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June 15, 2006
The Virtual Casting Couch
I'm ready for my closeup, Mr. DeMille
Bet that title got your attention, huh? Let's talk about casting our books. For the writers among us, I know that many of us tend to get an image fixed in our head of what our characters look like and that often, they tend to be famous, because, let's face it, they're convenient. But as readers, I'll lay money we all do our own share of casting our favorite books, getting to play Spielberg (or for the more twisted among us, Fellini). Let's face it, it's a pretty popular pastime.
Author Diana Gabaldon (Outlander) even feeds her fans' jonesin' by hosting a section within her site devoted to casting the charaters. Erm... some of the choices are interesting, to say the least. I mean, Ray Liotta or Jude Law as Frank/Black Jack Randall? I think not. My personal choice is actually Alexis Denisof who I'm sure some people would scoff at. A lot. But seriously, he could so do the scholar thing as Frank and totally pull off the ruthless Black Jack British Army Officer gig as well.
Regardless, we can cast our favorite stories as perfectly as our little mind's eye sees it. The problem, as illustrated in the above example, is when other people come in and totally miss the boat. (In our own less-than-humble opinions *g*) Even worse, is when they're a director, casting a film that will be preserved unto eternity and totally miss the boat. Now, of course, there are times it's perfect. Like Scarlett O'Hara. I mean, I think every young actress of the time coveted the part. Tallulah Bankhead, Susan Hayward, Paulette Goddard, Lana Turner, Bette Davis, Katharine Hepburn, were all mentioned as possibilities. But can you really see anyone other than Vivian Leigh in that role? She was Scarlett-- she epitomized Scarlett from appearance to attitude.
Then there are the weird ones, that on paper sound totally wrong, but work, nevertheless. Michael Keaton as Batman? Shyeah, right. But it worked. With respect to that character, so did Christian Bale (oh, mama, did it ever).
And then there are the ones that are just too painful to mention. But we'll mention them anyway. We'll purge ourselves and be free of the horrifying spectre or some such twaddle. For me, it has to do with one of my favorite books ever, Anne Rivers Siddons' Heartbreak Hotel. Oh my, is this a wonderful book. I first discovered it on the shelves of my high school's library, looking pristine, like no one had ever opened it (probably not) even though by that point, it had been out several years. I've never amassed late fees like I did with that book, until I finally found a copy at a used bookstore. To date, I've gone through three paperbacks of that novel and I completely refuse to lend it out. I have bought people copies rather than loan it out.
Then, when it was announced that a film was going to be made, I sent up a "Hallelujah" and "Testify, brother." (The book's set in the Deep South of the 1950s, it seemed apropos.) As you can tell, I was naive then. I had no clue what was about to happen. I just thought it was wonderful that this beautiful, very visual novel, was finally going to be brought to life.
Uh, no.
Let's start with Maggie-- the lead character, a Flower of the South of the breed that existed in the 1950s. I knew this character, because I knew so many of these Flowers. When I was at college, they were the doyennes who existed as the alumni of my sorority, showing up for rush and other official functions. (Yes-- you heard me right. I only lasted a year, so hush.)
So who was cast as Maggie?
Ally Sheedy. Brat Pack, white bread, slightly beatnik Ally Sheedy as a Southern Flower. Phoebe Cates of Fast Times at Ridgemont High fame as her beatnik friend. Treat Williams as the potential love interest, who was supposed to be from Mississippi. Honestly, the only character who was decently cast was Viginia Madsen as Delia-- a blonde bimbo. Yeah, that worked. And to add insult to injury, they retitled the film the scintillating Heart of Dixie.
I still went to see it. It was every bit as bad as I expected. Worse, even, since they totally mangled the script as well.
It's not the only time I've felt this sort of disappointment. I still haven't seen In Her Shoes. Toni Collette, yes. Shirley MacLaine, yes. Cameron Diaz... NSM.
At any rate, I know I can't be the only one. So for those of you playing along with the Home Game--
Which favorite character do you have perfectly cast in your head or that you thought was perfectly cast onscreen, and which character did a director just totally miss the boat on?
Come on, you know you wanna tell...
Posted by at 7:00 AM | Comments (9)
Comments
Okay, I'll play. Sean Connery as Gandalf in LOTR. But scheduling conflicts on League of Extraordinary Gentlemen forced him to pass it up. Phew! I think he is the perfect, and only, James Bond so how could he be Gandalf? That's another thing, typecasting. Some actors are too recognizable. Tom Hanks in the Da Vinci Code. Doesn't make sense to me. I'm never able to lose myself. I always think wow, hard to believe that's Tom Hanks. Brad Pitt otoh, I don't like him, never want to see anything he's in but once I'm watching it, I think he's that character. Strange.
Posted by: sheryl at June 15, 2006 9:31 AM
Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as the two sisters in Practical Magic. The movie ended up having almost nothing to do wtih the book, but those two were perfect for what I had in my head for those characters.
