The best, and worst of movie casting by OPPYH

Well, I would disagree with you one Carrey in Spotless Mind, as I really liked him there - and I almost never like him in anything. Otherwise, decent list. I'll add: Keanu Reeves in Bram Stoker's Dracula and in Much Ado About Nothing. That man should never be cast in a period film.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

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Monday, October 26, 2009 11:03 AM

GILLIANROSE

Great question and answers! I don't have strong feelings one way or another about Jim Carrey in Eternal Sunshine, but I am in full agreement about Keanu Reeves on both counts.

This isn't such a big movie, but your question made me think of Inkheart. Brendan Fraser starred, and while I have liked some of his movies in the past, I just didn't believe him. I sat there the whole time thinking, "Alan (Tudyk, natch) could have done better."

Great casting? Not a movie, but I can't think of one Deadwood actor that didn't really impress me with how well they fit into their characters.

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Monday, October 26, 2009 12:15 PM

RIVERDANCER

I liked Eternal Sunshine. Jim Carry didn't really play it goofy at all, he showed some range, which is good.

Mine would be Hugo Weaving as Elrond. I love and adore the LotR movies unless he's on screen; don't even mind Liv Tyler as Arwen. Maybe if he hadn't played it exactly the same as he played Agent Smith, it wouldn't trip me up so bad, though I also don't think he looks very elvin. I thought I would get used to it, but I still cringe every time.

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Monday, October 26, 2009 12:23 PM

DEWRASTLER

That guy from Nip/Tuck as Dr. Doom in the Fantastic Four. Actually, just about everyone but Chris Evans and Michael Chiklis in those movies

________________________________
People who don't care about anything will never understand the people who do

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Monday, October 26, 2009 1:25 PM

LWAVES

I too liked Jim Carrey in Eternal Sunshine and The Truman Show but I don't like his 'comedies'. I didn't mind Hugo Weaving as Elrond and thought he did a pretty good job but I also think that others could have played the role equally well.

As for my own picks I have an obvious one to start with but Heath Ledger as the Joker comes straight to my mind. I couldn't see it originally until I caught the first shot of him in full makeup. Then I knew he'd do a great job.

Back to LOTR and I would have to say Ian McKellen as Gandalf. He had the right amount of likability and fun so that you could see what the Hobbits like about him, but there was always that sense of power and that he was someone not to be messed with. Perfectly played by a great actor.

Pierce Brosnan as James Bond is a great example. He had the looks, the charm and everything. He's not my fave Bond, and nor are a couple of his films, but I think he fitted the role better than any other.

Tobey Maguire as Spiderman/PeterParker. He could carry off the nerd and the action hero. The same goes for Christopher Reeve in Superman as well.

And I have to add this one, even though I have never seen the movie and probably never will because it looks terrible, but John Goodman as Fred Flinstone must be a role that surely matches looks and everything perfectly. The man seemed born for the role.

As for worst then I occasionally wonder what happened to Nic Cage's career as well. Gone In 60 Seconds was the last film I liked him in and that was a blip in a load of rubbish. He is fast becoming a B-movie actor.

Mark Wahlberg in Planet Of The Apes. All the charisma and screen presence of Ape doo-doo.

Keanu Reeves in pretty much anything. It's only coz the rest of the film is so good that he appears good.

"I don't believe in suicide, but if you'd like to try it it might cheer me up to watch."

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Monday, October 26, 2009 2:55 PM

NCBROWNCOAT

Best:
Patrick Swayze in Point Break, To Wong Foo (PS really looked good in drag), Dirty Dancing and just about everything else.

Charlton Heston in the original Planet of the Apes and just about everything else he did.

I saw Batman wanting to not like Heath Ledger but I was blown away with the Joker and he deserved the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

The whole cast of Trueblood. They are all amazing with the crazy story of vamps, telepathtic waitresses, shape shifters and the few regular people that live in Bon Temps, LA. Even the supporting actors are perfect.

From Anna Paquin to Stephen Moyer, Alexander Skaarsgard, Rutina Wesley, Sam Trammel, Nelson Elias (glad Alan Ball didn't kill him off like the books did) and Lois Smith (who had to be killed, it's a major plot point) and the rest. I hadn't heard of anyone besides Anna Paquin before I saw the show and I was amazed about how each one inhabits their character.

Worst:

Have to agree with Nick Cage. I haven't really liked him in anything in a long time.

I'm also not a big Jim Carey fan. I loved him on the little screen but when he made his leap to the big one, he lost me.

