Someone on salon.com commented on my first miscasting post. They said that an actor should be versatile and be able to challenge themselves.
I agree.
I would, however, say that this is too often used to excuse miscasting. It's like saying miscasting never happens because no matter what role someone gives you, if you're a good enough actor, you'll make it work.
To illustrate my point, I'll use examples of stretching and miscasting. These are all based on my opinions, but I think giving examples is the best way to show what I mean. I feel like when miscasting is involved you can always tell because there's a political element to it. Here are the examples:
STRETCHING: Johnny Depp as Sweeney Todd. Not the first name that would come to mind, but he did a decent job.
MISCASTING: Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett. Too young, too pretty--clearly got it the same way she's gotten every other role in every other one of her husband's movies.
STRETCHING: Renee Zellwegger as Bridget Jones. Yes, Kate Winslet would have been the more obvious choice, but Renee did very well both times.
MISCASTING: Renee Zellwegger as Roxie. The whole point of Roxie is that she's past her prime. Casting someone so young didn't make any sense.
STRETCHING: Me as a drug-pushing heterosexual.
MISCASTING: Me in a role that involves having to sing any tenor song ever written...or Santa Clause.
STRETCHING: Hayden Christensen in "Life as a House."
MISCASTING: Hayden Christensen in any movie other than "Life as a House."
STRETCHING: Brad Pitt
MISCASTING: Megan Fox
See? It's easy enough to figure out.
I agree.
I would, however, say that this is too often used to excuse miscasting. It's like saying miscasting never happens because no matter what role someone gives you, if you're a good enough actor, you'll make it work.
To illustrate my point, I'll use examples of stretching and miscasting. These are all based on my opinions, but I think giving examples is the best way to show what I mean. I feel like when miscasting is involved you can always tell because there's a political element to it. Here are the examples:
STRETCHING: Johnny Depp as Sweeney Todd. Not the first name that would come to mind, but he did a decent job.
MISCASTING: Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett. Too young, too pretty--clearly got it the same way she's gotten every other role in every other one of her husband's movies.
STRETCHING: Renee Zellwegger as Bridget Jones. Yes, Kate Winslet would have been the more obvious choice, but Renee did very well both times.
MISCASTING: Renee Zellwegger as Roxie. The whole point of Roxie is that she's past her prime. Casting someone so young didn't make any sense.
STRETCHING: Me as a drug-pushing heterosexual.
MISCASTING: Me in a role that involves having to sing any tenor song ever written...or Santa Clause.
STRETCHING: Hayden Christensen in "Life as a House."
MISCASTING: Hayden Christensen in any movie other than "Life as a House."
STRETCHING: Brad Pitt
MISCASTING: Megan Fox
See? It's easy enough to figure out.
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