Jeff Stockton here with this season's edition of Casting Grades. In this segment I will dissect the casting of several films from the season - namely adaptations featuring characters that exist in other formats (or reality). Here we go....
GOD OF WAR III - PART ONE
Game to Film Post : https://hmsfilms.blogspot.com/2024/10/game-to-film-god-of-war-iii-part-one.html
Tom Hardy as Kratos
Appearance: B+
Performance: A-
Thoughts: Tom Hardy over the course of three films has made the character his own with a gruff, intense take on the role.
Overall Casting Grade: A-
Hugo Weaving as Zeus
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Weaving was a welcome addition to the franchise, bringing a lot of gravitas as Zeus.
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Charlotte Rampling as Gaia
Appearance: C+
Performance: B
Thoughts: The voice was there, but I didn't feel the intensity all the time.
Overall Casting Grade: B-
Ron Perlman as Cronos
Appearance: B
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Ron Perlman was a steady safe choice here.
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Katy O'Brian as Lahkesis
Appearance: B
Performance: C
Thoughts: O'Brian brought physicality, but not a ton else
Overall Casting Grade: C+
Lizzy Caplan as Atropos
Appearance: B
Performance: B-
Thoughts: She isn't given a lot to work with, but it was nice seeing her doing something out of the ordinary.
Overall Casting Grade: B-
Adewala Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Atlas
Appearance: B
Performance: B-
Thoughts: His hulking frame helped sell the effects required for his role, but he didn't get much to work with as a performer.
Overall Casting Grade: B-
Tatiana Maslany as Athena
Appearance: B+
Performance: B-
Thoughts: She looked great back in the role, but her role is smaller here than last time.
Overall Casting Grade: B
Marton Csokas as Ares
Appearance: B+
Performance: B-
Thoughts: He's a bit of an afterthought here, but I hope he comes back.
Overall Casting Grade: B
Overall Film Casting Grade: B-
MARVIN THE MARTIAN
Animation to Film Post: https://hmsfilms.blogspot.com/2024/10/animation-to-film-marvin-martian.html
Mike Myers as Marvin the Martian
Appearance: N/A
Performance: A
Thoughts: I don't give out a lot of A's, but Myers was as close to perfect voice casting as I can think of for this role.
Overall Casting Grade: A
Seth MacFarlane as Bugs Bunny
Appearance: N/A
Performance: B+
Thoughts: MacFarlane does a good job, but it took a while to get used to his take on Bugs.
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Will Forte as Elmer Fudd
Appearance: N/A
Performance: A
Thoughts: Forte was a great choice for Elmer Fudd, making the character feel human alongside the trademark characteristics of the role.
Overall Casting Grade: A
Olivia Munn as Queen Tyr-ahnee
Appearance: N/A
Performance: B
Thoughts: Not the most complicated role in the film, but Munn brought a nice powerful presence to her voice work.
Overall Casting Grade: B
Overall Film Casting Grade: A-
GHOST RIDER: DAMNATION
Comic to Film Post: https://hmsfilms.blogspot.com/2024/11/comic-to-film-ghost-rider-damnation.html
Aaron Paul as Danny Ketch / Ghost Rider
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: I like Aaron Paul's Ghost Rider as he feels relatable along with the intensity he brings.
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Emma Greenwell as Barbara Ketch
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Greenwell actually feels like Paul's sister in this role.
Overall Casting Grade: B+
David Duchovny as Mephisto
Appearance: B
Performance: B
Thoughts: Duchovny is a good choice for the role, but I don't think he gets enough to do here.
Overall Casting Grade: B
Greta Lee as Jezebel
Appearance: B-
Performance: B+
Thoughts: She may not completely look the part, she brings a fun energy with her performance.
Overall Casting Grade: B
Eamonn Walker as Stephen Lords / Deathwatch
Appearance: C+
Performance: C+
Thoughts: Walker still feels like an odd choice here. I don't see him following orders from Duchovny and Lee.
Overall Casting Grade: C+
Thomas Jane as Noble Kale
Appearance: B
Performance: B
Thoughts: Jane brings his usual gruff charm here.
Overall Casting Grade: B
David Denman as Michael Badilino
Appearance: B-
Performance: B-
Thoughts: I like Denman's take on the role, even if it isn't particularly comics accurate.
Overall Casting Grade: B-
Virginia Madsen as Sister Clara
Appearance: C+
Performance: B-
Thoughts: She
Overall Casting Grade: B-
Overall Film Casting Grade: B-
REPEAL AND REPLACE
Fact to Film Post: https://hmsfilms.blogspot.com/2024/12/fact-to-film-repeal-and-replace.html
Jon Hamm as Paul Ryan
Appearance: B
Performance: B
Thoughts: Jon Hamm looks a little like a larger Paul Ryan and does a solid job with what he is given in the script.
Overall Casting Grade: B
John Slattery as Kevin McCarthy
Appearance: A-
Performance: B-
Thoughts: Slattery's role mostly consists of exposition but he does look the part clean-shaven.
Overall Casting Grade: B
Raul Esparza as Ted Cruz
Appearance: B+
Performance: A-
Thoughts: The best casting decision in the film, Esparza gives Cruz an energetic take.
Overall Casting Grade: A-
Michael Shannon as Donald Trump
Appearance: C+
Performance: C
Thoughts: Shannon is literally given nothing interesting to do, completely wasting his talents here.
Overall Casting Grade: C
Keri Russell as Janna Ryan
Appearance: C+
Performance: C
Thoughts: Keri Russell is given next to nothing to do other than quietly sit near Jon Ham
Overall Casting Grade: C
Corey Stoll as Jim Jordan
Appearance: B+
Performance: B-
Thoughts: With a wig he looks the part quite well. His role is another exposition delivery role.
