Nine Movie to Star Javier Bardem

Suddenly I've become a whole lot more excited about director Rob Marshall's upcoming movie version of Maury Yeston's Nine. Reportedly, Javier Bardem has been offered the starring role of Guido Contini.

Readers may recall Javier Bardem from his breakout movie role in "Before Night Falls," a terrific film, otherwise notable for Johnny Depp's dual role as a sadistic prison guard and a drag queen. Bardem is not only one hell of an actor, but he's also easy on the eyes. Extremely easy on the eyes. (See poster below) Can he sing? I really don't know, but Raul Julia wasn't all that much of a singer, quite consistently going flat on the original Broadway cast recording.

There's been quite a lot of cyber-chatter about who could be playing the female roles in the movie, including the following possibilities:

Sophia Loren...Guido's mother
Penelope Cruz...Carla
Marion Cotillard...Luisa (Del Forno) Contini
Catherine Zeta-Jones...Claudia

Some very intriguing choices, the age-defying Sophia Loren most of all. Loren isn't known for her musical roles, although she did infamously play Aldonza in the wretchedly, painfully, horribly bad movie version of "Man of La Mancha." Catherine Zeta-Jones, of course, won an Oscar for her overrated turn in Rob Marshall's "Chicago." The Claudia role is significantly more subdued than that of Velma Kelly, and Zeta-Jones will have her work cut out for her making the part memorable.

I must confess that, although I'm familiar with Penelope Cruz by name, I can't recall ever seeing a movie she was in. Carla is a very demanding role, and I'd be interested in hearing whether any readers out there think Cruz can pull it off. I had never heard of Marion Cotillard before reading that she was attached to this movie, but I understand she's making quite a splash as Edith Piaf in the new movie "La Môme."

The movie will apparently start shooting in the spring with a planned release of late 2008.

Comments

[Steve On Broadway (SOB)]

Chris, "Nine" has settled in as one of my top ten favorite shows. I recently saw a great little regional production in Winnipeg that blew me away - and that came on the heels of seeing the Antonio Banderas revival of Broadway. I really enjoy the score, but love the story even more.

Like you, I'm not familiar with Penelope Cruz, but am intrigued by Javiar Bardem, Sophia Loren and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

[mondschein_us]

Having only seen the revival a couple of years ago, I think I'd rather see Sophia take on the role of Liliane Lefleur instead of the mother.

[Enni]

This happens to be one of my favourite musicals and I thought it would never reach the screen as it is too cult. But to my great joy and surprise it is happening. This cast worries me a little bit, though. Spanish, French and British actors playing Italian people? It will be a mish-mash of accents. Banderas was very sexy in the Broadway revival but his accent was as Italian as a paella a la valenciana and I found it very irritating at times.
I very much doubt that Bardem and especially the lousy Penelope "one expression" Cruz will be able to sing. It doesn't matter so much for the role of Guido as it's one of those roles meant for an actor who sings (rather than a straight singer) but his mistress has one song which is a vocally demanding tour de force and I don't think Cruz has the vocal chops, nor the charisma, to pull it off.
I wonder who they are going to cast as La Saraghina and who will play Lillianne, the agent. Is La Montevecchi (who originated the role on Broadway) able to do it today?. I would love to see Eartha Kitt play the part as she did in the stage revival in a dominatrix leather outfit complete with whip. Also: I think Julie Andrews as the nasty critic would make for a terrific cameo role. In spite of the operation at her vocal chords a few years back she could sing it and it would be great to see the queen of musicals in action again.