Just about everyone in Star Ship Troopers. It's so bad that it's good.

http://fireflyfaninnc.livejournal.com/

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Monday, October 26, 2009 3:14 PM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)

I'd agree with your Nic Cage list, EXCEPT for Lord Of War, which he was pretty freaking good in. Most people never heard of it, though.

And YES on Keanu in Dracula as worst - when I saw the thread title, that was what popped into my mind first.

Bests - Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison in The Doors. Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler. Probably could not have been done by anyone else. Robert Downey Jr. in Chaplin. Matt Damon in the Bourne movies.

Mike

Let the wild rumpus start!

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Monday, October 26, 2009 4:28 PM

FREELANCERTEX

Robert Downey Jr in Iron Man. I can't stand him in general, he seems to either play a tool or a bad guy in the stuff i've seen him in, (hence the reluctance to see Iron Man) but finally had to escort a bunch of kiddos because they SO WANTED TO SEE IT. and I was blown away.

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Tuesday, October 27, 2009 1:25 AM

Originally posted by OPPYH:

Quote:
-Jim Carrey in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Which is a shame because I love the story, but I cannot stand Jim Carrey in a role like this. HE just way too goofy for me to consider "serious". Watching him in this movie was a painful experience. Kate Winslet rocked though.

Is that really bad casting or just a casting choice you're not in favour of? I thought his understated acting was perfect for that role. As was Kate Winslet's turn as Clementine. Great film great cast but that's just my opinion.

Good casting.

Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine -CASABLANCA
Paul Newman as Butch Cassidy - Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Madeline Khan - In just about EVERYTHING she ever did!
Gerard Depardieu - as Cyrano De Bergerac. PERFECT!!!!
Jeff Bridges - The Big Lebowski. TRON. The Fabulous Baker Boys
Johnny Depp - Edward Scissorhands
Michael Keaton - Beetlejuice.
The Entire Cast of SERENITY

Poor Casting.

John Cleese in Day the Earth Stood Still (Remake) - I just kept waiting for him to say "He's not the Messiah he's a very naughty boy!"
Keanu Reeves in Day the Earth Stood Still (Remake)
Kevin Costner in Waterworld
Sir Ian Mckellan(sp?) In the X-men Films
Morgan Freeman in Batman Begins and Dark Knight

Just a quick few of the top of my head...

Nice topic by the way.

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Tuesday, October 27, 2009 3:59 AM

GWEK

GOOD:

Jim Carrey in MAN ON THE MOON (Not usually a Carrey fan, but he was great in that)

Billy Bob Thornton in BAD NEWS BEARS (When they announced it, I thought "Why are they remaking this?" But it's the role BBT was born to play)

Liv Tyler in any more where she cries (No one in Hollywood has eyes for crying like Liv Tyler)

Harrison Ford as Han Solo or Indiana Jones. ('Nuff said)

BAD:

Harrison Ford in anything where he's NOT Han Solo or Indiana Jones. (He generally has all the charm of a tongue depressor)

Liv Tyler in any more where she doesn't cry (Seriously, if you're a director and you put Liv Tyler in your movie and she doesn't need to cry, you should have gotten any one else).

Hayden Christiansen and Megan Fox in... anything.

www.stillflying.net: "Here's how it might have been..."

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Tuesday, October 27, 2009 4:01 AM

NEWOLDBROWNCOAT

Quote:
Originally posted by Storymark:
I'll add: Keanu Reeves in Bram Stoker's Dracula and in Much Ado About Nothing. That man should never be cast in a period film.

Lotta people don't like Reeves in Much Ado, but
I'll stand up for him . The character, as written, is pretty much a cut-out villian-- he even says so. Kinda like those representations of Death in a Rennaissance painting. He doesn't fit in, he's a contrast and pretty much, a plot device.
Reeves does a pretty good job of projecting a presence and charisma silently.
Watch that opening scene again-- everybody is having a good time, talking and joking, then they fall silent, there's a reverse cut and there he is-- he stopped the fun just by appearing. Leonato scrambles, embarrassed, to show him proper respect and welcome him. Reeves has one line: " Thank you. I am not of many words, but I thank you. " Good manners, politeness, not quite an apology, but still an unsettling presence.

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Tuesday, October 27, 2009 5:13 AM

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

Quote:
Originally posted by TheSomnambulist:
Morgan Freeman in Batman Begins and Dark Knight

No wai!! He was awesome! Most of the cast of both those movies was awesome; the only person they seemed to have trouble casting was Rachel.

