Lurie's Plame-Wlson moie

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Okay, it's official: director Rod Lurie intends to get his own movie about the Joe Wilson-and-Valerie Plame affair -- a roman a clef that will costar Vera Farmiga, Kate Beckinsdale, Edie Falco, Matt Dillon and Alan Alda -- into theatres before Warner Bros. and producers Akiva Goldsman and Jerry and Janet Zucker write, shoot and release their version, which, if it happens, will be based on Plame's memoir, Fair Game.

Vera Farmiga; Valerie Plame

Goldsman and the Zuckers once looked like Wilson-Plame front-runners, but no longer. It seems fair to say that they asked for this situation by dragging ass. If they'd only gotten going they could have been in production by early fall, which might have conceivably scared off the other guys. But with Lurie now locked into shooting Nothing But The Truth come October, Goldsman and the Zuckers are stuck with sloppy seconds.

Am I alone in presuming that Farmiga will be an excellent Plame-like figure? She's the closest thing we have to being the new Meryl Streep, after all. It'll all work out (probably) as long as Lurie doesn't insist that she dye her hair blonde.

Moreno cast in Che pix<< previous | next >>"Darjeeling" poster

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on July 19, 2007 at 2:12 PM

comment #1

Mgmax, le Corbeau says ...

Jeez, two Che movies, two Plame-Wilson movies, do they really think there's an audience out there who gives a shit about these heroes of the Malibu left? How about another half dozen movies on the frickin' blacklist while you're at it?

Posted by Mgmax, le Corbeau at July 19, 2007 2:42 PM

comment #2

OddDuck says ...

The Contender was pretty great (in no small part due to Gary Oldman).

That Geena Davis TV show on the other hand...

Posted by OddDuck at July 19, 2007 2:42 PM

comment #3

BurmaShave says ...

I think it would be fun if they cast FAIR GAME exactly like the other one. Cindy Crawford as Plame, William Baldwin as Joe Wilson, Steven Berkoff as Scooter Libby.

Posted by BurmaShave at July 19, 2007 2:43 PM

comment #4

BurmaShave says ...

Oh also Christopher McDonald as W and Miguel Sandoval as Dick Cheney.

Posted by BurmaShave at July 19, 2007 2:46 PM

comment #5

tholl-yung says ...

What a little minx -- "fair game." If Farmiga doesn't dye her hair, it'll be "red meat."

Posted by tholl-yung at July 19, 2007 2:52 PM

comment #6

Craig Kennedy says ...

Wow, if we could just get Hollywood creative types like Lurie to move in every time Akiva Goldsman threatens to make a movie about something, the world would be a better place.

Posted by Craig Kennedy at July 19, 2007 2:59 PM

comment #7

Breedlove says ...

Geez, Vera Farmiga as the new Meryl Streep? High praise indeed. I guess I should rent 'Down To The Bone.' I worked at a tiny little repetory theater in White River Junction, Vermont with Vera Farmiga way back in the summer of 1995. Watched her play Laura in 'The Glass Menagerie' every night for a month. Kinda cool watching her blow up.

Posted by Breedlove at July 19, 2007 3:11 PM

comment #8

bmcintire says ...

Vera Farmiga was amazing (and delightfully unsympathetic) in JOSHUA. Loved her. But of course, today's US Distrct Court decision has someone shouting "Re-Write!" and creating new third acts for both productions.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/07/19/cia.leak/index.html

Posted by bmcintire at July 19, 2007 3:15 PM

comment #9

BurmaShave says ...

Did anyone actually think that lawsuit was going anywhere?

Posted by BurmaShave at July 19, 2007 3:16 PM

comment #10

christian says ...

"do they really think there's an audience out there who gives a shit about these heroes of the Malibu left? "

valerie plame was a covert agent of the cia for 20 years, working on wmd research for the bush admin until her identity was leaked by the white house. but don't let facts get in the way of your ideology.

Posted by christian at July 19, 2007 3:29 PM

comment #11

MichaelC says ...

Vera's a good choice, but I still think Virginia Madsen would be perfect casting.

Posted by MichaelC at July 19, 2007 3:33 PM

comment #12

Moneypenny says ...

