2010 Castings, Part One: The Social Swan Fighter
And now to catch up with the 2010 nominees for Best Picture, both mine and Oscar's. If you recall, Oscar nominated the following:
127 Hours
Black Swan (win for Best Actress, Natalie Portman)
The Fighter (wins for Best Supporting Actor, Christian Bale; Best Supporting Actress, Melissa Leo)
The Kids Are All Right
The King's Speech (wins for Best Picture; Best Director, Tom Hooper; Best Actor, Colin Firth; Best Original Screenplay, David Seidler)
Inception (wins for Best Cinematography, Wally Pfister; Sound Editing; Best Sound Mixing; Best Visual Effects)
The Social Network (wins for Best Adapted Screenplay, Aaron Sorkin; Best Editing, Kirk Baxter & Angus Wall; Best Original Score, Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross)
Toy Story 3 (wins for Best Animated Feature; Best Original Song, "We Belong Together")
True Grit
Winter's Bone
My own nominees...were surprisingly similar, really. The King's Speech had made my Top Ten of the year, even, in a list that also included Mother (which won my Best Actress award for Kim Hye-ja), Easy A, For Colored Girls and Never Let Me Go. Were I to make this list today, The Runaways would probably have edged out Never Let Me Go, since it went on to win Cinematography (Benoit Debie), Makeup, Costume, Art Direction and Supporting Actor (Michael Shannon). The eventual five that made up my Best Pic line-up, though, were:
Black Swan (wins for Best Picture; Best Director, Darren Aronofsky; Best Original Screenplay, Mark Heyman/Andres Heinz/John McLaughlin; Best Sound)
The Fighter (wins for Best Supporting Actress, Melissa Leo; Best Ensemble)
I Am Love (win for Best Editing, Walter Fasano)
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (wins for Best Visual Effects; Best Original Song, "Ramona")
The Social Network (wins for Best Actor, Jesse Eisenberg; Best Adapted Screenplay, Aaron Sorkin)
Since Oscar and I actually agreed on three of the same nominees -- one is something, BUT THREE??? -- and two of the same winners, I felt we should start with those flicks. Read on to see my ensembles of Black Swan, The Fighter, and The Social Network.
BLACK SWAN
Raye as Nina Sayers
Known as someone who farts doves (so says Jon Lovitz), it'd be cool to see Raye turning that image on its head by exploring her darker side. Like Nina does. Wait, maybe not a great idea?
Lea as Lily
When I thought of dancers I knew who could play this role, someone who could pull off the casualness and comfort with herself, I kept thinking LEA LEA LEA. She's got the confidence and the background to pull it off.
Mike as Thomas Leroy
Again, I needed someone who could easily convey carnality and authority. Mike has always surprised me with the ease in which he causes the girls to swoon. He's got the confidence.
Becca as Erica Sayers
Someday, Becca and I will make a string of crazy campy films together, because she gets it. Just as she would sink her teeth into this role.
Amanda as Beth McIntyre
I rarely cast her in such fun roles, but I know she would have a ball with this character. Who wouldn't? "He always said you were such a frigid little girl...." LOVE YOU WINONA.
THE FIGHTER
Kurtis as Micky Ward
Another casting choice I couldn't get out of my head. He could do it. I know he likes showy parts more, but I think Kurt underestimates his ability to give an understated performance. I see the potential. And he could probably kick as much ass.
Gabe as Dicky Eklund
Obviously, because he and Kurt look so much alike. Ha ha! No, but seriously, I can see him playing loose with this role, and he and Kurt already have a brotherly love/sparring relationship they could use as a springboard.
Raye as Charlene Fleming
Meghan as Alice Eklund
In the little I've seen her in (from high school...) I remember Meghan bringing a natural compassion to her roles, like the characters are believable because she believes in the characters. And that's what a tough role like Alice needs, someone who can see past the ignorance into the woman and mother within.