I'll second the cringeworthiness of Hugo Weaving as Elrond. I've gotten past it to a certain extent, but I'm still taken out of the first movie every time I watch it by feeling the urge to say, "Welcome to Rivendell, Mister Anderson."

I'll have to think about this some. I don't watch as many movies as most people here, I think, and I don't always remember the ones I do watch. And I need to go now, I'm gonna make myself late.

[/sig]

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Tuesday, October 27, 2009 5:33 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by NewOldBrownCoat:
Quote:
Originally posted by Storymark:
I'll add: Keanu Reeves in Bram Stoker's Dracula and in Much Ado About Nothing. That man should never be cast in a period film.

Lotta people don't like Reeves in Much Ado, but
I'll stand up for him . The character, as written, is pretty much a cut-out villian-- he even says so. Kinda like those representations of Death in a Rennaissance painting. He doesn't fit in, he's a contrast and pretty much, a plot device.
Reeves does a pretty good job of projecting a presence and charisma silently.
Watch that opening scene again-- everybody is having a good time, talking and joking, then they fall silent, there's a reverse cut and there he is-- he stopped the fun just by appearing. Leonato scrambles, embarrassed, to show him proper respect and welcome him. Reeves has one line: " Thank you. I am not of many words, but I thank you. " Good manners, politeness, not quite an apology, but still an unsettling presence.

I know he's supposed to be the villain - and I thought he royally sucked at it.

And I'm not a Keanu hater, in the right role, he can be good. This was not the right role. I believe even he has said he's embarrassed by his performance in that movie.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

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Tuesday, October 27, 2009 5:35 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by TheSomnambulist:

Is that really bad casting or just a casting choice you're not in favour of?

One could easily say that about your mentions of McKellan in X-Men and Freeman in Batman.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

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Tuesday, October 27, 2009 12:10 PM

Originally posted by Storymark:

Quote:
One could easily say that about your mentions of McKellan in X-Men and Freeman in Batman.

That's true they could. By pointing that out I wasn't necessairly excluding myself as culprit to such things.

However in this case I like both those actors. I don't have a problem with either of them. There are just some casting choices that just 'expose' the film sometimes. Morgan Freeman in Batman did this for me. It's not his acting which is poor it's the contrivance of the narrative that brings him in.

It screams cameo and he/she is no longer a character but a personality up there.
"Look It's Morgan Freeman!'
Similarly with the Planet of the Apes remake
"Look it's Charlton Heston playing a monkey, how cute." It is of course, but it removes you from the stem of the narrative and pops you out into the real world. Briefly of course.

However I am guilty of such things too and it's hard to sit through a film and not be put off by the lead if he's a personality from elsewhere...
Hulk Hogan for example.

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Tuesday, October 27, 2009 12:17 PM

Originally posted by PhoenixRose:

Quote:

No wai!! He was awesome! Most of the cast of both those movies was awesome; the only person they seemed to have trouble casting was Rachel.

Oh he is AWESOME. One of the best around. It's more the contrivances that have him in the film that I regard as off. But it's just my take on it. I watched the film and enjoyed it (to an extent) but when Morgan came on I was removed from the story for a moment, just because he is 'Morgan Freeman'. And it's sort of built up that way. I'd have to study it fully to quantify it properly but ultimately it's just a personal thing I guess....

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Tuesday, October 27, 2009 12:27 PM

KWICKO

Quote:
Originally posted by GWEK:
GOOD:

Liv Tyler in any more where she cries (No one in Hollywood has eyes for crying like Liv Tyler)

I'd put Alyson Hannigan up against her in any role that requires crying. :)

Quote:

BAD:

Harrison Ford in anything where he's NOT Han Solo or Indiana Jones. (He generally has all the charm of a tongue depressor)

I thought he was hands-down PERFECT in Blade Runner - the film noir feel of the film and his narration were the perfect companions for his stiff, wooden "acting" style.

Quote:

Hayden Christiansen and Megan Fox in... anything.

Well... yeah. There are basically TWO reasons Megan Fox is famous.

Mike

Let the wild rumpus start!

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Tuesday, October 27, 2009 1:20 PM

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

Quote:
Originally posted by TheSomnambulist:
when Morgan came on I was removed from the story for a moment, just because he is 'Morgan Freeman'.