Nahhh... Sharon Stone would be perfect casting.

Posted by Moneypenny at July 19, 2007 3:36 PM

comment #13

Jay T. says ...

She'll need to dye her hair blonde... Plame is too widely known with her blonde hair, it'd be too distracting to a lot of viewers. Anyway, good casting either way...

Posted by Jay T. at July 19, 2007 3:36 PM

comment #14

Mike Binder says ...

Rod Lurie stole the whole idea from one of the Cat and the Hat books. I have documents that prove this.

Smoke up.

Posted by Mike Binder at July 19, 2007 3:46 PM

comment #15

SaveFarris says ...

Nice of Christian to lecture us about "facts getting in the way" in the middle of glossing over the inconvenient truth that the actual leaker was Richard Armitage.

Posted by SaveFarris at July 19, 2007 3:47 PM

comment #16

jeffmcm says ...

Armitage, under orders from Cheney. Big difference.

Posted by jeffmcm at July 19, 2007 3:50 PM

comment #17

tholl-yung says ...

Living clean got dull, what are you smoking? There's Cat in the Hat and The Cat in the Hat Comes Back. Maybe he stole the whole idea from "If I Ran the Circus."

Posted by tholl-yung at July 19, 2007 3:56 PM

comment #18

Arran says ...

How strange that Mike Binder's sign-off went from "live clean" to "smoke up".

Actually, I watched The Contender for about the 10th time last week. But I've yet to see any of Lurie's other stuff. This sounds interesting, though.

Posted by Arran at July 19, 2007 4:00 PM

comment #19

Mike Binder says ...

I'm off the wagon crazy-nutty about Rod Lurie's new movie.

Posted by Mike Binder at July 19, 2007 4:05 PM

comment #20

Wyatt Donnelly says ...

Umm. The Zuckers are only producing Fair Game- The Butterworths are writing it.

Posted by Wyatt Donnelly at July 19, 2007 4:23 PM

comment #21

Larry says ...

"Armitage under orders from Cheney"? First, Armitage opposed the war and wasn't doing Cheney's bidding. In fact, most of the State Department and CIA has opposed the war and for the last few years has regularly been releasing secret information to undermine it, cheered on by the same people who pretend to be outraged over this non-story.

Second, it came out easily in conversation because Armitage--correctly--thought it was no big deal (I'm not talking about a crime, but no big deal--even the crazy Joe Wilson ass-kissers know by now it's not a crime.)

Third, it was useful information, because it did show, yet again, that Joe Wilson had problems with the truth. Any movie that does show--at least as an ironic aside--that the Bush people got it right and Wilson got it wrong--might be worth seeing, but I'm not holding by breath.

Posted by Larry at July 19, 2007 4:26 PM

comment #22

Craig Kennedy says ...

Akiva Goldsman was the leaker. Let's get him.

Posted by Craig Kennedy at July 19, 2007 4:32 PM

comment #23

Mgmax, le Corbeau says ...

"do they really think there's an audience out there who gives a shit about these heroes of the Malibu left? "

Christian, what in your part of that do you think refutes something in my part of it? I'm really curious.

Posted by Mgmax, le Corbeau at July 19, 2007 4:42 PM

comment #24

Mgmax, le Corbeau says ...

"Armitage, under orders from Cheney. Big difference."

In the world of White House-State Dept. infighting, that's as clueless as saying "Goebbels, under orders from Churchill" or "Lillian Hellman, under orders from Mary McCarthy."

If you don't know that elementary fact about the last six years, you don't know much of anything.

Posted by Mgmax, le Corbeau at July 19, 2007 4:45 PM

comment #25

malibugigolo says ...

What is Malibu left?

Posted by malibugigolo at July 19, 2007 5:28 PM

comment #26

Stephe96 says ...

The producers are really going to be stuck for an ending after Libby's conviction is thrown out on appeal.

Posted by Stephe96 at July 19, 2007 5:38 PM

comment #27

jeffmcm says ...

Maybe you're right, Mgmax, re: Armitage, but the fact remains that Wilson was right and Bush & co. were not - as in, were consciously (or incompetently, your choice) cherry-picking intelligence to say what they wanted it to say.

