Somewhere Else
Viola Davis is always playing characters defined by their work -- social worker, CIA agent, bad mom, domestic maid, space engineer, nurse, cop, policewoman. Her next two roles will be (a) a librarian helping a couple of kids deal with hauntings in Beautiful Creatures and (b) a genius recruited by the government to help defeat an alien insect race in Ender's Game. In short, she's in a rut.
The solution is that she needs to play a woman defined by emotion, preferably by sex and passion. Davis is 46 and if she's going to play a role of this type, she needs to do it soon.
I mentioned this to Sasha Stone a couple of hours ago as we recorded another Oscar Poker, and it hit me that a great opportunity would be for Davis to play the maid -- a sexual maid -- in an American remake of Too Beautiful For You. The 1989 French original, directed by Bertrand Blier, is about a BMW car dealer (Gerard Depardieu) cheating on his beautiful wife (Carole Bouquet) with his ordinary looking temporary secretary (Josiane Balasko).
The American remake could star Brad Pitt as the car dealer, Angelina Jolie as the wife and Davis as the maid. The idea wouldn't be that Davis is "ordinary looking" as much as an attractive but unconventional choice as an extra-marital romantic interest, certainly by classic standards.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on February 6, 2012 at 1:17 PM
comment #1
The Lord of Misrule
says ...
There is no small irony that you post this story with Brad Pitt looking worried on either side of it.
It is to laugh.
Posted by The Lord of Misrule
at February 6, 2012 2:12 PM
comment #2
AnnaZed
says ...
How did the secretary from the original iteration get demoted to maid in this pitch?
Posted by AnnaZed
at February 6, 2012 2:23 PM
comment #3
Jeffrey Wells
says ...
I wasthinking studios would feel comfortable castin Davis as another maid because she's just done that, and then to make her into a sexual love object on top of this wouldn't be so difficult. Just a bit of a stretch.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells
at February 6, 2012 2:31 PM
comment #4
Chicago48
says ...
None of those roles you stated seem interesting or challenging. She may end up like Halle or Reese if she wins the Oscar -- with meaningless roles. However, she can do Broadway, as she's done and which she's stated she enjoys doing.
Posted by Chicago48
at February 6, 2012 2:36 PM
comment #5
RoyBatty Returns
says ...
To elaborate on what AnnaZed just asked:
Did you seriously, SERIOUSLY, suggest a black actress get out of her "rut" by playing a part that was originally at least a secretary but now in your version will be a maid? A black maid in a movie set in the 21st Century.
Yes, Brad Pitt's Billy Beane is giving you a "what the eff is your malfunction, buddy?" look.
Always amusing, Mr. Wells...
Posted by RoyBatty Returns
at February 6, 2012 2:38 PM
comment #6
Dean
says ...
You honestly just suggested she play another maid to get herself out of a rut?
I hope you made a typing mistake.
Posted by Dean
at February 6, 2012 2:50 PM
comment #7
Flash Gordon
says ...
Brad Pitt should play a baseball GM in his next movie. The studios might feel comfortable since he's just done that.
Posted by Flash Gordon
at February 6, 2012 2:57 PM
comment #8
Mark
says ...
I kind of like this idea, i.e., commercially. Now just replace Davis with Jennifer Aniston, and you have the highest grossing infidelity movie of all time.
Posted by Mark
at February 6, 2012 3:07 PM
comment #9
Rashad
says ...
No one is cheating on Jolie with Viola Davis.
Posted by Rashad
at February 6, 2012 3:12 PM
comment #10
mpneeb
says ...
"The 1989 French original, directed by Bertrand Blier, is about a BMW car dealer (Gerard Depardieu) cheating on his beautiful wife (Carole Bouquet) with his ordinary looking temporary secretary (Josiane Balasko). "
With a few tweaks, it's "The Arnold Schwarzenegger Story."
Posted by mpneeb
at February 6, 2012 3:13 PM
comment #11
cyanic
says ...