Okay, well, no offense, but that's kind of your problem, not that of the actor or casting director or whoever. I occasionally have that reaction to actors who are prevalent, too, but that doesn't make them wrong for the role. Many times, they are perfect for the role, because they are wonderful actors, which is why they're prevalent. Sometimes a prevalent actor isn't all that good, and I don't get that, but in the case of Morgan Freeman, he has talent and devotion to his craft, and has a long and successful career as a result. Just because you or others may be pulled out for a moment because you readily recognize him, doesn't make him a poor casting decision. He acted excellently, as he always does.

[/sig]

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Tuesday, October 27, 2009 4:24 PM

Originally posted by PhoenixRose:

Quote:
Okay, well, no offense, but that's kind of your problem, not that of the actor or casting director or whoever.

S'okay. None taken. We know of one another well enough for a healthy debate I'm sure. In many ways you are right and it is my problem. But then that's kinda how we all guage things no? From our own points of view. I accept the majority of people don't have the same issue I had with his casting, but the question posed asked a question that I can really only answer form my point of view.

Quote:
I occasionally have that reaction to actors who are prevalent, too, but that doesn't make them wrong for the role.

No it doesn't but then at what point does such a thing as 'bad casting' ever occur? It does exsist. There are roles that people just don't fit into. Eric Stolz as Marty McFly as an example. Michael J Fox just fitted that part better. Doesn't mean Stolz is a poor actor.

Quote:
Many times, they are perfect for the role, because they are wonderful actors, which is why they're prevalent.

Not necessaily so. Arnold Shwarzenneger was no great actor when he played the role of the Terminator but he was PERFECT for that role... Good casting no?

Quote:
Sometimes a prevalent actor isn't all that good, and I don't get that, but in the case of Morgan Freeman, he has talent and devotion to his craft, and has a long and successful career as a result. Just because you or others may be pulled out for a moment because you readily recognize him, doesn't make him a poor casting decision. He acted excellently, as he always does.

Doesn't it though? Good casting should have you believe in the actors up on screen to the extent that you believe in the story. No amount of good acting is going to cover you if you have been miscast. However and I concede that it is from my point of view. The material was not strong enough (for me) to remove the persona of 'Morgan Freeman' from the character he played in Batman Returns. I'm not questioning his talent just his placement in that particular story.

Anyway I don't wish to humbug the man or the film for they are both great. It really was only a minor thing for me.

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Tuesday, October 27, 2009 5:46 PM

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

Hm, I really think 'miscast' is too strong a term when there may be an identity issue with some audience members. Ironically, a perfect cast would perhaps be someone who fit a role so well that no one could see them as anything else, making them a miscast for anything else if one followed that particular logic train. Anyway. I have a great deal of trouble seeing Nathan Fillion as anyone other than Malcolm Reynolds, even when he plays a very different character (and plays him well) such as on Castle. Surely you wouldn't argue that he should never work again because he has a certain iconic status? Now Alan Tudyk, I've seen him in many things and I always see him as the character he plays, even though he's so recognizable to me. Ditto for Gina Torres. Does that make them better actors than Nathan Fillion? I wouldn't say it does. Does that make them better casting decisions, or better fits for their roles? I wouldn't say that, either. I can recognize that it's mostly me, being brought out of the narrative by a face rather than by the acting, which might fit the character perfectly when I think about it. The fact that I do need to think about it is more a function of my own limitations than of an actor not fitting a role. I would never say that Nathan Fillion was miscast in Castle, or Allyson Hannigan was miscast in How I Met Your Mother, or Summer Glau was miscast in Terminator, or Brad Pitt was miscast in Inglorious Bastards, or Kevin Smith was miscast in Live Free or Die Hard, Or Leonardo DiCaprio in Catch Me if You Can, or any number of others I could name, based soley on my personal reaction to seeing certain faces. I don't think, either, that you can define 'miscast' by being temporarily thrown by something, I think it should be defined by something that bugs you the whole time, every time, because someone is just so wrong for a role that it's a constant grating presence in the narrative. Going back to Batman Begins, for example, I thought that Katie Holmes was a constant grating presence in the movie. The majority of her scenes pulled me out of the story, because she always looked too young and usually acted it. I think she was miscast. Obviously I wasn't alone in that; the character was re-cast for the next film. I'm not sure I'd call that the best casting choice either, but I'd call it a better one. At least she wasn't a doe-eyed little thing with little to no power in her stance who looked like she had no place in a DA's office. Also not very pretty, looked somewhat out of place at the party, but less out of place at the office.
It can be difficult to separate these things out in your brain, I know, but I don't think you should condemn someone to the poor casting choice bin because they trigger something iconic in your brain. If they don't look the part, don't act the part, or are just a bad actor then by all means they're a poor choice on the part of the casting director, but the casting director has no way to know what anyone's personal bias might be.