Posted by jeffmcm at July 19, 2007 5:42 PM

comment #28

caslab says ...

I just don't see how this thing is going to work as a movie.

Great casting, though

Posted by caslab at July 19, 2007 5:44 PM

comment #29

Stephe96 says ...

I predict this movie (if it's ever actually produced) will be just as wildly successful as "A Might Thud." Er, I mean "Heart."

Posted by Stephe96 at July 19, 2007 5:50 PM

comment #30

Stephe96 says ...

Liberals are always whipping themselves into a frenzy over current events that they know, just KNOW, are going to play a huge role in future elections. Remember all those movies about Terri Schiavo?

Posted by Stephe96 at July 19, 2007 5:51 PM

comment #31

malibugigolo says ...

Schiavo was DOA.

Really.

Posted by malibugigolo at July 19, 2007 5:57 PM

comment #32

jeffmcm says ...

I would love to see a movie of the Terry Schiavo story - best if done from her POV, then it could be truly nightmarish. I think there was a Tales from the Crypt done in that manner.

Posted by jeffmcm at July 19, 2007 6:09 PM

comment #33

Geoff says ...

Ever see Johnny Got his Gun?

Posted by Geoff at July 19, 2007 6:34 PM

comment #34

Griff says ...

Vera is great. Lurie has a workman-like, 50's vibe to his work. I'll go see it.

Posted by Griff at July 19, 2007 7:24 PM

comment #35

scooterzz says ...

i'm a fan of most of lurie's stuff and just watched 'resurrecting the champ' a couple of days ago....'workman-like, 50's vibe' is probably the best description i've heard of him....

Posted by scooterzz at July 19, 2007 7:40 PM

comment #36

BurmaShave says ...

Well you were wrong jeffmcm, but it doesn't change your point I suppose. Except Joe Wilson is a sleazebag, his wife was a flashy oppurtunist (I would know, I'm local, she took acquantinces of mine to lunch in the CIA mess hall, very covert). This is a horrible shitty war, but there is not reason to believe that Saddam didn't send emissaries to Niger about yellowcake. The Iraqis were there. They sell goats and uranium in Niger. Why else would they go? A more important point would be they didn't procure it. Richard Armitage is a fine man, and this was all blown so incredibly out of proportion. Stop casting aspersions on people. Quit being such a troll and do some research. Wilson is no hero.

Binder, are you crazy about NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH or RESURRECTING THE CHAMP?

Posted by BurmaShave at July 19, 2007 7:52 PM

comment #37

D.Z. says ...

Burma: "This is a horrible shitty war, but there is not reason to believe that Saddam didn't send emissaries to Niger about yellowcake."

The lack of WMDS don't constitute a reason?

Posted by D.Z. at July 19, 2007 9:15 PM

comment #38

cinefan says ...

Is it just me or does Vera Farmiga look nothing like her (even with a blonde wig her face looks nothing like Plame's). As for blondes who could play her, I can definitely see Laura Linney in the role with her blonde hair and facial similarities.

Posted by cinefan at July 19, 2007 10:15 PM

comment #39

BurmaShave says ...

D.Z., as usual, what does what you're saying have anything to do with what I'm saying? Please read my whole statement, stop doing your jackshit little quote and paste thing.

Posted by BurmaShave at July 19, 2007 10:53 PM

comment #40

D.Z. says ...

Burma: "D.Z., as usual, what does what you're saying have anything to do with what I'm saying?"

If he lied about the weapon, why would you trust him regarding the yellowcake?

"Please read my whole statement, stop doing your jackshit little quote and paste thing."

Why? You cut and paste irrelevant crap to defame Wilson and Plame.

Posted by D.Z. at July 19, 2007 11:05 PM

comment #41

BurmaShave says ...

Please cite evidence of my cutting and pasting "irrelevant crap". I'm not here to bury George Bush or to praise him. Rather, I'm simply suggesting Joe Wilson has from day one misrepresented himself and his findings for his own personal gain. Stick to Manga and the Tarantino hatred. You're out of your element.

