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Picspam: Almost Famous Gender!Swap Casting
So I started this almost a year ago when I stumbled across a couple of pictures of Hailee Steinfeld and my mind started churning. This is one of my favorite movies of all time, and it's very driven by the gender roles and expectations of the time in which it was set. So the idea of swapping all the genders around excited me, since it raises all sorts of questions about how we relate to each other (if you'll forgive me for getting pretentious). Plus: this is one of my favorite ways to waste time, if you haven't figured that out already.
I finally finished it today, hemming and hawing to the end over certain roles (Lester Bangs, why must you be so difficult to cast?), but I'm pretty satisfied with the end result. I hope y'all enjoy it!
THE FAMILY:
Hailee Steinfeld as William Miller
Sweet? Where do you get off? Where do you get sweet? I am dark and mysterious, and pissed off! And I could be very dangerous to all of you! You should know that about me... I am the enemy!
Jason Bateman as Elaine Miller
I didn't ask for this role, but I'll play it. Now go do your best. Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid. Goethe said that. It's not too late for you to become a person of substance, Russell. Please get my son home safely. You know, I'm glad we spoke.
Chris Colfer as Anita Miller
This song explains why I'm leaving home to become a stewardess.
THE BAND:
Sarah Michelle Gellar as Russell Hammond
You, Aaron, are what it's all about. You're real. Your room is real. Your friends are real. Real, man, real. You know? Real. You're more important than all the silly machinery. Silly machinery. And you know it! In eleven years its going to be 1984, man. Think about that!
Rashida Jones as Jeff Bebe
Some people have a hard time explaining rock 'n' roll. I don't think anyone can really explain rock'n'roll. Maybe Pete Townshend, but that's okay. Rock'n'roll is a lifestyle and a way of thinking... and it's not about money and popularity. Although, some money would be nice. But it's a voice that says, "Here I am... and fuck you if you can't understand me." And one of these people is gonna save the world. And that means that rock'n'roll can save the world... all of us together. And the chicks are great. But what it all comes down to is that thing. The indefinable thing when people catch something in your music.
Beth Riesgraf as Larry Fellows
I waited until you broke up with her. But me too.
Jessie Cave as Ed Vallencourt
Fuck it! I'm... I'm gay!
THE BAND-AIDS:
Bradley James as Penny Lane
I always tell the girls, never take it seriously, if you never take it seriosuly, you never get hurt, you never get hurt, you always have fun, and if you ever get lonely, just go to the record store and visit your friends.
Ben Barnes as Sapphire
They don't even know what it is to be a fan. Y'know? To truly love some silly little piece of music, or some band, so much that it hurts.
Logan Lerman as Polexia Aphrodesia
Forgive me, Father, for I may sin tonight.
THE MANAGEMENT:
Rebecca Hall as Dick Roswell
Ladies and gentelmen! The evening is over. We hope you all enjoyed yourselves, and we'll see you all again in 1974. Good evening!
Morena Baccarin as Dennis Hope
I didn't invent the rainy day, man. I just own the best umbrella.
THE MENTOR:
Amy Poehler as Lester Bangs
Yeah, great art is about conflict and pain and guilt and longing and love disguised as sex, and sex disguised as love... and let's face it, you got a big head start.
I finally finished it today, hemming and hawing to the end over certain roles (Lester Bangs, why must you be so difficult to cast?), but I'm pretty satisfied with the end result. I hope y'all enjoy it!
Hailee Steinfeld as William Miller
Sweet? Where do you get off? Where do you get sweet? I am dark and mysterious, and pissed off! And I could be very dangerous to all of you! You should know that about me... I am the enemy!
Jason Bateman as Elaine Miller
I didn't ask for this role, but I'll play it. Now go do your best. Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid. Goethe said that. It's not too late for you to become a person of substance, Russell. Please get my son home safely. You know, I'm glad we spoke.
Chris Colfer as Anita Miller
This song explains why I'm leaving home to become a stewardess.
THE BAND:
Sarah Michelle Gellar as Russell Hammond
You, Aaron, are what it's all about. You're real. Your room is real. Your friends are real. Real, man, real. You know? Real. You're more important than all the silly machinery. Silly machinery. And you know it! In eleven years its going to be 1984, man. Think about that!
Rashida Jones as Jeff Bebe
Some people have a hard time explaining rock 'n' roll. I don't think anyone can really explain rock'n'roll. Maybe Pete Townshend, but that's okay. Rock'n'roll is a lifestyle and a way of thinking... and it's not about money and popularity. Although, some money would be nice. But it's a voice that says, "Here I am... and fuck you if you can't understand me." And one of these people is gonna save the world. And that means that rock'n'roll can save the world... all of us together. And the chicks are great. But what it all comes down to is that thing. The indefinable thing when people catch something in your music.
Beth Riesgraf as Larry Fellows
I waited until you broke up with her. But me too.
Jessie Cave as Ed Vallencourt
Fuck it! I'm... I'm gay!
THE BAND-AIDS:
Bradley James as Penny Lane
I always tell the girls, never take it seriously, if you never take it seriosuly, you never get hurt, you never get hurt, you always have fun, and if you ever get lonely, just go to the record store and visit your friends.
Ben Barnes as Sapphire
They don't even know what it is to be a fan. Y'know? To truly love some silly little piece of music, or some band, so much that it hurts.
Logan Lerman as Polexia Aphrodesia
Forgive me, Father, for I may sin tonight.
THE MANAGEMENT:
Rebecca Hall as Dick Roswell
Ladies and gentelmen! The evening is over. We hope you all enjoyed yourselves, and we'll see you all again in 1974. Good evening!
Morena Baccarin as Dennis Hope
I didn't invent the rainy day, man. I just own the best umbrella.
THE MENTOR:
Amy Poehler as Lester Bangs
Yeah, great art is about conflict and pain and guilt and longing and love disguised as sex, and sex disguised as love... and let's face it, you got a big head start.
no subject
She’s got that thing Billy Crudup had of sending messages with her eyes. Plus: I AM A GOLDEN GOD! :D
I knooooow! I really do think she could do anything!
Oooh, it turns my head how the gender stuff would change things even when the plot is played straight. Like when Jeff tells Russell his “looks are becoming a problem”: if they were female, Russell would probably get yelled at for “using her looks”, wouldn’t she? Male!Penny would be dancing on stages and believing he’s some ethereal muse for this woman he loves who never faces up to things. Meanwhile, female!William is infatuated with the world of rock and roll and with him. Fascinating stuff!
This is exactly the type of thing I was thinking about. I think you can make an argument that the movie's already really about the women (and about how the men don't understand them/can't touch who they really are), but if we swapped the genders...ten thousand times more interesting.