JASON BOURNE MUST BE BLONDE

He was one of the few positive aspects of Sucker Punch.  I wondered why I'd never seen him before (didn't bother with Robin Hood).  I'm sure Universal would be more than happy to cast him as someone Bourne has to fight, if you know what I mean.

Really? I thought he was awful in Sucker Punch.  For such a keyed up performance he was one of the flattest parts of the film.

But when everything else felt so flat to me... heheheh...

Well, that's true; you could call every performance flat.  I guess it comes down to whether or not one admires Isaac for trying way too hard, one can only assume in an attempt to turn the character into something more than a walking cliche.

Yeah, he was twirling that mustache pretty hard.  He was also a character that got the story moving a bit, so I might be confusing that for ability/charisma.  Either way, my friends (girls) were pretty creeped out by him.

I think there was something in the "Art of" book that talked about how the pimp character was supposed to be outlandish or something, but I may be mis-remembering. It seemed a deliberate character choice though, very retro and broad, particularly since there seemed to be a good contrast between the sweaty, slimy orderly and the polished pimp. It was his final scene with Baby Doll that I thought was striking.   Granted, it was one of those moments that screamed "HALF OF THIS CONTEXT IS ON THE CUTTING ROOM FLOOR" but it was very creepy, violent and pathetic all at once.

He's great in Robin Hood, just a total jackass.  I'm in the minority as actually liking Robin Hood, but Isaac stands out in a fairly colorless cast.  He's the perfect Prince John.    Again, it may simply be that he stands out because he ends up in limp movies....

And he can play ridiculously nice guys, he's  Mr. Premodern McDreamy in "Agora."   Really undermined the story, to be honest, but he did hold his own against a good cast there.

No way will Universal allow an actor that swarthy to follow Damon in their desperate attempt at keeping this series alive. Shame but then Hollywood can be cripplingly conservative and unimaginative with their biggest film properties.

Even though I knew better, watching him in Robin Hood I kept thinking he was Rufus Sewell.

Hahahaha.  When he first showed up in Sucker Punch, I thought he was David Krumholtz.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bailey 

Really? I thought he was awful in Sucker Punch.  For such a keyed up performance he was one of the flattest parts of the film.

Disagree. The relish he throws into lines like "Nobody likes a snitch" have immortalized the man to me. When watching the film, all I thought about was this guy.  

I thought he was solid in Sucker Punch, Agora, and Body of Lies, and great in Robin Hood.  In fact, his performance in Robin Hood has me convinced he could carry a picture.  Renner is the obvious choice...too obvious.  Hopefully he'll pass this one up.  Avengers, Hansel and Gretel, and MI:4 commitments will likely make his participation unlikely.  Get ready for Jake Gyllenhaal to get an offer once Renner passes.

Eh didn't think much of him or Robin Hood Universal is going with the smart play. Renner can pull it off in his sleep.

Aren't Hansel and Gretel and MI:4 shooting right now?  When would he even need to be available if he were to be the next Bourne?

I suppose Avengers might interfere.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by dajuice7 

I thought he was solid in Sucker Punch, Agora, and Body of Lies, and great in Robin Hood.  In fact, his performance in Robin Hood has me convinced he could carry a picture.  Renner is the obvious choice...too obvious.  Hopefully he'll pass this one up.  Avengers, Hansel and Gretel, and MI:4 commitments will likely make his participation unlikely.  Get ready for Jake Gyllenhaal to get an offer once Renner passes.

 

I'm all for trusting Gilroy, and I think Renner would be too much of a distraction, given that he's in "Mission: Impossible," but... I dunno, I really don't care for this Isaac kid.

Again, I will do this until the cows come home: ANTHONY. MACKIE.

I'd love to see Mackie get a starring role like this.  He's paid his dues and proven he's got it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by neoolong 

Aren't Hansel and Gretel and MI:4 shooting right now?  When would he even need to be available if he were to be the next Bourne?

 

I suppose Avengers might interfere.

I imagine between finishing Hansel, and doing reshoots and press for that and MI:4, then going into Avengers will chew up much of his availability.  I don't know how far off Universal would push the next Bourne film to land Renner, but it seems likely to me they would just go with the next best available name over a significant wait period - Gyllenhaal's schedule looks pretty clear by the way.  And there's always the potential for a Hawkeye franchise to ramp up given Avengers does business, meaning they wouldn't want Renner tied up with a potential Bourne franchise.  It seems the Bourne shoot is scheduled for the fall of this year, and I can't see how he can squeeze Avengers and this in unless his part in the Avengers is relatively small (which it certainly might be considering it'll probably be Iron Man, Cap, and Thor heavy).

