Tuesday, December 23, 2025

CASTING GRADES (SEASON 34)

 

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....




SGT. ROCK

Alan Ritchson as Sgt. Frank Rock
Appearance: A-
Performance: B
Thoughts: Not much acting required - but Ritchson excels when the acting part is easier. He certainly looks the part and has that old school heroism down.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Emma Mackey as Anais Guillot
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Her charisma makes up for Ritchson's stoicism. She brought pluck to the part.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Yura Borisov as Captain Albrecht Krieger
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: The role is fairly cliche, but Borisov also made it a lot of fun.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

J. Alphonse Nicholson as Jackie Johnson
Appearance: B+
Performance: B
Thoughts: Solid, but not spectacular. 
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Mark Rowley as Harold "Wildman" Shapiro
Appearance: B+
Performance: B-
Thoughts: I wasn't impressed by the character, but Rowley fits fairly well.
Overall Casting Grade: B

Fred Hechinger as Phillip "Ice Cream" Mason
Appearance: B+
Performance: B
Thoughts: This roles was pretty underwritten, but I liked Hechinger.
Overall Casting Grade: B

Martin Sensmeier as Louis "Sure Shot" Kiyahani
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Sensmeier has played roles like this before and is always solid.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Damon Herriman as Adolf Hitler
Appearance: B+
Performance: A
Thoughts: The stand-out of the film in my opinion. Herriman chews scenery with aplomb.
Overall Casting Grade: A-

Albrecht Schuch as Hans Krug
Appearance: B
Performance: B-
Thoughts: Generic henchman. Decent, but not spectacular.
Overall Casting Grade: B

Lars Eidinger as Von Ziefh
Appearance: B
Performance: B
Thoughts: Eidinger brought an off-kilter element to another henchman that I liked.
Overall Casting Grade: B


Overall Film Casting Grade: B+





THE FLINTSTONES

John C. Reilly as Fred Flintstone
Appearance: N/A
Performance: A-
Thoughts: Reilly brought a goofy confidence to Fred. He isn't a perfect vocal match to the cartoon, but he is a perfect vibe match.
Overall Casting Grade: A-

Andy Samberg as Barney Rubble
Appearance: N/A
Performance: B
Thoughts: Samberg felt like one of the weaker voice cast members here. He was decent, but the others seemed more suited to their roles than he did.
Overall Casting Grade: B

Kelly Reilly as Wilma Flintstone
Appearance: N/A
Performance: B
Thoughts: Reilly is not the typical animation voice-over actress. She brought gravitas.
Overall Casting Grade: B

Ellie Kemper as Betty Rubble
Appearance: N/A
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Kemper was a nice surprise as Betty, bringing a simple, nice quality.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Aziz Ansari as the Great Gazoo
Appearance: N/A
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Ansari was a very good choice here. Not quite as good as Harvey Korman, but his natural comedy and tone worked great.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Stephen Tobolowsky as Mr. Slate
Appearance: N/A
Performance: B
Thoughts: Solid as slate.
Overall Casting Grade: B


Overall Film Casting Grade: B+





X-MEN: AGE OF APOCALYPSE

Jamie Dornan as Scott Summers/Cyclops
Appearance: B
Performance: B+
Thoughts: I used to not like Dornan in the role, but now I have a hard time picturing anyone else.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Toby Stephens as Charles Xavier
Appearance: B
Performance: B+
Thoughts: The franchise hasn't always quite known what to do with Xavier, but Stephens has grown into the role.
Overall Casting Grade: B

Jessie Buckley as Jean Grey / Phoenix
Appearance: A-
Performance: A-
Thoughts: Great work from Buckley - as always.
Overall Casting Grade: A-

David Oyelowo as Hank McCoy/Beast
Appearance: B
Performance: B
Thoughts: Oyelowo still doesn't feel 100% right to me. Not bad, not as good as I imagine.
Overall Casting Grade: B

Millie Bobby Brown as Kitty Pryde
Appearance: A-
Performance: B
Thoughts: MBB's Kitty is slowly more involved in these stories.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Rebecca Ferguson as Mystique
Appearance: A-
Performance: A-
Thoughts: Ferguson continues to deliver great work as Mystique - the franchise's wildcard.
Overall Casting Grade: A-

Rosamund Pike as Emma Frost
Appearance: A
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Pike has less to do here, but she still feels born for the ice queen.
Overall Casting Grade: A-

Garrett Hedlund as Remy LaBeau/Gambit
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: I liked seeing Gambit back - but this time more broken down by the experiences of previous films. Hedlund brought the goods.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

