Saturday, September 29, 2012

First glimpse of Meryl as "Violet"

Yesterday some photos showed up on the web from the set of August: Osage County.  Thank you to whomever at aboutjulia.com found these!  There's just one of Meryl, with co-star Margo Martindale who plays her sister Mattie Fae.


The first thing I thought when I saw this pic is that Meryl (on the right...hopefully obviously) looks like she has crazy-lady hair.   That's probably a good wig choice because Violet likes her some crazy.  The second thing I thought was, shit, these two really look alike here.  Again, good choice on casting, as they play sisters.  Being that the two are donning black garbs, I'm sure the scene they're working on is from the beginning of Act Two in the play, where the Weston family has just buried their lost and found patriarch, Beverly.

Tulsa World has also posted some pics from this week's shoot, mostly of Chris Cooper and Benedict Cumberbatch.  Again, these are likely from scenes after Beverly's funeral, as this is where Little Charles is introduced.   So excited to hopefully see more of Meryl on-set soon!

Friday, September 28, 2012

"Mommy & Me" scrapped

Well, on the heels of the announcement that Meryl may be joining Tommy Lee Jones and Hilary Swank in The Homesman, Entertainment Weekly is reporting in their new issue that Mommy & Me has officially been put on the shelf...at least for now. Tina Fey was quoted as saying "the script went through a lot of permutations and almost got made and then didn't." I'm disappointed about this, but like I said in my post yesterday, we really haven't heard any real news on this is quite a while. As a big fan of Tina Fey, it would've been great to see her and Meryl team up. Now that August: Osage County (sort of my dream movie with Streep) is happening, I really have no future cause for complaints as it pertains to Meryl's involvement in certain projects. As a consummate pessimist, I'll just continue to assume that rumors are indeed rumors until I hear "rolling."

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Meryl linked to new film "The Homesman"

I came across an article last night ("came across" when google searching Meryl news) which indicates a possible re-teaming of Meryl with Tommy Lee Jones in a period Western entitled The Homesman.   This was complete news to me.   The film would be adapted from the 1988 novel by Glendon Swarthout.  It takes place on the American frontier in the mid 19th century, where a pair of pioneers traverse the young continent to consign a handful of "insane" women to the east coast, where care would evidently be more appropriate.  Tommy Lee Jones would play the "homesman" hired by Mary Bee Cuddy (rumored to be played by Hilary Swank) to helm the journey.  The article did not indicate which role Meryl would be playing in the film if she were indeed to officially join the cast, but the role of an insane woman being trekked across the Wild West would present its own unique challenges I'm sure.

It's funny that I found this yesterday because I've been so obsessed with Meryl's current project August: Osage County that I hadn't given much thought to what she may consider shooting next year.  We still don't have any concrete details on whether or not Mommy & Me with Tina Fey is happening.  I really hope it does.  That would seem like the the type of film which may not take three months to shoot.  Meryl in a supporting role in The Homesman, although the film's production could be on a grand scale, may not require a huge amount of time for her either.  Then there's always the possibility of Into the Woods, which I think can barely be considered a rumor at this point.  Regardless, it's fun to read some news of possible future projects.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Filming underway for "August: Osage County"

We're three days into shooting.  Someone on the Julia Roberts forum posted that one of the first scenes to be shot takes place at a local hospital.  Apparently it's a funny scene with the three daughters discussing their mother with a doctor.  Realizing that they're likely shooting out of sequence, I'm guessing this scene may be the one at the beginning of Act Three in the play.  Violet (Meryl) has seen a doctor about her pill addiction and the three girls are chatting about it.  Barbara (Julia) recalls the time that her mother smuggled Darvocet into the psych ward by hiding it in her vagina.  The forum poster remarked that the scene is a "great showcase for Julia."  That may be, but if I'm right and this scene is indeed the one I mentioned from act three, then Roberts would basically be trading an equal number of lines with her two sisters (Juliette Lewis and Julianne Nicholson)...and the entire conversation is about Meryl's character.   Of course in the play this scene takes place at the house, but things will no doubt get changed a bit for the big screen.

George Clooney has been obliging the locals with pictures, and I happened to find this pic of Ewan McGregor as "Bill" on the Meryl Streep forum.  I don't know who the dude on the right is.   I'll be very interested to see how they physically portray Meryl as Violet.  Stay tuned.