However, after a few ensemble pics he may be really itching to front another film.

Interestingly, here's IMDB's list of those that were/are being considered for the part:

Jake Gyllenhaal, Tobey Maguire, Garrett Hedlund, Michael Fassbender, Alex Pettyfer, Joel Edgerton, Taylor Kitsch, Kellan Lutz, Josh Hartnett, Paul Dano, Luke Evans, Michael Pitt, Oscar Isaac and Benjamin Walker.

WTF is up with half those names being on this list?  WTF is up with those names being on every Hollywood list?  And can we get a little more color please?  I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Chiwetel Ejiofor is a star waiting to be discovered.

Isn't this meant to be a franchise restarter? Aren't Renner and Damon the same age? Surely Universal would be sure to get someone closer to 30 than 40 so they'll be able to squeeze more than Bourne flick outta them.

Haha, me too. And I did right up until reading this story. I liked the guy in ROBIN HOOD, would be interesting to see him star in a big tentpole like this. Oh well, they'll just end up going with that TRON guy anyway, right?

They figure Renner's cheaper and would be willing to do it?  I think he's only a year younger than Damon.

I agree about Ejofor but its just not gonna happen.

Pretty impressive how much belief studios seem to have in Renner as a star considering he still hasn't headlined a big mainstream movie yet. But I'd be up for seeing him do this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Daywalker 

I agree about Ejofor but its just not gonna happen.

I hate to agree but I do. Hell the only reason Denzel happened was because the guy oozes sex appeal, the fact that he's also a very very good actor is not why he's a movie star.

Paul Dano?!

Yeah, that's a face (and personality) that screams high octane action star.   And yes, I'm all for Chiwetel Ejiofor getting a big break too.  Maybe he'll nab the Black Panther and own the world.

Another non-white man I'd like to see get more awesome lead roles is Daniel Dae-Kim. I think it's bullshit he's second fiddle on Hawaii 5-O -- though I don't actually watch that, so perhaps he has a bigger part than I've been led to believe.

Someone once took to my Formspring to berate me because I'd written so many pro-ethnicity posts, but come on.   It's ridiculous in this day and age to see nothing but white guys starring. And considering we're pretty short on white guys who are believable as American Action Men, and are stuck going to England and Australia to recruit the ones we eventually cast, you'd think we would start looking to other ethnic groups....

When you've gotten to Paul Dano while making these lists without listing any significant minorities, you'd have to be WILLFULLY racist. I mean, fucking come on.

How about international superstar Sung Kang, star of the Fast And The Furious movies? Unlike Dano, Kang is built, sexy and has been in MOVIES THAT PEOPLE HAVE FUCKING SEEN.

Despite the fact that I agree with these points, I'd LOVE to see someone try to turn Paul Dano into a bad-ass assassin than just have another obvious choice.  I mean, wasn't part of Damon's appeal that he didn't immediately scream "action star?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gabe T 

How about international superstar Sung Kang, star of the Fast And The Furious movies? Unlike Dano, Kang is built, sexy and has been in MOVIES THAT PEOPLE HAVE FUCKING SEEN.

Sung Kang is an international superstar?  Didn't know that.  Though, this gives me a good opportunity for me to say, "Screw you, Len Wiseman, for wasting Kang and Cliff Curtis' talents in Die Hard 4."  You get those guys and give them the blandest material to work with? 

New casting wishlist: Justin Timberlake, John Krasinski, Anthony Anderson, The Situation, Hugh Jackman playing Wolverine, Betty White

Honestly Ejofor would probably own this, but what I think the casting direction seems to be forgetting is part of what made the first movie so interesting. Matt Damon as an action star seemed somewhat startling considering his mostly dramatic roles to that point. I would love to see that happen again. My idea? Ed Norton. Granted it'd be one and done but oh well. 

Storm *fuckin'* Shadow himself, Byung Hun-Lee, would make for a terrific non-white replacement. Also, Michael Jai White wouldn't be so bad either.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcnooj82 

Sung Kang is an international superstar?  Didn't know that.  Though, this gives me a good opportunity for me to say, "Screw you, Len Wiseman, for wasting Kang and Cliff Curtis' talents in Die Hard 4."  You get those guys and give them the blandest material to work with?

