Hugh Laurie is not a movie star. And I will be in the minority by saying I think Knightly is a great choice - better than the BWW favorite, Anne Hathaway for this one.
I would have preferred Emily Blunt, or the new sensation, Carey Mulligan (too young, I know). Craig will be fine. Wright is a bit of a predictable choice, but he'll serve the piece well, hopefully this will be more ATONEMENT, less THE SOLOIST.
"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"
I like Knightly but this is a rehash of the first movie where the leading lady has very limited vocal chops. She even has a physical resemblance to Audrey Hepburn. Why bother remaking it if they aren't going to correct the mistakes of the first version.
I'm very dubious. And more than a little disappointed.
Knightly actually has a pretty little voice. She sang in The Edge of Love, and it was actually quite nice. She needs some more vocal training. I'm not a fan of the original movie, so I am looking forward to this.
Everyone I tell about this remake thinks Knightley is a perfect choice, and I agree. I think Wright is a good choice too. P&P and Atonement were beautiful films!
"WHO will want to see this?! Who is their audience?! "
Well I am looking very forward to seeing it. Personally, I've tried to get though MFL twice now and I just can't (in terms of Boredom).
It's probably strange for me to think this since apparently it's one of the 'greatest musicals of all time', hopefully this new 'remake' will spark my interest.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
A Musical is a musical. I totally disagree with one who ask why they are remaking this. IMHO, producers could make 50 film version of a show I would see them all. I'm very excited!
"Ok ok ok ok ok ok ok. Have you guys heard about fidget spinners!?" ~Patti LuPone
Rayandallthatjazz- Carey Mulligan and Keira Knightley are the same age, Carey (who was nothing short of brilliant in An Education) just looks a lot younger. Age wise though, she's no different from the casting of Keira.
That said, I think Keira will be fine, but I like her. (Though I also loved the Mulligan suggestion as she's just adorable.)
Hugh Laurie is also a song-and-dance-man with amazing comic timing. Daniel Craig, whom I think is a wonderful actor, hasn't shown that particular "fizz". And what with "House" invading the world, I think he's a big enough name to carry. Besides, all of Europe knows him from his earlier work in comedy. It's just the USA that has to catch up!!! (Craig Ferguson would also be a hoot and a half, although he's more "Doolittle" than "Higgins".)
Hugh Laurie is pretty much an ideal Higgins. I have all the respect in the world for Craig's acting, but I've never seen him in a part that's remotely like Higgins - does anyone have a viewing suggestion for me? Because otherwise, the only advantage I can see Craig having over Laurie is that the former is closer to Keira Knightley's age, should Knightley be cast. Which I hope she isn't.
I would take a dubbed Carey Mulligan in a heartbeat over Knightley using her own voice. Mulligan has never been anything other than utterly charming and radiant in any part I've seen her in (except possibly Pride and Prejudice, but she was supposed to be annoying in that), she doesn't look skeletal, and she's a better actress than Knightley is. She's not as famous as Knightley, but she's set to be a new critical darling and "it" girl thanks to An Education. Why not hire her?
Finally, I wouldn't dismiss Hugh Laurie's fame so easily. He's not a movie star, but in terms of face recognition? House is the most popular show in the world, and one of the most popular in the U.S. According to Wikipedia, 81.8 million people watch the show. That's got to rival the number of people who watch Bond films.
People know who Laurie is, and they know he can act. He's also just so right for the part I can't let go of the notion - he's got the posh accent, the utter mastery of verbal evisceration through sarcasm, and the experience playing an overly clever bastard. And he's approved by the screenwriter! Who's admittedly an old friend of his, but still. :)
(Okay, a little math on Quantum of Solace: It made $586 million worldwide. Assuming $5 movie tickets, that's over 117 million viewers. But movie tickets cost more than $5, and some of those were repeat views, so there's a fair chance that Laurie and Craig have had about an equal number of eyes on them lately. The TV/movie fame divide doesn't mean nearly as much as it used to, but I'll give Craig a slight edge there just to be fair. Laurie is still far better for the part. And yes, I am taking a break from my statistics homework for this. *headdesk*)