Overall Casting Grade: B
Matthew Modine as Mike Pence
Appearance: B
Performance: B-
Thoughts: Modine shows up for brief scenes as Pence. He carries some authority in the performance.
Overall Casting Grade: B-
Matthew Rhys as Mike Lee
Appearance: B-
Performance: C+
Thoughts: Some one with a darker energy like Rhys feels all wrong here as Mike Lee
Overall Casting Grade: C+
Noah Emmerich as Rand Paul
Appearance: C
Performance: C+
Thoughts: The script doesn't do anything of note or interest with the role, leaving Emmerich with little to work with.
Overall Casting Grade: C
Overall Film Casting Grade: C+
BLACK WIDOW X HAWKEYE
Comic to Film Post: https://hmsfilms.blogspot.com/2024/12/comic-to-film-black-widow-x-hawkey.html
Mila Kunis as Natasha Romanova / Black Widow
Appearance: B
Performance: A-
Thoughts: She brings the right energy for the role and works well with Holbrook. She doesn't quite match the looks of the character at times.
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Boyd Holbrook as Clint Barton / Hawkeye
Appearance: A
Performance: A-
Thoughts: He is just about perfect as Hawkeye. He handles the action and the banter with equal skill.
Overall Casting Grade: A
Tom Selleck as Tony Stark
Appearance: B+
Performance: B
Thoughts: He doesn't get a ton to do here other than be an authority figure.
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Tobias Menzies as Damon Dran
Appearance: B
Performance: B
Thoughts: Menzies plays Dran in full Bond villain mode - which works for the tone of this film.
Overall Casting Grade: B
Claire Danes as Bobbi Morse
Appearance: B-
Performance: B
Thoughts: She does well in the role, even though she's not much of an action film actress.
Overall Casting Grade: B
Mandy Patinkin as Alexi Bruskin
Appearance: A-
Performance: B+
Thoughts: He makes for an entertaining villain here, hamming it up like his Princess Bride days.
Overall Casting Grade: A-
Sam Strike as Niko Constantin / Wolf Spider
Appearance: B
Performance: B+
Thoughts: He does well in the action scenes and as a foil for Black Widow.
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Overall Film Casting Grade: B+
THE EYE OF HISTORY
Fact to Film Post : https://hmsfilms.blogspot.com/2024/12/fact-to-film-eye-of-history.html
Kirsten Dunst as Margaret Bourke-White
Appearance: A-
Performance: A-
Thoughts: Dunst is great here bringing the looks and energy the role requires. There's a reason she is a favorite for Best Actress.
Overall Casting Grade: A-
Oliver Jackson-Cohen as Erskine Caldwell
Appearance: B-
Performance: B-
Thoughts: He broods his way through the role without looking much like the real guy.
Overall Casting Grade: B-
Faran Tahir as Mahatma Gandhi
Appearance: C
Performance: B
Thoughts: Tahir is a good actor but he has a completely different frame and appearance than Gandhi.
Overall Casting Grade: C+
Overall Film Casting Grade: B-
JUSTICE LEAGUE WAR
Comic to Film Post : https://hmsfilms.blogspot.com/2024/12/comic-to-film-justice-league-war.html
Mahershala Ali as J'onn J'onzz / Martian Manhunter
Appearance: B
Performance: A-
Thoughts: Manhunter gets some powerful moments in this one, making good use of Ali's dramatic abilities.
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Tom Cruise as Hal Jordan / Green Lantern
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Hal is once again a little underwritten, but he does develop a good report with the others, especially Flash.
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Alexandra Daddario as Princess Diana / Wonder Woman
Appearance: A
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Daddario is once again great as Wonder Woman. She doesn't get a lot of heavy acting to do here, but the action is there.
Overall Casting Grade: A-
Dave Franco as Barry Allen / Flash
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Franco gets one of the bigger arcs of the heroes here - specifically learning how to be a superhero.
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Jake Gyllenhaal as Bruce Wayne / Batman
Appearance: A-
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Gyllenhaal becomes the de facto leader of the group and he delivers, holding his own with the likes of Tom Cruise even.
Overall Casting Grade: A-
Vanessa Kirby as Dinah Lance / Black Canary
Appearance: A-
Performance: B+
Thoughts: She doesn't get as much to do this time around, but she is still really good.
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Taylor Kitsch as Carter Hall / Hawkman
Appearance: B+
Performance: B
Thoughts: He kind of feel like the JL member left out in the cold here. He is good in the action, but doesn't get to do much acting.
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Chloe Grace Moretz as Kara / Supergirl
Appearance: A-
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Her relationship with Superman was good in this one, with a nice familiar tone.
Overall Casting Grade: A-
Aidan Turner as Clark Kent / Superman
Appearance: B+
Performance: A-
Thoughts: He gets some really good moments in the finale of this one.
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Giancarlo Esposito as Darkseid
Appearance: B-
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Esposito brings the goods again.
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Lachy Hulme as Steppenwolf
Appearance: B+
Performance: B
Thoughts: Hulme isn't in this one a ton, but he is still a good choice.
Overall Casting Grade: B
Glenn Close as Granny Goodness
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Close was a great choice to bring Granny Goodness to the big screen.
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Jake Weary as Jason
Appearance: B
Performance: B
Thoughts: Weary is good as Jason, but he doesn't get a ton to do.
Overall Casting Grade: B
Camila Mendes as Donna Troy
Appearance: B+
Performance: C+
Thoughts: It still seems like the DC leaders don't quite know what to do with Mendes' Donna Troy.
Overall Casting Grade: B-
Martyn Ford as Kalibak
Appearance: A-
Performance: B-
Thoughts: His towering frame make Kalibak feel like a true threat to even Superman.
Overall Casting Grade: B+
Overall Film Casting Grade: B+
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