What’s the deal with Janis Joplin? Maybe I’m a rock idiot, but I’ve just never gotten what’s so great about her. Janis wasn’t a strong singer. Still, though I may not dig her music, a movie about the fem rock legend has tremendous potential. Sex and drugs in rock n’ roll with a female twist? Count me in.
A few days ago our friend Richard over at Filmstalker gathered together some rumors that indicated Zooey Deschanel might be on the verge of playing her in a film about her life. Now Production Weekly has confirmed that in a stroke of casting genius, the underappreciated Zooey has indeed been cast to play Janis. It’s a little indie film, being directed by Wayne’s World turned obscure indie helmer Penelope Spheeris. They expect to start shooting this November in Philadelphia. The movie’s being called Gospel According to Janis, and unlike a lot of boring biopics it’ll skip right over the stuff no one cares about and begin with her move to California to make it big and end with her death at the age of 27 after eight years of constant excess.
Maybe we haven’t seen this kind of portrayal from Zooey before, but I think she’s perfect. Best known for roles in family friendly films like Elf and Hitchhiker’s Guide, the girl also has a wild streak. She’s got a knack for kooky, strange, and sometimes disturbed personalities. Infamous, drug addled rockstaress? Should be no problem. After stealing scenes in other actor’s movies for so long, it’s about time she got a decent leading role.
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Josh - I hate to say it, but you are a rock idiot, maybe a blues idiot, too. To really get why Janis Joplin was great you have to listen to the live recordings. The studio stuff was just not that good with maybe the exception of Kozmic Blues. She was an amazing, authentic talent, with a tremendous gift for phrasings and vocalisms. Very few if any rock singers come any where near her massive talent and breadth of feeling.
Portraying a turbulent life like that lived by Janis Joplin could be Oscar material with the right actress. Zooey is cute - and good - but she would even be a blip on the Oscar radar screen in this role. However, I believe there to be even a better actress for this role - and who could garner another Oscar nomination with it - Samantha Morton.
If you don't know who Morton is, she is probably one of the best actresses in film and certainly the most underrated - although well respected in the industry. She's one those "chameleon" actresses - change her hair and make up just a little and she can play just about any role, besides looking completely different from her previous roles.
If anyone out there is truly serious about making this movie, give Samantha Morton a call.
to say that stuff about Janis is total disrespect to the Rock Queen. she wasnt a strong singer. please! how many other performers can rock the stage without a mic? her voice was that strong. it was strong enough to make the hairs on the back ppl's necks stand. her voice was powerful enough to make her the legend she is - no one was like her before her, and no one is like Janis today - 30 plus years after her death. so please, watch what you say. this zooey chick doesnt look like she'd even know where to begin playing Janis. besides, there's an italian chick that looks just like, AND sings just like Janis. go to youtube and type in janis joplin -piece of my heart cover (its by arycomfort) arianna rocks.
Zooey is adorable and has a great personality. She can even sing, but I question the powers that be that think she can pull off the balls-to-the-wall down and dirty side of Janis Joplin's personality.
We'll just have to wait and see. Personally, I think it should have been Dana Fuchs (Sexy Sadie in Across the Universe).
And, by the way, you actually are a "rock idiot" -- there would be few women rock singers doing what they do today had it not been for Janis's trailblazing style. In context, there had been no other white woman singing the blues and melding it with a rock sound until Janis came along. Her music was new and original and deserves a hallowed place in the rock pantheon. You don't have to like her, but to deny her pivotal role in rock is truly ignorant.
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What’s the deal with Janis Joplin? Maybe I’m a rock idiot, but I’ve just never gotten what’s so great about her. Janis wasn’t a strong singer. Still, though I may not dig her music, a movie about the fem rock legend has tremendous potential. Sex and drugs in rock n’ roll with a female twist? Count me in.
August 13th, 2006 at 10:58
I think they found the perfect actress for the role! I'm hoping she'll do all her own singing too.