Just curious about everyone's thoughts on what adding a big-name star would have done for the numbers

POSTED BY: ErinBC
UPDATED: Monday, October 24, 2005 07:32
VIEWED: 9306
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REGINAROADIE

Sunday, October 23, 2005 5:03 PM

Since we're on the topic of Mr. Universe, lately I've been thinking that Jack Black could have been good in the role. Jack Black is one of those guys that you put him in anything and he's gold. Hell, his 30 second cameo in ANCHORMAN was the best part of the whole movie.

But as for the topic, yes I think having a big name star in the film would have ruined the flick and made it a jarring experience for us.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
XANDER: (baby-talk) Who's a little fear demon?
C'mon, who's a lit-tle fear demon?
GILES: Don't taunt the fear demon.
XANDER: Why? Can he hurt me?
GILES: No, it's just… tacky.

ECGORDON

Sunday, October 23, 2005 6:34 PM

I don't care what big name star anyone comes up with, it wouldn't have worked. Our BDHs stellar acting abilities and comaradarie would have made anyone else look like your local dinner theater actors. The casting was perfect.

wo men ren ran zai fei xing.

LIMINALOSITY

Sunday, October 23, 2005 9:58 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Cybersnark:
The words "Big-name Actor" are a contradiction in terms. Big-name celebrities don't act. They play themselves.

In Serenity, I'm not paying to see Nathan Filion, or Alan Tudyk, or Adam Baldwin. I'm paying to see Malcolm Reynolds, and Wash, and Jayne Cobb.

Well. . . I'm paying to see Mal and Wash, anyway.

No offense to any of these actors, but. . . well, that's it, actually. They're actors. The whole point of having them there is to act. To be someone they're not. Big-name celebs just don't do that --usually, they're not supposed to.

-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.

I agree completely with your post, with the additional thought that big name celebs might have started out as actors (a good way to get that much notice in the first place is to play some good roles very well). With few exceptions, by the time they get to be as big as TC or Jack Nicolson, they are mostly just protraying some aspect of their own personality. I think Anthony Hopkins probably isn't agile enough to have played the Operative.

I'm very much enjoying some of the suggestions of alternate casting, and in the "picture this" spirit of mindbending:
The Operative:
Johnny Depp
Viggo Mortensen
Clive Owen
James Marsters (no? no other Joss people?)

Mr Universe:
Robert Downey Jr
Bill Nighy (playing it slower, creepier, more thoughtfully)
Evan McGregor
Forrest Whitaker

Bond, James Bond

FOLLOWMAL

Sunday, October 23, 2005 10:59 PM

I think that the actors that play our BDH would be proud that they inhabit their characters so completely that we think of them as Mal, Wash, and Jayne, etc. and that we appreciate their performances as such.

We didn't need a big star.... we got a GREAT actor who played the Operative.

FollowMal

MOODYLONER

Monday, October 24, 2005 6:31 AM

Jennifer Jason Leigh as Mr. Universe's
wife would have been fine for me. But
a big-name star... as a main character, no way! I don't go to movies to see people, I go to movies to be entertained by storyline and
plot. For me, thats what movies are about,
taking you somewhere other than the place
you are at. You know, for the ability
to escape. If a "celebrity" actor was in
this movie I'd probably be doing word-
association. Waste of time.

XEROGRAVITY

Monday, October 24, 2005 7:32 AM

What I love most about the Firefly fanbase is this general underlying contempt for the establishment "thing". Nobody says it direct, but if you read between the lines you can see it. Everyone is shouting it out at the top of their lungs. Nobdy listens. Kinda falls on deaf ears.

Hollywood is the whorish godmother of cronyism. Lot's of zero-talent people getting all kinds of publicity and marketing-dollars shovel'd up their whazoo, even when they clearly suck. Part of their strategic plan. Flood the market with garbage so their brand of garbage stands out (even though it truly sucks).

Kill off anyone showing true talent (or buy them out). Whedon is (or was) such a threat. They did away with him quite nicely.... wonder woman? goners?

Whedon's great gifts are incredible script-writing, an absolutely brilliant sense of timing (comic timing -- his dialogue rules!!, dramatic timing ~ used sparingly, knowledge of how to cut film -- leaving very little on the cutting-room floor, etc.), and MOST IMPORTANT to the subject of this thread...

the man can pick out unrecognized talent (hoping for a loyal devoted actor-ress from the throngs of pretty people fit to be on camera). True talent in a world that is totally enslaved by an old guard who hates competition.

Sadly, I suspect, those whom he chooses get stolen away and put in 3rd rate roles (TV or film). Loyalty is lost on them. When you're pretty like they are (photogenic model-types... oh how the camera loves you), all kinds of garbage comes out of the shadows trying to lure you into "bigger, better" things)... (money talks..).

The whole cast of FF were incredible, but mostly because of the fact that they had an ubergenius talent deciding who would play the cast. Sean Maher already bailed out for a contract on Ghost Whisperer.

XG

No such thing as gravity. The "Earth-that-was" just sucks.

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