Worst miscast movies

[Joe Power]

Spun off (sort of) from the Musicals thread.

Which movies had the worst casting? Could be a good actor who was just wrong for the role, or a horrible actor in a good role, whatever.

In the Musicals thread I mention Madonna as Eva Peron. That, imo, has to rank up there.

Tom Cruise, someone I usually think does good-to-excellent work, was horribly miscast as Lestat in "Interview With the Vampire."

Oh, and Geedubya was just plain wrong for the part of President in "Fahrenheit 911."

Who else stunk the joint up?

[youspeakmylanguage]

1. _Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves_

Kevin Costner. Robin Hood. WITH A FREAKIN' AMERICAN ACCENT!
Pure dreck.

[Joe Power]

3. Ugh

No doubt, that one is worthy of the list, as is Costner's turn as Wyatt Earp.

Why is that guy so watchable in 'Bull Durham', 'JFK' and 'Field of Dreams', and so unbearable in almost everything else he's ever done?

[youspeakmylanguage]

8. Because he is essentially a character actor...

...who caught a huge break on "Dances With Wolves". I never thought he was movie star material, but the hype didn't die for a long, long time.

[stanwyck]

28. It's the Bruce Willis syndrome

really good in "Pulp Fiction" but absolutely abysmal in practically everything else. Like "Unbreakable". That might have been a decent movie with better acting. Willis was a real slug in that role.
I like the laid-back Costner of Bull Durham and Tin Cup. But he gets over his head really easily.
And I like Brad Pitt when he's funny. Cause he can be very funny. "Snatch". The movie with Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette where Pitt is the stoner.
I'm less fond of him as a leading man.

[youspeakmylanguage]

33. You mean _True Romance_

n/t

[stanwyck]

44. Yes. Thanks

"True Romance". Also starring one of my favorites: Christopher Walken. Speaking of bad casting. For too long, Walken was cast as the villain. And he's been a very good villain -- as in "True Romance". Or the very chilling "At Close Range" with Sean Penn. But he can also be a charming father, as in "Catch Me If You Can".

[jobycom]

92. I think Willis is a very good actor

Oddly, I didn't like him that much in Pulp Fiction. I loved him in Die Hard, and The Kid. He can work in diverse roles, because he has a sense of drama and comedy in each role.

I thought he was great in Unbreakable, and I loved that movie, but I thought it was too slow for American audiences. Shaymalan (or however it's spelled) likes slow intensity, and that's good, except when it fails-then it's just slow.

[jobycom]

88. He was cool in Tin Cup, and I liked him in Postman

I think he's a decent actor with a lot of charm, and whether he's watchable or not just depends on whether the director and writer can figure out how to use him. He's basically the same guy in everything, except maybe 3000 miles to Graceland, where he tried, sadly, to act. When he doesn't work, it's because his schtick doesn't fit the role.

I liked him in Perfect World, too. Not a lot, but some.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

7. No one can beat Errol Flynn in that role!

[4_Legs_Good]

12. With all due respect, YOU'RE WRONG!!!!!!!

yes, SOMETIMES he had an American accent, but SOMETIMES he had a British accent!

/worst movie ever/

david

[youspeakmylanguage]

21. Sort of like how Bush "sometimes" talks like an intelligent person?

n/t

[4_Legs_Good]

30. LOL - No, George Jr. never talks like an intelligent person

But seriously, Costner was SOOOOOO bad in that role, in a large extent because the continutity director and general director were so incompetent (as was he as an actor) that they let him slip back and forth between having a British accent and not having one through the entire film. Too funny.

david

[youspeakmylanguage]

32. A complete creative void

At least Alan Rickman had some fun hamming it up. Otherwise it's barely a footnote in Hollywood history.

[dhinojosa]

54. Anything that has Leonardo DiCaprio playing a 40 year old man....

haha

[Lannes]

2. Family Business

Dustin Hoffman as Sean Connery's son.Yikes!

[xultar]

36. I thought you were talking about that Porn guy on Showtime!

:rofl:

[noonwitch]

4. I liked Madonna in "Evita", and I'm not one of her fans

She should stick to musicals, and she did look the part in costume. She's not the best actress in the world, but she can sing.

[Joe Power]

6. I can't say I care much for your taste in music...

...but I LOVE your taste in basketball teams! :toast:

Hope they can get back on track tonight.

[Richardo]

5. Ava Gardner as Lorne Greene's *daughter* in Earthquake...

Lorne was only 7 years older than Ava. :eyes:

[Left Is Write]

17. That kind of thing happens a lot in movies.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

22. One of my faves of those is in North by Northwest

Jesse Royce Landis delivers a truly great, unforgettable performance as Cary Grant's mother.

