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"Nine": A bevy of beautiful women and one (lesbianish) man

by
Ace

I swear I meant to see the Broadway revival of Maury Yeston's Nine in 2003.

It had one the best casts ever: Jane Krakowski, Mary Stuart Masterson, Laura Benati, Chita Rivera. But despite my best intentions, I was a big loser and I never got around to seeing it. Alas.

Now I know next to nothing about the show, just that it's based on Federico Fellini's 8½, which I've never seen. I also know that the show features only one man and the rest of the cast is women. (And the New York Times review made it clear that the heart of the show was the women.) Basically, I wish I had not passed up the chance to see another Chita Rivera show, and I'm sorry that I missed Mary Stuart Masterson and Jane Krakowski onstage. And, of course, Laura Benati has been fantastic every time I've seen her on Broadway.

But now I — and everyone else who missed it — will have an opportunity to see a different version with a cast full of amazing women. Rob Marshall (Chicago) is directing a film version, tentatively scheduled to begin production in the fall.

And are you ready for the casting?

The confirmed cast members are:

Penelope Cruz will be playing the Jane Krakowski role.

Academy Award winner Marion Cotillard will be playing the Mary Stuart Masterson role.

(Ideally, she won't make any dumb-ass conspiracy theory comments when doing press for this movie.)

And Sophia Loren will be playing the part of the Fellini character's mother.

(And, for the record, the sometimes lesbianish Javier Bardem will be playing the role of the Fellini character.)

Then, there are two rumored additions to the cast: Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman, who I'm guessing will be playing the Laura Benati role.

And everything-award-winner Judi Dench, who I'm guessing will be playing the Chita Rivera role.

Apparently, she has a rather extensive musical theater history. She was the original Sally Bowles in the London production of Cabaret, and she won the Olivier Award for Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music.

All I can say about this cast is, “Oh my God!” I may not have gotten around to seeing the stage production, but I'm not missing this movie.

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    • Submitted by
    Ace
    on April 8, 2008 - 11:01am.
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    clonchi's picture

    OH MY GOD!

    Submitted by
    clonchi (164 posts)
    on April 8, 2008 - 11:52am.

    You're right Ace, it's an amazing cast!! I audibly gasped when I saw Marion Cotillard was also involved! And I'm in German Studies Class, so everyone looked kinda puzzled at me, hehe.

    I missed the stage production, too, even though I was in NY for a couple of weeks and had every chance to see it but didn't...

    Now I won't miss this for the world...

    http://capadocia-fan.blogspot.com

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    Zahra's picture

    Marion Cotillard

    Submitted by
    Zahra (45 posts)
    on April 8, 2008 - 1:15pm.

    I don't think her comments were "dumb-ass" at all. Contradicting with the majority opinion, sure. But not dumb-ass. She chooses to think and believe different. And she was courageous enough to voice her opinion in a world where statements that doubt America are hardly tolerated.

    There are times that I think the September 11 attacks were a conspiracy of many sorts and mainly against Muslims. Yes I do. Sue me.

     

    Girly's picture

    Quote:Oscar-winning Marion

    Submitted by
    Girly (193 posts)
    on April 10, 2008 - 5:13am.

    Quote:
    Oscar-winning Marion Cotillard was facing embarrasment with her new American public last night after it emerged that she doubted the official account of the September 11 attacks.

    The September 11 attack was utterly horrible but I don't fully believe the official explanations either.

    Quote:
    And she was courageous enough to voice her opinion in a world where statements that doubt America are hardly tolerated.

    I agree.

    Pirategrrrl's picture

    So ...

    Submitted by
    Pirategrrrl (1991 posts)
    on April 8, 2008 - 2:34pm.

    I saw the Dame in (wait for it) ..... a musical version of The Merry Wives of Windsor ... where she played Mistress Quickly. 

    Now, I know what you're thinking. Pirate - WTF? Why are you seeing stuff like that anyway? Well, because it's a) Dame Judi, b) at the RSC, and c) I was in London, I thought a trip to Stratford would be nice. 

    And here's something about the Dame that I learned - she can't sing. And that works in roles like Sally Bowles and even as Mistress Quickly ... but if she's filling in for Chita Rivera, then they should just get Chita Rivera.

    Don't get me wrong - I love me some Dame Judi. But a singer, she ain't.

    For whatever we lose (like a you or a me)
    It's always our self we find in the sea

     

    Hannah's picture

    nine

    Submitted by
    Hannah (271 posts)
    on April 8, 2008 - 4:04pm.

    I like a lot of the music from that show ("Guido's Song" and "Unusual Way", in particular) but I'm a little hesistant about the singing chops of some of the women you listed.  Does anyone know if Penelope Cruz can sing?  I'll see it anyway, of course.  Plus, while I didn't love Rob Marshall's Chicago as much as everyone else, I liked it, and I am excited to see what he will do with Nine.  Is Antonio Bandaras playing Guido?  (eta--I just looked at IMDb and it looks like Javier Bardem is playing Guido)

    Also, it kinda bugs me when movie musicals are made and they get  actors who can sing, but aren't that great. (Johnny Depp, anyone?)  They wouldn't put in a great singer who really couldn't act.  And the two skills are not mutually exclusive.  There are plenty of folks who can really sing, really act and are faily well-known (Hugh Jackman, Audra McDonald, David Hyde Pierce, Taye Diggs, even the aforementioned Jane Krakowski)  Since the genre is "musical" they should be able to do both...how did I get on a rant?  I apologize.


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