ACTORS mismatched to roles

[springs]

Originally Posted by Abernovo

Still gives me shivers. Great book, terrible film - and Penelope Cruz as Pelagia?

Flattered by Cage, that's about the best you can say.

[Jeffbert]

I did not expect so many responses! I will respond specifically to this one, & apologize about the others getting no response.

Originally Posted by springs1971

The classic has to be Morgan Freeman in Shawshank; in the book he's called Red because he's a red head with an Irish background. Yet, now, who else could be Red?

As far as race goes, I do not think it is so important here, but I never read this novel. Unless Red was of a very different physique than Freeman, I think it is not all that important. However, I can think of a few exceptions:

1. Samuel L. Jackson as Nick (Sgt.) Fury in Capt. America
2. James Mason as Capt. Nemo in 20,000 Leagues--

For #1, Fury, though not depicted in this film, was the leader of THE HOWLING COMMANDOS during WWII, it was not at all likely that they would have a black man commanding a mostly white unit. I really do not like the history revisionist stuff that has been going on lately. But even disregarding race, Fury was a very muscular man, unlike Jackson. I really did like the film, & was not really bothered by this until just now as I thought about this post. O.K., even more unlikely that James West could be black, but WWW was pure fantasy, anyway. Why be accurate about DUM DUM DUGAN but switch races with Fury?

#2 Nemo was an Indian (of India), & though this may have had no bearing on the Disney version, I was reminded of it when watching NADIA OF BLUE WATER anime, & LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN. Of course, back then, there was simply no way they would have made a film starring an Asian, but they did not even try to make Mason appear Asian as they did with Karloff, Lorre, & the guy who played Charlie Chan.

[springs]

[QUOTE=Jeffbert;1561384] I did not expect so many responses! I will respond specifically to this one, & apologize about the others getting no response.

As far as race goes, I do not think it is so important here, but I never read this novel. Unless Red was of a very different physique than Freeman, I think it is not all that important. However, I can think of a few exceptionsQUOTE]

He was completely different in the book, where he was an Irish red head, and Andy Dufresne is described as really short and obviously tim Robbins is the opposite. "Tall drink of water" they call him in the film.

I think it's one of those films which shows us the danger of getting too hidebound in the description of a character in a book stopping us casting the right actor in the film: Freeman had the voice, gravitas and humanity for the role and despite everyone knowing he was wrong for the role as described in the book everyone agreed; actor(s), director, writer, author that he was right for the film; and audience, evidently!

I also like the fact they kept the line from the book, sent up our expectations a little

"Why do they call you Red."
"Maybe it's because I'm irish."

But as an author, how would I feel if they changed my main character to someone very different; short instead of tall, blond instead of dark; no green eyes. I hope I'd be as amenable as King is in saying it's okay to play around with these things; the character is what's important not the colour of hair, or skin, or shape or anything else for that matter.

If wishes were horses etc. etc.

[Perpetual Man]

Originally Posted by Jeffbert

For #1, Fury, though not depicted in this film, was the leader of THE HOWLING COMMANDOS during WWII, it was not at all likely that they would have a black man commanding a mostly white unit. I really do not like the history revisionist stuff that has been going on lately. But even disregarding race, Fury was a very muscular man, unlike Jackson. I really did like the film, & was not really bothered by this until just now as I thought about this post. O.K., even more unlikely that James West could be black, but WWW was pure fantasy, anyway. Why be accurate about DUM DUM DUGAN but switch races with Fury?

When Marvel recreated some of it's titles for the modern age a few years ago (The Ultimate titles), one of the strongest was The Ultimates, written by Mark Millar art by Brian Hitch. This was in all but the name, The Avengers.

This had a much more cinematic feel to it, stunning visuals with massive, breathtaking story arcs; and one of the things that was said from the word go, was that Fury was going to be a driving force behind it.

Both Millar and Hitch spoke about one thing concerning the character and that was how Samuel L Jackson was who they both thought of immediately and wrote/drew the character with that in mind.

When the movie franchise(s) started, almost from the word go there was a fan movement to have Jackson play the character if he were to appear.

And I guess that is why Jackson is playing Fury in the movies!



Fury as he appeared in The Ultimates a loooong time before he appeared on the big screen


And talking of mismatched actors in films and Nick Fury, David Hasslehoff anyone?

[Boneman]

Originally Posted by Ray Pullar

Kyle MacLachlan as Paul Atreides in David Lynch's Dune (1984). Too old (in the book Paul is 15 years old at the start).