Saturday, September 22, 2012

Julianne Nicholson revealed as "Ivy"

Um, finally.  Theater Mania released an article yesterday revealing that Julianne Nicholson has been cast as Ivy in August: Osage County.  I know.  Who?  She's mostly known for her television work like Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Boardwalk Empire.  She's done a few small parts in films such as Kinsey and (omg) One True Thing.  Nicholson certainly looks the part of mousy Ivy.  Talk about the break of a lifetime, considering how high-profile the rest of this cast is.   It hasn't been officially announced, but evidently screenwriter Tracy Wells casually mentioned her at a meet and greet for a new Broadway production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf.   I'm guessing it'll come out in a more formal way once shooting starts Monday.  But I think we can consider this confirmed. 

Of course I've noticed how the three sisters cast in this film are named Julia, Juliette and Julianne.  I enjoy how New York Daily News coined it the "Jul Box." Something else I noticed when I read the article on Theater Mania is that last week on the same website, it was announced that Nicholson would be unable to complete the extended run of (of all people) Sam Shepard's play Heartless because of "prior commitments."  Indeed.  Here's where we are on casting:

Violet Weston: Meryl Streep (confirmed)
Barbara Fordham: Julia Roberts (confirmed)
Charlie Aiken: Chris Cooper (confirmed)
Karen Weston: Juliette Lewis (confirmed)
Jean Fordham: Abigail Breslin (confirmed)
Beverly Weston: Sam Shepard (confirmed)
Mattie Fae Aiken: Margo Martindale (confirmed)
Steve Heidebrecht: Dermot Mulroney (confirmed)
Little Charles Aiken: Benedict Cumberbatch (confirmed)
Johnna Monevata: Misty Upham (confirmed)
Bill Fordham: Ewan McGregor (confirmed)
Ivy Weston: Julianne Nicholson (confirmed)

All we have left is the pivotal role of Sheriff Deon Gilbeau.



Friday, September 21, 2012

Oscar race update

I know, I know, it's September.  Looking past the obvious reservations some may have at prognosticating about what mood the collective minds of voting members in the AMPAS will be in around January, I'd like to share my thoughts about the current "state of the race."   When I  last posted on this topic,  I  guessed Meryl would fall anywhere from sixth to eighth in the run for an Oscar nomination.  As of today, with updated predictions on Gold Derby from "experts" this week,  I probably have to keep her in the same slot.  I've been regularly perusing the scratchy comments from the rabid divas on Awards Daily Forums, and with some interesting points being made on the "best actress" thread, I thought Meryl's chances may be better than I had originally predicted.  But I think Gold Derby tends to be a little more accurate come awards season, and it's probably because they mostly predict safe bets at this point.  Again, we have four months before Oscar nominations come out (and for the first time before the Globes), so plenty can change.  Meryl may be an afterthought in six weeks, or she may firmly solidify herself in some top five lists.  In fine pessimistic tradition, I think her chances at an 18th nomination for Hope Springs this year are dubious.

In beginning my lazy scouting of Meryl's competition, last night I dragged Joe to Beasts of the Southern Wild.  I have to admit, Quevenzhane Wallis was superb.  As a caveat to that statement however, I'd categorize the performance as superb for a nine year-old (she may be ten now, whatev).  It's a hard sell for me to believe that someone that young is really making organic and skilled acting choices.  I wonder how much of what I saw was from the director's point of view...a sort of "puppeteering" rather than an individual characterization from the actor.  The question makes including Wallis's performance in the Academy Awards conversation a bit of an enigma for me.   Regardless, Joe and I both enjoyed the film.  Although I found it at times fantastically gross, I left with an overall sentiment of family and community preservation.  And yes, a great impression if its young lead.  

Monday, September 17, 2012

Accents Mastered updated

Ok, I was reading a few scenes tonight from the August: Osage County play script (because I'm an obsessive freak) and I was remembering reading a recent tweet which stated that Benedict Cumberbatch was having difficulty getting into the dialect of an Oklahoman.  Shocking that someone born and raised in London might struggle with such a drawl.  It made me think about how natural it'll probably come to Meryl, assuming it would be similar to her accent in Silkwood.   Then I remembered that I had listed in my previous Accents Mastered post that as Karen Silkwood, Meryl donned a "rural-Oklahoman" accent.  Having looked up Karen Silkwood, I recalled that she was actually born and raised in Texas.  It's therefore unlikely that as a reasonably young adult she didn't retain something more of a Texan accent.  I don't really even know what that would be, but Nederland, Texas is on the eastern border of the state, and I doubt folks from that "neck of the woods" sounded exactly like Oklahomans.

