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You're the "Sunset" casting director: Close, Streep or Streisand?If it were your job to choose Glenn Close, Meryl Streep or Barbra Streisand to star in your movie, you might be the luckiest person on earth.
But you would also be faced with an obscenely difficult decision. According to London's Daily Telegraph, Andrew Lloyd Webber is considering each of these award-winning actresses for the role of Norma Desmond in the movie of his musical of the movie Sunset Blvd. (Trying to describe that makes me think of Julie Andrews in the movie Victor/Victoria: "I'm a woman, pretending to be a man, pretending to be a woman.") The role will be a challenge for any of the three. Norma Desmond is utterly and completely owned by the original star, Gloria Swanson.
The original movie is so iconic and heavily quoted, it can almost seem like a parody of itself. The musical remake — especially as conceived by Andrew Lloyd Webber — may not be great. But whoever is cast gets to deliver the line,"All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up." So let's play casting director for a moment and consider each option: Glenn Close
Glenn Close should get it because she owns the stage version. She originated the role in Los Angeles, and won the Tony for her performance on Broadway. David Richards of The New York Times wrote, "the musical allows Glenn Close to give one of those legendary performances people will be talking about years from now." Why not give it to her? Recreating your own performance is not always good. Look at The Producers: major stage hit; major film flop. Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep should be cast because she's Meryl Streep — arguably the best actress of her generation. If anyone can balance the melodrama and desperate dignity inherent in the character and rise above mediocre material, it's Meryl Streep. And she can sing; just watch Postcards From the Edge and A Prairie Home Companion. Why not give it to her? She's about to be associated with another movie-musical adaptation of a stage musical, Mamma Mia. It might be too much. Barbra Streisand
Well, she's Barbra Streisand. Of course she should have a shot at the role. In addition to the obvious, she's known for recording two of the show's songs: "As If We Never Said Goodbye" and "With One Look." And with her inclination towards self-importance and melodrama, she might be perfect. Why not give it to her? She might be a little too perfect. If she's not directed by someone who can rein her in, she might tip the scales toward caricature. As I contemplate each of these luminaries in the role, I keep returning to the same image: Sally Field in a turban in Soapdish explaining, "I don't feel quite right in a turban. What I feel like is GLORIA F---ING SWANSON!" Which has nothing to do with anything. But it's stuck in my mind. Back to the wrenching decision. For me, it has to be Meryl Streep. It may not be fair, but there it is. Who would you pick? Submitted by on August 7, 2007 - 2:00pm. |
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all in favor... say AY
wow - first off I have to eliminate that third diva based on principle alone.
from there, it's a toss up between Close and Streep for me - however, simply based on her ability to transform into whomever be extremely, and without a doubt, believable - I'm going with Streep also.
add to that her graciousness, likeability, ferocity in addition to her ability to sing and, well, um, i guess i just swoon over her.
Although I love Meryl . . .
To be honest, I'm all for Glenn Close. I think the sheer manic qualities of her Cruella De Vil is enough of a testament to her abilities to be believably crazy onscreen.
Meryl Streep is awesome, but I don't really want her to do it. No one with Meryl Streep's face and acting chops would ever be hard-up the way Norma Desmond is. Or at least, I hope not.
And Barbara. Barbara hasn't had a major role in a movie or television show in quite some time. I had gotten the impression that she was mostly an executive producer (check out her page on imdb, her acting roles are placed beneath her executive producing gigs) these days.
Truthfully, I think all three of them have the acting and singing chops to do the role right , so now its just a matter of matching the director and the other actors. Hopefully, all three of them will get asked to read . . . which could only help the whole production.
I agree
agreed.
My First Choice is
Meryl Streep. She would act the heck out of this part. The singing would be fine as well.
Second, would be Glenn Close, because she's already done it . It would save time.
Peace, Joy and Love
Glenn Close
Meryl
If the turban fits...
Streep, possibly has never worked in a turban before. -10 turban dexterity. Streisand, too much work in a turban. -10 turban willpower. Close, hot, turban hot. +20 turban charisma.
Other great on- and off-screen turban wearers, if not future Swanson’s: Joan Collins, Jennifer Lopez, Little Edie, and Jennifer Saunders.Ha!
billytc, "turban dexterity, willpower & charisma" made me LOL!
my vote's for close. she won the damn Tony for it! if she doesn't get cast, it's julie andrews in the my fair lady movie all over again!
ps: i feel the same way about harvey fierstein over travolta in hairspray.
pps: LOVE all the b'way & musical stuff on the blog lately!
I just want the Holden role-
Any of them, as long as I'm the writer!
"as the lotus opens and closes, we all become more conscious of a growing mass awareness:
all in love is fairness..." Yeah that's mine.
"You don't even Noe!"
To think about it a different way
The fact that Babs hasn't been in a film in a while and has such an overpowering persona might make her perfect for the role. Swanson was in many ways a real life Norma Desmond: a silent film star who had never made it in the talkies. Like when Madonna played Eva Peron, our cultural context about the star can sometimes enhance the film and our enjoyment of the performance.
That said, this is a REALLY hard choice! I'd love to see any of the three of them. Babs would be the best musically, Close would be a total powerhouse, and Streep would bring a subtlety to the role which would be amazing.
--abzug
Visit http://www.badgirlsannex.com!
Sunset Boulevard
I wouldn't cast any of them
before I get yelled at.. i happen to love all three of the ladies mention but I don't see them fully being able to capture the true esscence of norma desmond. Here's why
norma desmond is a character who still believes she is the knock screen siren she use to be, who believes she can still act and that hollywood is just dying to have her star in another picture. Although all of the ladies mention a good looking...you really need someone who was and still is a knockout. My norma desmond would be : jacqueline bisset. the woman is in her 60s and still gorgerous. Of course if she was to supply an extreme amount of makeup on , she would fit the role perfectly. there's a line in the picture which eludes to faded beauty...when norma mentions, garbo and states we use to have faces then.
Hands Down Babs
Although I adore both Close and Streep, the enduring love of my life has been Streisand.
She is our greatest living legend.
As she is naturally "bigger than life" for real , the persona of Norma Desmond would not present an acting challenge to her.
I don't expect a remake to be anything like the original, but I can't resist this image in my mind's eye of her face moving slowly into the cameras as her lips pantomime "I'm ready for my close up now, Mr. DeMille".
LOL
Barbra For Sure