Kate Winslet, Catherine Keener Join Charlie Kaufman Musical ‘Frank or Francis’
Charlie Kaufman (Adaptation) has added two fantastic actresses to the already impressive cast for his next project, the musical comedy Frank or Francis. Vulture reports that Kate Winslet and Catherine Keener will join Steve Carell, Jack Black, Nicolas Cage and Kevin Kline in what is shaping up to be another wildly unique and enigmatic cinematic experience.
Oddly enough, the story will center around Frank Arder (Carell), a pretentious director/actor who becomes obsessed with an insufferable blogger (Black) living in his parents’ attic and spending his time disparaging his movies on a film website. Nicolas Cage will fittingly take on the role of Alan Modell, a well-known comedian desperately trying to resurrect his quickly fading career.
There is no word on what roles Winslet and Keener will play. The two actresses are no stranger to Kaufman’s peculiar scripts. Winslet starred in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind while Keener appeared in Being John Malkovich.
Aside from the fact that this film will likely be a scathing commentary on the state of film criticism and the movie industry as a whole, Kaufman’s propensity for completely wacky scripts has me really excited for this project. This is likely to be a wildly imaginative and unique. Oh and did I mention it’s going to be a MUSICAL? I absolutely can’t wait to see what’s in store.
Here is what the director/writer had to say about his script in a recent interview with Time Out London:
“In the broadest possible sense, it’s about online film criticism, but as usual, the world that I’m writing about is not necessarily the world that I’m writing about. It’s just a place to set it. There’s a lot in there about the internet and anger: cultural, societal and individual anger. And isolation in this particular age we live in. And competition: it’s about the idea of people in this world wanting to be seen. I hate to use the word ‘about,’ as it implies that what I’m doing is an analogy and that I’m trying to say something. I’m not. That’s for the audience to do.”
16 Comments
Oh my. I must watch. I cannot even fathom what it will be like, but that’s Charlie Kaufman for you. And if Winslet is going back to her Clementine days, nothing could be more brilliant
Winslet going back to her Clementine days! That would be unreal
Tough to tell what her character will be like since there is no details so far.
(Insert image of Nick doing the dance of joy here.)
PUT YOUR PANTS BACK NICK! There is kids around here
Oh. My. God. I can’t wait for this. Charlie Kaufman is one of the few creative talents whose work I always feverishly anticipate.
I loved Adaptation, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and also Being John Malkovich. However, I couldn’t even finish Synecdoche New York, which he wrote AND directed. Hopefully, it was a blip more than anything else.
this cast is hilariously all over the place. jack black i can’t take serioysly. and i don’t’ think carrell has as big a presence as he thinks he does for the movies. while i love kate winslet, i wonder how she will do with this cast. keener turns me off at times, but she seems good for this role.
Ah yea I loath Jack Black but to me, Kaufman’s scripts explore completely unexpected places so it’s not all that surprising to get such an eclectic cast.
But (a) will they all do their own singing, and (b) is that a good thing if they do? We know Black sings, and I’m willing to bet Kline and Winslet can carry a tune. But what about the rest?
I guess we will know soon! I hear the internet comments will be sung, that should be hilarious.
This sounds like a really bizarre premise. But who else but Kaufman to write and helm something like this
David Lynch…
A Charlie Kaufman musical! That has me intrigued. Two good acting choices too…Keener is so underrated.
Kate Winslet in a Charlie Kaufman musical?
Where and when?
I love anything from Charlie Kaufman, and this sounds great to me.
Clearly Winslet and Keener play the two beautiful women fighting for the film blogger’s romantic attention, right?
New Charlie Kauffman? Hell yes. Keener and Winslet? Hell yes. Musical? Whaaaaaa?
Still, I’ll be there. If the South Park guys can make musicals I enjoy, so can Kauffman, I’m betting.
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