In real life, however, Grant was almost a year older than young Jesse.

[stanwyck]

25. Anne Bancroft was Mrs. Robinson

the "older woman" to Dustin Hoffman's college grad...though both were in their thirties.

[terrya]

9. Diana Ross in "The Wiz"

I think she was about 67 years old in that film...playing a 20 something. It was dreadful to watch.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

10. Streisand as "Yentil"...

She should have put aside her own ego and given the role to an actress who was more appropriate.

[bertha katzenengel]

11. Elizabeth Berridge in "Amadeus"

She portrayed Constanze Mozart. Who told this woman she could act? And worse -- how in hell did she get the part? I'm shocked that it was as successful and honored as it was with her in it. :shudder:

[4_Legs_Good]

13. I thought she did fine

and Amadeus is my favorite film of all time.

Anyway, Meg Tilly was originally cast for the part, but she fell through for some reason - I think she was sick.

If you listen to the commentary, it's kinda clear that Milos Forman kinda regretted Elizabeth Berridge, but he does some apologizing for her.

Anyway, I'll stick to the notion that I think she played the part well and convincingly.

david

[edbermac]

18. I hadn't noticed her acting ability in Amadeus for some reason.

:evilgrin:

[bertha katzenengel]

19. Okay, I'll cry uncle. :-)

I did like her in the scene Richardo posted below, and it wasn't because of the bursting bosoms.

Good for you for sticking up for her. Personally, I can't see Meg Tilly in that role at all.

[Richardo]

16. "How did she get the part?"

REALLY, bertha! :)

Actually, I thought she was very charming in the role.

[bertha katzenengel]

20. The hair? Yeah, I guess that was a selling point.

:hi:

[tk2kewl]

47. kinda looks like phil specter's 'do

[Lydia Leftcoast]

58. Elizabeth Berridge was okay in Amadeus EXCEPT for

her voice--like a Danube Valley Girl.

[kwassa]

51. Elizabeth Berkley in "Showgirls" another work of fine art

a screeching ninny as sexpot. They should have switched her out with Gina Gershon in the title role, as least, though nothing would have made it good.

[tjwash]

79. Check out the directors cut, and you'll see why she was cast.

:evilgrin:

[jobycom]

84. Best film ever made, and she did a great job.

Hey, it's my opinion! :-)

[formerrepuke]

14. Kevin Spacey in "Beyond the Sea"...sure, he can sing, he looks

a little like Bobby Darin- but he's simply too old. Darin's career is profiled, from his early 20s to his death at 37. Spacey is, like 46 or years old.

[youspeakmylanguage]

24. It was a vanity project...

...so to Spacey, it didn't matter.

[Jack Rabbit]

15. Jar Jar in Star Wars I

On the other hand, no real actor would have embarrased himself by taking that role.

[youspeakmylanguage]

23. I liked Jar Jar in the first episode...

...and hated the other 4 movies. (Episodes 2 and 4-6) Haven't seen the newest one yet, though. Episode 2 was so bad that I considered asking for my money back.

[Kazak]

52. While Jar Jar was laughable...

it was Jake Lloyd who was miscast in that flick. Terrible choice.

[China_cat]

26. Marg Helgenberger and Jimmy Smits

in Stephen King's Tommyknockers.

I refuse to even try to watch that simply because those 2 are SO WRONG for the parts that I have to wonder if the producers ever even read the book.

[Shell Beau]

27. I thought Julia Roberts in Closer was good, but

had someone else played the part, it would have been more believable.

[sundog]

50. i loved that movie... of the four, she was the most miscast...

but still good... i usually can't stand her

[Bridget Burke]

72. How about Julia Roberts in "Michael Collins"?

She played his fiancee--with not a trace of Irish in her voice. Beyond the accent, she seemed stunned & clueless in the role. Were NO Irish actresses available? Or capable actresses of any nationality?

Otherwise, the movie was a pretty fair account of the life & death of Collins. Starring Liam Neeson!

[leftofthedial]

29. How about Tony Curtis as a knight

Yondah lies de castle of my fodduh?

[baldguy]

62. Taras Bulba

Tony Curtis as a 16th cent Ukrainian Cossack warrior & Yul Brenner's son?

[Lannes]

31. Tom Selleck

As Eisenhower

[KurtNYC]

34. Leonardo DiCaprio in every movie since Basketball Diaries

eg. Aviator, Titanic, Catch Me if You Can, Man in the Iron Mask

and especially Gangs of New York

[kwassa]

49. I couldn't agree more

I saw "Aviator" last night, and thought him way too lightweight for the role.

He still seems 13 years old.

