped jaw, the sinking feeling, the lump in the throat, all of it from the get-go. That was in high school. The second time I saw it, last year...same thing. Maybe not the dropped jaw, but there was still an awful sadness. Chinatown is a movie that's a lot of fun, until it takes you through the wringer. Yet so expertly executed is this, you have to return. You can't forget it; it's Chinatown.

A co-worker of mine asked me what it was about. I said I couldn't tell him, it would spoil everything. But if you really want to know and haven't seen it: it's about a private eye who gets a job photographing his client's husband with another woman. However, his client is just impersonating the real wife, the husband winds up dead, and the fraud disappears. The private eye investigates, and the audience is treated to noir, a history lesson, and social injustice. Despite the abundant humor and hot romance, it is a Downer of a film.

But of course: it's Roman Polanski, who received his first nomination for Best Director with this film (Coppola won for The Godfather: Part II). Polanski, who was previously nominated in Best Adapted Screenplay for Rosemary's Baby, is not famous for his hopeful, Love Conquers All endings. Interestingly, Chinatown's famous ending is all Polanski, as screenwriter Robert Towne wanted a more upbeat finale. Towne also didn't want to excise any of his original 300+-page manuscript, which had a sprawling ensemble and a more episodic structure. They fought and argued, argued and fought; they compromised, and we have the Chinatown as we know it today: a perfect movie with a perfect screenplay.

Towne was the only winner of the bunch, for Original Screenplay. In addition to his win and Polanski's nod, Chinatown was nominated for Best Actor (Jack Nicholson), losing to Harry & Tonto's Art Carney; Best Actress (Faye Dunaway), losing to Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore's Ellen Burstyn; Best Sound, losing to Earthquake; Best Editing (Sam O'Steen) and Best Cinematography (John A. Alonzo), losing to The Towering Inferno; Best Costume Design (Anthea Sylbert), losing to The Great Gatsby; and Best Art Direction, Best Original Score (Jerry Goldsmith), and Best Picture of the Year, losing to The Godfather: Part II. It's ok, Chinatown; I like you more than all those others.

So if I love it, and if it's considered by many to be perfect just the way it is, why even suggest a different cast? Because we can!

KHAN

Who is He: The Mulwrays' faithful manservant, he sees everything and says nothing.

Originally played by:

James Hong (Big Trouble in Little China, Mulan)

My Choice:

Chin Han (The Dark Knight, Contagion)

IDA SESSIONS

Who is She: The mysterious woman who poses as Evelyn Mulwray, asking Jake Gittes to catch her husband in an infidelity. When she is revealed to be a fraud, she suddenly disappears...

Originally played by: Academy Award/Golden Globe Nominee for Best Supporting Actress (Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, Wild at Heart, Rambling Rose), BAFTA Award Winner for Best Supporting Actress (Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore)

Diane Ladd (Ghosts of Mississippi, Primary Colors)

My Choice:

Katie Finneran (Night of the Living Dead, Firehouse Dog)

HOLLIS MULWRAY

Who is He: Chief engineer for LA Department of Water and Power, opposed to the building of a new dam, former business partner of Noah Cross, husband of Evelyn, dead man.

Originally played by:

Darrell Zwerling (TV's The Boy in the Plastic Bubble, And Justice for All)

My Choice:

John Hodgman (Coraline, "Bored to Death")

RUSS YELBURTON

Who is He: Acting head of the Department of Water and Power, secretive and snobbish.

Originally played by:

John Hillerman (At Long Last Love, "Magnum, P.I.")

My Choice:

Christian Clemenson (Broadcast News, J. Edgar)

He can play that snooty, entitled suit well -- haven't you ever watched "The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr."?

LT. LOU ESCOBAR

Who is He: Homicide detective, an old acquaintance of Jake's. Doesn't always see the big picture, doesn't always like Jake, but he seems like a smart guy who respects a pro.

Originally played by:

Perry Lopez (Che!, The Two Jakes)

My Choice:

Cliff Curtis (Whale Rider, Runaway Jury)

NOAH CROSS

Who is He: Wealthy and influential landowner. A humorous gentleman, but scarily powerful. Concerned about the whereabouts of Katherine Cross, who was seen with Mulwray before he was found dead.