Posted by BurmaShave at July 19, 2007 11:35 PM

comment #42

D.Z. says ...

Burma: "Please cite evidence of my cutting and pasting "irrelevant crap"."

What does her taking people to lunch have to prove about her being covert?

"Rather, I'm simply suggesting Joe Wilson has from day one misrepresented himself and his findings for his own personal gain."

At least he didn't kill 1 million Iraqis and 3,600 troops with his "misrepresentation".

Posted by D.Z. at July 20, 2007 12:01 AM

comment #43

BurmaShave says ...

Do you know what covert means? I'm asking seriously, and with concern.

As to your second point, how on earth do we figure Bush has killed 1 million Iraqis now? That 600,000 number you guys were trying to peddle got laughed down about 6 months ago.

Honestly, just stop. Please stop. I want us out of there, we all do. But please, just stop.

Posted by BurmaShave at July 20, 2007 12:22 AM

comment #44

LYTrules says ...

Though I'm a liberal, I really wish Rod Lurie weren't on my side. I've found all his movies so far to be ridiculously simple-minded, though Deterrence did predict the Bush administration with some accuracy.

Posted by LYTrules at July 20, 2007 12:56 AM

comment #45

D.Z. says ...

Burma: "Do you know what covert means? I'm asking seriously, and with concern."

Covert means a secret; but just because she was palsy with colleagues doesn't mean she was allowed to let them in on her mission.

"As to your second point, how on earth do we figure Bush has killed 1 million Iraqis now?"

http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/iraq/counterexplanation.html

Posted by D.Z. at July 20, 2007 1:30 AM

comment #46

D.Z. says ...

"That 600,000 number you guys were trying to peddle got laughed down about 6 months ago."

One death is a tragedy; one million deaths is a statistic.

Posted by D.Z. at July 20, 2007 1:34 AM

comment #47

Mgmax, le Corbeau says ...

And an Iraqi killed by Saddam is irrelevant to everything, while any Iraqi killed after the day we invaded (even if, say, his neighbor shoots him for banging his wife) is the direct and personal responsibility of George Walker Bush, the most evil man in history.

Posted by Mgmax, le Corbeau at July 20, 2007 5:58 AM

comment #48

Ogami Itto says ...

I have a better candidate to play Valerie Plame in the movie:

http://www.amateurpornsummary.com/uploaded_images/wifey-735389.jpg

And her hair is already dyed!

Posted by Ogami Itto at July 20, 2007 6:58 AM

comment #49

D.Z. says ...

Mgmax: "And an Iraqi killed by Saddam is irrelevant to everything,"

It's our fault for "electing" him. We know even less now than we did then about their culture. Why should our troops have to suffer because of it?

"while any Iraqi killed after the day we invaded (even if, say, his neighbor shoots him for banging his wife) is the direct and personal responsibility of George Walker Bush, the most evil man in history."

If that neighbor got one of the guns left from those stockpiles we overlooked, then it it our fault. Nice try, though.

Posted by D.Z. at July 20, 2007 7:16 AM

comment #50

Mgmax, le Corbeau says ...

I'm going to start replying to D.Z. with recipes. It makes as much sense as anything else.

Pa Amb Tomaquet (Catalan Tomato Bread)

Rustic bread, preferably a little past fresh
Tomatoes, preferably a little past ripe
Olive oil
Salt
Cured sausage or salame, such as Spanish chorizo (not Mexican), sopressata, etc.

Toast bread until as crisp as the gnarled hand of Saddam shaking Rumsfeld's hand. Slice tomato in half and rub pulp over bread. Sprinkle with salt and olive oil. Place sliced salame on top and eat. Option: rub bread with garlic.

Posted by Mgmax, le Corbeau at July 20, 2007 7:32 AM

comment #51

Mgmax, le Corbeau says ...

By the way, Ogami, genius pick.

Posted by Mgmax, le Corbeau at July 20, 2007 7:35 AM

comment #52

OddDuck says ...

Mgmax, I hate your politics, but your recipe-response idea is genius!

And the tomato bread sounds yummy.

Posted by OddDuck at July 20, 2007 8:22 AM

comment #53

Craig Kennedy says ...

