Casting Coup Month: The Big Country

NOMINATIONS

Best Supporting Actor - Burl Ives (WON)

Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture - Jerome Moross

William Wyler is one of the most celebrated, accomplished directors in the history of cinema. A glance at his filmography reveals a man who was as comfortable in comedy as he was in drama, content to either adapt a modest stage play or stage a Biblical epic. At twelve Oscar nominations, he holds the record for most nominated Director in history -- and he's tied with Frank Capra and John Ford for most wins in the category. Wyler was always able to snag talent, and there's little mystery as to how: 36 nominations, 13 wins. No other director has that kind of track record with their actors. Three of his films -- The Best Years of Our Lives, Ben-Hur, Wuthering Heights -- showed up on AFI's 1997 list of the 100 Greatest Films.

I've only seen three of his film, of course, because I have HUGE gaps in my film knowledge (but I've seen Rabid Dogs and Xanadu, dammit!). You'll be seeing two of them here, starting with my introduction to Wyler: the western The Big Country.

The Big Country was another film recommended by my grandfather, who felt Gregory Peck's protagonist was similar to my late uncle; I agree. My uncle was, I feel, just as honest and honorable as retired sailor James McKay, who arrives in the West to marry Patricia Terrill, whose family is embroiled in a decades-old feud with the rough Hannassey boys. Folk sing/Rudolph snowman Burl Ives won an Oscar for his portrayal of the Hannassey patriarch, and though I think he's one of the pleasant surprises of a great film...an Oscar win? Reportedly, the award had as much to do with his performance in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof as it did here, and the only reason why he wasn't nominated for the Tennessee Williams adaptation was one Lesley Manville is familiar with: category confusion. But hey, at least he got it, and it's not a bad performance at that.

Because it's a film that many respect but few seem to know, it seems ripe for a remake. And with True Grit perhaps resurrecting the Western, the time is just right.

BUCK HANNASSEY

Who is He: Hannassey's oldest boy, a roughneck given to booze and bouts. Buck hates the Terrills and has designs on local teacher Julie Maragon -- he also likes to swagger and show off his masculinity. He fights dirty, though, and that'll come back to bite him.

Originally played by:

Chuck Connors ("The Rifleman", Soylent Green)

My Choice:

Bradley Cooper (Wedding Crashers, The A-Team)

Many a friend has criticized Cooper's smug film persona. Guess who that work for? A smug, muscular Western roughneck who people want to see taken down a peg? I get an actor I like in a film I admire, Cooper gets a great role, naysayers get satisfaction. Everyone wins.

MAJOR HENRY TERRILL

Who is He: Wealthy ranch owner, father of Patricia. He and Hannassey are engaged in a feud over a valuable patch of land with an important water supply. Terrill has been trying to buy the land so that he can ban Hannassey from using the river and put the white trash out of business. Terrill dresses nice, but he's a snotty man who takes advantage of the lawlessness of the West.

Originally played by: Academy Award Nominee for Best Supporting Actor (The Song of Bernadette, The Farmer's Daughter, Johnny Belinda)

Charles Bickford (A Star is Born, Days of Wine and Roses)

My Choice: BAFTA Award Nominee for Best Actor (Apocalypse Now), Golden Globe Nominee for Best Supporting Actor (The Subject Was Roses), SAG Award Nominee for Best Ensemble (Bobby, The Departed)

Martin Sheen (Echelon Conspiracy, Untitled Spider-Man Reboot)

Sheen can give gruff disapproval like no one's business. He can also do the back-slapping like it's gruff disapproval. Terrill would be both, like his character in Catch Me If You Can combined with the one in The American President. And I never say no to more Sheen.

RUFUS HANNESSEY

Who is He: A poorer ranch owner in a feud with Terrill over the river. Hannessey reacts strongly to Terrill's sabotage of his land, but he's surprisingly non-violent and honorable. He tries to keep his sons honorable, as well, but Buck is a hot-tempered one and difficult to reign in.