Originally played by: Hollmann Award/BAFTA Award Nominee for Best Supporting Actor (Chinatown)Academy Award Winner for Best Director and Best Screenplay (The Treasure of the Sierra Madre), Golden Globe Winner for Best Director (The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Prizzi's Honor) and Best Supporting Actor (The Cardinal), WGA Award Winner for Best American Western (The Treasure of the Sierra Madre)

John Huston (Myra Breckinridge, The Visitor)

My Choice: Academy Award Winner for Best Actor (Philadelphia, Forrest Gump), BAFTA Award Nominee for Best Actor (Forrest Gump, Saving Private Ryan, Cast Away), Golden Globe Winner for Best Actor - Drama & Musical/Comedy (Big, Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, Cast Away), SAG Award Winner for Best Actor (Forrest Gump) and Best Ensemble (Apollo 13)

Tom Hanks (Road to Perdition, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close)

He's like America's Dad, and he's as great a dramatic actor as he is a comedic one. Just imagine that last scene -- or any scene, really -- with Tom Hanks. It'd be completely different from John Huston's, which is a good thing; why would you want everything to be exactly the same? It'd easily be one of his best performances.

EVELYN CROSS MULWRAY

Who is She: Hollis's wife, Noah's daughter. Her secrets and lies get Jake suspicious of her,  and her beauty and vulnerbaility get him into bed with her. But the secret she'd holding tightest to is the darkest of all...

Originally played by: Hollmann Award Nominee for Best Actress (Chinatown), Academy Award/Golden Globe Winner for Best Actress [Drama] (Network), BAFTA Award Nominee for Best Actress (Chinatown, Network)

Faye Dunaway (Little Big Man, Mommie Dearest)

My Choice:

Christina Hendricks (Life as We Know It, Drive)

If "Mad Men"'s Joan Harris and Drive's Blanche don't convince you, what in the world will? She's beautiful, she can do period, she can do noir, she tears your heart out with her silences. She's perfect for Evelyn.

JAKE GITTES

Who is He: A former cop with a past (of course), now a private eye with a problem: his last client wasn't who she said she was. To protect his rep, he's on the case to find out who really hired him, and why. He'll uncover an underbelly even darker and more complicated than anything he found in his last turf: Chinatown.

Originally played by: Hollmann Award Winner for Best Supporting Actor (The Departed), Academy Award Winner for Best Actor (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, As Good As It Gets) and Best Supporting Actor (Terms of Endearment), BAFTA Award Winner for Best Actor (Chinatown & The Last Detail, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) and Best Supporting Actor (Reds), Golden Globe Winner for Best Actor - Drama & Musical/Comedy (Chinatown, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Prizzi's Honor, As Good As It Gets, About Schmidt) and Best Supporting Actor (Terms of Endearment), SAG Award Winner for Best Actor (As Good As It Gets)

Jack Nicholson (The Raven, How Do You Know?)

My Choice: Academy Award Nominee for Best Supporting Actor (Milk), SAG Award Winner for Best Ensemble (No Country for Old Men)

Josh Brolin (True Grit, Thrashin')

I do think Jake needs to be well-past thirty, old enough for his cynicism and experience. Brolin has a quiet intensity that I like, and a laconic style of humor that fits Gittes well. He'd look good in the suit, too.

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

Best Actor: Josh Brolin

Best Actress: Christina Hendricks

Best Supporting Actor: Tom Hanks, Cliff Curtis, Christian Clemenson

As Long As Kate Hudson Stays Away...

So, Sony Pictures Classics has acquired US distribution rights for Woody Allen's just-completed You Will Meet a Tall, Dark Stranger, slated for release this fall. The cast includes Antonio Banderas, Naomi Watts, Anthony Hopkins, Josh Brolin, Freida Pinto and Lucy Punch. That's cool and all.

Meanwhile, however, casting has begun on his next project, and hoo-boy, what a cast.