[/sig]

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Tuesday, October 27, 2009 5:52 PM

GINOBIFFARONI

Quote:
Originally posted by freelancertex:
Robert Downey Jr in Iron Man. I can't stand him in general, he seems to either play a tool or a bad guy in the stuff i've seen him in, (hence the reluctance to see Iron Man) but finally had to escort a bunch of kiddos because they SO WANTED TO SEE IT. and I was blown away.

I really liked him in Tropic Thunder too, strange role worked for him

Tom Cruise's cameo in the same movie, hate Tom Cruise in anything, but that Les Grossman cameo cracked me up

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Tuesday, October 27, 2009 6:41 PM

Originally posted by PhoenixRose:

Quote:
It can be difficult to separate these things out in your brain, I know, but I don't think you should condemn someone to the poor casting choice bin because they trigger something iconic in your brain. If they don't look the part, don't act the part, or are just a bad actor then by all means they're a poor choice on the part of the casting director, but the casting director has no way to know what anyone's personal bias might be.

Yes you're right it is difficult to separate these things... It's an abstract notion with no boundaries - similar to what is good art?. Some things rub people up the wrong way. Nothing you can do about that. As with all art forms casting desicions are exposed to critical scrutiny - similar to writing, acting, direction etc.

Quote:
Going back to Batman Begins, for example, I thought that Katie Holmes was a constant grating presence in the movie. The majority of her scenes pulled me out of the story, because she always looked too young and usually acted it. I think she was miscast. Obviously I wasn't alone in that; the character was re-cast for the next film. I'm not sure I'd call that the best casting choice either, but I'd call it a better one. At least she wasn't a doe-eyed little thing with little to no power in her stance who looked like she had no place in a DA's office. Also not very pretty, looked somewhat out of place at the party, but less out of place at the office.

I really don't think this stuff can be quantified. Katie Holmes didn't really bother me in Batman but she obviously bothered you in the part. Now who am I to say you shouldn't be bothered by her? That's your opinion and so be it.

However I would like to stress though, that I respect Morgan Freeman as an actor. And sincerely like the man. But In my initial argument I wanted to know wether 'Worst Casting' decisions was based upon factors other than the dislike of an actor/actress? And if so where are those boundaries? Nic Cage seems to have taken a bit of flack in this thread not necessairly for being a bad actor or miscast but more for not being liked very much.

As for actors never working again - I'm not sure I ever said that but if I did that was not my intent.

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Tuesday, October 27, 2009 8:42 PM

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

Quote:
Originally posted by TheSomnambulist:
Now who am I to say you shouldn't be bothered by her? That's your opinion and so be it.

You're welcome to tell me why you might disagree with my opinion on that particular casting choice. I gave clear reasons why I felt she didn't really fit the role she was playing. She didn't look old enough to be an assistant D.A. or hardened enough to be taking on Gotham's underbelly. She didn't act it much, either. There were a few times she sparked and almost showed some real toughness, but mostly struck me as a child playing dress-up. If you have counter-points to any of that, fire away, I'm not emotionally invested in Ms. Holmes

Quote:
Originally posted by TheSomnambulist:
As for actors never working again - I'm not sure I ever said that but if I did that was not my intent.

...

Quote:
Originally posted by TheSomnambulist:
when Morgan came on I was removed from the story for a moment, just because he is 'Morgan Freeman'.

