Newbie musings : Casting, Brit restrictions and GoF cuts.

[marcuswh2001]

For the last month or so I have been a full time lurker but now its 
time to put some ideas forward. Apologies for length of post and also 
if it breaks any rules. 

This first bit is a little O.T. but there is a point  promise. Just 
got back from London New Year celebrations where I escorted a tour 
group. So instead of freezing in Trafalguar Square for six hours I 
went to see a production of the Royal Family with Judi Dench and this 
has only helped fuel my obssesion of not being able to watch or read 
anything without casting future H.P. projects. The Royal Family 
offered up another couple of possibilities, to add to an already 
large pile. So here goes, in no particular order.

Peter Pettigrew - I found it surprising that people considered Alan 
Cumming for the part of Lockhart, Pettigrew is the role he could do 
in his sleep. And therein lies the problem, he seems to have moved 
away from his wimpish roles, Circle of Friends, and with the success 
of Cabaret and Hamlet is seeking more leading roles. So he may not be 
interested.
Back up - Paul Whitehouse, well we have already got one Fast Show 
alumni in the shape of Arthur Weasley so who knows. Sorry don't think 
he's been in any films.

Professor Trelawney - I've had great fun with this one. First 
consideration to played younger or older? Both can be argued. Younger 
how about Juliet Stevenson (Truly, Madly, Deeply) or from The Royal 
Family Harriet Walter(She was the bitchy sister-in-law in Sense and 
Sensibility)? If older Elizabeth Spriggs, sorry no film roles spring 
to mind. If Miriam M is Professor Sprout then E.S. would also be a 
perfect choice for Aunt Marge.

Mad eye Moody - Some of these are going to seem way out of left 
field. When I first read the book I kept picturing Michael Caine, 
yeah I know its daft but with make up. Anyway not practical as M.C. 
and Richard Harris absolutely LOATHE one another. My favourite 
contender at the moment is Jim Broadbent (Moulin Rouge, Gangs of New 
York, Iris) Forget what you've seen in him which is usually comedic, 
he is a terrfic actor with a great range. Or if you wanted to go for 
truly terrifying as witnessed in Sexy Beast, Ben, sorry that's now 
Sir Ben Kingsley.  

Lupin and Sirius - To my mind the whole casting decision hangs around 
Alan Rickman. Some people on this list have been stating their 
dislike of the actor cast as Harry's father. But to my mind he looks, 
age wise, that he could have been at school with A.R. If they had 
originally cast Tim Roth then they could have gone younger but now 
they need to go older, which makes the rumour of Ewan McGregor seem 
odd. The suggestions from this list of Anthony Stewart Head seem 
good. What that would mean for the casting of Sirius is anybody's 
guess. However if they go younger for Lupin how about Toby Stephens 
sorry no film roles, loads of British telly though and Maggie Smith's 
son to boot. Usually cast as fops but could do Lupin IMO. As a side 
comment his role in the Royal Family was Lockhart to tee but old 
Kenny B's got that role.

Leading on from this is the issue of Brits only casting. Not that I 
am 100% in favour of it but here are what I believe to be some of the 
arguments for keeping that restriction.

Hollywood has a notorious history for screwing things up. If you are 
not from the U.K. you will not know how poor old Dick Van Dyke is 
derided for his "cockney" accent. "Cor blimey, Mary Poppins" a whole 
generation of people think thats how cockneys' talk and the whole 
East-end of London has not forgotten. Sometimes the sheer presence of 
a performer can get around the linguistic massacre of a particular 
British accent one thinks of Audrey Hepburn. But the Brits can be 
most unforgiving. Although when they get it right we can be very 
impressed i.e. Renee Zellweger. 

There has been a lot of use of the phrase "best person for the part" 
and whilst ideal is not neccessarily what we would get. I have a 
feeling although not based on any fact, that if J.K. had given C.C. a 
little more leeway for the smaller parts the whole production would 
have been crawling with C.C.'s best mates. Somewhere in P.S/S.S. 
there would have been an appearance by Robin Williams. Can you 
imagine? Even now with this so called restriction celebs are still 
being vocal about getting parts and if allowed it would become the 
filmic version of Sesame Street with A list cameos galore. It would 
kill it dead.

There are so many great Britsih actors who you will never of even 
heard of but it will be better to cast them as they will bring no 
baggage to role whilst at the same time being a great opportunity for 
their career. Another opinion based on no facts whatsoever, if C.C. 
stays I belive J.K. will become more lenient because she was very 
vocal about her support for him. If the director changes the guard 
will go up again and she will vigorously defend her creation and 
Brits only is one way of doing that.

Finally GoF cuts. My suggestions are slightly different to those 
already aired. Rita Skeeter could be cut completly. Harry and 
Hermione could still appear in the Daily Prophet but by no means have 
such a large sub plot. And with regard to the Q.W.C. there is too 
much plot to cut and too much interseting detail. I think they should 
still go but never get to see the match because the D.E.s start 
mixing things earlier on. This would still allow plenty of reference 
to Krum. For those of you arguing for Winky to be cut IMO too pivotal 
to the plot.

That's it, I'm done. I'm off back to lurking.

Marcus.