I mentioned my favorite Casting Game movie, Collateral, a few days ago. It is a bit unfair to choose that role, in that movie, because of the lack of parameters - the character of 'Vincent' isn't strictly limited by age, gender, ethnicity.... All you need to do is think of someone who can say "You attract attention, you're going to get people killed who didn't need to be." more convincingly than Tom Cruise and you have a winner. Not exactly a stretch.
It gets more challenging/interesting with other movies.
Let's take What Women Want as an example (because Helen Hunt really can't act her way out of a paper bag, and I am not convinced she fits the gender requirement). To replace her we have certain limitations; female, in a reasonable (movie reasonable) age range for Mel Gibson, with some comedic ability. Once again, they have an obvious answer right under their noses. Put Marisa Tomei in the lead role and the movie goes from cute and mildly amusing to down-right funny...and much more enjoyable.
Other possibilities:
Sandra Bullock - generally dependable in romantic comedies, but mostly when she gets to be goofy in some way. Not much goofball in the role as written, so this might not be a good fit.
Ashley Judd - A lot of people don't care for her (including D), but I think she could have swung it
Calista Flockhart - eh, maybe
Kate Beckinsale - I think it would have worked
I have a harder time with this one, obviously.
* How about some TV chicks (remember the movie was made in 2000); Kyra Sedgewick, Joely Fisher, Deirdre Quinn . . .
* Other chicks already in the movie; Lauren Holly, Sarah Paulson (maybe a bit young), Lisa Edelstein, Andrea Baker, Kelley Hazen (maybe too old, but she still looks good and the age works better with Mel) . . . .
Well, I am getting carried away and just grasping at straws now - anybody else want to play?
Posted by Vox at August 18, 2008 02:43 PM | moviesWith regard to COLLATERAL, I am not necessarily anti-Cruise - Thought he was fine. BUT, wouldn't it have been more cool if the role had been played cooly by Cate Blanchet. NOT Jolie, been there done that, but a refined beautiful assassin in a brutal role with a rugged delivery.
Posted by: Woods at August 19, 2008 03:51 PMPrior to the new Indiana Jones movie, I could have gotten behind Blanchet (and I still think she would be better than Cruise) but I was quite turned off by her performance - and I am holding it against her for a while.
At least what I saw of her performance anyway, we still haven't seen the whole movie.
Posted by: Vox at August 19, 2008 03:56 PMGood call - Blanchet was given the chance at villaine in Indiana Jones. I thought she was OK as was the rest of the directorial vapidness. I would like to think that her talents were limited by mass-market, narrow direction opportunities. She has shown so much talent and diversity in her other films. She should have RUN as soon as she heard about her IJ haircut plans from Lucas.
Posted by: Woods at August 19, 2008 07:45 PMI also think it might be cool to have a woman play the assassin. I'm thinking Rene Russo. Now, I never really cared for this woman until I saw her in the remake of The Thomas Crowne Affair. I thought she played the part well. A smart, strong, yet sexy OLDER woman. I can see her as a brutal killer after seeing her in that.
I can also see her in that Helen Hunt part. And I wholeheartedly agree with you there Vox. Helen Hunt cannot act! I never got why people kept casting her in stuff. Cheaper than Bullock I suppose.
Or here is another good one for the What Women Want, Halle Berry. That would have been a cute switch with her in the part.
Posted by: Lori at August 19, 2008 08:04 PMHow could I have missed that one?!
Rene Russo would be good, in either one. She might be a bit old for What Women Want - after all, she isn't 20 yrs younger than Mel - but I think she would have been a great choice. Sexy, funny....
And in Collateral? Sexy, mysterious...
Another genius call.
Posted by: Vox at August 26, 2008 12:25 AM