Fantasy Films - Fantasy Casting

Do you ever read a book and think about who you would cast for the various characters if it was made into a movie?  Or do you ever think about your favorite actors and think what types of films and roles you would cast them in?  


Well, I do, all the time. If I am reading a book I particularly like or think would make a good film, I always cast the main roles in my imagination. But sometimes I don't even need to adapt a book to the screen in my mind, I often think of film ideas that would be perfect for some of my favorite actors. If only I had the money to be a producer!  


My own game of Fantasy Films and Fantasy Casting!


Now, anyone who visits this blog will soon find out that two of my favorite actors are Richard Armitage and Sean Bean. So you would be correct to assume that I often cast those two particular actors in roles.  The other day I had a long wait at the dentist's office and my thoughts turned to films and casting and my two favorite acting men. 


So I thought I would share some of my dental office waiting room ideas with the world  (click on the images to enlarge): 


1.  With current advances in CGI and film technology, it's really easier today for one actor to play a dual role in the same movie, I mean Jeremy Irons and others have done it, so why not RA? Imagine him playing both Lucas North and John Porter in the same film!

2.  One genre of film that I miss these days is a good biopic.  What happened to those great films and TV programs about great composers and great artists, or even great men and women who made a difference in the world?  OK, we do get a biopic once in a while, but few and far between. Wouldn't it be wonderful if Richard Armitage would play a part that would use his knowledge and love of music his considerable charisma, and acting talents, and the passion, romance, and multiple layers of character we know he can bring to a role:

To read about Franz Liszt, click HERE

3.  Which brings me back to books and imagining a fantasy cast while reading. A few years ago I read Azincourt (or Agincourt in the US) by Bernard Cornwell.  As it happens a movie based on this book is right now in pre-production and if all goes well they will start filming in 2012. I have no idea who I would cast for the protagonist of the book, the archer Nick Hook.  As it happens, I found him the least interesting character in the entire novel.  But I know exactly who I would cast in two great supporting roles from the book:

Now, in case one of the producers or casting people working on this film reads this post, I offer quotes from the book that I hope explains why my two favorite actors would be perfect for these two key roles:


Richard Armitage for Lanferelle:

The rider, sitting straight-legged in his destrier's saddle, stared down at Hook...Ghillebert, Seigneur de Lanferelle, the lord of hell.

He alone among the horsemen was bareheaded so that his long black hair hung sleek almost to his waist. His face was like polished metal, hard edged, bronze dark, with a hawk's nose and hooded eyes that showed amusement as he stared first at Hook who was trapped by the sword blade, then at his squire...

"She was beautiful, Melisande said, and she loved him. She said he was so beautiful too. A beautiful man."  "Handsome," Hook allowed. "Beautiful," Melisande insisted.(Note: They are talking about Lanferelle)

  
Sean Bean for Sir John Cornewaille:

Sir John looked to be close on forty years old, but he was still the most feared tournament fighter in Europe...Sir John Cornwaille loved his king, he worshiped his older wife who was the king's aunt, he adored the women on whom he fathered bastards and he was devoted to his men.

Sir John Cornewaille was also a real person and you can read about him HERE. 

Well, if I ever hit it big in the lottery and open my own production company, I'll let you all know. In the meantime, it's all for fun :)

I would love to hear from others about their own Fantasy Films or Fantasy Casting.


Update! My friend Dezz has an update on AGINCOURT:


http://hollywood-spy.blogspot.com/2011/05/michael-mann-helms-agincourt-epic-tom.html


  

Detective Inspector Irene Huss - International Mystery

I just finished watching a second episode of the Scandinavian mystery/police series Detective Inspector Irene Huss.  I'm so happy to see a woman detective as the lead character in a murder mystery. But more than that what I'm starting to really like about Irene Huss is that she's also a wife and mother, juggling a demanding career with family responsibilities.  She's also in a happy marriage for a change, and  has two lovely but typical teenage daughters who challenge their parents in all sorts of unexpected ways. D.I. Huss is a great detective but also a woman you can imagine as a good friend. 

