After revisiting the play last night, I put together what I think is the "dream team" cast for the movie:
Ed Asner = Beverly Weston (the Dennis Letts role) Phillip Seymour Hoffman = Charlie Aiken (the Francis Guinan role) Kathy Bates = Mattie Fae Aiken (the Rondi Reed role) Ellen Page = Jean Fordham (the Madeleine Martin role) Kevin Kline = Bill Fordham (the Jeff Perry role) Jodie Foster = Barbara Fordham (the Amy Morton role) Helen Mirren = Violet Weston (the Deanna Dunagan role) Amy Adams = Karen Weston (the Mariann Mayberry role) Diane Lane = Ivy Weston (the Sally Murphy role) John C. Reilly = Steve Heidebrecht (the Brian Kerwin role) Ryan Gosling = Little Charles (the Ian Barford role)
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
I do love the idea of Jodie Foster as Barbara but I think the only film actress that should be allowed to play Violet is Ellen Burstyn. Ive been saying that for years now.
I love Meryl Streep and Hoffman but would not like to see either in the movie. Ellen Burstyn as Violet would actually get me into the movie theater. I would still like to see Laurie Metcalf play Barbara.
Taking ideas from some already mentioned, I’d love to see…
The ladies: Violet – Cloris Leachman, Ellen Burstyn, Sissy Spacek, Glenn Close Barbara – Cate Blanchett, Allison Janney Ivy – Toni Collette, Jennifer Connelly, Laura Linney Karen – Julianne Moore maybe?, or Toni Collette if she’s not Ivy Jean – Abigail Breslin
Grace Zabriskie would be the perfect Vi but she's already kind of playing her on BIG LOVE.
What about Diane Ladd and Laura Dern?
"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”
~ Muhammad Ali
Violet – Estelle Parsons. Barbara - Allison Janney Ivy – Toni Collette Karen – Christina Applegate Jean – Couldn't care less Mattie Fae- Kathy Bates. (I mean, is there anyone else who could come close?)
Charles- John Goodman Bill- John C. Riley (good idea Capn)
"If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it." -Stephen Colbert
I think we here at BWW should produce the movie ourselves!
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
As much as I loved Estelle Parson's in the role, I feel that she's a little too long in the tooth to read correctly on film for Violet, especially against Kathy Bates as her sister (isn't there a 20 year age difference between them).
The script says Violet to be 65. I was allowing of the stretch for the stage version, but on film, she is too grandmotherly looking and seems like would throw off the dynamics too much. Ditto to most of the other actresses over 75 that were previously listed (no offense to them).
I think Sissy Spaceck is as brilliant a choice as it gets, she'd be great in the part. Toni Collette or Laura Linney as Barbara, please.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
Beverly Weston- James Cromwell Charlie Aiken- Albert Finney Mattie Fae Aiken- Kathy Bates Jean Fordham- Sarah Steele Bill Fordham- Bill Pullman Barbara Fordham- Laura Linney Violet Weston- Sissy Spacek Karen Weston- Parker Posey Ivy Weston- Gwyneth Paltrow Steve Heidebrecht- Thomas Haden Church Little Charles- Adrien Brody Johnna Monevata- Catalina Sandino Moreno Sheriff Gilbeau- John C. Reilly
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
I love the idea of Parker Posey, and James Cromwell.
"If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it." -Stephen Colbert