# Most Stunning Miscasts Of All Time **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 26, 2003, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-stunning-miscasts-of-all-time/177644 "2003-05-26T22:20:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-stunning-miscasts-of-all-time/177644/81 "2003-05-27T17:24:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dewey Cheatem Undhow \* > \*\*This was my first thought as well. So much so that it bears repeating: > > _Denise Richards_ as a _nuclear weapons expert_. > > The mind boggles. \*\* This should be far and away the winner. My brain hurts just thinking about it. ---
**Author:** ![Finite\_Elephant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Finite\_Elephant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finite_Elephant)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-stunning-miscasts-of-all-time/177644/82 "2003-05-27T19:40:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ender\_Will \* > **Ron Livingston in _Band of Brothers_. And that guy from Friends.** Maybe I can buy Ron Livingston being miscast, but when you talk about David Schwimmer…let’s face it: Ross is a jerk, the character Schwimmer played on BoB is a jerk, and Schwimmer plays both well. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-stunning-miscasts-of-all-time/177644/83 "2003-05-27T19:44:07Z")
**refusal** – Brando has made one decent movie since 1973: [_The Freshman._](http://www.suntimes.com/ebert/ebert_reviews/1990/07/558978.html) ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-stunning-miscasts-of-all-time/177644/84 "2003-05-27T20:00:25Z")
**Moderator’s Notes** **Evil captor** and **RikWriter** , cut it out. We’re not going to be doing this here. ---
**Author:** ![Kang\_and\_Kodos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8baadc/32.png) [@Kang\_and\_Kodos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kang_and_Kodos)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-stunning-miscasts-of-all-time/177644/85 "2003-05-27T20:22:41Z")
THE ANNIVERSARY PARTY. Alan Cumming as a charasmatic pussyhound? Um, no. ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-stunning-miscasts-of-all-time/177644/86 "2003-05-27T20:30:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by twickster \* > \*\ ***refusal** – Brando has made one decent movie since 1973: [_The Freshman._](http://www.suntimes.com/ebert/ebert_reviews/1990/07/558978.html) \*\* I also thought he did just fine in _Don Juan de Marco._ ---
**Author:** ![YiBaiYuan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/f475e1/32.png) [@YiBaiYuan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YiBaiYuan)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-stunning-miscasts-of-all-time/177644/87 "2003-05-27T21:09:51Z")
The worst casting, in my view, was Edward G. Robinson as Dathan in C.B. DeMille’s “The Ten Commandments” (1956). The runner-up would be James Cagney as George M. Cohen in “Yankee Doodle Dandy” (1942). In neither case did the actor make me believe they were the character portrayed; to the contrary, they were so glaringly wrong that my consciousness was taken from enjoying the film to protesting the choice of actors. ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-stunning-miscasts-of-all-time/177644/88 "2003-05-27T22:24:15Z")
I’ve never seen it, but Sir Lawrence Olivier’s portrayal of General Douglas MacArthur was roundly ridiculed when the Moonie-funded flick [Inchon](http://us.imdb.com/Trivia?0084132) splattered [into the pavement](http://www.geocities.com/craigmaxim/m-8a.html). ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-stunning-miscasts-of-all-time/177644/89 "2003-05-27T23:31:45Z")
**Sofa King** I haven’t seen _Inchon_ either, but I spotted it in my local video store recently and plan on giving it a screen just for giggles. Its write-up in RE:Search’s [_Incredibly Strange Films_](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1889307017/qid=1054078357/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/002-0688352-7208852?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) says that Olivier got a bit of questionable direction for that role-- to wit, that MacArthur’s speech-patterns were similar to W.C. Fields, and Olivier obligingly delivered all of his lines in what amounted to a half-hearted W.C. Fields impression. At least he got payed. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-stunning-miscasts-of-all-time/177644/90 "2003-05-27T23:45:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eutychus \* > \*\ ***Moderator’s Notes** > > **Evil captor** and **RikWriter** , cut it out. We’re not going to be doing this here. \*\* Be happy to. I simply find it very very rude when someone injects a totally off-topic political screed into a thread. ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-stunning-miscasts-of-all-time/177644/91 "2003-05-27T23:50:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RikWriter \* > \*\*Be happy to. I simply find it very very rude when someone injects a totally off-topic political screed into a thread. \*\* So do I which is why we’re not going to argue it out here. That’s what we have the Pit for. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Peg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Peg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peg)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-stunning-miscasts-of-all-time/177644/92 "2003-05-28T00:12:37Z")
Jeanne Tripplehorn in _The Firm_. Her acting was fine, but she just didn’t look right with Tom Cruise. Maybe they ought to have recasted Mitch. Richard Gere in _First Knight_. Some people look too “modern” to be in period pieces (I put Tom Cruse in this category). Alicia Silverstone in _Batman & Robin_. Maxine Bahns in _Brothers MuMullen_. I know she was dating the director at the time, but she was not a good actress. Sandra Bullock in _The Net_. > [@](#): > > I believe that it is physically impossible to be any more miscast than Geena Davis was in Cutthroat Island. ITA, and casting Matthew Modine opposite her wasn’t a great move, either. I have to second or third or billion Denise Richards in _The World Is Not Enough_. I cringed when she’d come on the screen. On the other hand, I have to disagree with **refusal** over Kenneth Branagh. Shakespeare aside, I thought he copped a fine Californian accent in _Dead Again_. He slipped in a couple of places, but otherwise, I bought him as a native. > [@](#): > > I’m surprised that Christian Haydensen (as Anakin Skywalker) hasn’t been mentioned yet. Hayden Christiansen? Darth Vader != brat Hayden Christensen as Anakin didn’t bother me. IMHO, all the actors in the pre-quels are fine actors in their own right. The problem lies in the direction and dialogue. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-stunning-miscasts-of-all-time/177644/93 "2003-05-28T00:35:41Z")