D.I. Huss is played by Swedish actress Angela Kovacs.  Since 2001 she's been part of the Royal Dramatic Theater in Stockholm as well as working in films and television.  I don't remember seeing Ms. Kovacs in other television series or films, but I must have seen her since her IMDB profile shows she's worked in several Wallander episodes, one of my favorite Scandinavian Mysteries.  Talented actors can often change appearance and character in a way to be unrecognizable.  Ms. Kovacs brings a great deal of realism to her portrayal of Irene Huss.  She's no supercop, but a capable, professional, and strong policewoman who is also  human and vulnerable. Her interactions with the actors who play her family come across as very believable.  The actors playing the Huss are all very good and charming, especially Reuben Sallmander as her laid back husband Krister.

Irene of course has her office family, her Gottenburg police colleagues, who are a group of colorful characters.  Two of my favorites are Jonny, played by Dag Malmberg, a 50'ish and sometimes chauvinistic detective who is clearly channeling Elvis, and young tech-geek policeman Frederick played by Eric Ericsson. 

The Irene Huss television/film series is based on the novels by crime fiction author Helene Tursten. Before becoming an author, Ms. Tursten worked as a nurse and dentist. 

Author Helene Tursten

To get a better idea of the Detective Inspector Irene Huss series, see the trailer below (for mature audiences only):

  

US viewers can see the Irene Huss series and other international mystery television series on the MHZ Networks: http://www.mhznetworks.org/

Have a Hobbit Day :)

Hobbit Video Blog Day - April 14, 2011

What a lovely Hobbit Day!  Today Sir Peter Jackson blessed all fans with his first marvelous video blog, posted on his Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Peter-Jackson/141884481557

A beautiful gift for all Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, and The Hobbit fans...and a special day for all Richard Armitage fans...especially because of the Powhiri video at the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RSoA73SaI0 

 (Thanks to bccmee2)

For research purposes as a member of the RA Academy I have now viewed the Powhiri video with Richard Armitage 49,548 time, and feel I've yet to discern every single nuance of his mastery of Maori or the lovely sound of his voice, or his gorgeous self.  I must resume my studies and burn the midnight oil this evening with a glass of my favorite wine.

(I marvel at the fact the a few months ago I had no idea what a Powhiri was. The Hobbit is very educational.)

 (cap thanks to RichardArmitageNet.com)

Now I know everyone in Richard Armitage World has seen the videos and viewed the caps thousands of times by now.  But after watching PJ's video for 5,459 times I spotted this:

Yes - that is the back of Richard's head (my own low quality cap).   Remember, others may have lots of caps of the Powhiri ceremony and RA, but I have the back of his lovely head.  Note you saw it here at  White Rose: Sincere and Simple Thoughts.

I also have observed other wondrous sightings in PJ's video:

(Rob Kazinsky and my own low quality cap)

For those that don't know, the handsome man pointing at us through the screen is Robert Kazinsky.  Dear Rob, thank you for all your tweets and for keeping all of your followers on Twitter updated on the goings on in New Zealand as you and the rest of the cast go through this adventure. In case you don't know, we love you for it. 
(April 24, 2011- Sad to see this morning that Rob Kazinsky is leaving The Hobbit for personal reasons. I know it has to be sad for him to leave, he was so enthusiastic about being Fili and the entire experience. I wish him all the best in his life, both personal and professional, and will truly miss his messages from NZ)

(my own low quality cap)

For everyone that still thinks Middle-Earth Dwarves can't be handsome, I present Fili (Rob Kazinsky) and Kili (Aidan Turner). 

It took me a while to recognize Aidan Turner without his long, curly locks. But now that I've watched the video tons of time,  I think he looks very handsome indeed with short hair and wild beard.

(Aidan Turner as John Mitchell in Being Human)

Spoilers.........................

