I had time on my hands at work last night. Nah, it wasn't very busy I'm sorry to report. The headliner band sucked and I wasn't in the mood to search for cockroaches. But then there's always tv. You can always find something on cable, right? Freedom of choice for $55 a month. But the game was over (our boys won), Emeril was on the foodnetwork and he's insufferable, Bravo had some flick with Sharon Stone (not Casino), CNN was all over the O.J. Simpson armed robber/book deal, Project Runway was a repeat, Animal Plant had the Crocodile Hunter's daughter boldly following in his footsteps (yawn), Larry King was talking to Ryan Seacrest about the Britney Spears debacle ... Is this what I choose from?
I clicked over to AMC hoping not to encounter some John Wayne Monument Valley saga. It was Batman. The Michael Keaton, Kim Basinger, Jack Nicholson Batman. I have to admit I had a lingering moment of glee. I'd seen this in the theater. A time killer if nothing else. What a disappointment! Perhaps it is that filmic technology has progessed so significantly in the last ten years or so but the film was dated. It looked old. Jack Nicholson's make-up was ridiculous. He looked like he may have actually been in pain wearing the prosthetics required for his Joker smile.Give it ten more years or so and Jack and the film may qualify for kitsch appeal. Pop in Faster Pussycat, Kill, Kill or Beyond The Valley of the Dolls. Have a cocktail. Enjoy your evening.
But the clincher was Michael Keaton. The man was not attractive. Not suave. Heck, I would ask for a license if he pulled up in a golf cart, let alone the Batmobile. If I'd have found the film stills I was hoping for you could check out his hair for yourself. Not good. This is as Bruce Wayne. Anyone can slip into the Batman suit with all the padding in the correct places (you know where I mean) and look powerful and manly. And that includes Val Kilmer -- he made for a far more believable Batman. But Michael Keaton as Batman was no Bruce Wayne. It just made me sad. I'm not sure if budget restraints or some lost bet led to Tim Burton casting Michael Keaton as Batman. But it was wrong.
Miscasting. I have many thoughts in my little head. I'm dying for someone/anyone to respond to a post. What actors/roles have been the most horridly miscast? Sophia Coppola in Godfather III is a cop-out.
I clicked over to AMC hoping not to encounter some John Wayne Monument Valley saga. It was Batman. The Michael Keaton, Kim Basinger, Jack Nicholson Batman. I have to admit I had a lingering moment of glee. I'd seen this in the theater. A time killer if nothing else. What a disappointment! Perhaps it is that filmic technology has progessed so significantly in the last ten years or so but the film was dated. It looked old. Jack Nicholson's make-up was ridiculous. He looked like he may have actually been in pain wearing the prosthetics required for his Joker smile.Give it ten more years or so and Jack and the film may qualify for kitsch appeal. Pop in Faster Pussycat, Kill, Kill or Beyond The Valley of the Dolls. Have a cocktail. Enjoy your evening.
But the clincher was Michael Keaton. The man was not attractive. Not suave. Heck, I would ask for a license if he pulled up in a golf cart, let alone the Batmobile. If I'd have found the film stills I was hoping for you could check out his hair for yourself. Not good. This is as Bruce Wayne. Anyone can slip into the Batman suit with all the padding in the correct places (you know where I mean) and look powerful and manly. And that includes Val Kilmer -- he made for a far more believable Batman. But Michael Keaton as Batman was no Bruce Wayne. It just made me sad. I'm not sure if budget restraints or some lost bet led to Tim Burton casting Michael Keaton as Batman. But it was wrong.
Miscasting. I have many thoughts in my little head. I'm dying for someone/anyone to respond to a post. What actors/roles have been the most horridly miscast? Sophia Coppola in Godfather III is a cop-out.
6 comments:
Christian Bale is the Best Cast Batman, by far. You must rent Batman Begins to see what I mean.
Worst cast? The first thing that pops into my head is Johnny Depp in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but I'm sure I can come up with a better one.
I never understood why the Burton Batmans (Batmen?) got so much press. They flat-out sucked. And Jenabeat got it right about my boy Christian Bale and the Batman Begins.
I've been trying to come up with some miscastings besides my two favorites (Shelly Winters in Night Of The Hunter and Minnie Driver in Good Will Hunting) but nothing is coming to mind. I'm sure it will hit me sometime in the future, but I can tell you that DeNiro stank in Stardust.
Harvey Keitel as Austrian cop in Bad Timing.
I was thinking about Tom Cruise as the Vampire Lestat (or in just about anything). And Kevin Costner as Robin Hood. Simply abysmal.
And do you remember the Winona Ryder/Keanu Reeves combo in Dracula? Holy crap. Thank god Gary Oldman knew how to camp it up.
Yes, Tom Cruise was dreadful as Lestat.
I'm also reminded of Keanu Reeves in Dangerous Liaisons, which was similar to Dracula. I think he played the same charmless character in both.
So true. His good looks have had his back for a very long time.
Speaking of good looks, I saw Brad Pitt on a morning show promoting his filmic portrayal of Jesse James. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is the title I believe (reminds me of a Pogues song). I'm intrigued and can't wait to see it. But will Brad shine here or will it be another of his horridly miscast roles? I've got my fingers crossed.
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