Therefore, I've updated her accent in Silkwood to "Texan."  Also, since filming on August: Osage County is set to begin one week from today, I thought I'd include this film in the updated version.  You may be wondering how I can consider this an "accent mastered" when they haven't even begun shooting.  Well, I've seen the play, and they all have Oklahoman accents, so I think there's about a .01% chance that Meryl will not have one in this film, and an even slimmer chance that she won't "master" it.    

The Seduction of Joe Tynan (1979)--Tennessean
The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981)--British (specifically Received Pronunciation)
Sophie's Choice (1982)--Polish (in English and German)
Silkwood (1983)--Texan
Plenty (1985)--British
Out of Africa (1985)--Danish
Ironweed (1987)--Irish-American
A Cry in the Dark (1988)--New Zealand (with strong layers of Australian)
The Bridges of Madison County (1995)--Italian (Meryl calls it Iowatalian)
Dancing at Lughnasa (1998)--Irish
Angels in America (2003)--Yiddish and Bronx (in separate roles)
A Prairie Home Companion (2006)--Midwestern
Doubt (2008)--Bronx
Julie & Julia (2009)--Boston Brahmin
The Iron Lady (2011)--British (again Received Pronunciation)
August: Osage County (2013)--Oklahoman

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Ewan McGregor cast as "Bill"

Wow, two casting updates in under 24 hours.  Variety is on it this week.  It was just revealed that Scottish actor Ewan McGregor has been cast as "Bill" in August: Osage County.   This announcement comes less than a day after we were given our "Johnna" in actress Misty Upham.  McGregor is a fantastic actor and I'm thrilled that we continue to get such big names added to the cast.  He's probably best known for his role as a drug addict in Trainspotting and of course opposite Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge (the latter not my fav).  When I originally saw his name I thought he seemed a bit young too, but at 41, he's only a little over three years younger than his onscreen wife, played by Julia Roberts.

The role for McGregor is by no means huge, but I am so excited about seeing this amazing collection of actors working together as an ensemble.  This could be really special.  Definitely an actors' film and will therefore be very much on the awards season radar early on.   Of course it technically already is, but let's at least let them begin shooting before we start handing out Oscars.

 I've read on Meryl Streep forums that Amy Adams is more than likely not going to be in the film as "Ivy."  Possible reasons include being too busy, or being too tired after participating in Into the Woods in Central Park this summer.  She also likely has a lot of press responsibilities in the coming months promoting both The Master and Trouble with the Curve.  So, I've removed her from the list completely.  I'm not disappointed.   As I've said in previous posts, two films with her and Meryl in the last four years is plenty.  Alrighty, here's where things stand as of this afternoon:

Violet Weston: Meryl Streep (confirmed)
Barbara Fordham: Julia Roberts (confirmed)
Charlie Aiken: Chris Cooper (confirmed)
Karen Weston: Juliette Lewis (confirmed)
Jean Fordham: Abigail Breslin (confirmed)
Beverly Weston: Sam Shepard (confirmed)
Mattie Fae Aiken: Margo Martindale (confirmed)
Steve Heidebrecht: Dermot Mulroney (confirmed)
Little Charles Aiken: Benedict Cumberbatch (confirmed)
Johnna Monevata: Misty Upham (confirmed)
Bill Fordham: Ewan McGregor (confirmed)

Yet to be confirmed:

Ivy
Sheriff Deon




Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Misty Upham cast as "Johnna"

Variety is reporting that Misty Upham has been cast as housekeeper "Johnna" in Meryl's upcoming film August: Osage County.  Upham, of Native American descent (evidently Blackfoot tribe), is probably best known for her supporting role in 2008's Frozen River.   Melissa Leo earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actress in the film.  This may elicit a gay gasp but I've never seen the movie.   I guess I have a good reason to now.  With shooting set to begin in under two weeks, we can hopefully expect to have the remaining three cast members revealed over the next thirteen days. 