Dear Aidan, I was so sad when our troubled, sexy, and loving vampire John Mitchell (Being Human) was killed by a "Hobbit" shaped bullet at the end of Season 3. I will miss Mitchell and the marvelous character you created of a tortured and lethal man, who was still capable of loving and inspiring much love. 

My own words fail me trying to describe how I feel as a Richard Armitage fan today after seeing him take the lead at the Powhiri ceremony (see video above).  I think only watching the video of him at the ceremony could do this moment justice, but to be serious for a moment, I will leave you with a few lines of a poem (not my own):

(cap from RichardArmitageNet.com)

For Richard Armitage

My struggle is harsh and I come back

with eyes tired

at times from having seen

the unchanging earth,

but when your laughter enters

it rises to the sky seeking me

and it opens for me all

the doors of life.

(Pablo Neruda)

Today was a lovely day.

Poll Results: Choice of Movie Director to Partner with Actor Richard Armitage

It's A Tie!!!!!!

The votes are in and it's a tie between British Director Tom Hooper and Chinese-American Director Ang Lee.  Both are marvelous choices and intriguing to think how wonderful it would be if they would find a creative soul mate in Richard Armitage, and how wonderful it would be for RA to have roles and films tailored for him that would challenge him as an actor and as a person.  


See the results below and a bit about each of these great directors.

Tom Hooper

Poll Results:  41%

Ang Lee

Poll Results: 41%

Thank you so much to all who participated in the poll.


Would love your comments about Tom Hooper and Ang Lee working together with Richard Armitage, or suggestions of other movie directors you think would be a great artistic match with Armitage.


One day soon I hope we'll see Richard Armitage with one of the movie directors above, or maybe a young new movie director not yet on the radar, featured in the list below:


Fifty Greatest Movie Director/Star Collaborations:
 http://www.totalfilm.com/features/50-greatest-movie-director-star-collaborations/martin-scorsese-robert-de-niro


To see all poll results see sidebar on the right.

Harry and Geradline: If There Was No You (video)

Men and Their Swords

Photos form RichardArmitageNet.com and multipleverses.com (via TMB/SBO)

New Poll: In a Partnership of Director and Actor, Who Would You Like Richard Armitage to Work With

I have a new poll today inspired by Servetus latest post (Me & Richard Armitage) about Richard Armitage and Toshiro Mifune.


The great Japanese, indeed International, actor and star Toshiro Mifune had a long association with great film director Akira Kurasawa.  I thought about how wonderful it would be if Richard Armitage formed an association with a talented film director, either a new director or an established one.  There have been several of these partnerships in film history,  Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese for example,  and if it works it can be an inspiration for both actor and director.  It would also mean roles developed especially for Richard Armitage. 


I've gone through and thought about some of my favorite directors working now and would love your vote on who you think would form a good creative partnership with Richard Armitage (see poll on the right hand column).  


I've deliberately not included Peter Jackson since RA is working with him now. My list is by no means comprehensive, and I'm certain I've left out some of your favorites or non-English speaking directors that may be doing interesting work. 


I would also love your suggestions in the comments below on other film directors that you would like to see work  and partner with Richard Armitage!  

To help you with the poll choices, below are the director's and a list of some of their films:

1  Danny Boyle :  "Slumdog Millionaire", "172  Hours"


2.  David Fincher: "The Social Network", "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

3.  Tom Hooper:  "The King's Speech", "The Damned United"

4. Alejandro González Iñárritu:  "Amores Perros", "Babel" 

5.  Asif Kapadia:  "Far North", "The Warrior"


6..  Ang Lee:  "Sense and Sensibility" ,   "Lust, Caution"


7.  Mira Nair:  "Monsoon Wedding", "Vanity Fair" 


See the poll on the right hand column to vote.   Thank you for voting.
***********
Oh, and while you're voting on my poll, don't forget to go over to The Hunkies and vote for Guy of Gisborne:

http://www.thehunkies.com/poll-big-bad-hunkies/