Johnny Simmons

The Emmy nominations are going to be out in Mid July. Here’s my top ten lists in the major categories. Predicting the Emmy’s is a weird task. When the nominees come out I’ll post my thoughts. But this is a preliminary to my personal TV awards. Remember this is not what I think the Emmy’s will nominate… but these are the top ten lists for the major categories. I should get the final nominations posted by the end of June.

Drama Series

The Closer
Damages
Dexter
Gossip Girl
Grey’s Anatomy
House
Mad Men
Private Practice
Supernatural
The Tudors

Lead Actor Drama
Jensen Ackles - Supernatural
Patrick Dempsey - Grey's Anatomy
Michael C. Hall - Dexter
John Hamm - Mad Men
Hugh Laurie - House
Jonathan Rhys Myers - The Tudors
Jared Padelecki - Supernatural
Bill Paxton - Big Love
David Spade - Boston Legal
Keifer Sutherland - 24


Lead Actress Drama
Patricia Arquette - Medium
Angela Basset - E.R.
Glenn Close - Damages
Sally Field - Brothers & Sisters
Holly Hunter - Saving Grace
January Jones - Mad Men
Anna Paquin - True Blood
Ellen Pompeo - Grey's Anatomy
Kyra Sydgwick - The Closer
Kate Walsh - Private Practice


Supporting Actor Drama
Naveen Andrews - Lost
Justin Chambers - Grey
Ted Danson - Damages
Taye Diggs - Private Practice
Omar Epps - House
T.R. Knight - Grey's Anatomy
John Slattery - Mad Men
William Shatner - Boston Legal
Donald Sutherland - Dirty Sexy Money
Ed Westick - Gossip Girl


Supporting Actress Drama
Candice Bergen - Boston Legal
Rachael Griffiths - Brothers & Sisters
Katherine Heigl - Grey's Anatomy
Audra McDonald - Private Practice
Leighton Meester - Gossip Girl
Sara Ramirez - Grey's Anatomy
Patricia Wettig - Brothers & Sisters
Chandra Wilson - Grey's Anatomy

Meryl Streep is not my favourite actress. I completely understand the love for her, since she is quite a good actress. But I’m just not very fond of her, or of her work. Someone once referred to her as a chameleon which seems about right. She now holds the record for the most Oscar nominations ever, which is a pretty formidable feat considering that she’s been acting for less than forty years. Recently she’s been on somewhat of a roll, and although she has been good in her roles, I wonder if some other actress could not have done just as well (or dare I say better) in the roles.
        


Take her role in The Devil Wears Prada. This is probably my favourite Meryl Streep comedic performance, usually I don’t like her in comedy, but I would have so much more loved to see Glenn Close. Perhaps, it would have been too much – been there, done that. But still, I think that could have been have been a great career opportunity for Glenn Close who remains as my favourite living actress, although I can’t remember the last time I saw her on the silver screen.

    
My worst Meryl performance is Prime. Not because the performance is bad, I mean it’s not very good, but it’s not horrible… and I always feel she was miscast. When the producers read the script and realised they needed a middle aged woman to play a Jewish shrink was Meryl the first name that came to mind. Haven’t they ever heard about someone called Barbra Streisand? Come on – that was too easy. And The Prince of Tides aside, I think Barbra could have knocked this out of the park – bad film and all. No offence to Meryl of course.
        
Last year Meryl did her thing in Doubt – a great performance, I kid you not. But there are so many older women (in need of roles) that could have been good here. What about Jessica Lange, Kathleen Turner (is she even alive?)Sissy Spaceck or once again Glenn Close. No one playing Sister Aloysius could have been overlooked by the Academy. NO ONE!!!! So did they HAVE to choose Meryl? And for the most part, I felt as if I was looking at Miranda Priestly with a dreadful New York accent and in a habit.

Then there was that horrid film called Mamma Mia… Meryl was actually the best thing, actually, the only good thing in this movie. The problem with Mamma Mia was casting. Meryl’s character is supposed to be a woman who about twenty years ago got pregnant at a young age and moved to this idyllic island? Did ANYONE looking at that movie get that feeling? NO! It was painful watching these women play young. Why couldn’t they cast Nicole Kidman or even Renée Zellweger?!!! Or some actress that was below 45. Damn those Hollywood producers.
               
