by Betty Smith before. Alex, over at Memoirs of a Fanboy, requested that I do a fantasy cast based on this novel, which meant I had to actually read the novel. Thank you Alex, for asking me to read this book. It was a pleasure and I am proud to present my fantasy cast for it.Before we get into it though, and while we on the subject of Memoirs of a Fanboy, I will be guest posting over there on Wednesday. What will the topic be? You'll have to click over on Wednesday to find out!
Back to ATGiB (I'm told that all the kids use acronyms these days. Just kidding. Sort of. It is easier.)
This book has actually been made into a movie once before, and a TV movie. The TV movie was actually based on the movie, not the novel- figure that. The original movie is subject to all the normal complaints about book-turned-movie: the book covers all of Francie's family history from when her parents met till she leaves at the end, at age 16. It covers in a great deal of depth everything from age 7 onward. The movie covers ages 14-15, and seemed to make Johnny, her father, the main character. The movie studio actually bought the rights to make this movie prior to it being published, with the film hitting theaters less than 18 months after the book was initially printed. Somehow, that tells me they missed the mark a little bit.
It's time for a do-over!
Johnny Nolan is the charismatic father of the Nolan family. He is married with two kids before he's old enough to vote, and he is overwhelmed. He drinks to escape, and becomes a worthless drunk. He had potential as a singer, and until he started falling down instead of walking, people said he belonged on the stage. Francie is the apple of his eye, and you really feel the beautiful relationship between father and daughter, despite his obvious shortcomings. I call for Ryan Gosling! Handsome, but something about his eyes says that he's lost. Bonus: he can totally sing.
Katie Rommely- Nolan is Francie's mother. She marries Johnny when she is just 17, and has two children before she's 20 years old. She's the rock that manages to hold the family together against all odds. She loves her Johnny, despite knowing that he's practically useless. She's faithful, she's hardworking and she's extremely prideful. She understands that her parents immigrated to give her hope; the only hope she has is that her children can be a little better off than she was, so she puts all of her energy into getting her kids educated. I think somebody like Julia Stiles could do this- she's certainly capable, and she has a spark in her eyes that makes you think she really did believe in the fairy tale of true love conquering all, once upon a time.
Sissy Rommely is the sexpot of the family, only they never would utter such a word. She marries at 14 and has a long string of husbands that she calls "Johnny"- never by their real names. She bounces from man to man, but has such a mothering quality about her, that nobody can really look down at her for it. She's described as being beautiful and voluptuous and kind. I picture someone like Estella Warren.
Evy Rommely is the Rommely sister that gets through life with humor and good spirit. She's around less often than Sissy is, and was consequently cut from the film the first time around. However, I think it is important to see the different ways in which these women deal with the harsh world around them, and Evy's character is important, at least in that sense. I picture somebody goofy, like Drew Barrymore. The scene where Evy is pretending to be the horse that hates her husband? I pictured Drew Barrymore in a polka dot dress, and never looked back!
Now we come to Francie Nolan, the heroine of the story. Alex (the requester of this fantasy cast) suggests Abigail Breslin. I think she is a talented little lady and could pull it off, if a few things happen. First, she needs to be able to look older. She's currently 14, and Francie's story carries her until she's 16. If we know anything about Hollywood, it's that they cast people in parts that are younger than they are in real life. Miss Breslin has such a cute face, that I think it would be tough to convince audiences that she's 16 (and lying about her age and claiming to be 18 and getting away with it). Second, shewouldneedtoloseweight. *Sigh* I said it. She would need to lose weight. She's beautiful. She's healthy. But Francie is the poorest of the poor. She was born sickly. She's not even really wanted. She would be a skinny, skinny little girl, and Abigail Breslin looks so cared for. (Abigail Breslin should look cared for... it's the right way. I hate saying that any actress needs to lose weight, especially a young one. However, this particular part would absolutely require the child to look un-cared for.)
As a back up, I pick Dakota Fanning, she plays just about every teenager on the planet these days. Hasn't she been 16 for like 12 years now?!?!
Neeley Nolan is Francie's brother. Character analysts call him "streetwise"... I don't know that he does a whole lot other than exist in the novel, but apparently he did something to make people take notice. The most notable thing about Neely (short for Cornelius... just so you don't think it's a dumb name. Cause that nickname totally makes sense) is that his mother loves him more than Francie. He could probably be played by just about anybody, so I vote for Eric Lloyd.
Sissy's "John" Steve is a blue-collar type of guy, and he's the one who finally stands up and tries to "tame" Sissy (I won't tell you if he succeeds or not- go read the book). I think that he's handsome, but doesn't appear to be too refined, and I think an authoritative voice is going to be the clincher. Ryan Phillippe.
Ben is Francie's first crush; he's got a life-plan to make any woman drool. He's solidly middle-class, with upward ambitions. He's smart. He's handsome. I like Ed Westwick.
Lee is Francie's first "love", she falls fast and she falls hard. This guy's most dominant feature is his looks. Handsome guy. Slick guy. Somebody like Steven R. McQueen.
McShane is a older police officer that hovers around the family, working the Brooklyn beat. He's a very kind gentlemanly sort of man. I kind of pictured this type of guy: Kyle Chandler.
Agree? Disagree? Post your thoughts in the comments?
Images: Google Images