You didn't say flat-out that Morgan Freeman should never act again, but your argument for his miscasting was, as stated above, that he 'is Morgan Freeman,' which would imply that he can't be anything else; he's just too prevalent and iconic. Maybe that wasn't what you meant, but it's kind of what you said. Yes, he is Morgan Freeman, and he is iconic and prevalent and all these things, but my point is that doesn't equal miscast. If you're going to say that someone was miscast, and make an argument based on being pulled from the story because the actor is the actor, that does seem to say that this would be true of anything they might be in, that you would always be pulled out of the story if they were on screen, and so in your opinion they shouldn't really be in anything. That is, of course, my own personal logic following its conclusion from what you said. You were pulled from the story when he was on screen because he is Morgan Freeman, this made it a miscast, and that's the strongest statement you made about your opinion. Vaguely you said that it felt contrived in order to get him in the movie and you didn't think the material was strong enough to pull away his persona as an iconic actor, but you really didn't elaborate on that, and never made any statements about the character of Lucius Fox and what might make Mr. Freeman a poor fit for him. Since it never occurred to me the character was a contrived role to get Morgan Freeman and only Morgan Freeman on the screen, and I still don't see that at all, I would be interested to know why you hold that opinion, or what opinion you hold if my interpretation is inaccurate. Since I liked having a solid and almost reasonable answer to where Batman gets those wonderful toys, I also liked the character who designed some of them. Of course I recognized him, but I also saw no rough edges between him and the character he played. No doubt the strength of the material could be debated til the cows come home. I thought they were both particularly strong comic book movies, but still definitely comic book movies. There were more than a few elements of the fantastic and unbelievable weaving themselves throughout both films, but I had surprisingly few moments of "Oh come on, like that would ever happen!" so I'd call that a win. The strength of material, though, could be a moot point. Actors have managed to absorb themselves completely in terrible movies, and stick out like sore thumbs in otherwise good ones. Really, think about some things you've watched and consider how ridiculous you might feel doing and saying some of the things these actors pull off beautifully. Always gives me an appreciation of the work they do. Anyway, source is certainly a factor, but it's not the only one, nor the most important. So, unless you're tired of the discussion, let's focus first on identity issues and whether those qualify something as a miscast. Do you think if you'd never seen him before that you would still consider Morgan Freeman miscast as Lucius Fox? Why? Or why not?

[/sig]

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Tuesday, October 27, 2009 10:09 PM

Hey PhoenixRose.

Not tired of the discussion. I'll come back to it though as I'm off out for the rest of the night. But all good interesting points.

Thanks

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Tuesday, October 27, 2009 10:36 PM

JEWELSTAITEFAN

My picks.
Aced it:
Jim Carrey - Ace Ventura
Dustin Hoffman - Bernie LaPlant in Hero
Chevy Chase uncredited in Hero.
Jim & Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump, copying Jim's prior roles.
Liesel Matthews in Little Princess.
Nick Cage in The Rock
Ed Harris as John Glenn in The Right Stuff.
Scott Glenn and Sam Niell in Hunt for Red October.
Keanu Reeves in Speed.
Jennifer Connelly in The Hot Spot.
Dennis Hopper in Waterworld.
Crowe and Pierce in LA Confidential
Clive Owen as King Arthur.
Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter
Sigourney Weaver in Galaxy Quest, and Alien.
Arnold Schwartzenegger and Linda Hamilton in Terminator.
Michelle Pfeiffer in Fabulous Baker Boys.
Jeff Bridges in Against All Odds and Big Lebowski.
Everybody in Sneakers.
Vin Deisel in Pitch Black.
Christian Bale as Batman.
Natalie Portman as Queen Amidala.
Billy Bob Thornton and Lucas Black in Slingblade.
Kevin Spacey in K-Pax
Spacey in Usual Suspects.
William H Macy in Fargo
Tom Cruise in Top Gun.
Clint Eastwood in Pale Rider.
Clint as Dirty Harry.
John Goodman in King Ralph and in The Big Easy.
Bruce Willis in Die Hard.
Clancy Brown in Highlander.
Bill Murray in The Man Who Knew Too Little, and in Caddyshack.
Bruce Dern, Jennifer Connelly, Chaz Palmentieri in Mulholland Falls.
Marisa Tomei in My Cousin Vinny
Sam Jackson and John Travolta in Pulp Fiction.
James Cromwell in Babe.

Disasters:
Downey in Sherlock Holmes, Iron Man, US Marshals
Affleck as Jakc Ryan
Clooney as Batman.
Ellen Degeneres in any hetero role.
Kim Basinger in anything.(except maybe Mercy - she can portray an idiot convincingly)
Richard Gere as Sir Lancelot.

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Tuesday, October 27, 2009 11:54 PM

SHINYGOODGUY

I had some time to think about it.

The Best (some of the best IMHO)

Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins in Shawshank
Tom Hanks and Gary Sinise in Forest Gump
Chazz Palminteri in Oscar
Michael Clarke Duncan in Green Mile
Russell Crowe in Gladiator and LA Confidential
Everyone in The Departed
Jack Lemon in Mister Roberts
Abigail Breslin in Lil Miss Sunshine
Travolta and Jackson in Pulp Fiction
Heath Ledger in Dark Knight
Michael Keaton in Beetlejuice
Brad Pitt in Snatch
Kevin Spacey in Seven
Nicholas Cage and Chris Cooper in Adaptation
Chris Cooper in Lone Star
Charlize Theron in Monster
Bogart in Casablanca

SGG

Tawabawho?