What, are you anti-Mexican now??? Mexican chorizo just isn't good enough for you???? You conservatives are all the same! It fills me with... with... oh I don't know... righteous indignation or...
mmmmm...Pa Amb Tomaquet.

Posted by Craig Kennedy at July 20, 2007 9:20 AM

comment #54

Walter Sobchak says ...

D.Z. is low-balling. Over 16 million babies alone have been stabbed to death in Iraq by wild-eyed, flat-topped, bayonette-wielding American G.I.s.
BTW, I get my news and stats from the same place as Dizzy...the only site that has the guts to tell it like it really is...
http://www.kcna.co.jp/index-e.htm

Posted by Walter Sobchak at July 20, 2007 10:19 AM

comment #55

Joe Leydon says ...

Ogami: Have you seen some of her other movies? She's quite versatile. And flexible.

Posted by Joe Leydon at July 20, 2007 12:18 PM

comment #56

George Prager says ...

Ladies and gentlemen: the world's most boring thread.

Posted by George Prager at July 20, 2007 1:40 PM

comment #57

Mgmax, le Corbeau says ...

I get mine from The New Republic-- it's much more reliable when it comes to stories of our evil, depraved troops.

http://tinyurl.com/2n3lzn

(By the way, I know CJK was joking but the reason why Spanish not Mexican chorizo is that Spanish chorizo is a cured salami-type sausage, while Mexican chorizo is a fresh sausage that has to be cooked.)

Posted by Mgmax, le Corbeau at July 20, 2007 1:52 PM

comment #58

christian says ...

"...Malibu left?"

who are these folk? republican prosecutor patrick fitzgerald who already notified you bushbots that plame was indeed covert?

or the cia who asked for the investigation in the first place?

or bush himself who lied when he said he would fire any leaker?

and mgmax, please for the love of god don't bring that awful snarky daily kos "recipie" answer bullshit here.

but it does show the length you're willing to go to deny truth. like your lying criminal administration. but then, valerie plame was actualy working to fight the terrorism you right wingers claim you want stopped. keep listening to limbaugh...

Posted by christian at July 20, 2007 2:20 PM

comment #59

Mgmax, le Corbeau says ...

Christian, considering that the judge just threw out the Wilsons' suit yesterday, and Fitzgerald never brought a direct charge on the revealing of her name (only an indirect one on Libby's testimony), I'd say I'm not the one in denial about what "truth" has finally turned out to be.

Cancelling Fitzmas was more painful!

Posted by Mgmax, le Corbeau at July 20, 2007 2:35 PM

comment #60

Craig Kennedy says ...

mmmm...cured salami-type sausage

Posted by Craig Kennedy at July 20, 2007 3:33 PM

comment #61

christian says ...

what does scooter libby have to say about "truth"?

or george bush, who allowed that scooter perjured, committed a crime, but he shouldn't have to be held responsible. denial?

Posted by christian at July 20, 2007 3:42 PM

comment #62

christian says ...

but this allows rush a good excuse for his logic and problems:

ABINGDON, Va. (AP) -- Purdue Pharma L.P., the maker of OxyContin, and three of its executives were ordered to pay a $634.5 million fine on Friday for misleading the public about the painkiller's risk of addiction.

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070720/oxycontin_plea.html?.v=11

big phrama strikes again!

Posted by christian at July 20, 2007 3:44 PM

comment #63

christian says ...

and arch conservative richard scaife's newspaper is now apparently suffering from bsd. wha' happened?

"And quite frankly, during last Thursday's news conference, when George Bush started blathering about 'sometimes the decisions you make and the consequences don't enable you to be loved,' we had to question his mental stability."

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003612271

Posted by christian at July 20, 2007 3:54 PM

comment #64

D.Z. says ...

Mgmax: "Christian, considering that the judge just threw out the Wilsons' suit yesterday, and Fitzgerald never brought a direct charge on the revealing of her name (only an indirect one on Libby's testimony), I'd say I'm not the one in denial about what "truth" has finally turned out to be."

It's not over until they've appealed.

Posted by D.Z. at July 20, 2007 4:32 PM

comment #65