Keep Musicking: A Star is Born – again, with Beyonce and Clint Eastwood

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

A Star is Born – again, with Beyonce and Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood seems to have a thing for music. As a director, he’s become known for scoring several the films he directed Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby and Changeling to name a few. He also directed while starring in Play Misty For Me in 1971. Warner Bros. slated him as director for the latest remake.

Earlier versions of the film starred Barbra Streisand with Kris Kristofferson (1976), Judy Garland (1954), and a cast of actors unknown to most in the modern age in 1937. The basic story remains the same: A young hopeful falls in love with an old has-been who helps launch the youngster’s career.

Beyonce is in her prime both vocally and physically. In many ways she’s perfect for such a role. She’s held her own in Dreamgirls and Cadillac Records. In other ways, she seems a bit too mature to play a young hopeful. One of the key issues is an actress’s ability to hold a role in a full-length film.

There have been a few singing stars who have crossed over into acting with varying degrees of success at various points in their careers. Elvis, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Will Smith, Usher, Drake, Vanessa Williams, Diana Ross, J.Lo, Jennifer Hudson, and Mariah Carey all come to mind.

No word yet on who the male lead will be. Will Smith is rumored, but he isn’t quite old enough to play a has-been. But then, that’s where acting and makeup come into play.