Rashad: Many high profile white men in Hollywood have left their wives to fuck Whoopi Goldberg.
Posted by cyanic
at February 6, 2012 3:18 PM
comment #12
Cerulean
says ...
The woman is about to win an Oscar. Hardly what I call a rut career-wise.
Posted by Cerulean
at February 6, 2012 3:19 PM
comment #13
Edward
says ...
She was great in THE HELP. If Viola Davis wins the Oscar it's a far better choice than the adequate Sandra Bullock winning for THE BLIND SIDE.
Posted by Edward
at February 6, 2012 3:33 PM
comment #14
AnnaZed
says ...
I want to see Viola Davis play the US President, but a muscular one that fights guys on Air Force One Harrison Ford style. I would enjoy that. It would be really cool to get Gary Oldman to just sign on and play Ivan Korshunov all over again but let Viola Davis throw him out of the plane this time. Have you noticed that she is awesomely buff, she has arms like our real-life first lady..
Posted by AnnaZed
at February 6, 2012 3:49 PM
comment #15
Markj74
says ...
Enders Game could be interesting, so long as it's the Gavin Hood of Tsotsi, and not of Wolverine, that turns up to direct. Having said that the creative black hole that is Kurtzman/Orci is involved too... oh well.
Posted by Markj74
at February 6, 2012 3:54 PM
comment #16
Jeffrey Overstreet
says ...
I'm looking forward to Jeffrey's post where he recommends that Jonah Hill make a smart career move and pursue a role "defined by sex and passion."
Posted by Jeffrey Overstreet
at February 6, 2012 3:57 PM
comment #17
kingofnails
says ...
Is she too old for a part in Abel Ferrara's upcoming DSK movie with Gerard Depardieu? I think that would be awesome.
Posted by kingofnails
at February 6, 2012 4:12 PM
comment #18
Robert Cashill
says ...
At age 46, any role that isn't Jaden Smith's grandmother is a good role for Viola Davis. Since when have 46-year-olds had passion and sexuality in Hollywood movies, anyway?
Posted by Robert Cashill
at February 6, 2012 4:14 PM
comment #19
DiscoNap
says ...
The maid suggestion is vintage Wells. If she were going to do what he's suggesting, shouldn't she be playing the Depardieu role, with some pretty-boy playing the assistant?
Posted by DiscoNap
at February 6, 2012 4:14 PM
comment #20
Storm Serge
says ...
Well, based on the Golden Globes red carpet footage, Fassy would gladly play her lover.
Posted by Storm Serge
at February 6, 2012 4:22 PM
comment #21
Glenn Kenny
says ...
So. First Jeff's "concerned" over the potential defilement of Reese Witherspoon, now he's all about Viola Davis "doing" Brad Pitt. Way to wave your freak flag today, man!
Posted by Glenn Kenny
at February 6, 2012 4:41 PM
comment #22
raygo
says ...
Like Jodie Foster in Summersby.
Posted by raygo
at February 6, 2012 4:42 PM
comment #23
Andrea
says ...
The only way Viola will have a shot to get the roles she deserves is if she takes home the gold man this month. And even than it's no guarantee.
Posted by Andrea
at February 6, 2012 5:32 PM
comment #24
Gabe@ThePlaylist
says ...
Since we're blowing smoke out of our asses, Viola Davis should be an "Expendable."
Posted by Gabe@ThePlaylist
at February 6, 2012 5:38 PM
comment #25
Chicago48
says ...
Here's what she should play -- but I fear that Angela Bassett has jumped on this first:
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-morrison-connie-rice-20111224,0,6414505.column
Posted by Chicago48
at February 6, 2012 5:45 PM
comment #26
bitplaya
says ...
Fuck can she not play a maid? I mean really. I can tell she kinda chafes a at all the attention. I can tell it bothers her a bit that in 2012 as black woman she has to play a fucking maid to get recognized.
Posted by bitplaya
at February 6, 2012 6:23 PM
comment #27
George Prager
says ...
