4 ms·

>Also, I don’t recognize the actors at all. Like not a single one. Compared to LOTR, they didn’t rely on stars but they had Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood, Sean Asto

by hbosch 4y ago

>Also, I don’t recognize the actors at all. Like not a single one. Compared to LOTR, they didn’t rely on stars but they had Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood, Sean Aston, Viggo Mortenson, Liv Tyler, Christopher Lee, Sean Bean, Cate Blanchett. It seems strange to not have anyone. I thought this was a cost cutting effort, but that doesn’t make sense if $465M. Well, lets start off by admitting to ourselves that guys like Elijah Wood and Sean Astin in particular (heck, probably even Viggo Mortensen, at least in the USA) didn't really have strong resumes before Fellowship. As a kid, I don't think I could have told you who Orlando Bloom was before LOTR -- because he wasn't anybody. Secondly, when every major actor working today has either got fully hoovered into the Marvel or DC cinematic universes or is looking to exploit the next franchise with lopsided deals then yeah... I imagine it would make sense going with actors who have less "demand". You think about how Amazon is going to handle this show. The video component streaming on Prime Video, OK, sure. Game studios involvement, perhaps? Alexa skills and audio adventures? Integrated Fire device experiences of some kind? Unknown quantities of almost any digital content possible... it's much, much easier to get this kind of "360 degree" commitment from lesser known actors compared to, say, Timothee Chalamet as Frodo (or whatever). Also we ought to make sure we give credit to the lesser known actors, producers, directors, writers, stylists, designers and so on that create enthralling and award winning movies and TV shows every year! So let's at least give some of these people the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise. Taking chances on creative endeavors is one of the great things people do for others in this world.

SeanLuke 4y ago
Well... Sean Astin was Rudy.
- frumper 4y ago
  Goonies never say die.
OrvalWintermute 4y ago
> Well, lets start off by admitting to ourselves that guys like Elijah Wood and Sean Astin in particular (heck, probably even Viggo Mortensen, at least in the USA) didn't really have strong resumes before Fellowship. As a kid, I don't think I could have told you who Orlando Bloom was before LOTR -- because he wasn't anybody. I agree with what you said largely, but not Viggo Mortensen https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001557/ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001557/ Viggo was in a number of shows that would have American audiences familiar with his acting skills far before 2001. Most notably in my case https://youtu.be/Beogqr20uII?t=147 https://youtu.be/Beogqr20uII?t=147
- UnpossibleJim 4y ago
  Dude! Crimson Tide, Carlito's Way... I know people like GI Jane.. not my favorite, but I'll give it to him. When was The Road? I think that was after. The Psycho remake... I know it got panned, but he was good in that, Anne Heche wasn't great, but he was really good.
  - OrvalWintermute 4y ago
    > It stars Al Pacino, Sean Penn, Penelope Ann Miller, Luis Guzman, John Leguizamo, Jorge Porcel, Joseph Siravo, and Viggo Mortensen. With a stellar cast like that, I am definitely missing a gem! Putting it to the top of the to-watch list.
verve_rat 4y ago
>Taking chances on creative endeavors is one of the great things people do for others in this world. I totally agree... but $465 million? That's one hell of a chance.
bobdvb 4y ago
I think I'd disagree with the assertion about Elijah Wood, Deep Impact was a pretty big film and he had a key role in that. He also had many other roles before that in some pretty notable films, especially The Faculty and heck, he was playing alongside Kevin Costner in 1994! Perhaps I am just old, and a keen film watcher, but I wouldn't describe him as a lesser known actor at that point in his career. Also, Sean Bean has long been a well known supporting actor. Anna Karenina, Goldeneye, Patriot Games, etc. But I would concede that he's very much more well known in the UK because of his TV roles, especially Sharpe which ran for 7 series. Again, not a lesser known actor if you're playing the bad guy in a Bond film.
- WarOnPrivacy 4y ago
  I'm genuinely puzzled by this assumption - that the top talent pool largely begins and ends with the best known actors. I'm not debating their obvious talent but I am confident that the industry limits who gets to be well known. One way is by excluding actors who aren't immensely attractive.
  - prepend 4y ago
    > assumption - that the top talent pool largely begins and ends with the best known actors. I don’t think anyone is making this assumption, and certainly not me. What I’m saying is that in a show with such a big budget, not a single actor is well known or even decently known. That’s unusual and not a good sign. It’s possible that this show is unique in that it has all great actors and is not paying a ton for them. Certainly it’s possible. But try to think of another show with even a moderate budget that was awesome with an entire cast of “unknowns.” There are some movies, Kids comes to mind with a new director, writer, and stars like a then unknown Rosario Dawson and Chloe Sevingny. But that budget was like $400k and I think if they had had $40M they would have had different actors.
    - maxerickson 4y ago
      Babylon 5 managed okay with little known actors and mediocre effects.
NikolaNovak 4y ago
Agree with you in principle; but FWIW I knew Elijah Wood (if nothing else, from Deep Impact:), and couple of supporting established actors on periphery were a huge draw and added massive credibility - Ian & Kate delivered amazing performances to KEY characters; Liv Tyler's voice was legendary; and Agent Smith was there too! :D
prepend 4y ago
I’m not saying that that list were major stars. I’m saying they were known with substantial resumes. I don’t recognize a single person in the RoP list. I watch 100 movies a year. Not a single person. So my point is that that is weird and there’s no precedent that I know of where a show used complete unknowns for every role and was good. I think giving unknown actors is a great idea. For some roles, not all.
deleted 4y ago
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by hbosch 4y ago