There are other performances where I saw other actresses. Lions for Lambs never worked for me, but I still imagined Patricia Clarkson in it, more than Meryl. I dreamed of Pfeiffer in A Prairie Home Companion – even though she’s not old enough, etcetera, etcetera.
             
I have decided that after being in the business so long Meryl Streep has considerable dirt on every important Hollywood producer and is therefore blackmailing them so she gets all the good roles (and even some of the bad ones). I mean that must be the reason…right?

So I hear that Scorsese, my favourite living director, is planning on making a biopic on Frank Sinatra.

Read this article

This could be good. What would it be like though -
Coal Miner's Daughter, Walk the Line, La Vie En Rose? Scorsese is great. I like Leonardo DiCaprio too, so I wouldn't mind seeing him as Frank, but I don't know if he has the right look. If I had to pick someone off the top of my head, I'd probably go with Peter Sarsgaard

Who should be Frank?








Listen to Frankie

I have exams going on right now, but I continue to post on the net or reading Film Experience and The Awards Circuit. Oh well, whatever. Still celebrating the imminent release of Nine I have another list of nine. Nine films I want to see made, I don't have all nine though, just three. Bear with me... My premise is simple these works of fiction need to be made into movies now with top notch actors to win some Oscars.

Anybody Can Do Anything based on a novel by Betty MacDonald

CAST
Directed by Stephen Daldry
Written by
Betty Bard Kirsten Dunst
Mary Bard Emily Blunt
Sidney Bard Annette Bening
Dede Bard Natalie Portman
Allison Bard Scarlet Johansson
Cleve Bard Haley Joel Osment
Gammy Susan Sarandon

This is a sort of autobiography work of fiction. The author Betty struggles to survive during The Great Depression, actually struggle is the wrong word. This novel is a work of comedy. It is hilarious. If you have not read it, go out and get it. NOW!

I have put some serious thought into adapting this (obscure and largely unknown) novel. I even wrote about 30 pages of script for it, but that was a few years back when I thought Nicole Kidman and Renee Zellweger would be great in it. They still could, but they’d be too old –which sucks. I know this isn’t a real movie, but I would have loved to see them in this Depression era comedy. I have always felt that Kirsten Dunst was a much better actress than people give her credit for. She never got the chance to show us. Since her performance in Interview With the Vampire I’ve always felt that she was going to be a great actress – and now more than a decade after the fact there’s nothing. I am a fan of Stephen Daldry. I’ve loved each if his three films – and he can do both comedy and drama exceptionally. This film would be a cross between the two genres. Emily Blunt is good at lightweight comedy, and Mary is the most colourful character in the novel, she has the strongest lines – and is just a little caustic (not like The Devil Wears Prada though…). Annette Bening is good at playing mothers, and the role of Sidney is just the type of easy-but-tough maternal character that could become a strong supporting role on screen. Portman, Johansson and Osment seem like a good trio to round out the rest of the family, and Susan Sarandon as the tough-as-nails grandmother is pretty much a no brainer, although the role in the book is not that big. They could always flesh it out though. I assume that they’ll probably want to change the name of the film though… I don’t know to what. Would this be a big player at the Oscars? Costumes and Art Direction could be forthcoming, and I think music should be an important part of the film. In terms of acting Emily Blunt and possibly Bening would be likely contenders, Dunst would have most of the weight on her though and she could be a contender – the role is a bit like a Depression Era Bridget Jones. The AMPAS loves Stephen Daldry so I guess he would get his fourth consecutive Best Director nod for this…

PS. Everyone of the family members have red hair!


Will Emily Blunt get the Oscar nomination she deserved for Prada?