In the upcoming FINGERS remake, Davis smacks Chris Pine and Tom Hardy's heads together.
Posted by George Prager
at February 6, 2012 6:29 PM
comment #28
MechanicalShark
says ...
Okay, I got a better pitch for a potential Viola Davis project. Hollywood producers, if you read this, it's all yours.
THE FIRST LADY:
Viola Davis plays an ex-marine who falls in love with a politician. Years later, the politician is elected president of the United States. On a diplomatic mission, his convoy is ambushed, and the President is held hostage by terrorists making an absurd set of demands. Everyone would have her sit on the sidelines, and wait in mounting terror. But not this first lady. She assembles a team of old military buddies, and goes to rescue her husband. Directed by Simon West.
Posted by MechanicalShark
at February 6, 2012 10:43 PM
comment #29
scooterzz
says ...
since i'll probably never see my dream version of 'whatever happened to baby jane?' starring the olsen twins, i'd like to see a black remake (viola davis - octavia spenser)...also a gay remake of 'old acquaintance' (rupert everett - alan cumming)...jus' sayin'...
Posted by scooterzz
at February 6, 2012 10:49 PM
comment #30
royalonemn
says ...
Black actors in Hollywood are always defined by their positions: Unless they are named Denzel or Will Smith. That's because most screenwriters see black people as story points in for their white protagonists and not three dimensional human beings.
I'm happy Viola is probably going to win the Oscar. Would I have preferred a better role than The Help for her to do it? Yes. But she worked her ass off to make another functional black role (maid, wise old sage, whore, gangster) into a three dimensional human being, which is WAY MORE DIFFICULT than being handed The Iron Lady script and saying "Go to town!"
Posted by royalonemn
at February 7, 2012 4:33 AM
comment #31
Krillian
says ...
She could do a remake of How Stella Got Her Groove Back. Or The Bridges of Madison County.
Posted by Krillian
at February 7, 2012 7:31 AM
comment #32
Chicago48
says ...
How come this topic never happens with Michelle Williams?
Posted by Chicago48
at February 7, 2012 7:42 AM
comment #33
AnnaZed
says ...
@Gabe who thought maybe Viola Davis should be an 'Expendable'. You know that is not the worst idea ever at all. If those guys actually had balls they would have invited Gina Carano, Michelle Rodriguez or Viola Davis or even tiny Zoe Saldana (heck even Milla Jovovich would have been cool). At the last minute they added what's-her-name but they didn't have the guts to add a real high profile kick-ass woman. Pussies.
Posted by AnnaZed
at February 7, 2012 8:08 AM
comment #34
RoyBatty Returns
says ...
@royaloneman - that's one of those things that almost sounds clever, until one realizes that it pretty much applies to all mainstream movies. Not to mention being highly offensive reverse racism ("most screenwriters see black people...[as] not three dimensional human beings."), seeing as you wrote "people" and not "characters."
Pretty much EVERY character and the actors who play them are defined by occupations they do, regardless of ethnicity, if they are NOT THE STAR. Is Michael Cain really ever any more than the butler in the Batman trilogy? These days, does Stanley Tucci play more than the designer, the guidance counselor or the scientist?
Posted by RoyBatty Returns
at February 7, 2012 9:13 AM
comment #35
royalonemn
says ...
@RoyBatty-Just because it's "reverse racism" doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Until more actors of color are cast in Chris Pine, Elizabeth Olsen, Taylor Lautner, Armie Hammer kind of roles, where the studios/producers/directors/writers are promoting and investing in them as unknowns to be the stars of tomorrow, I will stand by my statement.
Even Meryl Streep was screaming a few years ago for someone to give Viola Davis a movie. And the one she got was one where she has to share lead status with Emma Stone (who can be added to the above list). You are living in fairytale bubble if you believe that there is no inequity in media when it comes to performers of color and what roles they are offered vs. their white counterparts.
Not trying to start of fight, but trying to open your eyes.
Posted by royalonemn
at February 7, 2012 1:48 PM