Dream Cast Thursday! Romeo and Juliet

This week's Dream Cast Thursday is Romeo and Juliet. There have been many adaptations on film. My two favorite adaptations are Franco Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet (1968) and Baz Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet (1996). While recasting, I tried to not just choose English actors. I feel like this has happened a lot in the past (after all, Shakespeare was English). I feel like it is really important to remember that the story takes place in Verona.

In the 1968 adaptation, Romeo was played by Leonard Whiting. In the 1996 adaptation, Romeo was played by Leonardo DiCaprio. For my remake, I chose an actor of Spanish and German descent. I chose Daniel Bruhl.

In the 1968 adaptation, Juliet was played by Olivia Hussey. In the 1996 adaptation, Juliet was played by Claire Danes. In my remake, I chose an English actress. I chose Gemma Arterton.

In the 1968 adaptation, Tybalt was played by Michael York. In the 1996 adaptation, Tybalt was played by John Leguizamo. For my remake, I chose an Italian actor. I chose Filippo Nigro.

In the 1968 adaptation, Mercutio was played by John McEnery. In the 1996 adaptation, Mercutio was played by Harold Perrineau. For my remake, I chose an Italian actor. I chose Riccardo Scamarcio.

So what do you all think of my cast? Who would you cast in your own adaptation?

The Devil's Whore

Set between the years 1642 and 1660, "The Devil's Whore" charts the progress of the English Civil War through the eyes of a 17 year old girl, the fictional Angelica Fanshawe.

This was a really interesting film to watch. One of the problems with the American school system is that I have learned many different aspects of American history over and over again to the point of being quite bored. Very little of the history of other countries is taught in American school systems. I found this film to be quite interesting. In fact, most of what I know of British history, I learn from films (should I be embarrassed to admit this?).

This story was beautifully captured on film, and the cast was absolutely magnificent. Andrea Riseborough played the fictional Angelica Fanshawe, Dominic West played Oliver Cromwell, John Simm played Edward Sexby, Michael Fassbender played Thomas Rainsborough, and Peter Capaldi played King Charles I.

This miniseries is definitely a must-see. I hope you enjoy!

Shooting the Past and A Real Summer

I recently saw two more Stephen Poliakoff films (click here to see my Poliakoff post). A Real Summer is the third in a series that includes Joe's Palace and Capturing Mary. It is a short film with two characters. Ruth Wilson reprises her role as Mary Gilbert, but also plays Geraldine. She was magnificent. She really is a wonderful actress. I found myself forgetting that she was not two different people. She really did become each character.

Shooting that Past came out in 1999 (eight years before A Real Summer). Many of Poliakoff's films deal with family secrets and general themes dealing with the past. This film focuses on an enormous collection of photographs. These photographs and the people in charge of them hold their own secrets. It has a wonderful ensemble cast that includes Lindsay Duncan, Timothy Spall, Liam Cunningham, and Emilia Fox.

These two films are definitely must-sees. I would suggest first watching Capturing Mary, then Joe's Palace, and finally A Real Summer. I am not sure how the companion pieces were originally supposed to be watched, but that is the order in which I watched them. I hope you enjoy!

Wide Sargasso Sea

I just recently saw the 2006 adaptation of Wide Sargasso Sea. It is based on the re-imagined prequel to Jane Eyre by by Jean Rhys. I have always loved Jane Eyre and studies Wide Sargasso Sea this past semester in a female writers class and a contemporary theory class.

I haven't seen any of the previous adaptations, but really liked this one. It stars Rebecca Hall as Antoinette Cosway (Bertha Mason) and Rafe Spall as Edward Rochester. It was adapted for the screen by Stephen Greenhorn and directed by Brendan Maher.

I would definitely recommend this adaptation to anyone (especially to fans of Jane Eyre). It was absolutely stunning, and left me completely rethinking the original novel. Despite the fact that I already knew the ending, I was completely entranced by the tale. It is definitely a must-see.

Dream Cast Thursday! Some Like it Hot

Sorry for the lateness of this week's Dream Cast Thursday, but things have been kinda crazy lately. This week, I decided to recast Some Like it Hot. The original film came out in 1959. In 2004, a loosely-based remake came out (called Connie and Carla). I wanted to do a remake that was closer to the original.