Originally played by: Academy Award/Golden Globe Winner for Best Supporting Actor (The Big Country)

Burl Ives (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, TV's Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer)

My Choice: Golden Globe Nominee for Best Supporting Actor (Barton Fink)

John Goodman (The Big Lebowski, Speed Racer)
He's certainly imposing enough for the role, but Goodman is just an all-around great actor in need of more roles that can showcase his talent. Personally, I think he could even do better than Burl Ives here.

STEVE LEECH

Who is He: Terrill's ranch-hand, a macho type who berates and insults McKay throughout his stay. McKay refuses to step up to the challenge, which makes Leach hate him all the more. For Leach, a real man lets everyone around him know his strength. He's in love with Patricia.

Originally played by: Academy Award Winner for Best Actor (Ben-Hur), Golden Globe Nominee for Best Actor in a Drama (The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur) and in a Musical/Comedy (The Pigeon That Took Rome)

Charlton Heston (True Lies, Hamlet)

My Choice: Academy Award/Golden Globe Winner/WGA Award Nominee for Best [Original] Screenplay (Good Will Hunting), SAG Award Winner for Best Ensemble (Shakespeare in Love)

Ben Affleck (The Town, The Company Men)

I believe him more as a macho guy than as a sensitive one (is it the chin?)

PATRICIA TERRILL

Who is She: McKay's fiancee, heiress to the ranch. She hates the Hannassey clan, and starts to lose interests in McKay when he refuses to get into macho theatrics.

Originally played by: Academy Award/BAFTA Award/Golden Globe Nominee for Best [Foreign] Actress [in a Drama] (Baby Doll)

Carroll Baker (Giant, How the West Was Won)

My Choice: SAG Award Nominee for Best Ensemble (Seabiscuit)

Elizabeth Banks (Zack and Miri Make a Porno, The Next Three Days)

JULIE MARAGON

Who is She: A teacher who happens to own the plot of land where a significant river runs through. The Terrills want to buy the land from her, but she insists on putting them on equal footing with the Hannasseys. Although she's friends with Patricia, she knows that the engagement to McKay isn't a good match...and she starts to fall for him herself.

Originally played by: Academy Award Nominee for Best Actress (The Happy Ending) and Best Supporting Actress (Hamlet), BAFTA Award Nominee for Best Foreign Actress (Guys and Dolls, Elmer Gantry), Golden Globe Winner for Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy (Guys and Dolls), SAG Award Nominee for Best Ensemble (Hot to Make an American Quilt)

Jean Simmons (Divorce American Style, Dominique)

My Choice:

Jenna Fischer (Blades of Glory, Solitary Man)

Beautiful, but accessible. Intelligent and noble. These are the characters Jenna Fischer plays, and that's who Julie Maragon is. "The Office" won't be around forever, either, and I would hate to see her go.

JAMES MCKAY

Who is He: Retired Maryland boat captain who comes to the big country to marry his fiancee, Patricia Terrill. How the hell they met and hit it off enough to become engaged, I don't know. James is an honorable and honest man -- even when he buys Julie's land, he still allows the Hannassey clan to use the river. When Buck and Steve challenge him to public fights, he refuses to engage -- he doesn't need to prove his manhood. Instead, he tries to reason; when that doesn't work, he deals with them privately. James McKay is so fucking awesome.

Originally played by: Academy Award Winner for Best Actor (To Kill a Mockingbird), Golden Globe Winner for Best Actor (The Yearling)

Gregory Peck (Roman Holiday, TV's Moby Dick)

My Choice: Academy Award/Golden Globe Winner/WGA Award Nominee for Best [Original] Screenplay (Good Will Hunting), SAG Award Nominee for Best Actor (Good Will Hunting), Best Supporting Actor (Invictus) and Best Ensemble (Good Will Hunting, The Departed)

Matt Damon (EuroTrip, True Grit)

One of the few actors who could be as convincing a leading hero as he is a bookish type. To see him as the bookish, noble James McKay is no great stretch, I think. I, personally, would love to see Damon in more. Yeah, I know, he's in four things a year; doesn't matter. He's awesome.

