tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post9076248919232434880..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: Casting against typeBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-6936949166145434232012-12-11T23:19:41.016-08:002012-12-11T23:19:41.016-08:00Arrgghh. "THE" OFFENCE, of course.Arrgghh. "THE" OFFENCE, of course.cadavranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-76248265382548707772012-12-11T23:18:58.090-08:002012-12-11T23:18:58.090-08:00If you want to see Connery at his "worst,&quo...If you want to see Connery at his "worst," check out Sidney Lumet's TYHE OFFENCE, which was the actor's passion project. I think it's his best perf ever.cadavranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-30762294527540602062012-12-09T13:07:19.446-08:002012-12-09T13:07:19.446-08:00Kindle version of book purchased!
For another pla...Kindle version of book purchased!<br /><br />For another playing-against-type, I think Jeremy Sisto is doing great work on Suburgatory currently.jsdhttp://www.cluttered.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-53221362722778299652012-12-09T11:53:12.587-08:002012-12-09T11:53:12.587-08:00tb: The film you're thinking of with Max Baer...tb: The film you're thinking of with Max Baer, Jr. was MACON COUNTY LINE. Wonderfully creepy little "B" movie. There was a much lighter sequel called RETURN TO MACON COUNTY that co-starred a pre-fame Nick Nolte. Who was pretty good.Matt Pattonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-65287986402968432022012-12-09T11:48:25.661-08:002012-12-09T11:48:25.661-08:00One example that comes to mind is Ed Wynn in his w...One example that comes to mind is Ed Wynn in his wonderful cameo in the 1957 film THE GREAT MAN, as the radio-station owner who gave the (unseen) title character his first big break and, like just about everybody else in that film, lived to regret it (it's not only against-type casting, but a beautiful example of underplaying as well--and it was done in one take, Jose Ferrer, who starred in and directed the film, allegedly broke into tears of admiration at what Wynn gave him in the scene). Another example in the same film would be Dean Jagger and a network executive in the same film; Jagger had mostly played benevolent types until then, this part opened up a whole new career playing low-key villains. He was genuinely chilling.<br /><br />Sean Connery went brilliantly against heroic type in a 1964 film called WOMAN OF STRAW, where he plays a particularly nasty villain so ruthlessly that he really is bone-chilling. For that matter, his turn as the screwed-up "hero" of Hitchcock's MARNIE is quite unsettling as well (this is a man who essentially rapes his wife on their honeymoon).<br /><br />Matt Pattonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-7748307713676218142012-12-08T17:09:08.736-08:002012-12-08T17:09:08.736-08:00I don't know the woman, but I always wondered ...I don't know the woman, but I always wondered if Mary Tyler Moore's character in Ordinary People is more like her than Mary Richards is in real life.Mitchnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-46475199990251253962012-12-08T01:23:44.996-08:002012-12-08T01:23:44.996-08:00William Powell almost always played villainous rol...William Powell almost always played villainous roles in silents. Talking films added a new dimension to his persona -- that erudite, urbane speaking voice -- that transformed him into playing good guy (or likable debonair antagonist) roles.VP81955https://www.blogger.com/profile/11792390726196611188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-39916448463654213342012-12-06T17:38:10.419-08:002012-12-06T17:38:10.419-08:00How about Bebe Neuwirth going from the buttoned-do...How about Bebe Neuwirth going from the buttoned-down Lilith on CHEERS to sexpot roles on Broadway?<br /><br />And I second Nathan on THE GOOD WIFE. Warms my heart to see him reunited with The Goddess Baranski, even if they're antagonists this time. BTW, if you're a stage buff, GW is truly the show to watch. The finest casts on television, bar none; shooting in NY gives them an astounding pool of talent to tap into. One recent episode had as guest stars Neuwirth, Brian Dennehy and Stockard Channing.cadavranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-18320328730375115432012-12-06T13:53:04.816-08:002012-12-06T13:53:04.816-08:00I don't care what movies or TV he does, to Ont...I don't care what movies or TV he does, to Ontario natives of a certain age Graham Yost will always just be Elwy's boy.<br /><br />Montreal MikeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-70568908061253362852012-12-06T12:34:50.253-08:002012-12-06T12:34:50.253-08:00"tb said...
