Glenn Close is "The Wife"
Thursday, October 20, 2016 at 11:28AM by Murtada
Close at the Tonys in June
Glenn Close is not going to be ignored. Anymore. Six years after Albert Nobbs she has signed on for a new part. It’s not a supporting authority figure (Guardians of the Galaxy) or an uncredited cameo (Warcraft) -she’s playing the title character! The film is The Wife in which Close will play Joan, a woman who gave up her own literary ambitions to support her successful novelist husband. On the eve of him receiving the Nobel Prize for literature she has a crisis of faith in him and in their marriage and starts re-examining her choices.
The film was first announced last February but it seems that whatever kinks they had then, have been smoothed out and shooting stars in a couple of weeks. The film is helmed by Swedish director Björn Runge and adapted by Jane Anderson (Olive Kitteridge) from Meg Wolitzer’s novel. Frances McDormand, Logan Lerman and Brit Marling who were previously attached, have dropped out. Now the supporting cast includes Jonathan Pryce (as the husband), Christian Slater, Elizabeth McGovern, Max Irons (Glenn’s Reversal of Fortune co-star Jeremy’s son), Harry Lloyd (Stephen Hawking’s friend in The Theory of Everything) and Glenn's daughter Annie Starke.
Sounds like a juicy part for Glenn. Hope she goes all Marquise de Merteuil on Pryce, that would be a fun battle of wiles to watch. Are you excited to see Glenn leading a movie again?
Reader Comments (40)
Very excited - and I think that's a very appealing supporting cast too.
Is it weird if I say I'd love to see Jonathan Pryce playing Angry Birds in a movie again? It won't be as insane as the last time that happened, but it'd be kind of a cute reference to those who remember that.
Sounds divine. Glenn Close should be playing brilliant, contemporary, patrician women. It's the only way to account for her physical presence and innate mannerisms.
Her biggest missteps have been playing poor, plain, period people. And alternately, glamorous people. Glenn's glamor is her mind!
Glenn Close - 7 Oscar nominations for you! You go, Glenn Clo-Clo!!!
No. Glenn Close has never done it for me. I hated her in DANGEROUS LIAISONS - she was way too cold and calculating - not nearly sensual/sexual enough in that part. KATHLEEN TURNER is the actress who should have played that role!! Close's early roles - when she was a ll soft focused every woman were dull. Close was good in FATAL ATTRACTION but did nothing 100 other actresses couldn't have done in that part in that movie. I do acknowledge she was good in REVERSAL OF FORTUNE - but, again, she did nothing 20 other actresses couldn't have done. After that, I confess I stopped seeing her movies. Just the thought of her doing Eleanor in LION IN WINTER makes me cringe. I was curious about ALBERT NOBBS but couldn't make myself see it. She just doesn't do it for me and nothing I've ever seen her in has made me think - WOW WHAT AN AMAZING ACTRESS or WOW WHAT A FASCINATING PERSONALITY. I did see her in SUNSET BLVD on Broadway and, again, she was quite effective but nothing to thrill too. I am certainly NOT excited about her returning to Broadway in SUNSET BLVD - if they want to sell out and make the revival truly memorable, they should somehow convince STREEP to do the role. But then Streep hasn't been tested on Broadway since her very early years and that is something I have to hand to Close. She can carry a play and perform under the rigors of performing night after night after night. My apologies to all of you who love Glenn Close but I am definitely not one of you.
Yaasss!!!
Get it, Glenn! 8D
No. Glenn Close has never done it for me. I hated her in DANGEROUS LIAISONS - she was way too cold and calculating - not nearly sensual/sexual enough in that part. KATHLEEN TURNER is the actress who should have played that role!! Close's early roles - when she was a ll soft focused every woman were dull. Close was good in FATAL ATTRACTION but did nothing 100 other actresses couldn't have done in that part in that movie. I do acknowledge she was good in REVERSAL OF FORTUNE - but, again, she did nothing 20 other actresses couldn't have done. After that, I confess I stopped seeing her movies. Just the thought of her doing Eleanor in LION IN WINTER makes me cringe. I was curious about ALBERT NOBBS but couldn't make myself see it. She just doesn't do it for me and nothing I've ever seen her in has made me think - WOW WHAT AN AMAZING ACTRESS or WOW WHAT A FASCINATING PERSONALITY. I did see her in SUNSET BLVD on Broadway and, again, she was quite effective but nothing to thrill too. I am certainly NOT excited about her returning to Broadway in SUNSET BLVD - if they want to sell out and make the revival truly memorable, they should somehow convince STREEP to do the role. But then Streep hasn't been tested on Broadway since her very early years and that is something I have to hand to Close. She can carry a play and perform under the rigors of performing night after night after night. My apologies to all of you who love Glenn Close but I am definitely not one of you.
