Troy and Wooden Cameras
Sep. 15th, 2002 05:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dexfarkinAccording to reports, a film called TROY, a Hollywoodized version of the Iliad, is being produced with Brad Pitt in the role of Achilleus. Being who we are, Doqz and I immediately sat down to speak of the rest of the possible casts, and have come up with a casting list for the Iliad. Our reasons follow each character, and we'd like to see your choices, even in characters we lack.
Odysseus - Robert Carlyle
Odysseus was very difficult to cast, mostly since his character is both central to the story, and written as a difficult and enigmatic person. He's basically the first great bastard of literature, and we ended up running through a range from Ben Kingsley to William DeFoe. However, the ugly character look of Carlyle was our eventual choice. Heavy in irony, a small man, with all the Scots vindictiveness in him, Robert has that mix which we felt fit the centre of Homer's epics.
Hector - Sean Bean
Hector in the Iliad is a large presence; the scourge of the Greeks that only Achilleus can stand against. He has to be imposing on a physical and thematic level, which is what led us to Sean. Bean's rough features, almost cruel eyes and raw physical presence holds that fear to the common man.
Aias - Jon Favreau
The Hector of the Greeks. Aias, or Ajax, has a sort of raw power matched by sheer gormlessness. He's the kindly giant; not an oaf but not a subtle man either. His presence is as a contrast to the cunning of Odysseus and Hector. Favreau has been able to bulk up to impressive proportions, and his Hanks-like acting creates a very human sort of bewilderment in the sneakier aspects, but communicates purpose and loyalty to a cause.
Paris - Robert Downey Jr
Alright, I think Paris is a bit of a cruel twit. Doqz was first thinking of Matt Damon, but we finally ended off with Robert. He's a dark, sort of selfish personality, exactly the type to create a war over a woman. It makes the entire war more premediatated than accidental. Plus, Downey can act, and in a nasty role like this, he could shine.
Menelaus - John Rhys-Davis
Menelaus is a large character; deep voiced, powerfully built, commanding. The choice of John beat out a lot of larger mainstream actors who lacked his rumbling power. The combination of age and power gave him a final edge.
Agamemnon - Anthony Hopkins
It's hard to cast the king of the Greeks, and almost a cop-out to choose Hopkins. Not only is the actor the obvious choice in a major, older role, but he has the acting chops to pull it off. Sean Connery was batted about, but I think it's better to go away from him to the more versitile Hopkins.
Nestor - Scott Glenn
Nestor is the voice of reason on the council most off; an older one that even the hotheads respect. There's a steel core that needs to be apparent in the actor. Glenn has played some of the great hard ass roles, from Mancuso to Crawford, and his dry wisdom fits in nicely with the role of Nestor.
Patroklos - Ryan Phillippe
This one was a fight between Ed Norton and Ryan. We finally decided on Ryan since the homo-erotic elements of the relationship fit better between Pitt and Phillippe, as opposed to the more friends relationship of the 'Fight Club' Norton/Pitt dynamic. Ryan is a sort of lean, blond, ready to be oiled up Greco-Roman Aryan ideal that Gobbels had wet dreams over. In the context of the Iliad, his place as the stupid lover on the way to death is fitting.
Cassandra - Madeleine Stowe
That dark, classical look to the prophetess fits Stowe, especially with a starkly lit scene, accenting every line on her. A sort of care-worn from the knowledge that the future will not be twarted. My initial choice was Emma Thompson, but Doqz convinced me towards the darker look.
Helen - Heather Graham
Yeah, you need a dippy blonde who could lead to this sort of war. Big hair, big breasts, no brains. Helen, we know you too well.
Andromache - Bebe Neuwirth
If you want dark, queenly arrogence, you get Bebe. Best known for Lilith on 'Cheers', she's not only a fantastic actress, but a model profile as well. Her mix between cold duty and passionate protectiveness is a required trait for the queen. The original choice for Doqz was Dana Delaney, but we went more towards aristocratic than motherly.
Thersites - Steve Buscemi
Ugly little bastard who is beaten on by Odysseus. Who else?
Kalchas - Richard Harris
Our idea is for real horrific blindness, with cataracts thicker than plate steel and vicious scarring around the eyes. The trembling palsey and look of blind knowledge works for an actor like Harris. His role in Gladiator has a lot of the aspects which can be brought to the character. Originally, we had Hopkins in this role, but his physical presence is too large for the blind man.
Diomedes - Gary Oldman
This one was a compromise. Doqz wanted Russell Crowe and I wanted Angus MacFadyen. However, Oldman is such a damn fine actor, and a physical presence that he could easily hold the role of Diomedes. Besides, a dynamic between him and Carlyle could make a fascinating study on the entire war itself.