I've gotten to the point that I won't go see a movie based on a book that I liked. It messes with what I've got in my head and I'm thinking that might be messed up enough as it is!
Eileen
Posted by: Eileen ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.literarychicks.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at June 15, 2006 11:26 AM
All I can say is that I would grow my mustache out to land the role of Connie in Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series.
Posted by: Janina at June 15, 2006 5:06 PM
Somehow, I missed Sean as Gandalf. And I simply cannot see anyone other than Ian McKellan in that role. It's sort of like Stuart Townsend being originally cast as Aragorn. Nice guy, good actor, but... no. I can't see anyone other than Viggo.
And I know what you mean about Brad-- he's not my favorite actor in the world, but there are certain roles he's so convincing in. Like as Rusty in the Ocean's movies.
Eileen, I've heard that before about Sandra and Nicole, that they were great casting choices, even though the movie wasn't all that. And I think you have the right idea about not going to see movies based on book anymore.
Janina, you made me snort Diet Coke up my nose with that comment.
Posted by: Barb at June 15, 2006 10:35 PM
I usually won't go see a movie that has been made out of a favorite book. Usually they are so disappointing that I just want to cry ("Wrinkle in Time" comes to mind here) and it screws it up for me to see someone else's idea about what the characters should look like. The LOTR trilogy, however, was amazing. Absolutely amazing. I was so thrilled with those movies--my goodness, they even used dialogue straight from the pages of Tolkien at some points! And Viggi as Aragorn--mmm-mmmm!!
The Narnia movie was wonderful also, except someone must have missed the part about Susan being "golden haired"--the girl in the movie was definitely a brunette, and that threw me out of the story a bit. The Chronicles were a staple in my literary diet as a child growing up, and yes, I own the rather awful BBC version of the stories--the DVD set was a gift--but I have never watched it. (My girls have--trust me, it's not good!) But the new Chronicle--it was just wonderful! I think I was teary-eyed several times throughout the movie because I just love the story so much and they did a really great job on it!
We talk about famous people in roles over at the Cherries quite a bit, and I still say Minnie Driver is my pick if they ever make Jennie's book "Bet Me" into a movie. She is who I pictured as Min immediately! In her chubby, "Circle of Friends" days. Or maybe that girl from that movie about the chubby girl who enters the beauty pageant? The Nanny chick is her mother? She would be good for that part also. I hate it when I can't remember the name of a movie!!
Posted by: Sheri at June 16, 2006 10:37 AM
Marissa Jaret Winokur who originated the role of Tracy Turnbald in the Broadway musical of "Hairspray." She played Fran Drescher's daughter in Beautiful Girl. :-)
But I think you're right-- Minnie Driver is the perfect Min. (And I LOVE Circle of Friends. Now I'm going to have to go watch THAT. *g*)
Posted by: Barb at June 16, 2006 12:18 PM
Viggo as Aragorn - I grumbled for DAYS about that 'Stupid, what were they THINKING???' casting choice and he was UTTERLY PERFECT. Drool
Alesia, who regularly tries to get Navy Guy to swordfight for me
Posted by: Alesia Holliday at June 16, 2006 1:09 PM
Barb, try In Her Shoes. Toni Collette is so wonderful, and the guy who plays Simon is darling... I rarely have anything bad to say about Shirley MacLaine, and seriously, CD wasn't bad. Really.
I rarely see movies based on books that I love because I usually HATE them. The Witches of Eastwick was the first movie I almost walked out of because I hated what they did with a passion. I refused to see Interview with a Vampire because -- hello? Tom Cruise? BLECCCCHHHHHH, and I couldn't buy Brad Pitt in that role, either (should have been Daniel Day-Lewis and Julian Sands as Louis and Lestat).
I dunno about Minnie Driver as Min, but I do know that Cal has to be played by Julian McMahon!
Posted by: Rebecca at June 16, 2006 7:08 PM
Ben Affleck as Jack Ryan in "The Sum of All Fears". I've read Tom Clancy books for years, even before I was in the Navy, and I knew who Jack Ryan was. After seeing THFRO, with that Baldwin guy, it was hard to picture Harrison Ford as Jack. However, now he's the only one I see, even when reading the books. Ben Affleck was just horrible, but it also had a LOT to do with how that movie totally butchered the book. Made me sick to watch, really.
And while we're on that, the Bourne movies with Affleck's buddy, Matt Damon, really tick me off as well. I don't know who the chick is that played Marie, but she was TOTALLY wrong. So was Damon. Marie should have been someone who looked a LOT like Jaclyn Smith, really. And Bourne should have been someone different. Then again, they totally changed the books, so it shouldn't have surprised me that they screwed up the casting.
Sorry, those ones are my pet peeves. I tend not to watch any type of romance that gets made into movies, just because I really hate it when Hollywood screws up the stories. It's bad enough when they mess up my guilty pleasure action-adventure books. Romances? I'd b***h for days to have Min, Sophie, or Tildy miscast!
Posted by: dee at June 17, 2006 10:15 PM
