MovieChat Forums > Elle (2016) Discussion > If Verhoeven had made this in America

If Verhoeven had made this in America


Which American actress would have accomplished Huppert's performance? I'm thinking Michelle Pfeiffer could have pulled it off.

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Michelle Pfeiffer or Jennifer Jason Leigh. As cool as it would be to see him work with Sharon Stone, I feel her presence would have detracted from the story.

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Absolutely. As much as I think Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct is one of the greatest star turns in movie history, a part of me thinks that it was the character of Catherine Trammel that was really the star, as opposed to Sharon and for her to get out from the shadow of that iconic role is something I don't think she could have accomplished. And reuniting with Verhoeven, this movie would have been seen as an unofficial sequel of sorts.

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I would argue, for the most part, she did with "Casino" because Ginger was many things Catherine wasn't as a character.

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a part of me thinks that it was the character of Catherine Trammel that was really the star, as opposed to Sharon


Interesting. I would say the opposite, it is Sharon, her piercing beauty and her animalistic sex-appeal in that role that ended up making the iconic character and the whole movie itself. Basic Instinct doesn't exist without Sharon, but it could have without Douglas, and don't get me wrong, he was great in the role.

And reuniting with Verhoeven, this movie would have been seen as an unofficial sequel of sorts.


You might be onto something here and maybe you are right, but i would argue that since Verhoeven is one of the only 2 who ever managed to highlight, channel and sublime Stone's talent (the other one being Scorsese, of course), it is possible it could have been not such a disaster and maybe even a movie as good as this one.

I'd say one problem with that idea is that Sharon looks probably 5 years older than Huppert even if she actually is 5 years younger. Huppert on the other hand, if you have seen La Pianiste 15 years ago, you must have noticed how almost unchanged she looks in this one - I had no problem buying she was the 49 yo she was portraying here. God bless her genes and her French lifestyle, i suppose.



People who don't like their beliefs being laughed at shouldn't have such funny beliefs

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Michelle Pfeiffer, if she would dare to take on such a role.
She has the maturity, cool elegance and nuanced complexity for such a part.

Other contenders:
Natascha McElhone - another cool beauty with solid acting chops
Possibly, Jessica Chastain.

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[deleted]

Absolutely, Jennifer Jason Leigh.

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Julianne Moore?

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Yeah, Julianne Moore, i can totally see that. I think it's the best guess as for now. But maybe it's mainly because they look so similar even with 15 years apart in age, both redhead-blonde-ish and both with freckles. But still, i could see that.

People who don't like their beliefs being laughed at shouldn't have such funny beliefs

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If you folks enjoyed Isabelle Huppert's performance in this, I recommend Mia Hansen Love's Things To Come (L'Avenir). She plays an older woman, dealing with being newly single, in France.

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I actually saw that last week. Good film with another phenomenal performance from Ms. Huppert. The unintentional comparisons and contrasts between the two characters made the viewing experience all the more fascinating.

"KatTS" / "M" / "LLL" / "KoC-VoT" / "NA"

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I could see Jodie Foster or Holly Hunter pulling it off.

My dream casting for the role would've been to make this a starring comeback vehicle for Linda Fiorentino

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Verhoeven has stated that Jennifer Jason Leigh was the option, but producers wanted a bigger name. So he had to scratch the original plan and make it in Europe. BTW Isabelle Huppert said to Premiere Magazine that she´s a fan of JJL and goes as far as calling her, her american version
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/may/27/paul-verhoeven-elle-isabelle-huppert-rape-comedy

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Also read this interview. That't what Verhoeven and Huppert said. It is said that Verhoeven called 5 or 6 American actresses, but himself said that was 15 actresses. Glad that Jennifer Jason Leigh takes the challenge.

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<< I'm thinking Michelle Pfeiffer could have pulled it off. >>

Michelle Pfeiffer is too classy to take on a film like this.

But I think Diane Lane would do well in the part....in an alternate universe where the film deserves a remake.

It's a bit wretched.
.

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Kate Winslet.

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