[ReadTomPaine]

56. I have the same problem with DiCaprio

He perpetually looks like he's in high school. That's a liability for any actor, careerwise. Ask Gary Coleman! :)

Does this look like a man over 30 or under 20?

[ProfessorGAC]

89. Also, Every Line Is So Tortured

He's the worst overactor since Sally Fields. They are both incapable of acting like they're having a normal conversation. I didn't even like him in "Diaries". Just glacially paced and grossly overwrought.
The Professor

[HEyHEY]

60. Nick Nolte in Hotel Rwanda

Great movie, but that guy just ain't Canadian.

[NYYFan]

64. I respectfully disagree. I thought that was good casting

He also looks alot like the real Romeo Dallaire.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rom%E9o_Dallaire

Any suggestions as to who would have been a better choice ?

[HEyHEY]

74. Yeah... anyone

Thing is, Nolte's mannerisms just weren't consistent with that of a Canadian, let alone a Canadian serviceman.
I would have used Paul Gross.

[AllegroRondo]

93. I thought he was great in Gilbert Grape.

but thats about the only movie of his I liked.

[maveric]

35. Corbin Bernson in "Major League"! He did not look like a ballplayer.

Not at all!

[bertha katzenengel]

70. True enough, but at least he could throw the ball. What about the guy

they cast as the pitcher?!

[tjwash]

80. Charlie Sheen? Or the old fart with the crisco on his chest?

I loved that movie. I can watch it a million times and it never gets old.

[bertha katzenengel]

82. The old fart with crisco on his chest.

He was great but he never did quite get the pitching motion down.

I love that movie too.

"Mmmm, Hey-soos. Him I like very much. But he no help curve ball."

"Are you saying Jesus Christ can't hit a curve ball?"

:rofl:

[tjwash]

83. Chelcie Ross. He was in Hoosiers too.

nt

[NewJeffCT]

37. I'm not a big Tom Cruise fan, but

I think he was well-cast as Lestat. In the original 2 books, I had always thought of Lestat as a cocky, arrogant SOB and Cruise plays that type well.

I actually thought Brad Pitt was terrible as Louis. That part really called for somebody talented, like an Ed Norton or Sean Penn.

[NewJeffCT]

38. Hayden Christiansen as Anakin Skywalker

just didn't have the gravitas.

[NYYFan]

67. AMEN BROTHER !

I've heard he's been a decent actor in other things. Eps II and III did nothing to change my opinion or take him off my personal "worst actors alive" list.

[nytemare]

76. He was ok, the kid Jake Lloyd sucked eggs

"Yippee" "Yippee" The kid absolutely sucked. I know was a kid, but I have seen plenty of kids who can at least pretend to act.

[Connie_Corleone]

39. Jodie Foster and Richard Gere in

Somersby.

[stanwyck]

45. Agree. Like them both

but there was absolutely no chemistry and Gere just didn't have the weight to carry off the rogue/imposter.
I did like Gere very much in "Chicago".

[Lydia Leftcoast]

59. That was a lame remake of the French movie

"The Return of Martin Guere."

There's a great bit in The Return of Martin Guere, which makes it clear that his wife knows from the beginning that it's not really him.

How do we know? After she embraces him, she sniffs and looks puzzled for a moment.

He smells wrong--something that would have been especially easy to detect in the Middle Ages, no doubt. :-)

[ReadTomPaine]

40. Joaquin Phoenix in...

well, anything he's ever done. Especially Gladiator, though. The moment he enters a scene, a film becomes unwatchable.

[kwassa]

42. Sorry, Joaquin Phoenix is one of the best actors around ...

[ReadTomPaine]

53. Is it the lisp? The crossed eyes? The "I have to go potty" look he wears?

"Space Camp" was a true epic, no? Or how about his incomparable performance in M. Night Shyamalan's "The Village" or "Signs"? I was even moved to tears in "Ladder 49" because of his acting. <snort>

Yes he's truly one of the best, right up there with Ben Affleck, Paris Hilton and David Hasselhoff.

:eyes:



RTP

[kwassa]

73. I disagree, of course

I've only seen him in "Gladiator" where he was excellent, and haven't seen the films you mentioned. I have seen him in a few other roles as well. He was very good in "Buffalo Soldiers".