I cannot believe no one mentioned the gigantic miscasting of nearly every female character in the Xmen movies!!! With due respect to the good points brought by Number Six about actors not necessarily resembling their literary characters, this was way beyond that. Halle Berry, sure she’s cute, all 5 foot of her?! Her character is an Amazon, literally, part of her schtick is having to cope with the average joe’s inability to deal with her heighth and general kickassitude. Iman would have been better suited physically, maybe even Grace Jones for the sheer ferocity. Anna Paquin is harder to complain about, but that’s because they threw 40+ years of inter-related story lines into a blender and chose whatever looked yummy. I was so looking forward to a sexy, southern in yo’ face Woman, instead we get an angsty kid. Since so much of Jean Grey’s acting is sorta non-physical, as a telepath we don’t see her really do stuff, as much as stuff happens near her, couldn’t they have cast a more expressive actress? Instead of feeling like we’ve a front row ticket to all the internal conflicts she goes thru, it’s like cut to the mannequin, oh look, she just appears bored. One caveat, Mystique was fine!🙂 ---
**Author:** ![X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbe5ce/32.png) [@X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X_Slayer_ALE)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-stunning-miscasts-of-all-time/177644/94 "2003-05-28T00:42:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ISiddiqui \* > \*\*Also Val Kilmer as Batman… man they really screwed up that series after Keaton left. \*\* OOoookay How about Michael Keaton as Batman. That was a huge Mistype. Is it only me that thinks that a six foot 280 pound superhero should be played by …i dunno some one BIGGER instead of using plastic muscles? How about Hale Berry as Storm?! My apologies to Mz Berry and her ample boobs but she is not anywhere near the commanding presence of Ororo Munroe aka Storm. …dont get me started on wolverine… Anyone see Jack Palance as Atilla the Hun? that was hilarious. Arnold as Mr Freeze was awful. That was just not right. Jar Jar Binks … enuf said. no really make him stop!! Shut him UP!! The queen of nice as Betty Rubble. lose the weight honey, then lets talk acting ability… ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-stunning-miscasts-of-all-time/177644/95 "2003-05-28T00:55:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by X~Slayer(ALE) \* > \*\* …dont get me started on wolverine… > \*\* Why? Hugh Jackman was PERFECTLY cast as Wolverine. No one else could have pulled it off the way he did. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-stunning-miscasts-of-all-time/177644/96 "2003-05-28T00:56:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by X~Slayer(ALE) \* > \*\* …dont get me started on wolverine… > \*\* Why? Hugh Jackman was PERFECTLY cast as Wolverine. No one else could have pulled it off the way he did. Whenever I think of Wolverine since the first movie, I think of Hugh Jackman’s portrayal of him. In fact, I think it’s not a stretch to say that there has never been as perfect a casting of an actor in the role of a superhero. ---
**Author:** ![Mariemarie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/58f4c7/32.png) [@Mariemarie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mariemarie)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-stunning-miscasts-of-all-time/177644/97 "2003-05-28T01:02:14Z")
Dana Delaney as Josephine in **Tombstone**. Robin Williams as **T S Garp**. Takes the quintessential deadpan role and interprets it in a comic fashion. Michelle Pfeiffer in \*\* A Midsummernight’s Dream\*\*. She just doesn’t do Shakespeare well. Natalie Wood in **West Side Story** , trying to play a Latina girl, not very believable. “White bread sandwich, no crust” (_says Michaelmichael_) ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-stunning-miscasts-of-all-time/177644/98 "2003-05-28T01:02:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by X~Slayer(ALE) \* > \*\* …dont get me started on wolverine… > \*\* Why? Hugh Jackman was PERFECTLY cast as Wolverine. No one else could have pulled it off the way he did. Whenever I think of Wolverine since the first movie, I think of Hugh Jackman’s portrayal of him. In fact, I think it’s not a stretch to say that there has never been as perfect a casting of an actor in the role of a superhero. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-stunning-miscasts-of-all-time/177644/99 "2003-05-28T01:07:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Queen Tonya \* > \*\* > Halle Berry, sure she’s cute, all 5 foot of her?! Her character is an Amazon, literally, part of her schtick is having to cope with the average joe’s inability to deal with her heighth and general kickassitude. \*\* I thought Storm was from Africa. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-stunning-miscasts-of-all-time/177644/100 "2003-05-28T01:07:44Z")
> [@](#): > > How about Michael Keaton as Batman. _shrug_ I thought that was a good casting call. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-stunning-miscasts-of-all-time/177644.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-stunning-miscasts-of-all-time/177644.md?page=6)