Dusty Trails

Nicole Kidman is intending to star in a Dusty Springfield biopic ('60s music, manic perfectionist streak, lesbian longings, drugs and booze, early death) being written by Michael Cunningham. Great, but there's a side issue. It isn't mentioned in this New York "Vulture" piece, but it seems too coincidental for this project to be announced two and a half months after a play about Springfield called "Stay Forever: The Life and Music of Dusty Springfield," played for three weeks last February (2.7 through 2.24) at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center.


Many industry people caught this show. CSI's William Petersen was there the night I attended. Previous Springfield biopic projects have come and gone, but a voice is telling me that the idea for the Kidman project probably came from this show. That or the show certainly goosed things along. The star, Kirsten Holly Smith, was excellent in the role. Looked like Springfield, sang and talked like her, etc. I can't imagine Kidman being better than she.


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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on April 29, 2008 at 4:24 PM

comment #1

le corbeau Author Profile Page says ...

Instead of yet another biopic like this, how about a movie where Jim Morrison, Otis Redding, Patsy Cline, Syd Barrett, Jim Reeves and Sylvester team up to pull a big heist?

Posted by le corbeau Author Profile Page at April 29, 2008 5:09 PM

comment #2

AH Author Profile Page says ...

Dusty Springfield was all about passion and that is the last thing that Kidman is good at showing on the screen. So, her casting on this is a huge mistake.

Posted by AH Author Profile Page at April 29, 2008 5:13 PM

comment #3

CarloDennis Author Profile Page says ...

I remember reading a few months ago that Charlize Theron was going to play Springfield, with Ang Lee possibly directing...

Posted by CarloDennis Author Profile Page at April 29, 2008 5:33 PM

comment #4

scooterzz Author Profile Page says ...

nice catch, wells.... my partner and i left that show wondering how long before it became film and hoping that maybe, if it went hbo or showtime, smith would be able to reprise the role (btw, smith was hopeing that too)......
that same week, we took in 'thrill me: the leopold & loeb musical'..... i'm guessing that one may take a bit longer to get to the screen......

Posted by scooterzz Author Profile Page at April 29, 2008 5:36 PM

comment #5

Todd Author Profile Page says ...

I could see Nicole doing this role and possibly even getting Oscar nominated for it.

Take it away DZ
LOL

Posted by Todd Author Profile Page at April 29, 2008 5:59 PM

comment #6

Gnome de Guerre Author Profile Page says ...

Mgmax, that is pure geniusity. Fuck, I would pay for that ticket in a heartbeat.

Posted by Gnome de Guerre Author Profile Page at April 29, 2008 6:35 PM

comment #7

calraigh Author Profile Page says ...

I'm sorry, I really can't let this one go.I just watched that clip and having not seen the show in question, I cannot comprehensively comment on it but based on this clip alone, the characterisation looks absolutely ridiculous.Have you ever seen any footage of Dusty, heard her speak, the way she carried herself?She certainly didn't sound like that actress and was in no way 'sweet'.Jesus Christ and if Nicole Kidman plays her I may shoot myself.Or someone else.Sacrilege.

Posted by calraigh Author Profile Page at April 29, 2008 7:00 PM

comment #8

Arizona Joe Author Profile Page says ...

A few years back, when the project was first announced, none other than Kristen Chenoweth was named to the role of Dusty. I thought that idea totally inappropriate, and feel the same way about Nicole Kidman.

Not soulful enough. Wrong tone.

Kirsten Holly Smith does a fine job on these youtube.com clips.

I always thought that Gwyneth Paltrow make a good Dusty. She showed some vocal ability in her "Cruisin" duet with Huey Lewis. She's a good actress, and malleable, and has lived in England.

This could be a wonderful bio-pic if handled correctly. Get somebody who can sing, and juxtapose the heartbreak with the soaring ballads and Memphis sounds, and there you go.

My blond and white female cat is named Dusty.

Posted by Arizona Joe Author Profile Page at April 29, 2008 7:45 PM

comment #9

Movie fan09 Author Profile Page says ...


good lord.
shes horrific.

Posted by Movie fan09 Author Profile Page at April 29, 2008 8:20 PM

comment #10

Unison Author Profile Page says ...

That actress in the clip seems like she's doing some drag queen Dusty impersonation. Awful. Bring on Nicole.

Posted by Unison Author Profile Page at April 29, 2008 8:32 PM

comment #11

PoisonSkin Author Profile Page says ...

this can't happen. I heard Walk Hard changed everything.

Posted by PoisonSkin Author Profile Page at April 29, 2008 8:39 PM

comment #12

insidah Author Profile Page says ...

God, Kidman is TOO OLD. And she has ruined her natural beauty with her bizarre use of botox and plastic surgery. This is fear-based, must-have-a- name casting. Pathetic.

Posted by insidah Author Profile Page at April 29, 2008 9:20 PM

comment #13

scooterzz Author Profile Page says ...

calraigh-- back on the meds, sport...it's not all that important.....try to simmer down....

Posted by scooterzz Author Profile Page at April 30, 2008 12:15 AM

comment #14

Spacesheik Author Profile Page says ...

Dusty had a great resurgence in the 80s with some big hits with Pet Shop Boys (i.e. 'What have I done to deserve this?') it wasnt all doom and gloom as Wells alludes.

Posted by Spacesheik Author Profile Page at April 30, 2008 4:19 AM

comment #15

calraigh Author Profile Page says ...