The two most important characters in the film are Joe and Jerry. Joe (who dresses up as Josephine) was originally played by Tony Curtis. It was really hard recasting the part, because the part needs someone that can be a tough guy, a romantic lead, and pull-off dressing as a woman. I recast Michael Weatherly.

The second most important character is Jerry. Casting him was also hard. I needed someone that could be a comedic lead, pull-off dressing as a woman, and be able to work in a comedic capacity alongside with Michael Weatherly. Jerry (who dresses up as Daphne) was originally played by Jack Lemmon. After a lot of going back and forth, I recast Vince Vaughn.

Sugar Kane Kowalczyk was a fairly easy character to cast. She was originally played by Marilyn Monroe. From the very moment that I starting thinking about recasting the film and through casting the other characters, I never considered anyone other than Scarlett Johansson.

Osgood Fielding III was another hard character to cast. The original actor to play him was Joe E. Brown, and he did an absolutely amazing job. I recast Dustin Hoffman. The great thing about Hoffman is that not only is he a wonderful actor, but he is also a wonderful character actor. I think that he would be really perfect at taking the original character and adding some of his own aspects to it.

So what do you all think? Do you like my cast? Who would your dream cast be?

Trailer Tuesday! pt. 48

Yesterday was a Lie Trailer

Grown Ups Trailer

The Paranoids Trailer

The Last Station Trailer

Crazy on the Outside Trailer

Made for Each Other Trailer

Kick Ass Trailer

Clash of the Titans Trailer

Leap Year Trailer

The Sorcerer's Apprentice Trailer

Death at a Funeral Trailer

A Single Man Trailer

Crazy Heart Trailer

Robin Hood Trailer

Sparkhouse

This past week's Dream Cast Thursday was Wuthering Heights. It is a funny coincidence, because I just happened upon another adaption (to see the original post, click here). The adaptation that I saw is called Sparkhouse. It came out in 2002.

Although drepressing, this adaptation did something that I had never seen done before. It completely flipped the gender roles. Cathy became Andrew. Heathcliff became Carol. Edgar became Becky. Isabella became John. The cast was really good. Andrew was played by Joe McFadden, Carol was played by Sarah Smart, Becky was played by Camilla Power, and John was played by Richard Armitage. This film was really interesting and definitely a must-see!

Photography Sunday! pt. 5

The Michigan Avenue Bridge goes over the Chicago River. The bridge was build from 1917-1920. This week's Photography Sunday will show the friezes from the bridges. They are part of a set called "Tablets to Pioneers" by Wheeler Williams.

Joe's Palace and Capturing Mary

I recently saw two films written by and directed by Stephen Poliakoff. I have enjoyed other films that I have seen by him in the past (especially Perfect Strangers). I had pretty high expectations for these films and am very happy to report that I was not disappointed.

The first film that I saw is called Joe's Palace. It came out in 2007. It is a drama that centers on the relationships between Joe and Elliott and Joe, Richard and Charlotte. Elliott is the rich, eccentric owner of a grand mansion. Joe is the young man hired to care for the empty house. Richard is in government. He and Charlotte are both married to other people. They come to the house for privacy.

The cast was amazing. One thing that I have come to expect from Poliakoff films is the amazing casts. Elliott Graham is played by Michael Gambon. Joe Dix is played by Danny Lee Wynter. Richard Reece is played by Rupert Penry-Jones. Charlotte is played by Kelly Reilly. Michael Gambon and Kelly Reilly were especially phenomenal. I kind of expected a wonderful performance from Gambon, but was absolutely blown away by Reilly.

The companion piece to Joe's Palace is Capturing Mary. This film came out later in 2007. This film also involves Joe, but revolves around Mary Gilbert (a older woman trying to come to grips with her past and the part the Greville White plays). The setting for this film is once again in Mr. Graham's magnificent mansion.

Joe is once again played by Danny Lee Wynter. Mary Gilbert is played by Maggie Smith and Ruth Wilson. Greville White is played by David Walliams. This cast was also magnificent (as expected). The one surprise was David Walliams. I have always seen him in comedic roles. This was the first realy dramatic role that I had seen him in. He was amazing!

