The best, and worst of movie casting

POSTED BY: OPPYH
UPDATED: Friday, July 25, 2025 06:36
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OPPYH

Monday, October 26, 2009 6:25 PM

Roles in a movie you think were absolutely brilliant, and the ones you thought were a disaster.

Here are my choices:

BEST MOVIE CASTING:

-Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump

-Jack Nicholson(and Shelley Duvall) in The Shining

-Sylvester Stallone as Rocky

-Matthew Broderick in Ferris Bueller's Day Off

-Gene Hackman in Hoosiers

-Gene Wilder in Willy Wonka


WORST MOVIE CASTING:

-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.

-Nic Cage in anything from the last ten years. Seriously a great actor with depth, and range(Leaving Las Vegas, Vampire's Kiss). So why does he keep making movies that aren't even tolerable to watch?

-Johnny Depp in Charlie and the Chocolate factory. He plays weird pretty good, but can't come close to Gene Wilder in Willy Wonka.

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STORYMARK

Monday, October 26, 2009 8:50 PM

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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GILLIANROSE

Monday, October 26, 2009 9:03 PM

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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RIVERDANCER

Monday, October 26, 2009 10:15 PM

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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DEWRASTLER

Monday, October 26, 2009 10:23 PM

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

________________________________
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LWAVES

Monday, October 26, 2009 11:25 PM

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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NCBROWNCOAT

Tuesday, October 27, 2009 12:55 AM

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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KWICKO

Tuesday, October 27, 2009 1:14 AM

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!