Ben as George Ward
THE SOCIAL NETWORK
(a casting based on my own reading of the book The Accidental Billionaires)
Mike as Mark Zuckerberg
Caleb as Eduardo Saverin
Gabe as Sean Parker
Tim as the Winklevoss Twins
Jason as Divya Narendra
127 Hours
Black Swan (win for Best Actress, Natalie Portman)
The Fighter (wins for Best Supporting Actor, Christian Bale; Best Supporting Actress, Melissa Leo)
The Kids Are All Right
The King's Speech (wins for Best Picture; Best Director, Tom Hooper; Best Actor, Colin Firth; Best Original Screenplay, David Seidler)
Inception (wins for Best Cinematography, Wally Pfister; Sound Editing; Best Sound Mixing; Best Visual Effects)
The Social Network (wins for Best Adapted Screenplay, Aaron Sorkin; Best Editing, Kirk Baxter & Angus Wall; Best Original Score, Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross)
Toy Story 3 (wins for Best Animated Feature; Best Original Song, "We Belong Together")
True Grit
Winter's Bone
My own nominees...were surprisingly similar, really. The King's Speech had made my Top Ten of the year, even, in a list that also included Mother (which won my Best Actress award for Kim Hye-ja), Easy A, For Colored Girls and Never Let Me Go. Were I to make this list today, The Runaways would probably have edged out Never Let Me Go, since it went on to win Cinematography (Benoit Debie), Makeup, Costume, Art Direction and Supporting Actor (Michael Shannon). The eventual five that made up my Best Pic line-up, though, were:
Black Swan (wins for Best Picture; Best Director, Darren Aronofsky; Best Original Screenplay, Mark Heyman/Andres Heinz/John McLaughlin; Best Sound)
The Fighter (wins for Best Supporting Actress, Melissa Leo; Best Ensemble)
I Am Love (win for Best Editing, Walter Fasano)
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (wins for Best Visual Effects; Best Original Song, "Ramona")
The Social Network (wins for Best Actor, Jesse Eisenberg; Best Adapted Screenplay, Aaron Sorkin)
Since Oscar and I actually agreed on three of the same nominees -- one is something, BUT THREE??? -- and two of the same winners, I felt we should start with those flicks. Read on to see my ensembles of Black Swan, The Fighter, and The Social Network.
BLACK SWAN
Raye as Nina Sayers
Known as someone who farts doves (so says Jon Lovitz), it'd be cool to see Raye turning that image on its head by exploring her darker side. Like Nina does. Wait, maybe not a great idea?
Lea as Lily
When I thought of dancers I knew who could play this role, someone who could pull off the casualness and comfort with herself, I kept thinking LEA LEA LEA. She's got the confidence and the background to pull it off.
Mike as Thomas Leroy
Again, I needed someone who could easily convey carnality and authority. Mike has always surprised me with the ease in which he causes the girls to swoon. He's got the confidence.
Becca as Erica Sayers
Someday, Becca and I will make a string of crazy campy films together, because she gets it. Just as she would sink her teeth into this role.
Amanda as Beth McIntyre
I rarely cast her in such fun roles, but I know she would have a ball with this character. Who wouldn't? "He always said you were such a frigid little girl...." LOVE YOU WINONA.
THE FIGHTER
Kurtis as Micky Ward
Another casting choice I couldn't get out of my head. He could do it. I know he likes showy parts more, but I think Kurt underestimates his ability to give an understated performance. I see the potential. And he could probably kick as much ass.
Gabe as Dicky Eklund
Obviously, because he and Kurt look so much alike. Ha ha! No, but seriously, I can see him playing loose with this role, and he and Kurt already have a brotherly love/sparring relationship they could use as a springboard.
Raye as Charlene Fleming
Meghan as Alice Eklund
In the little I've seen her in (from high school...) I remember Meghan bringing a natural compassion to her roles, like the characters are believable because she believes in the characters. And that's what a tough role like Alice needs, someone who can see past the ignorance into the woman and mother within.
Ben as George Ward
THE SOCIAL NETWORK
(a casting based on my own reading of the book The Accidental Billionaires)
Mike as Mark Zuckerberg
Caleb as Eduardo Saverin
Gabe as Sean Parker
Tim as the Winklevoss Twins
Jason as Divya Narendra