SeanLuke 4y ago

Well... Sean Astin was Rudy.

frumper 4y ago
Goonies never say die.

OrvalWintermute 4y ago

> Well, lets start off by admitting to ourselves that guys like Elijah Wood and Sean Astin in particular (heck, probably even Viggo Mortensen, at least in the USA) didn't really have strong resumes before Fellowship. As a kid, I don't think I could have told you who Orlando Bloom was before LOTR -- because he wasn't anybody. I agree with what you said largely, but not Viggo Mortensen https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001557/ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001557/ Viggo was in a number of shows that would have American audiences familiar with his acting skills far before 2001. Most notably in my case https://youtu.be/Beogqr20uII?t=147 https://youtu.be/Beogqr20uII?t=147

UnpossibleJim 4y ago
Dude! Crimson Tide, Carlito's Way... I know people like GI Jane.. not my favorite, but I'll give it to him. When was The Road? I think that was after. The Psycho remake... I know it got panned, but he was good in that, Anne Heche wasn't great, but he was really good.
- OrvalWintermute 4y ago
  > It stars Al Pacino, Sean Penn, Penelope Ann Miller, Luis Guzman, John Leguizamo, Jorge Porcel, Joseph Siravo, and Viggo Mortensen. With a stellar cast like that, I am definitely missing a gem! Putting it to the top of the to-watch list.

verve_rat 4y ago

>Taking chances on creative endeavors is one of the great things people do for others in this world. I totally agree... but $465 million? That's one hell of a chance.

bobdvb 4y ago

I think I'd disagree with the assertion about Elijah Wood, Deep Impact was a pretty big film and he had a key role in that. He also had many other roles before that in some pretty notable films, especially The Faculty and heck, he was playing alongside Kevin Costner in 1994! Perhaps I am just old, and a keen film watcher, but I wouldn't describe him as a lesser known actor at that point in his career. Also, Sean Bean has long been a well known supporting actor. Anna Karenina, Goldeneye, Patriot Games, etc. But I would concede that he's very much more well known in the UK because of his TV roles, especially Sharpe which ran for 7 series. Again, not a lesser known actor if you're playing the bad guy in a Bond film.

WarOnPrivacy 4y ago
I'm genuinely puzzled by this assumption - that the top talent pool largely begins and ends with the best known actors. I'm not debating their obvious talent but I am confident that the industry limits who gets to be well known. One way is by excluding actors who aren't immensely attractive.
- prepend 4y ago
  > assumption - that the top talent pool largely begins and ends with the best known actors. I don’t think anyone is making this assumption, and certainly not me. What I’m saying is that in a show with such a big budget, not a single actor is well known or even decently known. That’s unusual and not a good sign. It’s possible that this show is unique in that it has all great actors and is not paying a ton for them. Certainly it’s possible. But try to think of another show with even a moderate budget that was awesome with an entire cast of “unknowns.” There are some movies, Kids comes to mind with a new director, writer, and stars like a then unknown Rosario Dawson and Chloe Sevingny. But that budget was like $400k and I think if they had had $40M they would have had different actors.
  - maxerickson 4y ago
    Babylon 5 managed okay with little known actors and mediocre effects.

NikolaNovak 4y ago

Agree with you in principle; but FWIW I knew Elijah Wood (if nothing else, from Deep Impact:), and couple of supporting established actors on periphery were a huge draw and added massive credibility - Ian & Kate delivered amazing performances to KEY characters; Liv Tyler's voice was legendary; and Agent Smith was there too! :D

prepend 4y ago

I’m not saying that that list were major stars. I’m saying they were known with substantial resumes. I don’t recognize a single person in the RoP list. I watch 100 movies a year. Not a single person. So my point is that that is weird and there’s no precedent that I know of where a show used complete unknowns for every role and was good. I think giving unknown actors is a great idea. For some roles, not all.

deleted 4y ago

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