Crooked House based on a novel by Agatha Christie

CAST
Crooked House directed by Joe Wright
Screenplay – Julian Fellowes
Charles Hayward – Peter Sarasgard
Sophia Leonides – Rosamund Pike
Magda (Sophia's Mum) – Kristin Scott Thomas
Philip (her Father) – Ralph Fiennes
Police Commissioner
Clemeny Leonides (Mrs. Robert Leonides)– Michelle Pfeiffer
Roger Leonides – Daniel Day Lewis - I could not resist
Brenda Leonides – Sally Hawkins
Laurence Brown – James McAvoy
Josephine – Saiorse Ronan
Eustace - Freddy Highmore
Edith de Haviland – Miranda Richardson


I like Agatha Christie but generally I don’t like her movies (except for Murder on the Orient Express). I don’t really like murder mystery films generally, which is why I have such an unabated love for Gosford Park, which focused on the people more than on the murder. I think Crooked House would work as a film, if done in the same vein as Gosford Park. It’s one of the lesser known Christie novels and the plot is simple. It’s immediately after the World War II and the police commissioner’s son – somewhat of a lothario wants to marry this beautiful socialite, but when her grandfather dies – ostensibly murdered she says she won’t be able to marry him unless the murder is solved. The thing is everyone is hoping that his wife – a woman almost forty years his junior did it, because if it is anyone else it could cause a huge scandal. Naturally the cast – list of suspects – is extensive; The murdered man’s children, grandchildren, a tutor who was having an affair with the wife, etc. The cast will be mainly British – as expected. And key roles need to have real heavyweights in them. Edith de Havilland is not a flashy role, but it is the key supporting role and Oscar likes those (Helen Mirren in Gosford Park.
Who knows, this could be a real heavyweight come Oscar season. I predict that it will be a tough year and it gets seven nods. Art Direction, Costume Design, Score, Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography (wins), Supporting Actress (Ronan or Richardson), Director. I predict that Kristin Scott Thomas and Peter Sarasgard give great performances, but are snubbbed by major award bodies.


Miranda knows more about the murder than she lets on... but is she the killer?

Fences based on a play by August Wilson

CAST
Fences directed by Kenny Leon
Screenplay –
Troy – Laurence Fishburne
Rose – Angela Bassett
Gabriel – Don Cheadle
Cory – Mechad Brooks
Jim – Mos Def
Alberta – Taraji P. Henson
Lyons - Keith Robinson

Why aren’t there any black period pieces? Granted, this is not really an actual period piece, but it is to some extent. This play won a Pulitzer Prize and a few Tony’s, I’ve never heard of a revival and I think it needs to be made into a film. Where has Angela Basset been all these years? I mean, she deserves more than having co-lead roles in Tyler Perry films. I know she could act the hell of this tour-de-force role (which won a supporting actress Tony for Mary Alice). It’s actually a leading role, but you know the Tony’s don’t care about category fraud. If this is made into a good film whoever gets this role will get some awards recognition, and then how could I not wax nostalgic and cast Laurence Fishburne as her husband. The role was originally played by James Earl Jones (he won a Tony for it) and Laurence Fishburne does remind me of Jones. This would be spectacular. Then there’s the role of Gabriel, his semi-retarded brother. Don Cheadle is one of my favourite actors period (he was the only thing I liked in Crash) and he is an Oscar nominated actor (he was second only to DiCaprio for his great performance in Hotel Rwanda). I know he can do this. The role of, the son is a big one and there’s no competent young black actor I could see in the role. Mechad Brooks had a few episodes on ABC’s Desperate Housewives as Alfre Woodard’s son and he delivered, I feel he could deliver as Troy. Lyons is Troy's other son, I don't know if Keith Robinson, but I like him. I think he showed some potential in Dreamgirls. I like the idea of a throwback casting for Mos Def as the best friend, if not him then Courtney B. Vance who was in the original Broadway Cast . I like the idea of Taraji as the other woman, just because I like Taraji, the role is unseen in the play – but they could meat it up for the play.
Kenny Leon showed promise and earned a DGA nod for her work in A Raisin in the Sun with Audra McDonald. I'll take a chance on him. Maybe Angela and Laurence could win Oscars. The role of Gabriel is prime Oscar bait.



So will Angie finally get that Oscar?

Which of these movies would you look forward to?

