Lange Gets Legendary
Tuesday, February 7, 2017 at 6:30PM NY Magazine's "The Cut" has treated us with a marvelous photo collection of Jessica Lange as eight pioneering women. The Sandro shoot was likely inspired by Lange’s upcoming Joan Crawford role in Feud. You’ll see Lange in top form (and significant makeup) as ladies like Frida Kahlo, Mae West, and Janis Joplin. The Cut article also includes side-by-side photo comparisons of the original photographs that inspired the portfolio, as well as a one-minute video piece of the shoot itself (which contains a few of Jessica’s patented, glorious hate glares).
It all feels inspired and particularly timely, hot on the heels of the Womens’ March and tantalizingly close to the hopeful pleasures of watching Lange go toe-to-toe with Susan Sarandon as two other major figures of Hollywood. It’s also a surprising and curious concept for a shoot, since Lange, while one of our best and certainly most live-wire actresses, isn’t known for transformation …so it has a particular kick.
Which of the photos is your favorite? Her Diana Vreeland more resembles Cherry Jones(!), and her Marlene Dietrich conjures good and bad memories from AHS: Freak Show. But I love the I’m-smarter-than-all-of-you energy she captures in her Gloria Steinem, and her Georgia O’Keeffe captures the inherent intelligence of the original subject but seems to cross over to what is markedly Lange: a deep well of sadness, fearlessly looking at the journey ahead.
Reader Comments (17)
Simone de Beauvoir.
These photos have given me immense strength. I love it.
Yeah, de Beauvoir, O'Keefe and Steinem. The rest look creepy and a little silly to me.
The Georgia O'Keefe is the best by far. In the West portrait she looks like someone I can't quite put my finger on but it sure as hell ain't Mae West!
Just like Joan Crawford, she doesn't resemble any of them. Happy she is working, however, and I hope that Feud is entertaining trash TV and does not insult Crawford and Davis.
Lange looks v drag queenly as Mae West n Dietrich.
Her Frida is gorgeous!
Ugh! Why? Love her but she looks ridiculous.
I still find it weird that Meryl used to think Lange was prettier than her.
Streep absolutely has the better face.
Gloria Steinem. It's crazy how Lange at her age manages to pull off Gloria's young look.
Eric, your writing captures what makes Lange so transcendent. Thank you!
Jessica as Georgia feels the most authentic. The rest just look like Photoshop overkill.
I'm uncomfortable with Frida being included in this. I'm down for adventurous projects but a white actress would be my last choice for portraying Frida. I'm still trying to forget that people thought it was cool for Joseph Fiennes to portray MJ, so to me it's a safe call for this kind of project to reflect on intent vs impact.
KJ - I also thought that was weird. I'm surprised NY Mag did it considering, if you read Vulture, they seem pretty on top of that stuff.
Oh good, I'm glad someone complained about her being Kahlo. I was worried there wouldn't be cannon fodder today.
Jesus Christ.
I'm assuming the problem with Lange as Kahlo is a white woman of European (Germany, Holland, Finland) descent portraying a white woman of European (Germany, Spain) and North American descent? I don't see anything wrong with that, even if I think it's a bad idea otherwise.
I love Jessica as frida. They didn't darken her skin. It was about capturing the artist's spirit and paying tribute the woman. There was no mugging. We don't have to be offended by everything.
What John said.