Priam - Jeremy Irons
Irons. Priam. Irons. Priam. Obvious, no
Odysseus - Robert Carlyle
Odysseus was very difficult to cast, mostly since his character is both central to the story, and written as a difficult and enigmatic person. He's basically the first great bastard of literature, and we ended up running through a range from Ben Kingsley to William DeFoe. However, the ugly character look of Carlyle was our eventual choice. Heavy in irony, a small man, with all the Scots vindictiveness in him, Robert has that mix which we felt fit the centre of Homer's epics.
Hector - Sean Bean
Hector in the Iliad is a large presence; the scourge of the Greeks that only Achilleus can stand against. He has to be imposing on a physical and thematic level, which is what led us to Sean. Bean's rough features, almost cruel eyes and raw physical presence holds that fear to the common man.
Aias - Jon Favreau
The Hector of the Greeks. Aias, or Ajax, has a sort of raw power matched by sheer gormlessness. He's the kindly giant; not an oaf but not a subtle man either. His presence is as a contrast to the cunning of Odysseus and Hector. Favreau has been able to bulk up to impressive proportions, and his Hanks-like acting creates a very human sort of bewilderment in the sneakier aspects, but communicates purpose and loyalty to a cause.
Paris - Robert Downey Jr
Alright, I think Paris is a bit of a cruel twit. Doqz was first thinking of Matt Damon, but we finally ended off with Robert. He's a dark, sort of selfish personality, exactly the type to create a war over a woman. It makes the entire war more premediatated than accidental. Plus, Downey can act, and in a nasty role like this, he could shine.
Menelaus - John Rhys-Davis
Menelaus is a large character; deep voiced, powerfully built, commanding. The choice of John beat out a lot of larger mainstream actors who lacked his rumbling power. The combination of age and power gave him a final edge.
Agamemnon - Anthony Hopkins
It's hard to cast the king of the Greeks, and almost a cop-out to choose Hopkins. Not only is the actor the obvious choice in a major, older role, but he has the acting chops to pull it off. Sean Connery was batted about, but I think it's better to go away from him to the more versitile Hopkins.
Nestor - Scott Glenn
Nestor is the voice of reason on the council most off; an older one that even the hotheads respect. There's a steel core that needs to be apparent in the actor. Glenn has played some of the great hard ass roles, from Mancuso to Crawford, and his dry wisdom fits in nicely with the role of Nestor.
Patroklos - Ryan Phillippe
This one was a fight between Ed Norton and Ryan. We finally decided on Ryan since the homo-erotic elements of the relationship fit better between Pitt and Phillippe, as opposed to the more friends relationship of the 'Fight Club' Norton/Pitt dynamic. Ryan is a sort of lean, blond, ready to be oiled up Greco-Roman Aryan ideal that Gobbels had wet dreams over. In the context of the Iliad, his place as the stupid lover on the way to death is fitting.
Cassandra - Madeleine Stowe
That dark, classical look to the prophetess fits Stowe, especially with a starkly lit scene, accenting every line on her. A sort of care-worn from the knowledge that the future will not be twarted. My initial choice was Emma Thompson, but Doqz convinced me towards the darker look.
Helen - Heather Graham
Yeah, you need a dippy blonde who could lead to this sort of war. Big hair, big breasts, no brains. Helen, we know you too well.
Andromache - Bebe Neuwirth
If you want dark, queenly arrogence, you get Bebe. Best known for Lilith on 'Cheers', she's not only a fantastic actress, but a model profile as well. Her mix between cold duty and passionate protectiveness is a required trait for the queen. The original choice for Doqz was Dana Delaney, but we went more towards aristocratic than motherly.
Thersites - Steve Buscemi
Ugly little bastard who is beaten on by Odysseus. Who else?
Kalchas - Richard Harris
Our idea is for real horrific blindness, with cataracts thicker than plate steel and vicious scarring around the eyes. The trembling palsey and look of blind knowledge works for an actor like Harris. His role in Gladiator has a lot of the aspects which can be brought to the character. Originally, we had Hopkins in this role, but his physical presence is too large for the blind man.
Diomedes - Gary Oldman
This one was a compromise. Doqz wanted Russell Crowe and I wanted Angus MacFadyen. However, Oldman is such a damn fine actor, and a physical presence that he could easily hold the role of Diomedes. Besides, a dynamic between him and Carlyle could make a fascinating study on the entire war itself.
Priam - Jeremy Irons
Irons. Priam. Irons. Priam. Obvious, no
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Will you please cast Oedipus Rex for me? Please?
Daaayum. Good job.
This movie, as envisioned by you and Doqz, could make LotR look like the "Dungeons and Dragons" movie (*shudder*). Rock on.
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Date: 2002-09-15 08:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2002-09-15 11:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2002-09-20 08:41 am (UTC)