Kirsten Dunst’s Blondie ambition
Everyone wants to be a rock star. Even movie stars:
One way or another, “Spider-Man 3” star Kirsten Dunst is determined to play punk/new-wave icon Debbie Harry in a biopic. “It’s in development,” she said excitedly about playing the Blondie singer. “I’ve talked to Debbie. We’re both Jersey girls, and I think she’s the coolest woman in the world.”
I dunno: I’m from the Bronx -- does that mean I should play J. Lo?
Look, I’m a big fan of Kirsten Dunst’s. She’s got genuine old-fashioned, golden-age-Hollywood screen presence. She’s got that magical, indefinable It. But when she’s awesome in comedy -- like Bring It On -- her steely backbone is hidden behind cute spunk. When she’s awesome in drama -- The Cat’s Meow -- her steely backbone is hidden behind sweet vulnerability. Debbie Harry may be all steely backbone, but I don’t think either cute-and-spunky or sweet-and-vulnerable is gonna work here. I’m with Harry’s fans, who had some interesting ideas about casting: Dunst is far from the first actress to spring to mind to play the Blondie frontwoman.
So for my unathorized Blondie movie, these are the gals, in no particular order of preference, I’m getting on the phone first:
• Maggie Gyllenhaal: cuz she’s pretty much a rock chick by nature
• Samantha Morton: ditto
• Scarlett Johansson: ditto
• Toni Collette: cuz she knows how to handle anti-rock little miss sunshines
• Chloe Sevigny: cuz she’d bring some of that Party Monster ’tude
• Franka Potente: cuz she would bring that Run Lola Run ’tude
• Miranda Otto: cuz she kicked Sauron’s ass in The Lord of the Rings
• Sarah Polley: cuz she kicked zombie ass in Dawn of the Dead
• Cate Blanchett: cuz if she can play Bob Dylan, she can sure as hell play Debbie Harry
• Kate Winslet: cuz she pulled off blue hair in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
• Charlize Theron: cuz she pulled off playing a serial killer
• Namoi Watts: cuz she knows how to entertain apes
[compiled with the assistance of Nathaniel R.’s “Top Actresses of the Aughts” at The Film Experience]
(Technorati tags: Kirsten Dunst, Debbie Harry, Blondie)
comments
posted by JoshDM (Wed May 16 07, 5:29PM)
No to Snaggletooth as Blondie. It's amazing that Tobey Macguire doesn't have puncture holes in the bottom of his jaw from S-M I.
posted by JoshDM (Wed May 16 07, 5:35PM)
Urgh, no please. No more Snaggletooth. It's amazing that Tobey MacGuire didn't end up with holes in the bottom of his jaw after S-M I.
posted by Tonio Kruger (Thu May 17 07, 2:38PM)
MaryAnn Johanson playing J. Lo? Now that would be an interesting project.
In the meantime, my mind is boggling at the thought of Debbie Harry being old enough to be considered worthy of a biopic. (And yet I had no problems with the Selena movie. Go figure.)
But I'm definitely in the Anyone But KD camp. Even if that means Debbie getting played by the likes of Madonna or Courtney Love.
posted by Parma Violets (Fri May 18 07, 3:55AM)
This might be a slightly obscure choice, but has anyone ever seen the Canadian actress and singer Mitsou Gelinas? I haven't heard her sing, but I've seen her in movies and the resemblance is absolutely uncanny.