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Wednesday, October 28, 2009 1:58 AM

FREELANCERTEX

Quote:
Originally posted by JewelStaiteFan: Affleck as Jack Ryan

oh my god. totally.

Quote:
Richard Gere as Sir Lancelot.

*nods vigorously*

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Wednesday, October 28, 2009 7:31 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by TheSomnambulist:
Morgan Freeman in Batman did this for me. It's not his acting which is poor it's the contrivance of the narrative that brings him in.

Don't get that at all, since his character has been a part of the Batman story for a couple decades now. Seemed perfectly natural for him to be there, and Freeman was well cast in the role.

But I agree with the other poster who mentioned Katie Holmes as bad casting. Freeman I could believe as a seasoned technician who became a pseudo-mentor. Holmes I could not buy as an experienced ADA. I was very glad she declined the role in the sequel.

And on the bad casting in superhero movies track - Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane in Superman Returns. Waaaay too young.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

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Wednesday, October 28, 2009 12:08 PM

RUGBUG

Best movie casting (IMO

):

Daniel Craig as James Bond (never wanted to watch a Bond movie until Craig...and can't wait for more)
Viggo Mortenson as Aragorn (can't watch him in anything else)
Entire Ocean's Eleven Cast
Collin Farrel in Phonebooth
Val Kilmer in Real Genius
Billy Crystal/Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally
Matthew McConaughey in EdTV (woody Harrelson, too)
Matthew Broderick in Ferris Bueller's Day Off (bares repeating)
Kevin Bacon in Footloose
Robert Downey Jr in kiss kiss bang bang
Mike Myers in So I Married an Axe Murderer
Vince Vaughn in Swingers
Robin Williams/Nathan Lane/Hank Azaria in the Birdcage
Brandon Lee in The Crow
Morgan Freeman/Tim Robbins in The Shawshank Redemption
Tom Cruise in Top Gun
Ewan McGregor in A Life Less Ordinary
George Clooney in O brother Where ARt Thou?
Edward Norton/Brad Pitt in Fight Club

Worst(again IMO ;)):

Meryl Streep in Mamma Mia!
Keanu Reeves in any movie that he has to raise his voice "I am an FBI agent!" yeah right...
Matthew Perry in just about anything (even though I love him as Chandler)

I'm sure there's more but I can't think of any right now.

Quote:
Originally posted by Kwicko:
I'd agree with your Nic Cage list, EXCEPT for Lord Of War, which he was pretty freaking good in. Most people never heard of it, though.

He was excellent in that role.

FWIW: I understand the Morgan Freeman comments. There wasn't enough of a role for you to forget that your watching Morgan Freeman.

***************
"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw

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Wednesday, October 28, 2009 12:30 PM

Was for me.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

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Wednesday, October 28, 2009 12:34 PM

RUGBUG

Quote:
Originally posted by Storymark:
Was for me.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

Heh...so I'll change it to "wasn't enough of a role for me to forget I was watching Morgan Freeman."

Worst casting? Not by a long shot...but distracting casting...for me.

***************
"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw

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Wednesday, October 28, 2009 12:49 PM

ANOTHERSKY

Quote:
Originally posted by Storymark:
I'll add: Keanu Reeves in Bram Stoker's Dracula and in Much Ado About Nothing. That man should never be cast in a period film.

But Storymark, THAT is the entire reason I watch him in Much Ado About Nothing. It adds so much funny. Would you deprive me of my joy?

EDIT: Would this discussion happen to include those actors that it's very difficult to imagine them as a character vs. as themselves saying a character's lines?

RE: Morgan Freeman--the first thing I could think of in the Dark Knight was "Woot. Wayne has 'God' for tech support. Rich jerk." I just... that man has too many eyes.
--
Going for a ride.

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Wednesday, October 28, 2009 4:51 PM

NCBROWNCOAT

Quote:
Originally posted by RugBug:

Worst(again IMO ;)):

Meryl Streep in Mamma Mia!

Pierce Brosnan SINGING in Mamma Mia!

http://fireflyfaninnc.livejournal.com/

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Wednesday, October 28, 2009 8:00 PM

JEWELSTAITEFAN

OK, follow up and adds.
Good castings:
I had considered Chris Cooper and Matthew McCaunaghey for Lone Star, but backed off, mostly because I loved both of them in A Time To Kill, which were both done at the same time (almost). So I should add them both for both.
Oliver Platt in A Time To Kill, and Kurtwood Smith as Stump Sisson.