Owen Wilson? In a Woody Allen film? This is a pairing I never would have seen coming, but God knows I'm interested. I rarely see Wilson in a movie and think, "Meh." He's a talented actor with great comic instincts, but The Royal Tenenbaums had me itching to see him in a great drama. His layering of Eli Cash was subtle and intriguing.

Marion Cotillard? Well, that makes sense. Allen seems to making his way through the Nine cast -- Lucy Punch, after all, replaced Nicole Kidman. Hopefully this means we'll soon see neurotic versions of Judi Dench and Fergie. To see the beautiful Cotillard in a movie from my favorite living director would be a dream come true.

Rachel McAdams? How did she not get into one earlier? What could this movie be about, that it has two sexy screen sirens like McAdams and Cotillard? What roles would re-team the co-stars of Wedding Crashers? You have me intrigued!

Also, there's the rumor that pop star/first lady of France Carla Bruni will be in the movie as well. She also appears in You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, so it's possible.

Filming will take place in Paris, where Woody's wanted to make a movie for years.

Casting Coup: James Bond

And so here we are, ready for the month of June. Ready for some JAMES FREEKING BOND!

But let us not begin with one of the five novels I want to cast. The Bond mythos involves a large number of spies, secretaries, allies and executives, many of whom appear in a number of novels and short stories, even through the Raymond Benson novels of the 1990s. Instead of going through them all as each one appears, it's best we get them out of the way here and now. And no, I shan't go the route of my Devil May Care Casting Coup, wherein I whimped out and just said, "uh, the movie ones are good enough". No, I shall actually tell you who I see in each role in my own mind. And it ain't Daniel Craig.

MAY MAXWELL
Who is She: Bond's housekeeper, an elderly Scottish woman with a good heart. She never appears in the films, because only twice have we even seen his flat: Doctor No (1962) and Live and Let Die (1973).

My Choice: Academy Award Winner for Best Supporting Actress (My Left Foot), Golden Globe Nominee for Best Supporting Actress (My Left Foot)

Brenda Fricker (Masterminds, Angels in the Outfield)
I always thought of May as huggable. Aw, look at her. Don't you just want to throw your arms around her?


LOELIA PONSONBY
Who is She: Bond's personal secretary. Eventually replaced by Mary Goodnight in On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Crushes on her boss. Never appeared in the films, and much of her personality was transferred to Moneypenny.

My Choice:

Sophie Winkelman (Poirot: Five Little Pigs)
So I saw her in that Poirot episode I mention, and when looking about for the perfect Loelia, I suddenly remembered her performance. Subtle and professional. Good qualities for this role.


BILL TANNER
Who is He: M's Chief of Staff. Bond's best friend at the office.

Previously played by:

Rory Kinnear (Quantum of Solace), among others

My Choice:

Ben Miles (V for Vendetta, Speed Racer)
Looks good in a suit, and V for Vendetta gave us a look at that bureaucratic side of him. TV's Coupling let us know of us sense of humor and his ability to pal around with the guys. The combination leads to Tanner, who remains professional but holds his own alongside Bond.


MISS MONEYPENNY
Who is She: M's secretary.

Previously played by:

Lois Maxwell (Doctor No - A View to a Kill), Samantha Bond (GoldenEye - Die Another Day), among others

My Choice:

Claudie Blakley (Severance, The Cat's Meow)


FELIX LEITER
Who is He: CIA agent who eventually gets a job with Pinkerton's detective agency. A Texan, born and bred. Tanner may be Bond's best friend at the office, but Felix is Bond's BFF, his bestie for the restie.

Previously played by:

Jeffrey Wright (Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace), among others

My Choice: Academy Award Nominee for Best Supporting Actor (Milk), SAG Award Winner for Best Ensemble (No Country for Old Men)

Josh Brolin (Thrashin', W.)
Brolin can do the Southern accent along with the good ol' boy routine that comes with it. He'd be like Jack Lord, the handsome guy Yank of Bond's age who can keep up with 007. I could see him with a hook.


M
Who is He: Head of MI6. The man Bond answers to.