We now have only Sheriff Deon, Bill and Ivy left to round out the full cast.  Ivy will be huge.  Bill isn't a tiny part by any means, but Ivy is arguably in the top two of role importance in this story.  Although Barbara likely has more screen time, Ivy and Violet are the two most interesting characters in my opinion.  Plus, whoever plays Ivy will likely have some intimate scenes with Meryl.  Here's where we stand as of tonight:

Violet Weston: Meryl Streep (confirmed)
Barbara Fordham: Julia Roberts (confirmed)
Charlie Aiken: Chris Cooper (confirmed)
Karen Weston: Juliette Lewis (confirmed)
Jean Fordham: Abigail Breslin (confirmed)
Beverly Weston: Sam Shepard (confirmed)
Ivy Weston: Amy Adams (speculated, but I doubt it)
Mattie Fae Aiken: Margo Martindale (confirmed)
Steve Heidebrecht: Dermot Mulroney (confirmed)
Little Charles Aiken: Benedict Cumberbatch (confirmed)
Johnna Monevata: Misty Upham (confirmed)

Yet to be confirmed:

Ivy
Bill
Sheriff Deon



 


Sunday, September 9, 2012

Update on Meryl's chances for Oscar

This morning I took a look at Awards Daily forums, thinking I would casually peruse the comments on where things stand with best actress.  I found myself engulfed in an almost endless litany of personal top ten lists.  After only 36 pages(!), I came away with a very different outlook on this year's race for Oscar.  As I wrote earlier this week, Helen Hunt had been moved to the supporting category for The Sessions on Gold Derby, and with what I read today, that seems to be the near consensus.   In addition, I was surprised to see that not only did Laura Linney's performance in Hyde Park on Hudson not receive much love, she was essentially removed from all top five (and many top ten) lists.  That's a huge jump.  

Maggie Smith's upcoming Quartet (which seems to be very much up my alley) has been gaining major steam.  But the biggest revelation at the Toronto Film Festival this weekend appears to be Jennifer Lawrence's performance in the dramatic comedy Silver Linings Playbook.  I mean, some people on the forum are basically describing this lack luster best actress category as "game over" now that Lawrence's performance has been unveiled, after it seemed that Quvenzhane Wallis was the overwhelming front-runner.  Up until this morning, I was giving Meryl a pretty good chance at slipping into that fifth slot, but those chances may become increasingly more dismal over the coming months.  The news of Lawrence also bodes poorly for Meryl's chances at the Golden Globe in musical/comedy, as Silver Linings Playbook will likely be included in the same category.  Acknowledging that it's only September (for crying out loud), here are what seem to be the top five chances at Oscar nominations:

1. Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook)
2. Quvenzhane Wallis (Beasts of the Southern Wild)
3. Maggie Smith (Quartet)  
4. Marion Cotillard (Rust & Bone)
5. Keira Knightley (Anna Karenina)

Knightley could fall by the wayside pretty quickly if reviews for her turn out to be lack-luster.   Streep, based on this list, would probably fall between sixth and eighth.   Of course, as fickle as these things can be, we may be saying something completely different in a week.   But I wager the top five will include at least three of the names in the above list.   I'm not too bummed about Meryl's buzz dropping considerably.  I really can't be, considering before Hope Springs came out I had zero expectation of anything more than a Globe nomination.  And even if somehow Meryl does get an Oscar nod, in a year as weak as this, it'll be more of a filler.   If she doesn't get any love from the Academy this year, all the more chance that she'll be recognized next year for you-know-what (wink).
 

Saturday, September 8, 2012

"August: Osage County" filming blurb

There was an article online last night that describes a few details about the upcoming shoot for August: Osage County.   Location manager Joe Guest spoke at a Bartlesville financial forum where they discussed the helpful impact that filming will have on the respective local economies.  From what they were describing it sounds like the film is going to be a rather large production.  We already know that the budget (at least according to imdb) is a cool $50,000,000.  I imagine that includes the considerable costs of paying very big-name actors.  I gather that most of the filming will be done in the home they've chosen in Pawhuska, with a bit done in Bartlesville as well.

It's been reiterated from this article that shooting indeed begins on Monday, September 24, and is evidently scheduled to go about three months.  The estimated shooting schedule length surprised me a little.  I assumed they'd have this wrapped up in about six weeks.  However, this was a very long play, and my guess is that they're going to do a ton of filming and pare it down in post.   Maybe that way Tracy Letts didn't have to make too many cuts to his script.  I really don't have much idea on how these things work, I'm just creating a scenario in my mind because I so badly want the film to include all the best parts (yes, I need to get a major grip).

