Why hasn't there been a Fleetwood Mac movie?

[Street_Dreamer]

This was an odd place to find a discussion about Fleetwood Mac and the Rumours album. ESPN's Sports Guy Bill Simmons interviewed former MTV personality Chris Connelly on a variety of subjects including asking why there hasn't been a Fleetwood Mac movie made. You can download and listen to the podcast here: http://podloc.andomedia.com/dloadTrack.mp3?prm=2864xhttp://query-origin.andohs.net/8000A6/content-root3.andomedia.com/origin/mp3/espnradio/sportsguy/simmons080430.mp3 The Fleetwood Mac conversation is at the 41:36 mark and lasts until around the 47 minute mark. It's a rather interesting conversation with some insight I've not really heard before.

Matt

[michelej1]

Yes, interesting place to find that discussion, which surprisingly went on at length.

I agree that many people don't know if "Lindsey" is a woman or man, but I actually think it's a great name for him. In fact, if he'd been born "Jack White," his agent should have suggested that he change it to LB.

If there was a movie, I don't think it would have to be primarily about Stevie to be interesting.

Michele

[bucklind17]

This brings up that whole question of who would you cast in such a movie?

My friend and I have actually discussed this when we were bored. We've come up with quite a few possible Stevies (I was big on Olivia Thirlby even though she's too young, Piper Perabo came up as well), somehow arrived at either Bradley Cooper or Matthew Rhys for Lindsey (the former would rock the Rumours tour look, the latter the Tusk era) and Jeremy Davies for John. We were pretty stumped for Mick and Christine though.

[michelej1]

At this point, he's too old for the early years, but I like Johnny Depp, because I think he could really portray Lindsey's range of temperament, from light and gentle, to brooding and introspective, to crazed. And you know, Sweeney Todd proved he can sing a little too.

As for Mick (again too old for the early years), I like Billy Bob Thornton. Kate Blanchett for Christine (not for the early years though). On another board, we always had someone who would say that Helen Mirren should be Christine -- present day!

Michele

[TrueFaith77]

Steven Strait as Lindsey Buckingham.

http://steven.passionedsoul.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=50&pos=0

http://steven.passionedsoul.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=29&pos=2

I was going to post more but I started sweating.

He's a really good actor, by the way.

I wrote about him here:

http://johndemetry.blogspot.com/2006/09/metalphysics.html

Also Helen Coker is the best actress to play Christine.

My friend thinks that Mick Fleetwood should be an animated figure.

Best directors for the job:

John Boorman
Alan Rudolph
Peter Bogdanovich
Neil Jordan

It should be titled Dreams.

I don't know WHO should play Stevie.

Actually, one of the suggestions I was going to put into the letter to Lindsey was that for the next album, the music videos should be recreations of his and Stevie's relationships with hot young actors like Steven Strait cast as Lindsey and someone as Stevie (a la those Elton John videos from a few year's back with mandy Moore and Justin Timberlake).

[SortaSavageLike]

I imagine no one had made it yet because no one has written a script funny enough.

What - you people really want a Lifetime television movie of the week?

[Villavic]

If there was a movie, I don't think it would have to be primarily about Stevie to be interesting.
Michele

Of course not! the PRe-Rumours episodes that Mick tells in his book are very interesting and fun. I guess the movie would be as long as Gone with the wind. The Rumours and post Rumours era would be after the intermission, ha haaa

Though a tv show with 6 to 10 episodes would be better, kind of the Jacksons story, or the Temptations story. Yes the Fleetwood Mac story would be far more interesting than those.

[Madelow]

Hello All-- Shouldn't the movie be called "The Chain"? Just a suggestion.:wavey:Best always, Madelow.

[michelej1]

What - you people really want a Lifetime television movie of the week?

No, the drama in the Behind the Music episodes filled that quotient for me. I do want something that would be a fitting tribute to the music and also capture each band member's quirky sense of humor -- retained even during times of despair.

Michele

[Villavic]

Well I was going to say Ryan Phillipe could play a young Lindsey, with darker hair of course, but then I remember that megamovie, huge production from few years ago. There is already a Fleetwood Mac movie, my dear ledgies, with famous actors, that 2 acamedy awards winner who played Stevie. The actor who plays Mick is a shakespearan famous british. Don't you remember it?? Don't know why but they chose Gene Wilder for the Lindsey role (or it was the Bob W. role??)

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff101/villavic/fm2a.jpg


he hee... you might remember the explanation of this pic, it's here:
http://ledge.fleetwoodmac.net/showthread.php?t=32449

[GoldDustOrphan]

We will probably get the threatened Fleetwood Mac stage musical before a film bio. Using the same blueprint as Mamma Mia (music of Abba), Movin' Out (music of Billy Joel, Tonight's the Night (music of Rod Stewart), an original book/story is developed to act as a vehicle for a highly-recognizable songbook from an iconic performer(s).

There are other similar shows in development. It's all about licensing & acquisitions, rights & clearances, etc. etc. Not sure if Lindsey would to see his music retro-fitted for Broadway.