Previously played by:

Judi Dench (GoldenEye - Quantum of Solace), among others (most of whom were men)

My Choice: SAG Award Winner for Best Ensemble (Gosford Park)

Michael Gambon (TV's The Singing Detective, The Life Aquatic)
A throwback to the father figure of Bernard Lee's days. But I do think gambon can be a little warmer, so he may be even better!


JAMES BOND
Who is He: Agent 007 with a licence to kill. Loyal to M, as well as to Queen and Country. Enjoys both women and alcohol. Does not enjoy Commies, terrorists, or The Beatles.

Previously played by:

Daniel Craig (Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace)

My Choice: Golden Globe Nominee for Best Actor in a Musical/Comedy (Kinky Boots), SAG Award Nominee for Best Ensemble (American Gangster)

Chiwetel Ejiofor (Serenity, Love Actually)
I'm not trying to be controversial, truly. I know he's not exactly the traditional mold for Bond physically, but otherwise... Look, he's handsome without appearing too caught up in his appearance. He can kick ass and look good doing it. He moves with a certain grace and agility. He's suave and looks good in a suit. How is he not Bond?

That is who I see when I read Ian Fleming, John Gardner, and Raymond Benson. That's who I would like you to see when you see the next casts. But do you? Who would you prefer in these roles? Don't be shy...

Across the Pond, and Holy Crap

It seems strange to think that Whatever Works is a stand-out for Woody Allen due to its use of New York as the setting (remember Manhattan?). Hell, I was sure he would stay in New York for at least another one. This is, alas, not to be, and the Woodster is returning to London for his latest, tentatively titled, "Untitled Woody Allen London Project". Catchy.

But wait wait wait. What is this? One of the kick-assiest casts ever has been lined up? Do tell!

Casting couch, indeed

Remember Hot Blonde ScarJo? Well, this time around, Woody's gotten Incredibly Beautiful and Super Talented Blonde, Academy Award Nominee Naomi Watts. I haven't been this happy about an Allen casting since Patty Clarkson's back-to-back awesomeness. I know, I know -- Whatever Works isn't out yet, but I have faith! Anyway, Naomi Watts is in a Woody Allen movie and holy shit that rocks.

Lordy, I'm gettin' the vapors!

Academy Award Nominee Josh Brolin returns for another Woody go-round! Yes, he previously had a small role in Melinda and Melinda, an experiment that I remember not being fond of. Between you, me, and the fly on the wall, I find it bizarre that out of everyone in that movie, it's Brolin who Allen gets back. I mean, we're talking about a cast that included Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Arija Bareikis. But hey, I'm a Brolin fan, so this is pretty cool.

Really?

Freida Pinto. Her first movie won Best Picture, and her second movie is by Woody Allen. Does he just watch the Oscars in search of hot young babes to cast? Penelope Cruz, Freida Pinto, Patricia Clarkson...

Please tell me he's the neurotic...

Antonio Banderas?!? Does this mean he might have a career again? Outside of Shrek? I certainly hope so. This is certainly turning out to be Woody's sexiest cast since...well, since Vicky Cristina Barcelona, which featured Latin lover Javier Bardem. Huh. Is this going to be a continuing trend?

Just as confused as I am.

Oscar Winner Sir Anthony Hopkins. The mind boggles.

For your consideration

Ok, I've read nothing that would even suggest that Patricia Clarkson is in this one, too. But I would absolutely LOVE it if she was. Please, God, if she finally gets an Oscar, let it be for Woody Allen!

It's Here! It's Finally Here!

It happened. After about nine months or so of anticipation, worry, second thoughts -- it's here. Oliver Stone's W. has arrived at the cinema.

And what a movie it is. Much like Nixon, it confuses the word "fair-minded" with "crying, pitiable protagonist." But fuck me, Nixon was great. And I have to say, I loved W. Not the same way I love the Nicolas Cage version of The Wicker Man, either. This is love Speed Racer style.