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

Best Actor: Matt Damon

Best Actress: Jenna Fischer

Best Supporting Actor: Ben Affleck, Bradley Cooper, John Goodman, Martin Sheen

Best Supporting Actress: Elizabeth Banks

Casting Coup Tuesdays: The Phantom Tollbooth

When I was in fifth grade, we did a unit on The Phantom Tollbooth that seemed to last the whole year. We read the book, analyzed the book, made dioramas, dressed as the characters, and even had a huge feast in which we brought in foods that related to our assigned parts. As I recall, I was part of the King's Cabinet of Dictionopolis, where language ruled, so I brought in "Synonym" Toast Crunch. I can't help but grin even now at my cleverness. God, I was smart! Though I can't for the life of me remember what I was doing the day they showed the movie, because I still haven't seen it.

I bought the book for class in fifth grade. Then I re-read it in seventh grade. Then I read it again in high school. It's one of the few books I've read over and over again, along with Moonraker and And Then There Were None. It was a Shakespearian-trained actor who once spoke to me about how children's literature often offers more depth and satisfaction than that of the grown-ups. In this case, I agree. The importance of language, of logic (math), of imagination - such lessons that book gave! The apathy of the youth is often cited as one of the significant traits of my generation. (That must have been a problem in the early 1960s as well, for where else would Norton Juster get the idea for the bored Milo?) How disappointing this is when one considers that most of my generation had to read The Phantom Tollbooth! How did they not learn the most important of lessons, that life is just fucking awesome when you realize just how fucking awesome it is? Also, Rhyme and Reason are really important.

As you all should know (and if you don't, you're probably one of the apathetic youth), the protagonist of the tale is Milo. Milo is bored by everything around him. He looks down when he walks because nothing is interesting enough to catch his attention. Learning and schoolwork are all, like, whatever, man. And then one day he comes home to find a box in his living room. It turns out to be a Tollbooth, and he drives a toy car through it...and is suddenly transported to The Lands Beyond, where he meets a number of interesting characters, rescues princesses, befriend a talking dog and a Humbug, and learns Life Lessons. It's suuuuch a great book! Anna Quindlen of The New York Times once wrote, "I read [The Phantom Tollbooth] first when I was 10. I still have the book report I wrote, which began 'This is the best book ever.'"

One of my dreams is to make a film version of this great book. Not a cartoon, like the Chuck Jones original, but a live-action one. We've got one of Alice in Wonderland (hm...bad example), and it isn't time we actually see an all-star cast in these legendary roles? And, if this story at Cinema Blend is to be believed, I may be beaten to it by Gary Ross. That talented son of a bitch.

Either way, I have a dream. And that dream is to see the following in such a movie:

CHROMA
Who is He: The conductor of the color orchestra. An old man with ka-razy hair, he makes sure the colors of the day are all seen properly and according to the sheet music. When he stops to take a rest at night, Milo gets hold of the baton...

My Choice: Academy Award Nominee/BAFTA Award Winner for Best Actor (The Elephant Man) and Best Supporting Actor (Midnight Cowboy), Golden Globe Winner for Best Supporting Actor (Midnight Cowboy)

John Hurt (V for Vendetta, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull)
Sometimes, you cast because you love a certain actor and feel like, hey, I haven't seen him in a while.


DISCHORD & DYNNE
Who are They: Dr. Kakofonous Dischord and the smoke beast known as the Awful DYNNE are keepers of noise in the Valley of Sound. They believe the sounds are beautiful, but everyone else just hears a bunch of terrible noise.

My Choice: Well, one of them is a Golden Globe Nominee for Best Actor in a Musical/Comedy (The School of Rock)

Tenacious D (Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny, Cradle Will Rock)
A good team needs to be played by a good team. Jack Black, the more famous face, could play Dr. Dischord, while Kyle Gass could play the Awful DYNNE. Their chemistry and ear for noise-making would be put to good use here.


THE DODECAHEDRON
Who is He: The first thing Milo & Friends meet at Digitopolis. He has twelve different faces for twelve different emotions. He leads them through the Number Mines into the city, and often confuses Milo with the varying emotions and faces.

My Choice: BAFTA Award Nominee for Best Actor (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), Golden Globe Winner for Best Actor in a Drama (The Truman Show) and in a Musical/Comedy (Man on the Moon), SAG Award Nominee for Best Actor (Man on the Moon)

Jim Carrey (The Mask, A Christmas Carol)
He of the varied voices and rubber face.