I think he is an very talented actor.

http://www.joaquin-phoenix.net/quotes/critics.html

for some critics reviews of his performances

another site:

http://entertainment.msn.com/celebs/celeb.aspx?c=297883&mp=b

In 2000 Phoenix took one of his biggest and most extravagant roles to date as Commodus in director Ridley Scott's big-budget peplum Gladiator. Phoenix's turn as the devious Commodus was a marked departure from the actor's generally likeable characterizations, and proved further indication of his dramatic versitility. On the opposite end of the period piece spectrum, Jaoquin appeased art-house crowds with a memorable performance as the priest who runs the asylum housing the Marquis de Sade in Quills before moving closer to the present and impressing critics with a leading role in Buffalo Soldiers (2001). As a bored military camp clerk who runs goods in the black market, Phoenix's impressive performance was well recieved by festival critics and continued to provide further argument for his viability as a leading man. Phoenix would next turn-up alongside Mel Gibson in The Sixth Sense director M. Night Shyamalan's rural alien invasion thriller Signs. Replacing actor Mark Ruffalo after Ruffalo pulled out of the film due to ill-health, Phoenix stepped into the role as Gibson's younger brother, a member of a family caught in an alien invasion following the appearance of crop circles in the family's cornfield. ~ Rebecca Flint, All Movie Guide

[jobycom]

85. Jesus Christ! He should have won an OScar for that.

What, did he steal your girlfriend in high school? He's one of the best actors of his age in Hollywood right now.

Okay, I'm calm, I'm cool. I respect your opinion. I'll go take a vallium now. Peace.

:-)

[grace0418]

41. Not just Tom Cruise, just about everyone was miscast in

Interview with a Vampire. Antonio Banderas playing a vampire who was a 15-yr-old redheaded boy? HELLO?

[kwassa]

43. Nick Nolte as Thomas Jefferson

Jefferson in Paris.

Truly awful.

[DS1]

46. Well, before GWB I would have said Bill Pullman every time

he plays the role of a 'leader' - especially ID4

The Park Ranger in Broken Arrow

[skygazer]

48. Keanu Reeves in anything

Except those movies where he plays a moran surfer dude type. How that guy gets parts is beyond me - he has the presence and delivery of a corn meal muffin.

[ReadTomPaine]

55. Amusingly, his vapidity was an asset in the first Matrix film.

Seemed to fit the naive "Neo" character pretty well. I often ask the question you posed above - how on earth does he land some of the roles he does. He was a riot in Dracula. I couldn't believe they kept his scenes.


Close that mouth before the bugs fly in, Keanu!

[CanuckAmok]

66. There have always been rumours that he was David Geffin's boytoy.

That might have something to do with his success.

Who knows?

Has he ever been romantically linked to anyone, male or female? I don't think I've ever heard anything.

I'd suggest he's some sort of replicant, but my gut instinct tells me replicants can be programmed to act.

[jobycom]

86. I thought he made Speed, but otherwise, I agree. nt

[graywarrior]

57. Liz Taylor as Cleopatra with Richard Burton

"they're burning the lie-berries!"

[SmileyBoy]

61. Cuba Gooding Jr. should've played Ali instead of Will Smith in "Ali".

I don't know what the hell they were thinking.

[kwassa]

63. Good pick, though Ali is tough to play

[CanuckAmok]

65. Speaking of vampire movies...

Francis Ford Coppola's Bram Stoker's Dracula was an amazing movie, except for the selection of Winona Rider and Keanu Reeves. They were both absolutely terrible, and their "English accents" were just embarassing.

When you think of the high-quality of the overall cast (Anthony Hopkins, Sadie Frost, Gary Oldman), Reeves and Rider are hopelessly miscast.

[loudestchick]

68. And I LUV Cary Elwes!

I keep hoping they'll use him in a Harry Potter movie. (I have 3 kids.)

[Dukkha]

69. Cameron Diaz in Gangs of New Youk

She stood out in a period piece as an 80' bimbo and didn't belong there.

[lildreamer316]

71. You're gonna kill me, but

I really think Jim Carey(sp?) needed to play Willy Wonka this time around. I LOVE Johnny Depp, but not in this role. Of course, I haven't seen the movie yet; he may change my mind. I also think Jim should have done Cat in the Hat. Just my .02.

[HeeBGBz]

75. Mark Hamill - Luke Skywalker

What a no-acting goober.

[Aristus]

78. The Skywalker Whine: "But, but, but, I was gonna go inta

Toshe Station ta pick up some power converters" Aw MAN! SHEESH!

...Uncle Owen never lets me do anything... *kick ground with toe of boot*... he's justa meany......

[elperromagico]

77. Leslie Howard as Ashley Wilkes, "Gone With the Wind."

Weakest performance in the whole flim. It's a pity; Howard was a fine actor but his half-hearted performance in that film is what people know him best for.

[tjwash]

81. Harrison Ford as Han Solo.

It was originally going to be Nick Nolte. THAT would have kicked ass!

[jobycom]

87. John Wayne as Ghengis Kahn

[DeaconBlues]

91. damn, you beat me to it! n/t

[DeaconBlues]

90. John Wayne as Genghis Khan

so very, very bad - it was hilarious