Yeah, the first quarter is a little shaky. Like Nixon. The cutting back-and-forth chronologically does not always work. But once Laura (a perfect Elizabeth Banks) steps into the ring, the movie finally finds its footing runs with it. We get a fascinating study of a cool guy who was put in a position he was not ready for. And it works. It's just absolutely incredible the way Oliver Stone and Stanley Weiser have crafted this thing. For a story told too soon, it feels just right.

Josh Brolin is incredible. He does Bush just enough to avoid caricature, or a mere imitation. He gives us a Man, not a Character. We want to shoot the shit with him. We sympathize with his daddy issues. We like the guy, we care about him. Yet at the same time, we shake our heads at his arrogance, his ignorance, his -- dare I say it? -- stupidity. It's pretty powerful, I must say.

Okay, so maybe it was fair-minded. But if so, only to the few. Brolin's Bush is awesome, Banks' Laura is sweet, James Cromwell's Poppy is well-defined (if not always engagingly portrayed), Ellen Burstyn's Barbara is lovable (for me, at least), and Jeffrey Wright's Colin Powell is, well, the tits -- the only voice of reason, the sole soul. The rest of the gang -- Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rove -- are either hand-wringing Bond villains or just plain "out-of-touch with reality." In these respective roles, Richard Dreyfuss, Scott Glenn, and Toby Jones are, respectively, kick-ass, decent, and thumbs-up.

I'll tell you who isn't, though: Thandie Newton. Why does she get cast in movies? Why do people want to throw praise and awards on her? There must be something about her on-set manner that fools directors into thinking she's giving good performances. Her hammy Condi Rice impression is barely worthy of a MadTV sketch, much less a political drama. Sure, it's satire, and there are a few winks thrown here and there, but holy shit, did no one think to reign her in? Does Thandie Newton have a wrangler? Were Tracie Thoms, Anika Noni Rose, Sophie Okonedo, even Halle Berry -- were they all too busy? Good God, Stone, don't give me a great movie then force me to watch Miss Community Theatre almost single-handedly disembowel all the quality in the room.

Whew. Anyway. Newton notwithstanding, W. is great. Weiser's screenplay is spot-on, Stone's direction is superb, the score is beautiful, the actors fantastic. It's not for everyone. Mom, Grandparents, some aunts and uncles, and at least one of my sisters would not like it. Even some democrats I know probably wouldn't like it. For me, this is one of the best movies of the year. ***3/4

OMG W. TEASER TRAILER!

It. Looks. CLASSIC.

Make a Joyful Noise

Wow. I can't believe that's Josh Brolin. Or George W. Bush. Still, I don't see a speck of JB in here. Amazing.

On the other hand, Elizabeth Banks looks like Laura Bush. Sexier, of course, but not by much. Mrs. Bush is, after all, a fox.

Oh, W., why are you making me wait for you?

Casting Coup: Citizen Kane

*From the original Casting Coup Month. I knew I was taking a risk in re-doing Citizen Kane, but the point of CCM is to spark debate and conversation. Also, to have fun. By the way, this was done ten months before the release of Doubt, so I think I can claim firsties on Streep/Adams pairings. As with all other LJ posts, hot-linking did abound. All pictures have been replaced with brand new ones because of this. Non-hot-linked ones.*

CASTING COUP MONTH presents an American classic...reborn!

Much is made of Citizen Kane, a controversial classic that kinda sorta bombed upon its first release. Saved from obscurity by film scholars, Citizen Kane is a shining testament to both America and the genius of young Orson Welles.

Citizen Kane (1941) was nominated for nine Academy Awards. It won one. One Oscar. It lost Film Editing (Robert Wise), Sound Recording (John Aalberg), Art Direction (Al Fields/Darrell Silvera/Perry Ferguson/Van Nest Polglase), Cinematography (Gregg Toland), Dramatic Score (Bernard Herrmann), Director (Orson Welles), Actor (Orson Welles) and Picture. The winners were, in that order: Sergeant York (William Holmes), That Hamilton Woman (Jack Whitney), How Green was My Valley (Richard Day/Nathan Juran/Thomas Little), How Green was My Valley (Arthur Miller), All That Money Can Buy (Bernard Herrmann), John Ford (How Green was My Valley), Gary Cooper (Sergeant York), and How GReen was My Valley.