Oh my god, yes! Ruined the whole film for me. I could just about take Sting as Feyd Rautha Harkonnen, but Kyle was awful... Sian Phillips was excellent, on the other hand. And sorry to say, but Sir Patrick Stewart as Gurney Halleck was way too sophisticated (and bald...)

[springs]

Oops I quite liked Paul, but I was, shall we say, of a certain age when it came out Now, I'd have to agree.

Oh and Perp, the Hoff, made me giggle.

[Boneman]

Mickey Rourke in Angel Heart: the book (Falling Angel) was brilliant, could have been written by Riever 33, and as the PI Harry Angel, Mickey gives a bumbling performance - think Marlon Brando shambleisms - and in the book, he's a clear thinker and a smart man...

[Connavar]

Robert Downey Jr is the worst Holmes in film, tv history. Even if the new films was classical faithful take RDJ is so wrong for the role. He plays him like he is Bond or Iron Man.

Its impossible to believe RDJ Holmes is a man of the Victorian age. Brilliant mind no no no.

[Moonbat]

Johnny Depp playing Ichabod Crane in Sleepy hollow. I've not read the book but apparantly Crane was supposed to be ghastly in appearance, too such an extent that Depp wanted to don prosthetics to play the part, but they wouldn't let him.

The film I'm not here depicting the life of Bob Dylan has Cate Blanchett playing him in his Like a rolling stone phase, and although she really looked the part, she was the wrong sex. What is odd about that film is the range of people playing him, from Heath Ledger to Richard Gere, but it doesn't really detract from the film as it isn't meant to be a straight biopic.

Surely there must be plenty of Biopic actors that haven't been physically accurate versions of the people they are playing.

Domino - Kiera Knightly playing Domino Harvey
Beyond the Sea - Kevin Spacey playing Bobby Darin

[Jeffbert]

Originally Posted by Perpetual Man

When Marvel recreated some of it's titles for the modern age a few years ago (The Ultimate titles), one of the strongest was The Ultimates, written by Mark Millar art by Brian Hitch. This was in all but the name, The Avengers.

This had a much more cinematic feel to it, stunning visuals with massive, breathtaking story arcs; and one of the things that was said from the word go, was that Fury was going to be a driving force behind it.

Both Millar and Hitch spoke about one thing concerning the character and that was how Samuel L Jackson was who they both thought of immediately and wrote/drew the character with that in mind.

When the movie franchise(s) started, almost from the word go there was a fan movement to have Jackson play the character if he were to appear.

And I guess that is why Jackson is playing Fury in the movies!

Fury as he appeared in The Ultimates a loooong time before he appeared on the big screen

I was once a comic collector, but realized I was addicted to it & stopped reading comic books altogether. If Marvel has forgotten about the HOWLERS, & made a new version of Fury, then o.k., my bad.

Jackson has quite a wide range of roles, from badass Fury to voicing the ass-kisser in AFROSAMURAI.

Of comics, I now read only manga.


too few smilies from which to choose.

[Interference]

Ian Fleming had originally wanted Roger Moore to play Bond - he didn't like Connery's portrayal at all, at least to begin with. Which is understandable, given that Fleming gave many of his own characteristics to that character and presumably felt that Moore had a better chance of pulling them off.

However, I'm pretty sure he'd have been vastly disappointed had he lived to see what happened when Moore finally did get his hands on the role. I suspect he'd have been a great deal happier with Brosnan.

[Metryq]

Originally Posted by Interference

I suspect he'd have been a great deal happier with Brosnan.

Talk about a mismatch! I know there are a lot of fans who liked "Remington Steele" in the role, but I thought he was the absolute worst.

Connery's Bond was largely the creation of director Terence Young.

[Interference]

You haven't seen OHMSS yet, then

[J-Sun]

And speaking of physical mismatches, everyone was pissed at Craig because he had light hair but he was fine in Casino Royale.

As far as Brosnan, it's hard for me to say - I disliked all the flicks he was in except Tomorrow Never Dies but I don't think any Bond could have saved those. At least he wasn't another Lazenby.

-- It took me awhile at wikipedia trying to look up the name of the Brosnan flick I liked so I missed Interference's post so my Lazenby reference looks redundant but you can never say Lazenby/OHMSS sucked too many times.

[springs]

another Brosnan to make you smile: Mamma Mia, has anyone heard his singing?