Brad Pitt, Harvey Keitel and Geena Davis in Themla and Louise.
Pitt also in Sleepers.
Bob Gunton in Demolition Man, and also Shawshank Redemption.
Bernard Hill in Titanic and Lord Of the Rings.
Sam Rockwell in Green Mile and Galaxy Quest.
Russell Crowe in Gladiator
Kurt Russell in Soldier, and as Snake Pliskin.
With all the Morgan Freeman talk, I had to work out my bias, but Deep Impact, Bruce Almighty, and Kiss the Girls still hold up.
Adam Baldwin and Randy Quaid in Independence Day.
Bill Pullman in Ruthless People - that's an Ace casting to beat all.
Bruce Wilis in Lucky Number Slevin.
Laura Linney, Scott Glenn and Ed Harris in Absolute Power.
Agree with Viggo in LoTR, and add Ian Holm.
Jane March in Color of Night and The Lover.
Carrie Fisher as Natalie Portman's daughter in Star Wars.
James Earl Jones in Field of Dreams.
Fred Gwynne and Chris Ellis in My Cousin Vinny.
Steven Seagal in Executive Decision.
Halle Berry in Passenger 57.
Wesley Snipes, Dennis Burkett and Helen Hunt in The Waterdance.
Meryl Streep and Cher in Silkwood.
Phoebe Cates in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Had no idea who would fit that role while reading the book, but she hit it.
Because it was first a TV Movie, Lee Majors as Col Steve Austin.
Oliver Platt, Catherine McCormack, Rufus Sewell, Miora Kelly, Melina Kanakaredes, David Gant in Dangerous Beauty, and probably everybody else in that.
Sophie Marceau, Brian Cox, Brendan Gleeson, David O'Hara, David Gant in Braveheart.
Carrie Henn in Aliens.
Ron Perlman in City of Lost Children.
Abigail Breslin in Signs.
Rhiannon Leigh Wynn and Rainn wilson in The Last Mimzy.
Rainn Wilson in The Rocker.
Tom Hulce and F. Murray Abraham in Amadeus.
F Murray Abraham, Bridget Wilson and Maria Shriver in Last Action Hero.
Michael Pare in Eddie and the Cruisers.
Christopher Lloyd in Back to the Future.
Gary Oldman in JFK.
jean Reno and Natalie Portman in The Professional.
Madeline Stowe and Frank Gorshin in Twelve Monkeys.
Kira Sedgwick, Forrest Whitaker, Robert Duvall in Phenomenon
Susan Cusack, Maury Chaykin and Fisher Stevens in Hero.
Fisher Stevens in Short Circuit.
Willem Dafoe adn Dale Dye in Platoon.
Graham Greene in Dances With Wolves.

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Thursday, October 29, 2009 5:57 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by AnotherSky:
Quote:
Originally posted by Storymark:
I'll add: Keanu Reeves in Bram Stoker's Dracula and in Much Ado About Nothing. That man should never be cast in a period film.

But Storymark, THAT is the entire reason I watch him in Much Ado About Nothing. It adds so much funny. Would you deprive me of my joy?

Certainly not, enjoy away. But I'm also not going to say he was well cast because one person likes his awfulness in the role.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

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Saturday, October 31, 2009 11:09 PM

CLJOHNSTON108

I just have one: Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark.
Can't think of any role more perfectly cast than that.

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Sunday, November 1, 2009 6:39 PM

ANOTHERSKY

Quote:
Originally posted by Storymark:
Quote:
Originally posted by AnotherSky:
Quote:
Originally posted by Storymark:
I'll add: Keanu Reeves in Bram Stoker's Dracula and in Much Ado About Nothing. That man should never be cast in a period film.

But Storymark, THAT is the entire reason I watch him in Much Ado About Nothing. It adds so much funny. Would you deprive me of my joy?

Certainly not, enjoy away. But I'm also not going to say he was well cast because one person likes his awfulness in the role.

I'm not, either. Not in any way. But I am going to say that it did make me wonder about John's character motivation. And I count it a lemonade blessing that the weakest cast member brought a different angle to the story by being so unintentionally funny. Otherwise, condemn away, good neighbor.

---
Going for a ride.

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Sunday, November 1, 2009 6:46 PM