Glenn Close isn't a sexy woman. Never was never will be. But she can play the hell out of a bitch. People think Meryl can. She can in real life when she collected that 3rd Oscar and pretended to not see Glenn nor Viola in the audience and acknowledge them. Glenn Close haters catch an incurable sexually transmitted disease.
Well yes. Meryl didn't even walked to Viola Davis before she took the stage. That bitch.
I'd watch lead a line dance,love her.
a satisfactory scenario:
Bening wins in 2016
Close wins in 2017
they both join the Julianne Moore Body of Work Oscar Given Out During the Competitive Ceremony club and we're all rather happy, I hope
Girl with all the Gifts. What Happened to Monday? Wilde Wedding. Crooked House. Guardians of the Galaxy 2, The Wife. & Sunset Blvd back on Broadway. That's a nice roster of work on the way. It would be satisfying for them pay off for her finally.
Meryl gave Viola a kiss on the cheek when she won for the Iron Lady. The only other person she acknowledged besides her husband because they placed her front row next to the stairs going up to the stage. She always champions Viola. Does she need to bring up her and the other nominees in every acceptance speech? Why do you need to tear women down just to bring others up? Misogynistic putrid soul.
ANYWAYS, didn't realize Glenn had an actress daughter, that's exciting. Glad Close is getting out of those big budget movies too.
@Ryan
You don't believe in God so in all likelihood you should never reference my soul.
Streep is so far from a bitch in real life... she yelled out when she won a trophy for Doubt to "get a role for Viola" and for a few other women, too.. she cannot go to every person in the theater to greet them before she receives an award... all actresses speak highly of her...
/3rtful you may not like Streep, but don't be a Donald Trump and make up lies as you speak
As far as Glenn goes, she is a good actress nothing more... maybe that is why she does not have major roles ... this one could be good, I hope...
AHHHH /3rtful your mean streak has risen again/// You know Ryan, I assume!!!!!
Can't wait to see Glenn in this movie and another amazing performance by her. I hope the Academy finally recognizes her work. The fact that she is a 6 time Oscar nominee and never won is just a crime to me. She is a magnificent actress! Go Glenn!
YES get that Oscar, queen!
And LOL girls please calm down
Does this mean that Glenn is taking over a role that Frances McDormand accepted and then bailed on? I hope it works out for her. I have liked her in her best roles over the years (Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons, Reversal of Fortune).
Streep definitely is NOT a bitch towards other women. She is perhaps one of the most supportive and encouraging. She also has been very open that her win came at the loss of four others, including two fellow nominees who are her friends (Viola and Glenn).
Yes! This woman should have won an Oscar by now!
I love Glenn . Extraordinary in Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons, Service in Silence, Damages. Hope she wins an Oscar soon.
Marie - McDormand's was a different role - that of College Professor to the younger version of Close's character in flashback. I assume this is the role that Elizabeth McGovern has taken on.
yay!! it's been too long. we've missed glenn. loved her in the little seen 'heights'.
Is there a role for a daughter? Give it to Grace Gummer. She is great or on her way. She killed in Mr. Robot s2
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I would love for Glenn to get the Oscar too. But her best performances have been, at least in my opinion, in the mid-80s to mid-90s: Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons, Reversal of Fortune, House of the Spirits, and even in Hamlet. Although her roles in subsequent years have not been stellar but I thought she is always incandescent, especially in Heights, Cookie's Fortune, Le Divorce, Low Down, and even in that misfire called The Stepford Wives.
I wish she'll get an Oscar soon just because she is a great actress. I wonder though if her supporting roles in upcoming ones like Crooked House, The Girl with All the Gifts, What Happened to Monday, and Bastards, will put her in the supporting actress category.
You know I am not a fan, but I've loved her in Albert Nobbs.
