Hollywood Drama

Authors: Corey
Location: USA

"Hollywood Drama"

Directed By: Mike Nichols
Written By: Carrie Fisher & Meryl Streep
Produced By: Mike Nichols & John Calley
Music By: John Williams
Casting By: Juliet Taylor, Tom Houseman, Corey Wackel, & Patrick Sharp
Cinematography By: Seamus McGarvey (The Hours)
Costumes By: Colleen Atwood (Chicago)
Art/Set Direction: Tom Duffield (Primary Colors)
Edited By: Arthur Schmidt (Forrest Gump)
Make Up By: Greg Cannom & Colleen Callaghan (A Beautiful Mind)

Principal Cast:

Susan Sarandon: Bette Davis
Geena Davis: Katharine Hepburn
Rachel McAdams: Young Meryl Streep
Kathleen Turner: Joan Crawford
Ian McKellen: Peter O’Toole
Ben Kingsley: Henry Fonda
Sandra Bullock: Anne Bancroft
Meryl Streep: Herself
Chris Cooper: Himself
Nicolas Cage: Himself
Spike Jonze: Himself
Hilary Swank: Herself

Tagline: "In Hollywood, drama isn’t just created on-screen"

Synopsis: Early in her career, a raising young star by the name of Meryl Streep receives a letter from the famous actress, Bette Davis, who most critics are ranking as the greatest American movie actress ever. In the letter, Davis tells Streep that she feels that Streep is her successor as the premier American actress. Ironically, another great actress by the name of Katharine Hepburn despises Streep as an actress, and so begins a dramatic battle for the title of cinema’s greatest actress. Over the next several years, each actress struggles to secure the spot by gaining critical acclaim and, above all, the most Oscar nominations, but who, if anyone, is going to end up on top in the end after so much drama?

What the press would say:

“The mix of witty humor and drama that one could only expect from director Mike Nichols. A mixture of real life events and fictionalized material helps the film become that much more brilliant and funnier. Having worked closely with Meryl Streep, a frequent collaborator, Nichols handles the material in a way that nobody could see coming. Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis, in their first screen pairing since Thelma & Louise, are great as the evil, witty, and conniving Davis and Hepburn. Great work also comes from Rachel McAdams, an actress that constantly keeps showing the world more and more of her endless talents. While nobody can capture all the spunk and vitality of Mrs. Streep, McAdams does her best and boy is it a performance! Nichols has also assembled much of his Postcards from the Edge crew, including screenwriter Carrie Fisher, who is joined by Meryl Streep who provided information and some facts about the situation based on personal experience. Meryl creates an Adaptation/Being John Malkovich type of performance as do actors Cooper, Cage, Jonze, and Swank. The make up crew also does a great job, allowing both Sarandon and Davis to age, which provides both actresses to play the full range of their character.”

Oscar Nominations:

Best Picture
Best Director: Mike Nichols
Best Actress: Susan Sarandon
Best Actress: Geena Davis
Best Supporting Actress: Rachel McAdams
Best Supporting Actress: Kathleen Turner
Best Supporting Actor: Ian McKellen
Best Original Screenplay: Carrie Fisher & Meryl Streep
Best Cinematography
Best Score
Best Costume Design
Best Make Up
Best Editing
Best Art/Set Direction
Best Sound Editing