'Scooterzz'-Why don't you comment somewhere else then, where people don't give a shit about anything?I was under the impression that people came to Well's' blog to express/rant /discuss their feelings about film(not, albeit, all the time!)Why don't you worry about your own apathy instead of condescending to others here with vested interest in the topics Wells decides to post?I'm a Dusty fan, I'd like to see her memory served well.

What's your excuse?

Posted by calraigh Author Profile Page at April 30, 2008 6:22 AM

comment #16

calraigh Author Profile Page says ...

That's should be ''Wells' blog''. Sheeesh...

Posted by calraigh Author Profile Page at April 30, 2008 6:25 AM

comment #17

calraigh Author Profile Page says ...

That should be...Oh I give up.Wednesdays are not what they used to be...

Posted by calraigh Author Profile Page at April 30, 2008 6:27 AM

comment #18

corey3rd Author Profile Page says ...

Kidman is box office poison. There's only one reason to cast her as a lead in a film project - you're laundering drug money.

Posted by corey3rd Author Profile Page at April 30, 2008 7:35 AM

comment #19

vp19 Author Profile Page says ...

While I'm a fan of both the tiny Chenoweth and the towering Kidman, I can see why some think neither would be a good choice to play Dusty (and with Kristin, you might have had to scale down the sets a bit so she wouldn't appear so absurdly petite). One wishes Joss Stone had a bit more acting experience, because with her chops and sense of soul, she'd have Dusty down pat.

Posted by vp19 Author Profile Page at April 30, 2008 8:30 AM

comment #20

JChasse Author Profile Page says ...

Dusty Springfield was 5'3". Chenoweth makes more sense than Kidman or Theron.

Posted by JChasse Author Profile Page at April 30, 2008 10:05 AM

comment #21

LexG Author Profile Page says ...

To steal a Howard Stern line, why do they keep making movies about musicians I don't care about?

They should make a biopic about Slayer, Megadeth, and Metallica. Oh, what's that? You wouldn't care about that and don't know who they are. Welcome to my world every time they make THE SAME GODDAMN MOVIE, always about the boring rise and fall of some boring boomer icon that no one remembers.

Posted by LexG Author Profile Page at April 30, 2008 11:49 AM

comment #22

corey3rd Author Profile Page says ...

maybe if Some Kind of Monster hadn't stiffed in the theaters and on DVD, you'd have a Dave Mustaine Vs. Lars biopic.

Posted by corey3rd Author Profile Page at April 30, 2008 1:26 PM

comment #23

thatmovieguy Author Profile Page says ...

I have no idea if she can act, but have you heard the Welsh singer-songwriter Duffy? Very Springfield-esque. Springfield's life may not have been all doom and gloom, but it certainly wasn't endless fun. Read DANCING WITH DEMONS, the biography that came out a few years ago. Her drive for perfection led her down some peculiar highways, including recording songs with the Pet Shop Boys one syllable at a time and following a bizarre diet plan that caused her to bring containers of ice cream and cauliflower to a swanky dinner party. It would probably make a fascinating film.

Posted by thatmovieguy Author Profile Page at April 30, 2008 2:04 PM

comment #24

Marcello Author Profile Page says ...

Oh, Lord, Michael Cunningham? Burt Bacharach must be rolling over in his grave.

Posted by Marcello Author Profile Page at April 30, 2008 4:04 PM

comment #25

George Prager Author Profile Page says ...

"Instead of yet another biopic like this, how about a movie where Jim Morrison, Otis Redding, Patsy Cline, Syd Barrett, Jim Reeves and Sylvester team up to pull a big heist?"

Brilliant idea. For some reason it reminds me of that Star Trek episode where this rock creature makes Abraham Lincoln, some supreme space commander from the 2100s and a historical Vulcan guy have to team up with Kirk and Spock to fight something or other..."Help me, Spock!"

Posted by George Prager Author Profile Page at April 30, 2008 4:04 PM

comment #26

erniesouchak Author Profile Page says ...

Nicole Kidman? Lesbian?

Posted by erniesouchak Author Profile Page at April 30, 2008 6:28 PM

comment #27

Arizona Joe Author Profile Page says ...

Why are they making a Dusty Springfield movie?

Because Dusty is the greatest female r&b pop singer ever. Arguably the greatest pop singer ever. Who is on her level? Peggy Lee. Who else?

Petula Clark said she was the greatest. Most of the girls on the Motown label thought she was the best. The Pet Shop Boys remembered her. And anyone with any taste in music does.

Keith Richards once said that any singer who listens to Sam Cooke feels like going back to pumping gas. And I imagine that's what Madonna feels like when she hears Dusty.

Posted by Arizona Joe Author Profile Page at April 30, 2008 7:45 PM

comment #28

scooterzz Author Profile Page says ...

aj- nicely put.....

cal -- my first thought was 'suck my fat one' but i'd never do that so just try to control that bp, sport.....

Posted by scooterzz Author Profile Page at May 1, 2008 12:51 AM

comment #29

alan Author Profile Page says ...

Never heard of Dusty Springfield, but who knows -- maybe Kidman can put in a performance that actually deserves an Oscar this time (doesn't mean she'll win again, of course, but Jamie Foxx, Marion Cotillard, Reese Witherspoon, and Sissy Spacek might beg to differ).

Posted by alan Author Profile Page at May 1, 2008 9:00 AM

comment #30

daily computer tips Author Profile Page says ...

Nicole Kidman is quite old now.

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