I am excited as long as she doesn't try to chew the scenery.
I've always thought she was a serviceable, solid actress but never anything extraordinary. Sort of like the Hepburn critique of Streep with "tick tick tick", I can always see the acting at work. She's unlike her fellow 80s/90s Oscar-less peers Michelle Pfeiffer and Sigourney Weaver who both have the ability to really lose themselves in the role. But I'm always happy to see older, accomplished actress snag leading Hollywood roles so I wish her the best with this one.
YESSS! Hopefully a well received performance as well!
See, as far as I'm concerned, Close should have had her big night for Albert Nobbs. Aside from winning Lead Actress, Janet McTeer should have won supporting, makeup should have been a lock, Close should have won for writing "Lay Your Head Down, Darling" in Original Song, and the film should have been nominated for Costumes, Art Direction, and Adapted Screenplay. I'm on the fence for a Best Picture nomination, just because some of the Mia Wasikowski scenes are a bit unbalanced in the edit and that final fight is a bit, shall we say, abrupt. I love it anyway.
Anyway. Since Julianne has hers, I'm all for Close, Davis, and Bening getting theirs. Both are overdue based on the quality and consistency of their performances.
Dangerous Liaisons is the movie that cemented my love of movies. So, I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Glenn Close. She's scenery chewy and devilish and cunning in that movie (just like the character is supposed to be!). I haven't loved some of her recent performances s much. But I also feel like she just isn't working that much. So, I really hope this works out for her. She definitely deserves an Oscar or two.
But...
Next year is not MICHELLE PFEIFFER'S YEAR??
Lord, don't do this to us!! I don't have health for a Pfeiffer / Close battle for Awards.
Please, no. This Sophie's Choice don't belong to our hearts.
I don't see Sigourney, Glenn, and Michelle all winning overdue competitive Oscars. I rather the Academy shotguns them their honoraries and call it a day. And before anyone challenges me and says much older screen legends deserve their honorary first -- Jackie Chan beat Glenn Close to an honorary. I don't care anymore about more senior screen legends without.
Two thoughts:
1) Woke up this morning, came to the site still groggy, looked at the sidebar on the right side of the main page and saw three comments listed under "Glenn Close is "The Wiz.'" That's some outside-the-box casting, I thought...
2) I adore puppies.
I wonder if this will be Close's year. i don't want her to win an Honorary Oscar. I want the real thing.
Although, 2017 looks to be the year of Pfeiffer who's also overdue. Agh!!
Honorary is better than no statuette Mr St Clair.
Although it remains my favorite performance by a female actor ever, I've seen arguments against Close's performance in DL over the years that make sense - scenery-chewing, over-the-top, etc. - but not sensual enough is a new one for me.
Glenn can't do sexy. But sexiness is partially our physical attractiveness to others.
There's no reason that Close should have lost for Dangerous Liaisons, especially to an adequate performance in a TV movie of the week which somehow made it to the big screen.
At any rate, I'm ecstatic any time that actresses of a certain age not named Streep (or Mirren or Dench for that matter) get opportunities to headline major films, and The Wife already sounds like it could be a meaty showcase.
Glenn Close is the only actress I can think of today (besides Bening) who can really take on a role completely and make me feel for the character. I'm not knocking any other actress. I just really love how she can play any character and invest in it, yet when the director yells "cut", she's Glenn Close again. To me, that's acting. Sure, I still see Close, but I can say that about any other actor/actress due to mannerisms. However, this may sound odd, but Carol Burnett in Eunice (1982) transcended that title role in the final 10 minutes of the movie. And I don't think she was even nominated for an Emmy. Insane!
Back in the Golden era of cinema, we had the incredible Barbara Stanwyck who defined distance with yearning in her performances. There was something mysterious and captivating about her. Both she and Close may not be considered stereotypical beauties, but they are sexy nonetheless in an unconventional way. I mean, Stanwyck was VERY sexy.
Close was also very sexy in Fatal Attraction. For those of you who don't see it, you probably perceive things in a different light. No biggie. We all see things differently sometimes.
Either way, there's no need to bash Streep or anyone else. Agree to disagree and be done with it. I don't think there is any 'greatest actor/actress' as it's all subjective anyway. Let's hope Close can finally win that political Oscar one day as well as a possible Grammy. She's had a few nominations there, too.