MovieChat Forums > Almost Famous (2000) Discussion > Kate Miscast?

Kate Miscast?

posted 10 years ago by CAastronaut
47 replies | jump to latest

I have been a super fan of this film for years. But, with each viewing, I can't seem to shrug the idea that Kate's performance here isn't stellar. While she has definitely gotten more gorgeous over the years, Kate in 2000 seems to have had, maybe, 70% of the charm, beauty, confidence, and charisma required to completely nail this role. Maybe its the really bad hair (why didn't they give her long/70's locks is beyond me…)--something is missing and Kate's Penny Lane disappoints. I think a 1999/2000 Cameron Diaz would have made an amazing Penny Lane, or Drew, Amy Smart, Kate Bosworth, Angelina J, or even Jennifer Aniston.

If you were to recast this role back then, who would be the best Penny Lane?
1. Cameron D
2. Drew B
3. Amy Smart
4, Kate Bosworth
5. Angelina Jolie
6. Jennifer Aniston

[–] gabby_bm 10 years ago

It would require a certain amount of gullibility (not naivete) bravado and charm. A girl-next-door type but with a certain amount of leadership qualities. I don;t think anyone on your list qualifies. Drew Barrymore is close, but she also harbors just enough cynicism to belie the gullibility.

Your list contains some very beautiful people and that's part of the problem. Kate Hudson wasn;t phenomenally beautiful. She looked just approachable enough to give a 15-year old teenager the hope that he stood a chance. The women on your list (aside from Barrymore) are intimidatingly beautiful and lack a certain element of girl-next-door innocence combined with being worldly enough to hang out with rock bands.

I would not be opposed to Kate Hudson and Anna Paquin exchanging roles in the film. I think Paquin shares the same qualities as Hudson did and would have delivered a better performance.

**WARNING: MY POSTS MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS**
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[–] CAastronaut 10 years ago

i love the fact that you include "leadership" in your response, as that is what I found missing from the performance. Alpha female--the girl we all wanted to hang out with in the 8th grade, who just had it in spades….Kate just fell short. Cameron WAS that girl in her Long Beach high school, and (I'm talking 2000 not 2014 Cameron), had a certain imperfection which made her extremely charming and lovable---and relatable--as opposed to maybe an AJ...

[–] hopefin2000 10 years ago

Kate got an Oscar nom for her role as Penny Lane. I thought she did a perfect job in the role- it was one of her first acting roles, but her facial expressions were priceless.

I put the fun in dysfunction!

[–] CAastronaut 10 years ago

yeah, well, an oscar nomination means nothing as far as talent is concerned---and more about the fact that you are accepted by your peers as a viable, convincing, responsible, and decent performer (and have enough support by your top notch agency to make this nomination happen). With that said, i am not putting Kate down whatsoever with regards to her abilities--I am simply saying that in my opinion she was not only miscast, but that there were other performers who could have brought much more to that role. She was fine as Penny Lane, just not exceptional----and this was probably more about her physical attributes and charisma (i.e. gifts as opposed to workable or improvable talents) in the film than her acting ability or talent.

[–] rollerskater61 9 years ago

The OP has perhaps watched the film too many times and can no longer experience it freshly.

Kate was clearly Alpha Girl when she entered the room and wowed everyone w her seat backs and tray tables monologue

[–] Lyrakill 8 years ago

Cameron Diaz would be great in this role. But I don't think this girl is necessarily the Alpha female among females; more, she was a pretty, obtainable girl who "loved" musicians, and they "loved" her. Kate in this role seems appropriately damaged and vulnerable, and it didn't bother me at all that she didn't seem "Alpha."

[–] shred-com 10 years ago

At Jennifer Aniston. Penny was (or just said for the heck of it) that she was 16. Would Jennifer Aniston in 2000 really have passed for that age? Nobody would've took the love triangle serious at all .

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] nicolehering 9 years ago

I think she was correctly cast as Penny lane. Kate practically is like penny lane in real life. She dates rock stars, seems really chill, has a very open minded lifestyle etc. Of course she is her own person but it's true there are a few similarities to her and penny lane. My only complaint with her performance as penny is I didn't like her hair style and didn't especially think it fit. There were people with her style at that time just I wish they'd given her long straight hair kind of like Pamela courson (Jim Morrison's girlfriend).

[–] rockinpink90 9 years ago

I thought Kate was perfect for the role. She was nominated for an Oscar!

[–] information_police 9 years ago

I thought she was perfect too. I don't think we can overlook her jailbait appeal, which is central to the movie.

Nobody's looking for a puppeteer in today's wintry economic climate.

[–] Lyrakill 8 years ago

Agreed!

[–] TheManInOil 9 years ago

Just the opposite. She made the movie. Perfect casting.

Penny needed to be someone intriguing to us, light, whimsical, a fantasy girl. A recognized, older actress would have been a terrible choice.

[–] doctorc1970 9 years ago

Not a Kate Hudson fan at all. But she was indeed perfect in this role.

[–] Ionutzmovie 9 years ago

Perfectly cast, she was in her prime.

It's X-ray Cat, but instead of seeing through everything, he can only see through wood.

[–] sunneyone 9 years ago

Of your list, Kate Bosworth MIGHT have done the parameters of the role justice (approachable, but a leader; pretty; appealing; an air of whimsy - like another posters posted). I personally think Kate Hudson was perfect. I loved her as Penny Lane.

I can't think of anyone else that I could see playing it as well, except possibly Christina Ricci.

[–] jajceboy 9 years ago

I'm not a fan of Kate Hudson at all. But she was absolutely brilliant in the role.I don't think any other actress could have brought same amount of innocence, vulnerability and lifeexpereience all in one.

[–] SilverSpring86 9 years ago

I thought Kate was unbelievable in this movie. The "what kind of beer?" scene was worth an Oscar on its own. She was gorgeous, naive, sharp, and had that 'dream girl' quality. It's a shame that she never came good on all the potential she showed here.

[–] ACLBzoelle 9 years ago

I am surprised! I have got to disagree with you, I think Kate Hudson did a phenomenal job as Penny. I have loved Kate ever since, but do not think she has had such a good performances since besides Almost Famous and of course she is hilarious in How to Lose a Guy in 10 days.

I think she nailed being unique, almost contradictory qualities of being good-hearted, chill, charming, but still engaging in provocative and risky stuff (sex, drugs, rock n roll!). I thought she was great because she was not super well-known and could give us a real air of mystery that many of the actresses you have listed I could not imagine could do so (or be the right age either). I did enjoy her hair as well - it made her stand out among the other band-aids and showed that even within the trends of the 70s she was unique. I think it complimented her simple beauty look well.

I do like the idea of Amy Smart though - she has an ability to appear aloof and charming in her roles. I could see what you are thinking with Cameron D too- she has a great fun energy that would fit Penny Lane well.

Angelina Jolie is the stand out that I could not see! but maybe that is just because I am not a huge fan 😛😛

Apparently, Zooey Deschanel who played William's sister was originally supposed to play Penny Lane, and Kate Hudson was supposed to play his sister Anita.

[–] serenaylee 8 years ago

Check her out in "About Adam". I thought she was perfect there, too.