I'd still prefer a movie that tells their story from a unique perspective. Like through the eye of Stevie's dog and Christine's pet parakeet, who overcome initial animosity and cultural differences to become friends and then witnesses to rock & roll hi-jinks during FM's Rumors tour.

[Villavic]

We will probably get the threatened Fleetwood Mac stage musical before a film bio. Using the same blueprint as Mamma Mia (music of Abba), Movin' Out (music of Billy Joel, Tonight's the Night (music of Rod Stewart), an original book/story is developed to act as a vehicle for a highly-recognizable songbook from an iconic performer(s)

In this case the mac lyrics could fit in the actual story of the band, specially Rumours songs of course.

But I agree Lindsey wouldn't like it. But if it's true Mick does anything for money, he would even turn the songs into jingles, ha haa

[Gazza]

Please, no musicals, no movies... The Fleetwood Mac story from Peter Green onwards is just too crazy to fit into one movie, and if you only focus on the Lindsey/Stevie era people will only complain.

Plus, it's one thing to do a movie about Hendrix or Jim Morrison, as they're dead. But to do one about people who are still alive... It could all be a bit cringeworthy. Especially considering how strange some of these people are. I mean, only Stevie can be Stevie. And I couldn't take anyone other than Lindsey seriously doing that spasmodic thing he does on stage.

[hestergail]

I think a movie hasn't been made because the story is still being told... it would make a fabulous movie. :thumbsup:

[michelej1]

And I couldn't take anyone other than Lindsey seriously doing that spasmodic thing he does on stage.

Funny how he doesn't really do that anymore. He still cocks his head to one side a lot, but he doesn't really have a lot of the stage mannerisms from the old days anymore.

Michele

[HejiraNYC]

I think the reason why an FM movie has not been made is because there would be no ending for it- happy or tragic. No one has died (thank goodness!), they haven't gone their separate ways and it isn't like they have risen like the Phoenix and dominated the world again. Instead of ending with a bang, they appear to be edging ever so quietly into the long night. Another thing is that there isn't one single theme or moral to the FM story- although perhaps the case can be made that the central theme should be about family- that they have loved and hated each other like a family through thick and thin. But then again, that theme breaks down in view of Christine's departure and Stevie's recent ultimatums. And any FM movie would have to concentrate on a specific era, presumably Rumours-era. I can't stand these biopics that have so many bit characters that make fleeting appearances and don't advance the story line.

Personally I think a movie about Stevie's rise and fall and re-emergence is a more solid story that could be covered within two or three hours. It has all of the classic elements of great drama: fame, beauty, money, drugs, love affairs, death (Robin's), falling from grace and redemption. If you think about it, there are very few famous people who have lead such an interesting life.

[michelej1]

I think the reason why an FM movie has not been made is because there would be no ending for it- happy or tragic. No one has died (thank goodness!), they haven't gone their separate ways and it isn't like they have risen like the Phoenix and dominated the world again.

I think they could just make the Dance the end of the movie. It's not the end of their lives by any means, but it's the completion of a circle, the end of a cycle. A nice point to make a conclusion. And then they could have one of those written synopses at the end saying what happened to so-and-so.

One of the things that moved me about Destiny Rules was thinking of Stevie and Lindsey in high school and Fritz and then seeing them at the end of the documentary, going out on stage holding hands, almost 40 years later. That gave me chills. Those final minutes . . . they were an ending of sorts.

Michele

[HejiraNYC]

I think they could just make the Dance the end of the movie. It's not the end of their lives by any means, but it's the completion of a circle, the end of a cycle. A nice point to make a conclusion. And then they could have one of those written synopses at the end saying what happened to so-and-so.

I guess that could work, but in my opinion, the most poignant story arc here would be regarding Stevie's re-emergence from the Klonopin haze and her bittersweet yet tense reunion with Lindsey. I'm not saying that Mick, John and Christine didn't have any of their own demons to grapple with on this journey back into the spotlight, but the most astounding thing for me in the Dance era was the fact that Stevie came roaring back from oblivion, Lindsey was back in the fold and the old romantic tensions never went away. So in a way, it's a triumphant ending, but also a sad ending about soulmates who should have been together, but could never find it in their hearts to forgive each other. I think a neat ending would be "Silver Springs" at the Atlantic City show where Stevie breaks down at the end and Lindsey has to sing the last few lines of the song for her. D-R-A-M-A!!

[michelej1]

I think a neat ending would be "Silver Springs" at the Atlantic City show where Stevie breaks down at the end and Lindsey has to sing the last few lines of the song for her. D-R-A-M-A!!

Yes, that works, but I'd probably want an epilogue. Christine painted a picture that I don't like, but that has always stayed with me. She said that after the RRHOF they all just got in their cars and drove away. She said they didn't say goodbye, because they'd already done that months earlier, so they just drove off, presumably to separate sunsets.

It's not a parting I want to think about, but I do think it would be an ironic, detached ending, after all the turmoil, angst and love the band had endured together.

Michele