Max Baer Jr. (Jethro) really scar..."tb said...<br />Max Baer Jr. (Jethro) really scared me as a redneck sherriff in that one movie, remember that, can't think of the name right now, dammit...Southern Comfort?<br /><br />"Macon County Line?" I think I saw it as a drive-in double feature with one of the lesser Planet of the Apes movies.<br /><br />Back to going against type? How about Jerry Lewis, both in "King of Comedy" & "Wiseguy?"<br /><br />iainnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-3932252137003116342012-12-06T09:31:05.493-08:002012-12-06T09:31:05.493-08:00JK Simmons was also the psychiatrist on Law & ...JK Simmons was also the psychiatrist on Law & Order. Rebeccanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-37485683559168104882012-12-06T09:24:50.380-08:002012-12-06T09:24:50.380-08:00Everyone is giving great examples, I too thought o...Everyone is giving great examples, I too thought of Garrett Dillahunt - who knew? Also love British Hugh Laurie vs. American Hugh Laurie, I think it's pretty amazing there are millions of people who have never seen him in a comedic role.XJillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-78486302208613213132012-12-06T08:32:05.574-08:002012-12-06T08:32:05.574-08:00Billy West, voice actor extrordinaire (REN & S...Billy West, voice actor extrordinaire (REN & STIMPY, DOUG, et.al.), told a great story about the time he was cast as the Red M&M for the TV commercials. At that time OZ was big on HBO, and Billy's wife showed him a episode and singled out the menacing Aryan Brotherhood leader Schillinger (JK Simmons), and swore that he wasn't acting and was really a racist Nazi type. Billy just laughed at her and said, "He's the yellow M&M!"<br /><br />Michael Madsen was amused when kids would approach him because he was the dad in the FREE WILLY movies, and their parents would freak out because he was the psychotic cop torturer in RESERVOIR DOGS.<br /><br />Another commenter pointed out John Lithgow and yes, to go from major bad guys in RICOCHET and CLIFFHANGER to an outright goofball in THIRD ROCK FROM THE SUN, that takes talent.rogernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-76058142229207631182012-12-06T08:26:19.744-08:002012-12-06T08:26:19.744-08:00Very well acted and directed. Very good TV.Very well acted and directed. Very good TV.Jerry Krullnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-27875899966328810712012-12-06T08:21:20.562-08:002012-12-06T08:21:20.562-08:00Back in the late '40s, there was a young leadi...Back in the late '40s, there was a young leading man working in Poverty Row thrillers, alternating between tough private eyes and smiling villain types.<br />When B-movies died in the early '50s, this actor went into TV, where he somehow became the Perfect Sitcom Dad.<br />Wanna throw a shock into your Baby Boomer friends?<br />See if you can dig up some dollar-store DVDs featuring the toughest guy on Poverty Row - Hugh Beaumont.<br /><br />Mike Dorannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-70634505995753172422012-12-06T08:12:39.544-08:002012-12-06T08:12:39.544-08:00For the MASH aspect of the playing-against-type ro...For the MASH aspect of the playing-against-type roles, Harry Morgan's debut turn as Gen. Steele in Season 3 wasn't 100 percent against what people were used to -- he had roles before with a bit of an eccentric/grouchy streak -- but the combined characteristics were definitely against how he had played in his previous network series and his movie appearances.Johnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-75532003641818709032012-12-06T07:43:50.003-08:002012-12-06T07:43:50.003-08:00He wasn't a star yet, so I can't really sa...He wasn't a star yet, so I can't really say it was casting against type, but Fess Parker as the seemingly insane patient in the 1950s giant bug classic THEM.Kirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02155991693956178030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-42171151931075506252012-12-06T06:43:13.248-08:002012-12-06T06:43:13.248-08:00Brent Spiner's work in Night Court as a sad-fa...Brent Spiner's work in Night Court as a sad-faced rural man didn't prepare me for his work as Data in "Star Trek: The New Generation".Brian Phillipshttp://ultrasonicremote.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-43311982037894818372012-12-06T06:34:13.139-08:002012-12-06T06:34:13.139-08:00Betty White as Sue Ann Nivens.Betty White as Sue Ann Nivens.Robnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-991191577922568822012-12-06T05:24:59.412-08:002012-12-06T05:24:59.412-08:00Wendy M. Grossman: Uh, THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE T...Wendy M. Grossman: Uh, THE TAKING OF PELHAM ONE TWO THREE was made in 1974...after THE FORTUNE COOKIE (Matthau's Academy Award-winning role), after THE ODD COUPLE, after CACTUS FLOWER, after HELLO DOLLY, after PLAZA SUITE...and, for that matter, after CHARLIE VARRICK and THE LAUGHING POLICEMAN, two dramas in which Matthau played the heroes. By the time of PELHAM, he had not played a villain in a decade.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-31075290465575578642012-12-06T03:39:12.718-08:002012-12-06T03:39:12.718-08:00Patrick Stewart as a flamboyant stage director in ...Patrick Stewart as a flamboyant stage director in Frasier.<br /><br />dgwphotographyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17457021093344362212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-83037486778211497032012-12-06T03:00:51.114-08:002012-12-06T03:00:51.114-08:00Stemming from your post about casting actors again...Stemming from your post about casting actors against type, what about the case for hiring writers against type? Writers progressing from comedy to drama [or vice versa], or from film to TV [or vice versa]? <br /><br />Examples off the top of my head: Shawn Ryan went from My Two Dads via Nash Bridges to The Shield. Or Joss Whedon - from Roseanne via Buffy the Vampire Slayer to The Avengers. DAVID BISHOPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17342376036664282348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-15842487576339170772012-12-05T22:08:09.447-08:002012-12-05T22:08:09.447-08:00Going against type... Denise Richards in "The...Going against type... Denise Richards in "The World Is Not Enough." The woman who married Charlie Sheen was a nuclear physicist. Waynenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-76550448214998523582012-12-05T17:07:25.613-08:002012-12-05T17:07:25.613-08:00• David Morse was excellent, as always, in one of ...• David Morse was excellent, as always, in one of your favorite movies of the year, The Odd Life of Timothy Green.<br /><br />Lindsay Lohan made a full turn to comedy in Liz and Dick. Greg Ehrbarhttp://www.mousetracksonline.com/blog.phpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-74659201534651939332012-12-05T16:46:06.249-08:002012-12-05T16:46:06.249-08:00I remember seeing some of the test reels of Kathy ...I remember seeing some of the test reels of Kathy Bates when they were thinking of hiring her for "Blue Lagoon III - The Autumn Years." <br />Financing fell through, but Kathy was beautiful, and worked well with Chris Adkins.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com