I must admit my heart sank last year when it was announced that Nick Cassavetes was slated to direct “The Beautiful and the Damned.”
The story of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s unhappy, alcohol-fuelled marriage to the Zelda Sayre, the schizophrenic socialite who became the embodiment of Flapper glamour, it should, by rights, make for pretty powerful cinema. With “Benjamin Button” on everyone’s minds at the moment, and the intriguing possibility of Baz Luhrmann filming “The Great Gatsby,” the moment is ripe for a Fitzgerald study on film.
Cassevetes, however, was hardly a safe pair of hands for the project: his first two features were patchily promising enough, but “John Q,” “The Notebook” and “Alpha Dog” inspired little confidence in his abilities. So I’m thrilled to hear that he is out, and that John Curran, a far more interesting (and suitable) filmmaker, is now on board.
Curran’s last two films, 2004’s searing “We Don’t Live Here Anymore” and his exquisite 2006 follow-up, the Maugham adaptation “The Painted Veil,” were both among the most undervalued films of their respective years. The latter, in particular, demonstrated a fine grasp of the period, and literary sensibility, that is necessary to take on Fitzgerald as a subject.
Keira Knightley is still attached to play Sayre; there may be grumbles about the young Brit beauty doing yet another period piece, but it strikes me as smart casting, and a formidable challenge for the actress. If she pulls it off, it could bear more fruit than her recent attempts at Oscar-chasing. No word yet on who’s playing Fitzgerald, but if anyone’s listening, might I suggest Ryan Gosling?
Comments
18 responses to “Fitzgerald biopic gets an upgrade”
whats with the keira bashing aces in the duchess this year def in my top 5.
Uh, where in this post was I “bashing” Keira Knightley? I believe I just said she was well-cast for the project.
She’s strong in “The Duchess,” I agree. Nowhere near my Top 5, but much better than the film itself.
guy, i think he was just talking about in general keira bashing. also, that’s a very striking picture, any idea where it’s from?
JAB: It’s from the Chanel commercial that Joe Wright directed. God, she’s gorgeous in that.
Gosling is the perfect suggestion. Absolutely love it. Joseph Gordon-Levitt would be my second choice.
I think those are both really interesting choices. Keira’s physicality immediately calls to mind a classic flapper style and “We Don’t Live Here Anymore” certainly displays an affinity for domestic melodrama. I think this could turn out quite nicely. Gosling could be interesting, too.
She needs to put on some weight to be Zelda. And yes she was great in The Duchess.
You want bashing? Nick Cassavettes is a hack who should never under any circumstances be permitted to direct anopther film…spent some time on his John Q set…shocking that the man is making movies while so many other talents struggle.
With Curran directing (inspired choice, btw), I bet Edward Norton gets the Scott Fitzgerald role. Knightley is a limited actress and the Zelda role is just TOO demanding for her, imho.
you see young brit beauty i see ugly skinny overrated actress. different strokes for different folks.
Just Me: Don’t you think Norton’s a bit old for the part? Ten years ago, he’d have been perfect.
John: Can’t disagree with you there at all, though I do quite like “Unhook the Stars.”
SOMETHING THATS ALWAYS BOTHERED ME IS LAURA DERN LEAD OR SUPPORT I NWE DONT LIVE HERE ANYMORE.
John Curran’s debut feature was in fact the Australian film ‘Praise’.
@Marissa
Keira Knightley would need to put on weight to play Keira Knightley.
Jonah: Silly me, I forgot about “Praise” (which I’ve actually seen.) Thanks for the correction.
Mark: Wow, we’re dredging up old issues here! Dern was campaigned in supporting, and won the Boston critics’ award in that category. Great performance, isn’t it?
Others: C’mon, the Knightley weight issue is petty and played-out. Some people are just thin. Get over it.
It strikes me as odd the direction that Curren’s career has taken. After seeing “Praise” all those years ago I would’ve have expected him to be adapting Somerset and Fitzgerald, that’s for sure.
Also, there is another version being filmed. That one is Australian and directed by Richard Wolstencroft, who people may know from the absolute schlockfest that was Bloodlust in the early ’90s. I think this version is a modern-day resetting? I dunno. There doesn’t seem to be much info about it, but it’s listed as coming out this year.
Love Keira.
Ryan Gosling is a great suggestion.
I had the opportunity about 8 years ago to ask Fitzgerald’s Hollywood secretary, Frances Kroll Ring what actor reminded her most of Scott, and she said William Hurt.
Guy Lodge: i don’t care about Keira’s weight in general. But to play Zelda she needs to put on weight!!