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Kurt Cobain: It's time for a real biopic
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Tuesday (April 5) is, more or less, the 17th anniversary of Kurt Cobain's death. You can argue the "voice of a generation" stuff if you want, but there's little doubt that Cobain is a fascinating and tragic figure in rock history.So why hasn't anyone made a movie about him?
OK, that's not entirely true: There are several documentaries about Cobain's life (the most famous/notorious being "Kurt & Courtney") and Gus Van Sant's 2005 film "Last Days," which starred Michael Pitt as a musician named Blake, clearly used the end of Cobain's life -- he committed suicide on or about April 5, 1994, at the age of 27 -- as a template. But we're talking about a full-fledged biopic. We think it's time.
Even if it only focused on the handful of years from the time Cobain became immersed in the Seattle music scene through Nirvana's formation and breakout and Cobain's death, there's a wealth of material. We're thinking someone like Patty Jenkins, who brought a rawness to "Monster" and made Seattle look both gorgeous and ominous in the pilot for AMC's series "The Killing," could direct.
As for who should play Cobain? His wife, Courtney Love, has said in the past that Ryan Gosling would be her choice, and we kind of agree with her. James Franco might be able to pull it off as well, and had Pitt not already sort of played Cobain, we'd throw him in the mix too. Emile Hirsch would fit the bill as well, and maybe Joseph Gordon-Levitt as well.
For Love, we kind of wish Dakota Fanning were a few years older, because her turn in "The Runaways" last year absolutely convinced us she could play as big a character as Love. We also like Mia Wasikowska, but she's a little on the young side too.
Charlize Theron would add some star power, and having transformed herself so completely in "Monster," we have no doubt she'd be able to channel Love. We also think Chloe Sevigny and Carey Mulligan could play the part. So make it happen, Hollywood.
Who would you cast in a Kurt Cobain biopic?
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Good call on Amanda Seyfried. She could definitely nail the "coked up" look. I like Gosling as a choice for Kurt. He could definitely pull of the inward/quiet type, with a hint of the rage within...
To play Kurt and Courtney, no Emile Hircg, Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, although very good actors. A Bio needs to pack some punch by lesser knowns and the two best are Michael Pitt and Amanda Seyfried. Amanda Seyfried needs to bring out her deep, dark side to play an addicted Courtney Love and Michael Pitt would be inspiring.
Fun fact: Dakota Fanning and Courtney Love were in the 2002 film "Trapped," released when Dakota was 8.
At Cobain's death, Love was 30. Although her range of appropriate ages will widen as she gets older, Dakota has always played characters at, or very near, her real age, and I believe this has served her well. So, although I anticipate Dakota in fully adult roles, I'm resigned to waiting quite awhile. IMO, an actor needs to be an adult to play an adult; as versatile and as excellent as Dakota is at construction of personas, I don't believe even she can remake herself that far. (It'll be very interesting to see, hopefully, Dakota next year with a British accent in "Girls' Night Out.") As for Mia Wasikowska, I'm looking forward to seeing her soon as Jane Eyre.
Biopic? As long as they keep it real, focus on his talent (wasted)and not try to glorify a selfish, drug-addled coward.
We do need a good biopic. If they can make one for that no talent Justen Beiber they can make one for Kurt. He actualy did have talent.
Hey Wow--you're right about Ryan Gosling playing Kurt Cobain, one of the most talented singers of all time. Ryan has that melancoly, pained look about him that mirrors Cobain well. I just like Michael Pitt better. So true that a bio needs to be done, way past time--Kurt Cobain defined a generation and more.
How many times can one article say "as well"? We have our answer.
These choices are horrible. Has anyone even looked at Kurt Cobain? Michael Pitt looks nothing like him! My choices, and this is coming from a guy who was 15 when Kurt died and a HUGE Nirvana fan, are Joe Anderson, and Scarlett Johansen. That's it. Done. Make the damn movie.
Kurt Cobain was a talented songwriter but he was not the most talented singer of all time. That's just ridiculous! Who cares if the actors look like them? An actor doesn't have to look like the person they are playing, they just have to pull off the acting part.
I think they should use a relative unknown like Jared Ohlinger, he's handsome, can sing, and sort of has a similar personality so it wouldn't be a stretch.