Le Saboteur said:
Ford was too old for the role even way back when.
Following a moment of grief for Ford's diminished career, it would be appreciated if one of the mods could re-title this thread to something more appropriate.
For everybody else, hang on. Your first trailer for Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit is about to begin. Clancy's former analyst has handed in his credentials and opted for the Jason Bourne School of Spycraft.
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I think Chris Pine is an interesting, if not inspired choice. I'm sure he will be up to the challenge, also. But is it just me, or does it feel like Hollywood is giving most of the best male lead roles, to a small handful of actors?
Now, I know the only other franchise thus far, that Pine has been cast in is Star Trek. And there's certainly nothing wrong with a very good actor contributing his talents in more than one tentpole picture. Heck, I'm glad, of course, that Lucas overcame his reservations, and decided to let Ford star in more than one of his sagas.
But I also admire him, for not automatically taking, what could have been, a lazy approach in casting choices.
It seems that right now, if you're last name is Pine, Hardy, Hemsworth, Levitt, Gosling, or Downey Jr. it's a great time to be acting. And all of these guys do a great job, (in most projects, anyway). But, except for Downey, who is older, and has been turning in great performances(if not always in great movies,) for years, most of these guys strike me as being talented, but not really standing out from the collective acting pool.
I suppose I am lamenting the seeming lack of true Movie Stars in this generation. They all seem to have the same personality, at one point or another. Pine, being the exception, as he seems to go for that rye Ford/Nicholson vibe.
I know for many years Ford was the go to guy for a certain type of role. But that's just it, he was usually preferred for a CERTAIN TYPE OF ROLE. I'm glad he was given opportunities to flex his acting muscles in other movies outside of the Lucas universe, and even outside of the acting genre, in general.
But while he was an action star, and a lead actor, there were many other male actors, that had different persona's, that all stood out, and brought something unique to a picture that differed from what their colleagues would have brought. You always knew the difference between a Ford, Eastwood, Cruise, Hanks, Gibson, Russell, Costner, Selleck, Burt Reynolds flick. They each have their own style.
However, I see very little difference in style, generally speaking, from many of the newer up and coming actors, except for what side of the pond they come from. While, maybe this could be due to them having a little diversity in style, and not being pigeonholed/stereotyped just yet, I can't help but sense it's more likely due to a certain blandness, and lack of charisma, with the exception of a couple of them.
I'm sure given time, some of these guys will turn out to be the Ford's/Hanks's of their generation. Right now though, they feel like the Hartnett/Slater's of the month! (note: Though Slater stood out a bit, because he also went for that Nicholson vibe)
Makes me glad to see actors like Craig, and Cumberbatch, gaining clout.
I thoroughly enjoyed Pine in both Star Trek's, and most other projects I've seen him in, and I'm sure he'll make a great Jack Ryan. I just don't want to see him in everything. Let's get some diversity, and think out of the box.