So, we're only about two weeks out from shooting and I'm very excited to see updates over the coming months.  Including a finalized cast, perhaps...?  Ugh.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Meryl up to #5 on Gold Derby Oscar predictions

I happened to check out the latest Gold Derby rankings last night and was pleasantly surprised to see that Meryl has moved up to #5 on their best actress predictions list.  Helen Hunt has been removed from the list entirely.  It was a bit confusing because I thought maybe they were going to push back the release of The Sessions, similar to The Great Gatsby, but John Hawkes is still among the best actors at #2.  I didn't see it last night, but today I noticed that Helen Hunt is now listed at #6(!) on the supporting actress list.

This is good news for Meryl's chances at an Oscar nomination for Hope Springs.  I don't know if Hunt is officially going to be campaigned in supporting, but Regina at FYC Meryl Streep and I both agree that it's a stupid idea moving her to that category.  That coupled with the underwhelming reception of Laura Linney's performance in Hyde Park on Hudson at this weekend's Telluride Film Festival signals an uptick in buzz for Meryl.  We'll have to wait and see if more sites begin to push Hunt over to the supporting category. 

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Film review: "Plenty" (1985)

I thought I'd take a break from my compulsive August: Osage County updates and take a look at a film that I feel I've watched twice without really remembering what happens.  In addition to enjoying Meryl's several lines delivered in French, after viewing it again I realized it's actually a really good character story.   Plenty was adapted from David Hare's 1978 play about Susan Traherne, a British former agent for the French Resistance during World War II.   The crux of the story is the internal and eventually external battle Susan (Meryl) goes through as she attempts to adjust to post-war life.

Around this self-destruction revolve various stories in a non-chronological timeline.  After the fighting and a brief tryst with a fellow agent (played by Sam Neill) end, Susan takes a series of unfulfilling jobs, hoping to find something even remotely resembling the excitement and drive of purpose she felt during war time.  She is unsuccessful in this endeavor, as she is in trying to fill the void by conceiving a child with an almost-stranger, Mick, played by Sting.  Yes, Sting.  During this time we see her befriend the young Alice Park, played by Tracey Ullman.  Alice becomes a sort of background partner in Susan's eccentricities and ultimate catalyst in squabbles with her diplomat husband, Raymond (Charles Dance).

I was intrigued in learning about the general sense of disillusionment that was apparently felt among many Europeans after the war, particularly English high society.  Susan finds the day to day pleasantries and unquestioned existence too much.  She slowly self destructs, illustrated by a series of progressively selfish, uncontrolled diatribes against her husband and his colleagues.  One of Meryl's best scenes is with Sir John Gielgud, who plays an English diplomat whom Susan considers, along with many others, to be a stuffy, out of date blunderer.



We don't see it in this clip, but my favorite line from the movie comes earlier in this scene, when the Burmese ambassador, struggling with his word choice remarks "The English language, she is a demanding mistress...you beat her and the bitch obeys."  A tad disturbing and misogynistic perhaps, but I thought it funny nonetheless.  Anyway,  I think Meryl does a great job here of portraying someone's who just seems bored.  The decorum of the dinner party gathering is something against which she is trying to rail.  How best to shake things up?  Susan's way is to become rude, and to belittle and attempt to embarrass her husband.  She succeeds.

After essentially ruining her husband's prospects of advancement, Susan decides to go behind his back and insist on a promotion within his office.  Here Susan finds her intellectual match in Sir Andrew Charleson (played by Ian McKellen).  When she learns that her efforts will not result in an advancement in her husband's weakened career, we see her damaged psyche in full effect as she threatens to kill herself.  The destruction is complete when her last desperate and delusional attempt at finding purpose (converting her home into a house for battered wives) is stopped short by Raymond trying to finally get through to her.    It doesn't work.

Roger Ebert had a good quote about Meryl in this film saying she gives "a performance of great subtlety; it is hard to play an unbalanced, neurotic, self-destructive woman, and do it with such gentleness and charm...Streep creates a whole character around a woman who could have simply been a catalogue of symptoms."  It makes one question why Meryl wasn't really recognized for awards in this film.  Well, I'm not saying it absolutely warranted an Oscar nom (which it did), but she had another little film released in 1985 called Out of Africa.   We'll leave that discussion for a future post in "Snubs."