If you've always wanted to see Javier Bardem doing his best Marcello Mastroianni only with musical numbers you're out of luck. The Oscar winner has dropped out of Rob Marshall's upcoming movie musical adaptation of Broadway's Nine (itself an adaptation of Federico Fellini's 8½) at a very late stage. [src]
I don't mean to be alarmist but I'd bet a significant dollar amount that you'll see at least a few of the big name women in his orbit do the same. Who drops out next... Nicole Kidman, Judi Dench, Marion Cotillard, Penélope Cruz or Sophia Loren?
2007 offered plenty of options for fans of the musical genre but 2008 and 2009 look comparatively bare. Someone make a good one quick!
Posts
22 comments:
I still can't figure out why they don't just go with Antonio—but aside from that, what's wrong with Nine? First they lose Catherine, and now Javier. Doesn't it kind of feel like the filmmaking team or the studio isn't selling the talent on their concept, or their budget, or something? (I know Catherine is reported to have been miffed at not getting a bigger part, and to that, I say fair enough: after losing lots of her Chicago numbers *and* needing another musical, stat, why shouldn't she be miffed?)
They should cast Antonio Banderas. He is more handsome, and he will be able to do a better work with the vocals. He is far more appropriate for the leading character in "Nine" than Javier Bardem. After all, the leading must be a man that can equally appeal to both men and women, and a man for whom so many ladies can be in love with.
For the ladies, I wish they could cast Gwyneth Paltrow and Halle Berry as well. The former has the most beautiful eyes in the new Hollywood, and she is full of candor and talent -she can sing too
("Duets"). The latter is the great beauty of our era in every possible way (international, poetic and aesthetic). Seeing her dancing, combined with her subtle style of performing, must be a thrill.
Let's see how this ends up turning out! If MGM was still "Magnificent-Golden-Movies", Hollywood would still be making great dream-factory movies full of magic and able to appeal audiences of the most diverse tastes all over the world.
Nicole and Judi aren't officially signed on yet, are they? I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
That's too bad, I never expected Bardem would become such a post-Oscar cliché ;(.
Now Antonio, diva style should say (if offered): "No, now I don't want it, it's too late."
Iggy
We don't need another Rob Marshall musical or film, for that matter.
Well done, Javier.
Well if we don't get another Rob Marshall musical, we're gonna get another Rob Marshall non-musical. And I think we'd all prefer the former.
Well-played, Robert.
Yea I agree that Antonia Banderas should be Quido Contini. My bet is Penelope Cruz dropping out next. And I think she would be the last before filming gets underway. If that happens, I would like to see Jane Karkowski reprise her role. In my opinion, the addition of Antonio and Jane would make an already delicious cast, DELICIOUSER.
Why the Rob Marshall hate? I thought Chicago was excellent, one of the best movie-musicals made... did most people not?
I totally agree with those who said that Antonio Banderas should play this role. Maybe, after Barden's drop out, Rob Marshall can invite Banderas to make this movie.
Oh happy day. Frankly, the casting of Bardem annoyed in the extreme. Somebody get Banderas on the phone, sharpish.
Rob
Who is naive enough to think Kidma is doing this ?
she probably can't choose between all her projects
(Rabbit hole, Need, Nine, Monte Carlo, Dusty Springfield biopic, Valerine Plane biopic, Alone, Antichrist - no she already turned it down)
my guess is she'll choose a comedy with Ben Stiller
If Rob Marshall wants to make a musical I am so there. If he wants to make anything else I'll be worried.
And, yeah, now there's news that Nickers has been cast in a Dusty Springfield biopic. Does she wanna do that much singing (or lipsyncing)?
I haven't seen the musical-how true is it to 8 1/2 (my favorite Fellini film)?
from my recollection it's not a straight up transfer --i haven't seen either in a few years now but it shares a lot of elements and the main story (stuck director searching for inspiration for his next film and his relationship to the various women in his orbit) but due to the musical numbers and whatnot it's a different beast.
I'm another one who couldn't figure out why they didn't cast Antonio Banderas after he'd performed the role so well on Broadway. Is Javier so new and Antonio so old? I think Antonio is better looking as well as providing a sure thing, and not a possible nasty surprise (maybe Javier can't sing, maybe his English isn't good enough, etc.)
I was never very enthused about some of the rest of the cast either. No regrets if they also lose Cruz.
But I'd LOVE to see "Nine" as a musical. "8 1/2" was one of my favorite childhood movies. I adored Marcello Mastroanni, I thought he was just like me (that's how terrific an actor he was - that a 10 year old could identify completely with him). Was "Nine" originally directed by Tommy Tune, or was he in it? How I would have loved to have seen that version.
i think it was raul julia? that's what i'm remembering. i might be wrong.
i was too young to have seen it and very far from new york! i enjoyed the revival though but it was all about Jane Krakowski for me who just ROCKED the Carla role. damn that woman is funny/can sing
//They should cast Antonio Banderas. He is more handsome,//
Hello? "handsomeness" all by itself tends not to matter as much to women as a whole range of characteristics, including charm, sexiness, and yes, income. That said, I think Javier could have knocked it out of the park in terms of charisma, "studliness" if you will, and I think he does possess that "men like him and women love him" quality that you speak of. Certainly (speaking as a lesbian who doesn't generally swing that way) I certainly could.
And keep in mind that Roy Scheider was not the handsomest man in the world but he was pitch-perfect for a somewhat similar, Americanized version of the character in All That Jazz. Did anyone doubt that that character could and did have all the women he wanted? No. In fact, a prettier face would not have worked in that film.
And, I know many will disagree with me, but I don't consider Marcello Mastroianni to have been the handsomest man alive back in the day, but he was perfect for Fellini's film. With powerful men (or at least the depiction of them onscreen) handsomeness is often besides the point.
And, yes, "Chicago" is a great, fun little film. What's with the hate? (Yes, I love Moulin Rouge far more but, sue me, I loved the "They Both Reached for the Gun" number.) It's very hard to translate a stage musical - which has been designed and choreographed for a specific setting - into a version that is cinematographic while still acknowledging it's stage origins. And that's exactly what Marshall and his team did, and kudos to them for that.
Now Rob Marshall can cast Antonio Banderas in the lead role like it should have done in the first place. If the rest of the cast is still committed to bringing "Nine" to the screen, I don't see why they would start to drop out just b/c Javier Bardem isn't involved anymore. Was he the big draw to begin with? Not the director or the material itself?
i'm not claiming that Bardem was the reason they all signed on. but nevertheless one major cast change --and this is as major as you can get since it's the only lead role --usually causes ripples. Sometimes due to scheduling, sometimes due to skittish nerves, sometimes due to chemistry (not that a lot of these women had to audition but in a typical casting situation people are chosen partially based on their chemistry with their scene partners so once the lead is gone, everything is fluid)
I don't think it's that big of a deal, and the ladies should remain onboard if they were invested in the material to begin with. It being a Rob Marshall musical should be enough to keep them on the project, and as far as leading men go, there's Antonio Banderas, Hugh Jackman, Ewan McGregor, Raul Esparza, the list goes on. They can make this project a great one still and not miss a beat doing so.
Post a Comment