It looks like Nicole Kidman will become Dusty Spingfield in a biopic about the soul singer’s life and times. We get the following scoop from our friends at Cinematical:
So Nicole Kidman might have already proven she can sing (a little), but is she really good enough to tackle the White Queen of Soul? Michael Cunningham, writer of The Hours and A Home at the End of the World, told NY Magazine that Kidman will star as singing legend Dusty Springfield in a music biopic that he is currently writing the screenplay for.Springfield began her career at the tender age of 11, and by 1963 she had recorded her first major hit, I Only Want to Be With You. By 1967, the star had tired of show business and proceeded to record a string of flops from 1971 to 1986. Her comeback came in 1987 when The Pet Shop Boys asked her to sing on their hit What Have I Done to Deserve This? Springfield passed away from breast cancer in 1995 at the age of 60.
Nicole Kidman is a delicious lady, and always a welcome addition to most films. She has golden pipes of song, so it’s no surprise to me that she’s been tapped for a musical biopic. Can she belt out songs like Dusty? That remains to be seen.
I am not that familiar with the story of Dusty, I have heard her songs on the radio, but her life remains a mystery to me. I enjoy biographies and biopics, and will usually always be entertained if the person has an interesting story, and if the film is done in an entertaining fashion. The fear is (as many of our readers have pointed out) that too many biopics will start to spoil it for everyone from overkill. With luck, these films will dry up a bit and we can enjoy one here and there.
Until the film is released, please enjoy some Dusty:
Girls kissing girls has yet to make a movie worse!
Dusty Springfield was a LESBIAN!!! AND most people would know of her from the song “Son of a Preacher Man” made popular by the soundtrack of Pulp Fiction. I know that if they do a biopic of her they are going to greatly over look this fact of her sexual orientation! It should be addressed and portrayed as a major part of her life. She never ever came out because she knew that she would be burned at the stake if she did. Its sad to think that even with a supposed true portrayal of her life in a bio-pic things will still stay hidden! And who doesn’t want to see Nicole Kidman play a lesbian!!! I mean COME ON. Doug would sign up for it the moment he knew that was happening. And don’t lie Doug, you’d love that kinky stuff. lol
Nicole Kidman is an okay singer but she has no range and I don’t think she can capture Springfield’s soulful sound. But who knows, maybe she’ll have voice training to improve.
This sounds incredibly lame.
I’m guessing the 3rd act will have a Pet Shop Boys cameo.
Wowowowowowowowzzza.
Direct to dvd.
Neither Chenowith or Kidman have the rich soul infused depths to their voices that Dusty had. I think Kidman will have to go through enormous vocal training to sing it herself, but more likely they will overdub the vocals.
Doug, one little tidbit about Dusty’s life that may make you more excited for the film. She was a lesbian (she came out publicly very late in life well after she had stopped recording) . Perhaps they’ll throw in some steamy girl-on-girl action. Her struggles to maintain lesbian relationships and keep her sexuality a secret in the anti-gay environment in the 60’s will likely be a theme in the film.
Dusty is one of the greatest female artists in music history.
Kidman is actually a good choice, but of course it brings up the old dilemma all music biopics face:
Will she do her own singing? Kidman has got a good voice, but she is nowhere near Dusty.
So if she sings herself people will complain that it sounds not as good as the original. And if she doesn’t, people will complain that it’s all fake. It really is a no-win situation.
What happened to the Kristin Chenoweth starring Dusty Springfield film? Is this the same film, but instead they dumped her for a bigger star?
What have we, what have we, what have we done to deserve this……
*kidding*