So I was looking at the legend Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl the other day and it occurred to me that she got her start acting on Broadway, and although she is regarded more as a singer than an actress, she has been successful in making the transition from stage to screen quite well along with another legend of her time the luminous Julie Andrews. So I compiled a list of 13 Broadway gems I would like to see make it big on the screen. I had to put some restrictions on the list because you’d have probably seen Bernadette Peters or maybe Chita Viera make the list. I mean, why hasn’t Bernadette Peters had a successful movie career? I’ll assume she doesn’t want one… not that that’s any consolation, but I digress. These women are too old (I know I lack tact) to break it into the business now. Anyhow, here’s the list continuing with my trend of Nines…

Sutton Foster (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Little Women, The Drowsy Chaperone)



She’s talented and she has unique features. That sounds like Ms. Streisand actually. And she has a weird name – it seems like that is a status quo for actresses these days.

Casted Roles She Could Have Done: Poppy in Happy Go Lucky
Don’t ask why. I just feel she would have been really good, granted she is not British – but nonetheless. I feel this would have been right up her alley.

Un-casted Roles She Could Do: Although I hate having Broadway stars come to big screen for only musical roles I will say I would love to see her do Clara from Stephen Sondheim’s Tony winning Passion. She has the chops, it’s a siren role and she goes nude. If that doesn’t get her an Oscar… I'd choose her for the Lead - Fosca, but I think she's too young.


Anika Noni Rose (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Caroline, Or Change)



She was introduced to mainstream audiences in Dreamgirls, and to be honest – if they really wanted to give someone in that talented ensemble an Oscar – why not give it to her? She was head and shoulders above Eddie Murphy and Jennifer Hudson. She’s in her mid thirties – which she doesn’t look like – and she has a sweet personality. Where are the offers?

Casted Roles She Could Have Done: Queenie in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Granted Taraji owned this role, but I think she would (like Taraji) have had that innate comic timing necessary for this role. Oh, God, I can see it now!

Un-casted Roles She Could Do: Carmen Jones in Carmen Jones
Not sure if she has the right look for the movie, but damn can she sing. That’s why I want her to do a musical. The problem with her (and Beyonce to an extent) in Dreamgirls was that they had to undersing themselves, so we never saw the power she had. She can knock it out of the ballpark and I really want to see her do a movie musical.


Sheri Rene Scott (Aida, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels)



Casted Roles She Could Have Done: Ulla in The Producers
Uma Thurman was not the problem with this movie – it just wasn’t the type of film meant to be made into a movie. Sheri’s strong point is her sweet voice and it would have been perfect for this role.

Un-casted Roles She Could Do: Adelaide in Guys & Dolls
She’d be good at this. Enough said.


Lea Michele (Spring Awakening, Les Miserables)



Doesn’t she look like Idina Menzel? She has a sweet voice, but I think she needs to vere away from musical roles until she is older. I don’t want her to end up type-casted.

Casted Roles She Could Have Done: Johanna in Sweeney Todd
A musical yes, but this could have been good.

Un-casted Roles She Could Do: Fanny in Mansfield Park
This may be a bit too generic. I’m not sure what role she could do. I do not love this Jane Austen novel – but it could make a good film adaptation in the vein of Joe Wright’s Pride & Prejudice. Can she manage an English accent? Or maybe Jane Eyre.


Laura Benanti (Into the Woods, Gypsy)



Casted Roles She Could Have Done: Cristine in The Phantom of the Opera
Why exactly was the film version of this long running musical such a flop? Even though it had Miranda Richardson in it? I don’t know. I mean the bulk of the problem was not Emmy Rossum, but she wasn’t that much help either. And Laura Benanti has the voice of an angel.

Un-casted Roles She Could Do: Laura in The Glass Menagerie
These are two vastly dissimilar roles and I suppose she may be too old, but I always felt that she had the look for Laura. And considering that this is a Tennessee Williams play – there is so much that lends itself to a cinematic adaptation. Of course you’d have to have a good supporting cast – Susan Sarandon perhaps as her mother. I don’t know who’d play Tom… but it could work.


Jane Krakowski (Grand Hotel, Nine)





Do any of you look at 30 Rock? I don’t like it. At least that’s what I tell myself every Thursday while I look at it. Still, I think Jane Krakowski is the standout in the cast. She has perfect comedict timing and I am appalled at the Emmy Snubs she has received. They certainly need to apologise with a nomination and perhaps a win for her this season. Krakowski earned her Tony for her role in Yeston’s Nine.