I was being facetious with the "international superstar" thing, but I did not know Kang was in Die Hard 4. That's Die Hard 4 and the Fast And Furious movies, all of which are $100 million earners. How many $100 million earners has the much less imposing Dano been in? Knight And Day? I mean, there's one thing to only consider white guys for your big blockbuster. It's another to be willfully uncommercial and not realize there have been several minority actors in high profile movies with a strong visibility level. Which pisses me off even more whenever there's a casting list for a major female role, and it's a bunch of Abbie Cornish's instead of someone like Michelle Rodriguez, who has been in blockbusters (including the BIGGEST MOVIE OF ALL TIME) for a fucking DECADE now.

Oscar Isaac kinda muddies the water for me here, because he's been in a couple of big movies, he's an unusual, interesting face, but I kinda think he fucking blows.

I'll give you the Fast and the Furious movies (from the third to the new one coming up, right?), but he was barely an entity in Die Hard.  But that's completely beside the point, since you know I agree with you about the actual topic here.

Lee Byung Hun is a cool "DREAM ON, YA IDJIT!" choice.  

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gabe T 

I was being facetious with the "international superstar" thing, but I did not know Kang was in Die Hard 4. That's Die Hard 4 and the Fast And Furious movies, all of which are $100 million earners. How many $100 million earners has the much less imposing Dano been in? Knight And Day? I mean, there's one thing to only consider white guys for your big blockbuster. It's another to be willfully uncommercial and not realize there have been several minority actors in high profile movies with a strong visibility level. Which pisses me off even more whenever there's a casting list for a major female role, and it's a bunch of Abbie Cornish's instead of someone like Michelle Rodriguez, who has been in blockbusters (including the BIGGEST MOVIE OF ALL TIME) for a fucking DECADE now.

 

Oscar Isaac kinda muddies the water for me here, because he's been in a couple of big movies, he's an unusual, interesting face, but I kinda think he fucking blows.

 

That question was actually put to Rodriguez at SDCC last year -- a "why do you do so many action movies / why don't you do more dramas or romantic comedies", and it was actually asked by a fan wanting to see her DO those things. And she said "What, I should go get raped in a movie?"

There was this awful silence and she was like "Oh, I didn't mean it like that, it's just..." and backpedaled, but it would appear she disdains anything that doesn't let her play "the Michelle Rodriguez role."  I was actually really surprised and disappointed, talk about a complete dismissal and a tacky thing to say.

But I totally agree with you. It's always a list of blondes, whatever the gender. Maybe a brunette for color.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elisabeth Rappe 

 

That question was actually put to Rodriguez at SDCC last year -- a "why do you do so many action movies / why don't you do more dramas or romantic comedies", and it was actually asked by a fan wanting to see her DO those things. And she said "What, I should go get raped in a movie?

 

There was this awful silence and she was like "Oh, I didn't mean it like that, it's just..." and backpedaled, but it would appear she disdains anything that doesn't let her play "the Michelle Rodriguez role."  I was actually really surprised and disappointed, talk about a complete dismissal and a tacky thing to say.

We're going into Hollywood Whitewashing territory, but that's ok - I actually asked her about this in an interview, and she was very dismissive, saying, "People don't offer me that stuff. I don't do the 'sexy' thing" as sort of a defensive mechanism. The prevailing feeling is that there's something altogether icky about being a woman who keeps showing up on these casting lists, whether it be the quality of the roles, or maybe something sinister about the actual casting. She did seemed amped about 'Gravity' though, which I kept mentioning as an example of a role she should have offered to her. Surprised that would end up on Blake Lively's desk, and not her's.

But what about Girlfight?!  I've had a crush on Rodriguez ever since that movie.  That's too bad she dismisses the idea of doing a straight drama.  Though, the moment I first read her "go get raped" comment, I assumed that she was talking about the fact that a dramatic role for her would most likely end up being one where she plays a minority female character who only exists to be sexualized.  It's pretty disappointing that it may simply be because she doesn't want to stretch. 

Could it be that Rodriguez won't do a straight drama because she's actually got a pretty good sense of her own limitations in the acting talent department?

Just a thought.

GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!!  And no, bullshit is the right call on Hawaii 5-0.  The main issue I have with 5-0 is that Dae-Kim and Grace Park are the supporting characters and not the leads.  Criminal.
 

Quote:

Not that I (or you) have anything against Abbie, but Fuuuuuuuck why do we live in a world where Cornish and Dano(!) are name-dropped for these roles and Michelle Rodriguez and Daniel Dae-Kim have to hustle their asses off just to keep from falling into irrelevance?  And if I ever hear Michelle make a comment like the "rape" one again, I'll kick her right in the cooch (totally inappropriate and somewhat ironic reaction, but hey, she broke my heart with that quip).  I haven't been advocating for her for the past decade for her to turn her nose up at dramatic roles, even if she is masking some sort of insecurity borne from her constant typecasting.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gabe T 

We're going into Hollywood Whitewashing territory, but that's ok...