David Morrissey as Magneto
Appearance: B
Performance: B
Thoughts: Morrissey's Magneto is a bit of an enigma - but good.
Overall Casting Grade: B

Jamie Bell as Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Bell nails the role, even if it's a bit smaller in this one.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Zach McGowan as Logan/Wolverine
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: McGowan brings the right kind of aggression here.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Diana Silvers as Rogue
Appearance: B
Performance: B
Thoughts: I like her as Rogue, but she didn't get much to act with.
Overall Casting Grade: B

Kiki Layne as Ororo Munroe/Storm
Appearance: B
Performance: C+
Thoughts: Probably the biggest weak link in the entire cast.
Overall Casting Grade: B-

Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Cable
Appearance: B
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Morgan's gruffness worked here.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Peter Macon as En Sabah Nur/Apocalypse
Appearance: A
Performance: A-
Thoughts: Macon was fantastic as Apocalypse - scary and charismatic at the same time.
Overall Casting Grade: A-


Overall Film Casting Grade: A-






BLADE

Damson Idris as Eric Brooks/Blade
Appearance: A
Performance: A-
Thoughts: Idris was seemingly born to play Blade.
Overall Casting Grade: A-

Karen Fukuhara as Makoto
Appearance: B
Performance: C
Thoughts: I didn't like the casting or the character here.
Overall Casting Grade: C+

Pierce Brosnan as Deacon Frost
Appearance: A-
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Brosnan got to chew some scenery here, which is always a good thing.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Gina Torres as Tilda Johnson
Appearance: B-
Performance: C+
Thoughts: I felt Torres lacked intensity here.
Overall Casting Grade: C+

Regina King as Vanessa Brooks
Appearance: B
Performance: B
Thoughts: Not a big role, but King was solid.
Overall Casting Grade: B


Overall Film Casting Grade: B-





DOOM

Alan Ritchson as DoomGuy
Appearance: B+
Performance: C
Thoughts: No acting required at all.
Overall Casting Grade: B-

Woody Harrelson as Samuel Hayden
Appearance: B-
Performance: C+
Thoughts: Harrelson felt miscast here, like he was in a different movie.
Overall Casting Grade: C+

Tilda Swinton as Olivia Pierce
Appearance: A-
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Swinton looked the part and brought the creepy chills needed.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Asa Butterfield as Flynn
Appearance: C
Performance: B-
Thoughts: Butterfield was just fine here. 
Overall Casting Grade: C+

Bokeem Woodbine as Baron
Appearance: N/A
Performance: B
Thoughts: Nice gravelly voice here.
Overall Casting Grade: B


Overall Film Casting Grade: B-





MATERIAL GIRL

Chloe Grace Moretz as Madonna Louise Ciccone
Appearance: B+
Performance: A-
Thoughts: Fantastic performance from Moretz.
Overall Casting Grade: A-

Diego Boneta as John "Jellybean" Benitez
Appearance: A-
Performance: A-
Thoughts: They nailed the casting here in every way.
Overall Casting Grade: A-

Dylan O'Brien as Mark Kamins
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Too charming honestly, but good.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Joe Alwyn as Dan Gilroy
Appearance: B
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Alwyn doesn't quite look the part as much as most of his co-stars here, but he nailed the drama.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Algee Smith as Stephen Bray
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Bray is one of the more thankless roles in the film, but Smith did a good job.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Johnny Galecki as Seymour Stein
Appearance: B+
Performance: A-
Thoughts: Galecki was the big surprise for me in this one, absolutely delivering.
Overall Casting Grade: A-

Jovan Adepo as Jean-Michel Basquiat
Appearance: B
Performance: B-
Thoughts: I'm not sure Adepo quite nailed Basquiat here - not odd enough.
Overall Casting Grade: B-

Lamorne Morris as Reggie Lucas
Appearance: B+
Performance: B
Thoughts: A bit underwritten, but I liked Morris here.
Overall Casting Grade: B


Overall Film Casting Grade: A-





ASSATA

Teyonah Parris as Assata Shakur
Appearance: B+
Performance: A-
Thoughts: Parris pulls off what the script asks of here quite well.
Overall Casting Grade: A-

Brian Tyree Henry as Mutulu Shakur
Appearance: A-
Performance: A-
Thoughts: Henry's performance was the best part of the film to me.
Overall Casting Grade: A-