Casted Roles She Could Have Done: Roxie Hart in Chicago
This is really a no brainer. As good as Renee Zellweger was Jane would have been superb. Of course having a Broadway star that was not bankable would have detracted from the entire point of Rob Marshall’s vision. I could also have seen her in the Naomi Watts role in King Kong – if only for the look. Still she would have killed as Roxie.

Un-casted Roles She Could Do: I’m actually stumped here… which probably means I have no imagination. I think more than Chenoweth Jane needs a project writer for her. But if I had to pick something I think Bernadette Peter’s Tony winning musical Song & Dance would be great for Jane. It’s not uber popular so it wouldn’t have tons of hype to live up to and what’s more it has Tell Me On A Sunday which (despite being a faithful Sondheim lover) is my second favourite Webber ballad (behind Memory of course).


Idina Menzel (Rent, Wicked!)





I like Idina Menzel. Her fans seem a bit rabid sometimes, but she is a great singer and wonderful actress and very sexy too, so there! She looks like a really gorgeous version of Nelly Furtado. She’s another surprising person that hasn’t done well in film. She was good in Enchanted.

Casted Roles She Could Have Done: Vivian in Pretty Women
This would be killer. I could just see her as the stripper – okay obviously she couldn’t have done it then, she would have been a child, but it could have / would have been great. Okay, maybe I cheated.

Un-casted Roles She Could Do: I don’t know if she can do Shakespeare (it’s not for everyone), but I would love to see her do Katharine in The Taming of the Shrew. I think that sort of shrewish character that needs to be tamed is her specialty – only now I have to think which male actor could tame her… I’m tempted to think Peter Sarasgard or maybe Billy Crudup… She’ll upstage whoever, it doesn’t matter.


Audra McDonald (110 in the Shade, Master Class, A Raisin in the Sun)




Oh how I love this woman – she has Four Tony Awards and an Emmy, so you know she has talent. Right now she’s starring in Private Practice which I hope will make her popular with audiences. She needs a big screen career… and fast.

Casted Roles She Could Have Done: Tatiana Rusesabagina in Hotel Rwanda
Nothing less for Audra than Sophie Okenodo’s Oscar nominated turn in this wonderful film. She has the dramatic chops to pull it off, although I do wonder what her accent would be like… She’d have good chemistry with Don Cheadle though.

Un-casted Roles She Could Do: Any of the leads in God of Carnage
This play is currently on Broadway with Hope Davis and the delightful Marcia Gay Harden. I’d like to see Audra take on either of these roles – although Marcia’s role seems more up her alley. I have not seen the original, but I have read snippets of the script. Of course if it comes to screen the original cast members are popular enough to get the roles. Still, I’d like to see Audra in this. A lot.


Kristin Chenoweth (Candide, You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, Wicked!)



I love this woman. I still find it shocking to believe that she is forty years old, and I will forever resent ABC (otherwise my favourite network) for cancelling Pushing Daisies, thereby stopping my weekly dose of Cheno. I think the reason it’s hard for her to get roles is because of her height (she’s a few inches below 5 feet), and her nasally voice, but like any actress she can change her voice. Apparently Wicked! will be made into a film, but I suppose she will be too old, and then they’ll probably recast it with stars.

Casted Roles She Could Have Done: Giselle in Enchanted
I think this would have been an obvious choice – and not because of her at the Oscars – but it is so reminiscent of her Tony Nominated role in Wicked! She would have rocked this, but Amy Adams was good too.

Un-casted Roles She Could Do: The Muse in Pygmalion
Not as a musical – or adaptation of My Fair Lady, but an actual adaptation of the original play. I think Cheno would be great, and if they do it as a comedy they could write her height (or lack thereof) into the script. It could be genius – cast Robert Downey Jr. or Johnny Depp as the male lead and get Lasse Hallestrome to direct.


Which actress could have a big film career?

Just had a gander at Down With Love...

Is it a good movie? Or is it a feeble attempt at one?



On good days, I love it... on bad days... I find it pretentious. It can be a little silly - and a tad bit unrealistic... but isn't that the point? Maybe. Still, Renée Zellweger and Ewan McGregor have fabulous chemistry and Sarah Paulson and David Hyde Pierce are very capable as the respective sidekicks. The costumes are a plus too... and the soundtrack warrants a listen including an original song Here's to Love!

I think this is a good film.
Am I wrong?