Movies About Country Stars...What Would You Like To See?
Feb 1, 2015 10:12:08 GMT -5
Post by bjer127 on Feb 1, 2015 10:12:08 GMT -5
With Academy Award season in full swing, I thought it'd be cool to start a thread here. IMO "Tender Mercies" is the greatest movie about a country singer. Robert Duvall won an academy award. I would rank "Crazy Heart" second. I'd put "Coal Miners Daughter" third. "Payday" is also a good one, with Rip Torn (who also won an Oscar). Being a big Johnny Cash fan, I loved "Walk The Line" when it came out (saw it in theaters 3 times, once while on vacation!). However, it came on HBO the other day, and I must say, it doesn't hold up after time. The performances are good, but the storyline jumps around. I am also VERY excited for the Hank Williams movie with Tom Hiddleston. I hope its not crappy and can maybe contend for Oscar's next year. The Patsy Cline movie "Sweet Dreams" with Jessica Lange was pretty good too.
Anyways, there have been lots of rumors over the years of the list below being made into movies, which would be AWESOME
- Keith Whitley: In 2009 it was reported that David Keith (Officer and A Gentleman) had signed on to portray Keith Whitley in a movie. But it fell apart in 2011 and he sued the film's backers for not putting up the $10 million to make it. I still think this is a tremendous story that needs to be told. His upbringings, foray into bluegrass, then country music savior in the 80's. Only put out 3 major albums (1 posthumously), and then he died. I could see Matthew McConaughey playing him (as some bloggers say), but not sure. There is a Facebook page dedicated to getting this movie made . Sidenote, in 2010 T Bone Burnett had signed on to produce the soundtrack! Would have been awesome.
Bill Monroe: A movie on the Father of Bluegrass was also in the works, and even had a official IMDB page on it in 2012. Peter Saarsgard was set to star as Bill Monroe, with Ed Helms playing Earl Scruggs (great casting choice), and Maggie Gyllenhaal playing Bill Monroe's mistress. I couldn't find why this movie was scrapped, but T Bone Burnett was also given the chance to produce the soundtrack. Supposedly the script followed his rise in the late 50's, and the breaking of his marriage in the early 60's.
- Charley Pride: Alot of talk on the internet about a Charley Pride movie a few years back (2010 maybe). Terrance Howard was cast to play Pride (the guy from the new Fox show EMPIRE). I could totally see Howard playing Pride. Or even Chadwick Boseman , but he already played Jackie Robinson AND James Brown. Not sure what ever happened to this.
- George Jones: This movie WILL get made someday. They talked about in a Country Weekly article in 2010, with Jones. It was the article where they showed his new home in Alabama and that amusement park/entertainment facility they opened. I also read an interview with Nancy Jones from about 6 months ago where she said they were looking for people to help bring the movie to light, and produce/direct it. They seemed very adamant it was getting made. Sidenote: Does anyone remember Jim Carrey from Me, Myself And Irene, with that buzzcut??? Go look at a photo from George Jones in the mid-50's and get back to me . LOL. Carrey could be a dead ringer for a young George Jones.
- Waylon Jennings: This would be another great story to get told. Him getting turned down by every label in town, only to turn around and do it his way. I would love to see this combined with a Willie nelson movie, about their lives. Shooter Jennings and Jessi Colter have been wroking on this since before Waylon died, so there's alot of info here. I too think this will be made someday. Shooter does a good job of preserving his dad's legacy. Sidenote: I could see Jared Leto playing Waylon, he's got the long hair/beard, and he's a musician.
- Ronnie Milsap : A recent article after Ronnie's back catalog came available on Itunes mentioned that he and his wife were looking for people interested in making a movie about his life. Could be a good watch.
- Jimmie Rodgers: This movie's been talked about for at least 20 years. Supposedly Brad Pitt was interested at one point. I am sure one day an adaptation at least will be released
There's also been rumors of a Garth Brooks and George Strait movie, but it seems both of those would be documentary types. Especially since George was already in Pure Country, and a Garth movie would be impossibly to make with him being 100% involved in everything.
Merle Haggard movie would be interesting too
Anyways, there have been lots of rumors over the years of the list below being made into movies, which would be AWESOME
- Keith Whitley: In 2009 it was reported that David Keith (Officer and A Gentleman) had signed on to portray Keith Whitley in a movie. But it fell apart in 2011 and he sued the film's backers for not putting up the $10 million to make it. I still think this is a tremendous story that needs to be told. His upbringings, foray into bluegrass, then country music savior in the 80's. Only put out 3 major albums (1 posthumously), and then he died. I could see Matthew McConaughey playing him (as some bloggers say), but not sure. There is a Facebook page dedicated to getting this movie made . Sidenote, in 2010 T Bone Burnett had signed on to produce the soundtrack! Would have been awesome.
Bill Monroe: A movie on the Father of Bluegrass was also in the works, and even had a official IMDB page on it in 2012. Peter Saarsgard was set to star as Bill Monroe, with Ed Helms playing Earl Scruggs (great casting choice), and Maggie Gyllenhaal playing Bill Monroe's mistress. I couldn't find why this movie was scrapped, but T Bone Burnett was also given the chance to produce the soundtrack. Supposedly the script followed his rise in the late 50's, and the breaking of his marriage in the early 60's.
- Charley Pride: Alot of talk on the internet about a Charley Pride movie a few years back (2010 maybe). Terrance Howard was cast to play Pride (the guy from the new Fox show EMPIRE). I could totally see Howard playing Pride. Or even Chadwick Boseman , but he already played Jackie Robinson AND James Brown. Not sure what ever happened to this.
- George Jones: This movie WILL get made someday. They talked about in a Country Weekly article in 2010, with Jones. It was the article where they showed his new home in Alabama and that amusement park/entertainment facility they opened. I also read an interview with Nancy Jones from about 6 months ago where she said they were looking for people to help bring the movie to light, and produce/direct it. They seemed very adamant it was getting made. Sidenote: Does anyone remember Jim Carrey from Me, Myself And Irene, with that buzzcut??? Go look at a photo from George Jones in the mid-50's and get back to me . LOL. Carrey could be a dead ringer for a young George Jones.
- Waylon Jennings: This would be another great story to get told. Him getting turned down by every label in town, only to turn around and do it his way. I would love to see this combined with a Willie nelson movie, about their lives. Shooter Jennings and Jessi Colter have been wroking on this since before Waylon died, so there's alot of info here. I too think this will be made someday. Shooter does a good job of preserving his dad's legacy. Sidenote: I could see Jared Leto playing Waylon, he's got the long hair/beard, and he's a musician.
- Ronnie Milsap : A recent article after Ronnie's back catalog came available on Itunes mentioned that he and his wife were looking for people interested in making a movie about his life. Could be a good watch.
- Jimmie Rodgers: This movie's been talked about for at least 20 years. Supposedly Brad Pitt was interested at one point. I am sure one day an adaptation at least will be released
There's also been rumors of a Garth Brooks and George Strait movie, but it seems both of those would be documentary types. Especially since George was already in Pure Country, and a Garth movie would be impossibly to make with him being 100% involved in everything.
Merle Haggard movie would be interesting too