Aldis Hodge as Zayd Malik Shakur
Appearance: B+
Performance: B
Thoughts: Hodge was decent, but he played it pretty straight here.
Overall Casting Grade: B

Wood Harris as Sundiata Acoli
Appearance: B+
Performance: B
Thoughts: Wood Harris is always solid.
Overall Casting Grade: B

Janelle Monae as Afeni Shakur
Appearance: B-
Performance: B-
Thoughts: Monae didn't quite seem right here.
Overall Casting Grade: B-


Overall Film Casting Grade: B+ 





RUBY RIDGE

Eric Bana as Randy Weaver
Appearance: A-
Performance: A
Thoughts: Perfect casting all around. Bana looks the part and it plays to his dramatic strengths.
Overall Casting Grade: A

Hilary Swank as Vicki Weaver
Appearance: A-
Performance: A
Thoughts: Same thing here. Swank finally has an LRF role built for her.
Overall Casting Grade: A

Julia Butters as Sara Weaver
Appearance: B
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Maybe too modern and pretty, but she's a really good actress.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Walker Scobell as Sammy Weaver
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Scobell was a good pull here, getting to do something more dramatic than usual.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Gabriella Sengos as Rachel Weaver
Appearance: A-
Performance: B
Thoughts: Sengos looks the part, but she doesn't get a lot to do in this one.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Matt Jones as Kevin Harris
Appearance: A-
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Jones certainly looks just like the real Kevin Harris, and gave a matching performance.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Marc Menchaca as Herb Byerly
Appearance: A-
Performance: A-
Thoughts: Menchaca was extra sleezy here - just like the real figure.
Overall Casting Grade: A-

Don Johnson as Bo Gritz
Appearance: B+
Performance: A
Thoughts: Johnson doesn't look exactly like Gritz, but he sure acted like him.
Overall Casting Grade: A-

Ki Hong Lee as Lon Horiuchi
Appearance: A-
Performance: B
Thoughts: Lee has never really done dramatic work like this, but he didn't flounder.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Leon Rippy as Gerry Spence
Appearance: A-
Performance: B
Thoughts: Rippy is always solid - and aside from the teeth looks a lot like the real Spence.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Michael Mosley as Frank Kumnick
Appearance: A
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Mosley nailed the look and the character.
Overall Casting Grade: A-

Joel McHale as Art Roderick
Appearance: B
Performance: B+
Thoughts: McHale doesn't look exactly like the real guy, but he pulls off the "smug authority figure" very well.
Overall Casting Grade: B+


Overall Film Casting Grade: A-





SUPERMAN: DOOMSDAY

Aidan Turner as Clark Kent/Superman
Appearance: B+
Performance: A-
Thoughts: Turner gets to do some pretty heavy acting in this one and brought the goods.
Overall Casting Grade: A-

Dakota Johnson as Lois Lane
Appearance: A
Performance: A-
Thoughts: Lois Lane is a deceptively tough character to pull off, but Johnson continues to do good work.
Overall Casting Grade: A-

Daniel Craig as Lex Luthor
Appearance: B+
Performance: A
Thoughts: Craig is once again perfect as Luthor.
Overall Casting Grade: A-

Chloe Grace Moretz as Kara/Supergirl
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Moretz shows up later in this one, but continues her good work as Supergirl.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Frances McDormand as Martha Kent
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: She's not as prominent in this one, but still does fine work.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Colin Firth as Jor-El
Appearance: B
Performance: B+
Thoughts: A small but pivotal role here. I liked Firth more as Jor-El this second time around.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Gary Sinise as General Sam Lane
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Sinise oozes command, making him perfect for General Lane.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Halle Berry as Amanda Waller
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: Berry's Waller continues to bring the sass and edge this version of the character needs.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Bradley Whitford as Perry White
Appearance: B
Performance: B
Thoughts: Small role, but Whitford feels like a newspaper editor for real.
Overall Casting Grade: B

Noel Fisher as Jimmy Olsen
Appearance: B+
Performance: B+
Thoughts: I continue to like Fisher's Olsen a lot. He's fun and plucky.
Overall Casting Grade: B+

Hugh Laurie as Emil Hamilton
Appearance: B
Performance: B
Thoughts: It was nice seeing Laurie back as Hamilton after sitting out a film or two.
Overall Casting Grade: B

Mia Kirshner as Lara Lor-Van
Appearance: B
Performance: B-
Thoughts: Less crucial than Jor-El. Seems like biggest requirement was dark hair.
Overall Casting Grade: B-


Overall Film Casting Grade: B+
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