FAINTLY MACABRE
Who is She: The not-so-wicked Which. Faintly was in charge of selecting words, until she went power-mad and hoarded them all. Now imprisoned, it is she who tells Milo of the disappearance of the princesses. Indeed, it is she who prompts him to speak to Azaz about it, thus inspiring them to action.

My Choice: Academy Award/SAG Award Nominee for Best Supporting Actress (American Gangster)

Ruby Dee (The Jackie Robinson Story, Jungle Fever)
Faintly is a gentle, grandmotherly type, and I've always felt there was something reassuring about Ruby Dee's eyes and smile. Lord I love this actress. How was she not nominated for A Raisin in the Sun? Or Do the Right Thing?


THE KING'S CABINET
Who Are They: A quintet of identical men who constantly repeat each other using synonyms. They are confusing and infuriating, so of course they were my favorite characters. They are: the Duke of Definition, the Earl of Essence, the Count of Connotation, the Minister of Meaning and the Undersecretary of Understanding.

My Choice: Academy Award/Indie Spirit/SAG Award Nominee for Best Actor (The Visitor), Indie Spirit Nominee for Best Supporting Actor (Flirting with Disaster)

Richard Jenkins (The Kingdom, Dear John)
Looks great in a suit, and playing five characters gives him a chance to display his comic chops, which are intimidating.


OFFICER SHORT SHRIFT
Who is He: The lawman in Dictionopolis. He is judge, jury, cop, and attorney. He believes everyone to be guilty, and despite his small stature, he is just unpleasant to be around.

My Choice:

Warwick Davis (Return of the Jedi, Leprechaun N Da Hood)
Look at that tiny bugger! Tee-hee!


THE SENSES TAKER
Who is He: At the base of the Castle in the Sky, he asks trivial questions that delay our heroes from rescuing the princesses as the Demons of Ignorance get closer. A withered old man stained with ink.

My Choice: Golden Globe Nominee for Best Supporting Actor (Baby Doll), Hollmann Award Nominee for Best Supporting Actor (The Holiday)

Eli Wallach (The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, The Godfather: Part III)


THE SOUNDKEEPER
Who is She: The ruler of the Valley of Sound. Like Faintly Macabre, she went mad with power and hoards the sounds to herself. Unlike Faintly Macabre, she has no regrets about her decision, and is quite mad.

My Choice: Academy Award Winner/BAFTA Award/Golden Globe Nominee for Best Supporting Actress (Prizzi's Honor), BAFTA Award Nominee for Best Supporting Actress (Crimes and Misdemeanors, Manhattan Murder Mystery), Golden Globe Nominee for Best Actress in a Drama (The Grifters), Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy (The Addams Family, Addams Family Values) and Best Supporting Actress (The Crossing Guard), Indie Spirit Winner for Best Actress (The Grifters) and Best Supporting Actress (The Dead), SAG Award Nominee for Best Supporting Actress (The Crossing Guard)

Anjelica Huston (The Royal Tenenbaums, Choke)
Truthfully, part of this is because she looks like the illustration. But of course, the other part has to do with her formidable talent. Haven't we all seen her go from zero to crazy at one point or another?


THE TERRIBLE TRIVIUM
Who is He: A faceless demon that distracts our heroes by getting them to complete pointless, impossible tasks. He wishes to keep them from rescuing Rhyme and Reason; that is, common sense.

My Choice:

Doug Jones (Pan's Labyrinth, Legion)
So, this is basically a matter of just covering his face. Which he is apparently totally down with. His build would be menacing enough with just a suit and bowler hat. Creepy.


THE WHETHER MAN
Who is He: A repetitive little man, Milo meets him at the Land of Expectations. He kind of just stays there, due to his preoccupation of what may be and how.

My Choice:

David Cross (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, I'm Not There)
Because he is a hilarious actor with great comic timing.


RHYME & REASON
Who are They: Sweet Rhyme and Pure Reason are mysterious orphans adopted by the Mathemagician and King Azaz. Without them, there can be no harmony in world. They find letters and numbers to be equally important, so of course they are banished. The saving of them drives the plot of the entire book.