These films are definitely a must-see. I would suggest seeing Perfect Strangers first. Poliakoff does an absolutely magnificent job of bringing realistic dramas about family secrets and the past. They are always a real treat.

Update

Currently Reading for School
If on a Winter's Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino

Currently Reading for Pleasure:
Tunnels of Blood by Darren Shan

Currently Watching:
Spaced: Series One

Currently Listening to:

Battlestar Galactica: Season One Soundtrack

Dream Cast Thursday! Wuthering Heights

Today's Dream Cast Thursday is Wuthering Heights. It was originally published by Emily Bronte in 1847 under the pseudonym of Ellis Bell. Since it's original publication, there have been many film adaptations. I have focused only on the earliest adaptation of Wuthering Heights and the three other adaptations that I have seen. One version of Wuthering Heights (1939) was directed by William Wyler. Another version of Wuthering Heights (1992) was directed by Peter Kosminsky. A third adaptation of Wutehring Heights (2003) was directed by Suri Krishnamma. The last adaptation of Wuthering Heights (2009) that I will be looking at was directed by Coky Giedroyc.

The characters of Cathy and Heathcliff are the two most important characters in the films. Cathy has been played by Merle Oberon (1939), Juliette Binoche (1992), Erika Christensen (2003 - in this updated version, she is known as Cate), and Charlotte Riley (2009). In my recast I would cast Ruth Wilson. She is a young and relatively unknown actress. I have loved her since I saw her in the most recent adaptation of Jane Eyre with Toby Stephens.

Heathcliff has been played by Laurence Olivier (1029), Ralph Fiennes (1992), Mike Vogel (2003 - in this updated version, he is known as Heath), and Tom Hardy (2009). In my remake, I would cast Dominic Cooper.

In the past, Edgar has been played by David Niven (1039), Simon Shepherd (1992), Christopher Masterson (2003 -In this updated version, he is known as Edward), and Andrew Lincoln (2009). In my remake, I recast Matthew Goode.

In the past, Isabella has been played by Geraldine Fitzgerald (1939), Sophie Ward (1992), Katherine Heigl (2003- in this updated version she is known as Isabel), and Rosalind Halstead (2009). In my remake, I cast Romola Garai.

In past adaptations, Hindley has been played by Hugh Williams (1939), Jeremy Northam (1992), Johnny Whitworth (2003- in this updated version, he is known as Hendrix), and Burn Gorman (2009). In my remake, I recast Sean Biggerstaff.

So what do you all think? Who would you recast in your adaptation? Have you seen any really good adaptations that have not been mentioned?

Miss Austen Regrets

I recently watched Miss Austen Regrets. I believe that if first aired in the UK in 2008. I believe that it is currently only available in the United States as part of a set, but can be purchased on its own in the United Kingdom. It focuses on the life of Jane Austen (40s?-death). It was a really interesting film. Unlike Becoming Jane (another Austen biopic), it seemed very realistic. There were parts that were absolutely heart-breaking. This is definitely not the kind of film that I would be able to see over and over again.

This film takes one of the most famous female authors in the world, and turns her into a real person. The writer (Gwyneth Hughes) went further with this film than other films that I have seen. I applaud her for not mixing Austen up with her characters. Jeremy Lovering did a marvelous job directing the film. It was an absolute treat to watch. It had the same wonderfully beautiful look and feel as other period-dramas, but at the same time seemed a little gritty (if that makes sense).

The cast was wonderfully chosen. After seeing it, I could not imagine anyone but Olivia Williams playing Jane. There were so many dimensions to the character (many more than expected). Austen had a grace and wit, but at the same time a sadness and bitterness. Greta Scacchi and Phyllida Law gave the same wonderful performances that I have come to expect. I have seen Hugh Bonneville in many period films, but this is the first time when I have been really blown away by a performance. He did a marvelous job.

As I previously mentioned, this is not necessarily the type of film that I would buy and be able to watch over and over again, but I would definitely recommend seeing it. It is definitely a must see (especially if you are an Austen fan)!

Word Cloud

I made this word cloud at Wordle.