I think the original article was along these lines, so we're good.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Rain Dog 

I hate to agree but I do. Hell the only reason Denzel happened was because the guy oozes sex appeal, the fact that he's also a very very good actor is not why he's a movie star.

Denzel I think did coast on his looks but lets not muddy the waters too much he destroyed on stage his reputation there was through the roof. He was a serious actor before he hit the big screen.

I really like the way the conversation of this thread went but I will quickly say this Rain Dog hit the nail on the head with Rodriguez she is a limited actress and doesn't have a lot range.

I think Eva Mendes (who really only headlined Hitch), Rosario Dawson and Paz Vega are better actresses.

Honestly i've kind of scratched my head watching Dawson do back round work in Eagle Eye and Unstoppable. I'd have thought she'd be more front and center now.

Maybe thats opening the " actresses don't get many good scripts/parts " book of worms though.

Also lets take a hard look at Universal who has had some big duds box office wise over the years (Land of the Lost, Funny People, Public Enemies Scott Pilgrim, Green Zone, Robin Hood) and just dropped In The Mountains Of Madness because it was too risky. There is no chance they go with anything that risky with this Bourne reboot.

Which I might add is an awful idea. Who is Bourne gonna be fighting with next CIA agents remote piloting predator drones in Pakistan? This is actually Universal making things worse for themselves in my mind.

Judging by their body of work, Renner is a much better actor than Oscar Isaac, and far more charismatic. Weird to see people up in arms about this - if they were plumping for Josh Duhamel or something, then fair enough, but Renner's more than earned a shot at something like this is he wants it.

It's not the specific instance of Renner himself.  He's a good choice.  It's that this bit of potential casting comes in the context of something that's going on constantly in the industry (the basic casting wishlist that always goes for these big movies).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gabe T 

 

We're going into Hollywood Whitewashing territory, but that's ok - I actually asked her about this in an interview, and she was very dismissive, saying, "People don't offer me that stuff. I don't do the 'sexy' thing" as sort of a defensive mechanism. The prevailing feeling is that there's something altogether icky about being a woman who keeps showing up on these casting lists, whether it be the quality of the roles, or maybe something sinister about the actual casting. She did seemed amped about 'Gravity' though, which I kept mentioning as an example of a role she should have offered to her. Surprised that would end up on Blake Lively's desk, and not her's.

Funny, her badass attitude is exactly why I find her more sexy than your run of the mill romcom chicks like Aniston or Garner.

Do you have a link to that interview Gabe?
 

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/michelle_rodriguez_will_co-star_in_troublemaker_studios_the_home/

It was during this set of interviews, but I didn't actually transcribe that part, since it was kind of off-the-cuff, and she kept dismissing the question, so she didn't go into detail, sadly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bucho 

 

Funny, her badass attitude is exactly why I find her more sexy than your run of the mill romcom chicks like Aniston or Garner.

 

Do you have a link to that interview Gabe?
 

 

Garner was a fucking tank in her fight scenes on Alias

Garner also owned in The Kingdom.

HARD.

Yeah Garner with the knife at the end was rockin' some shit.

I still like Michelle Rodriguez though, despite her constant attempts to star in movies I hate, and dismissal of any serious acting. I'm aware I'm probably completely doing this based on lust..but I've lived with worse.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walker 

Garner also owned in The Kingdom.

 

HARD.

Beat me to it. She was great.

I haven't seen The Kingdom but I never bought Garner as a badass in Alias.

I'd never seen Alias so the only things I saw Garner prior to The Kingdom were Daredevil(we all know how that went down) and Catch Me If You Can(she was good, but her character was kind of a bit throwaway). So with those two movies in mind, you can imagine that she wasn't a selling point for me when I decided to pay a ticket for The Kingdom.

I walked out of that theatre thinking she gave the best damn performance. Hell, the only thing I remember from that movie was her kicking ass thoroughly.

Now that I think about it, I kinda want her to be the new Bourne*. I say that only with the purpose of getting back on topic for this thread!

*I read somewhere that something like this is actually gonna kinda happen. Garner has signed on to star in a action-packed revamp of Miss. Marple. Yes, THAT. Miss. Marple.

God help us Jennifer Garner kicking ass? The Kingdom worked ok but it didn't sell me on Garner at all only my continued good faith in Peter Berg.