It won Best Original Screenplay (Herman J. Mankiewicz/Orson Welles), one of the most important categories in the Oscar race (the others are adapted screenplay, actress, and supporting actor). Orson had to be content with that Oscar, and although he was later nominated for his work on The Magnificent Ambersons, he would never quite achieve the heights promised by Citizen Kane.

He got the last laugh, supposedly. In both 1997 and 2007, Citizen Kane was named the #1 Film of All Time by the American Film Institute. The box office debacle, the bridesmaid at the Oscars, became the most well-respected film in history (that's not Casablanca), the one film teachers use to illustrate what you will never achieve. But you know, it might have done more good if Citizen Kane had gotten recognition in previous years, before its writer/director/star was reduced to this:



Anyway, let's take a look at who I consider capable of filling those formidable shoes:

JIM W. GETTYS
Who is He: Kane's rival for governor, an amoral, unscrupulous man who dips his hand in blackmail and treachery.

Originally played by: Ray Collins (the man on the stairs)



My Choice: An Englishman



Popular character actor Ciaran Hinds (There Will Be Blood, The Phantom of the Opera)


JERRY THOMPSON
Who is He: A reporter investigating Kane's last words, he spends all his time in the shadows, his back to the camera.

Originally played by: William Alland



My Choice: Seriously, after Lord of the Rings, where did he go?



Elijah Wood (Everything is Illuminated, Sin City)


EMILY MONROE NORTON KANE
Who is She: Kane's first wife, the niece of the President of the United States, who dies in a car accident with Kane's only son (not a spoiler).

Originally played by: Ruth Warrick



My Choice: One of my top ten favorite living actresses.



Academy Award Nominee Julianne Moore (Boogie Nights, The Hours)


WALTER PARKS THATCHER
Who is He: Kane's boyhood guardian, a banker that Kane never really gets along with. Like, at all.

Originally played by: George Coulouris (in the top hat)



My Choice: One of my top five favorite living actors.



Former Hollmann Awards host Philip Baker Hall (The Amityville Horror, The Matador)


MR. BERNSTEIN
Who is He: Kane's accountant or something, a man who genuinely believes that Kane is, like, Jesus or something. Except he's Jewish, so Jesus is probably not the most accurate comparison here. Messiah, maybe?

Originally played by: Everett Sloane, who wears glasses



My Choice: Another old favorite, who gets mad respect over in Britain.



Richard Schiff (Ray, Se7en)


MARY KANE
Who is She: Kane's mother, who gives him over to Thatcher early in his life.

Originally played by: Academy Award Nominee Agnes Moorehead (Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte)



My Choice: Oh, please, like I could resist this...



Academy Award/Hollmann Award Winner Meryl Streep (A Prairie Home Companion, Sophie's Choice)


SUSAN ALEXANDER KANE
Who is She: Kane's number two wife, a "singer" he has an affair with while still married to Wife #1. Fond of jigsaw puzzles.

Originally played by: Dorothy Comingore (not with the mustache)



My Choice: The challenge here is to get her to sing worse than she does.



Academy Award Nominee Amy Adams (Junebug, Enchanted)


JEDEDIAH LELAND
Who is He: Kane's best friend, a writer for the paper (he specializes in the arts), more scrupulous and honest than Kane.

Originally played by: Joseph "How You Like My Bad Ass" Cotten, to the left



My Choice: Bigger than Joe, but just as good an actor.



Academy Award Winner Philip Seymour Hoffman (Capote, Charlie Wilson's War)


CHARLES FOSTER KANE
Who is He: A newspaper magnate who personifies America.

Originally played by: Academy Award Winner Orson Welles (Citizen Kane)



My Choice: Amazingly, this, to me, was the most obvious and easiest pick of the cast.



Josh Brolin (Milk, Melinda and Melinda)


How about that? And by the way, every picture of the original stars is from the movie. Hoo-ah!


*Um, that last line was quite true at the time, and important because it was a first. Now I make it a point to find stills from the film.*