My Choices: One is an Academy Award/BAFTA Award Nominee/Golden Globe Winner for Best Supporting Actress (Closer); the other is an Academy Award/Golden Globe Nominee for Best Actress [in a Musical/Comedy] (Pride & Prejudice), BAFTA Award/Golden Globe Nominee for Best Actress [in a Drama] (Atonement)

Natalie Portman as Sweet Rhyme
Keira Knightley as Pure Reason
I think Natalie comes off as more Sweet than Pure, even though Keira is less shy about showing off her body. But those cheekbones, quite honestly, are more of purity than of sweetness, and Natalie's smile is more sweet than pure. And as the princesses of common sense, you couldn't have a better pair. They resemble each other, they're beautiful, and they're known for their intelligence.


THE MATHEMAGICIAN
Who is He: The Ruler of Digitopolis, the Mathemagician is a man with a regal bearing and wizard's robes. He and his brother fight over whether letters or numbers are more important, and for failing to pick one over the other, Rhyme and Reason are banished. The Mathemagician is not so sure that their return is a good idea.

My Choice: Academy Award/SAG Award Winner for Best Supporting Actor (Million Dollar Baby), Golden Globe Winner for Best Actor in a Musical/Comedy (Driving Miss Daisy), Indie Spirit Winner for Best Supporting Actor (Street Smart)

Morgan Freeman (Bruce Almighty, The Big Bounce)
Obviously, his voice is the voice of a ruler. I find the Mathemagician to be less easily sympathetic than Azaz, which would be a nice switch for Freeman. And the idea of him in wizard's robes is too cool.


KING AZAZ
Who is He: The Ruler of Dictionopolis, Azaz is as large as a dictionary (ha!) with a booming voice to match. He regrets banishing Rhyme and Reason, and sends Milo and his cohorts on a mission ot rescue them.

My Choice: Academy Award Nominee for Best Actor (The Great White Hope), Indie Spirit Nominee for Best Supporting Actor (Matewan), SAG Award Nominee for Best Actor (Cry, the Beloved Country)

James Earl Jones (Coming to America, Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins)
A large, imposing man with a commanding voice, his take on complicated characters would do well with Azaz. For Azaz is a proud yet ashamed man, a complexity which an actor of Jones's brilliance could masterfully portray.


HUMBUG
Who is He: The humbug is a beetle with very little knowledge, though that doesn't stop him from trying to be the expert on the latest subject. He is a constant brown-noser, though his flattery is what leads to Azaz putting him on the Adventure in the first place. At heart, the Humbug is a coward and a braggart, but Lord he's a lot of fun.

My Choice: Academy Award Nominee/BAFTA Award/Golden Globe Winner for Best Actor [in a Drama] (Mona Lisa), SAG Award Nominee for Best Ensemble (Nixon)

Bob Hoskins (Mrs Henderson Presents, Doomsday)
He has the build, and he has the voice. I wonder if this would be a voice-over, a mo-cap, or a heavily-made-up-by-the-team-from-District 9 type of performance. Thoughts?


TOCK
Who is He: A watchdog. Literally: his body is a ticking clock, but he has the head and limbs of a dog. Tock saves Milo from the Doldrums (the town, that is), and the two form a best friendship. Tock is smart, fast (time flies, after all), and loyal. He is a great comfort to Milo and is willing to stay 'til the end.

My Choice: Obviously, some sort of CG would have to employed, but the voice actor would be a Golden Globe Nominee for Best Supporting Actor (Barton Fink)

John Goodman (The Big Lebowski, Speed Racer)
Because his voice is so reassuring and soft, and he is a great voice actor. This is a man who knows the delicate balance between seriousness and funny.


MILO
Who is He: Our hero, of course! Milo is a bored little boy who finds the tollbooth in his living room. He uses it to find adventure and imagination!

My Choice:

Nicholas Elia (White Noise, Speed Racer)
When first I saw him in Speed Racer, I thought, "There's a kid who gets it." He got the power of imagination, and how awesome kids can be. He'd have to play the bored part of course, but that's hardly a challenge, I think. The kid clearly has some great chops, and he deserves a lead like this.