First off let me say that I know there is a lot of animosity with the reboot of the Crow. I understand. As a huge fan I think it’s stupid to even attempt to replace Brandon Lee. I have in a previous article voiced how I hoped the reboot would go (i.e. Different character… female crow… etc…). However since that post it has been said that a script is in final stages of approval… and guess what? It’s about Eric Draven.
So, as a loyal Crow fan I have decided rather than get pissed off I’m going to do my best to be optimistic and hope that they at least do O’barr’s material (written in memory of his fiancée who was killed in a Drunk Driver accident) and Brandon Lee’s (R.I.P.) original performance. I am jump starting this effort with this fan cast.
First, let’s look at the Villains. One of the weak points of all the Crow films (in m opinion) was to have believable but vicious Bad guys (Now, by far the original had the best bad guys but, let’s face it; they could have been better). Let’s hope this mistake won’t be made again.
ROGUE’S GALLERY
Top Dollar: The main bad guy. …The man who runs the show. …The man who will inevitably have a knock down drag out fight with The Crow at the culmination of the film. I feel that the man in charge should b a bit older and wiser than the original Michael Wincott character. Top dollar should be feared for his intelligence as well as his physical prowess. My pick is: Russell Crow. Wait! Don’t stop reading. I mean, look back over the past twenty years as Crow has lit up our screens time and time again with both physically intimidating performances (Gladiator, 3:10 to Yuma, Robin Hood) and incredibly intelligent character portrayals (Beautiful mind, Quick and the Dead). You give me a graying long haired Russel Crow with a reserved demeanor that hides a violent mean streak and I’ll give you your next “Top Dollar:.
Myca: Top Dollar’s twisted sister/ lover. …A strange woman with a passion for pain. Who better than “Deadly little Miho” (Sin City) to fill those shoes? Crow fans, Devon Aoki is our reboot’s “Myca”
T-Bird: I admit that I’m slightly swayed by my huge love for the Boondock Saints films but I think if you put Sean Patrick Flannery in a role where he gets to drive a great muscle car and light stuff on fire… this man will shine. He’s a man’s man… He likes to drive fast …play with fire …and he’s an accomplished actor (Powder, Boondock Saints1+2, CSI, and the upcoming Saw VII)
FunBoy: The sex crazed meth head. He’s gotta be skinny… borderlined nasty lookin’ but in a way that ladies could still think he’s cute if they’re stoned. Go back and watch Chad Linberg’s performance in Fast and the Furious (1) and then Google current images of him. He’s the man for the job.
Skank: This was actually the second character that I casted here (after Eric Draven). When I think of Skank and his “special” character needs I automatically flashed back to M. Night Shyamalan’s The Village and the stellar performance given by Adrien Brody. With his looks and his acting ability I have no problem envisioning him huddled under a table crying: “I not Skank… dat Skank right dere… Skank dead”
Tin-Tin: The big bad dude with the blades and the big mouth. I’m not going to bore you with some made up reason that Idris Elba should play the part. I just like him and think he would pull it off well.
THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE STRANGE
With a film like “The Crow” there are such a rich variety of characters. You have good guys, bad guys, and an oddity. So, here we go…
Grange: The big mean dude that watches over the bar where the villains hang out. The guy who finds Funboy’s twitching dead body. Let’s face it. This is a bit of a throw away part. But if I had my pick; Tommy “Tiny” Lister would be great as the intimidating bouncer in the shadows.
Gideon: A great character. He’s the heel that runs Gideon’s Pawn where Eric and Shelly’s rings are pawned off. James Gandolfini has the gruffness and the appearance necessary to run his mouth but cry like a baby when faced with real danger at the hands of The Crow.
…and the good…
Detective Albrecht: Albrecht is a cop that cares about the people but not the crap of being a cop anymore. He is a friend to Sarah and sat with Shelly all night as she died in the hospital. He’s all heart… and no Bull crap. Forrest Whittaker is the man for the job.
Sarah: Shelly and Eric’s young friend. Both innocent and wore down all at the same time. Both pure and somehow tainted, joyful and yet full of sorrow. Miranda Cosgrove is waiting on a role to pull her out of her Nickelodeon filled past and into a real acting career… this is her shot.
…The Strange…
The Voice of the Crow (Bird): This is an edition that I want added that was such a big part of the book but left out of the original film. The Crow; Draven’s guide, spoke in a voice that only Eric heard. The voice should be both sharp and comforting. Mia Kirshner was the actress who played Sarah in The Crow: City of Angels. I believe that her voice has embodies those qualities as well as being a way to pay homage to the original film series.
THE LOVERS
Shelly: Shelly (though the source of the Crow’s pain) is a very short lived character on film. She’s limited mostly to flash back shots of the crime as well as “lovable” moments with Eric. So the only criteria I used in this casting was to find someone “girl next door-ish” that would look believable rolling around with Eric Draven. Jordana Brewster fills that role well.
And the moment we’ve all been dreading… loathing… abhorring… Here is my reboot casting for:
Eric Draven: There is soooo much to take into consideration when casting a replacement for the immortal Brandon Lee… or even when casting a character that is so near and dear to his original creator’s heart. The question: Who should land the role of the undead, murdered rock musician who returns from the dead to avenge his murdered fiancé? The answer: Jared Leto.
Jared is an accomplished actor who has played great supporting roles in sooo many good movies (well, at least his characters were good). He has always shown a devotion to getting the character right. Whether he’s playing a gaunt “Angel Face” in Fight Club or a tubby psycho as Lennon’s killer in Chapter 27 his commitment shines. He’s also not too main stream to pull off the role. He’s done enough good work to trust him with the role but not so much that we’re tired of him. (I liken it to Christian Bale when he did Batman Begins) He is such a good actor I’d bet you’ve seen him in something and didn’t realize that it was him. However, one of the greatest deciding factors is that he is so much more than a great actor. As the front man for the successful Alternative band “30 Seconds to Mars” he can believably pull of the Rock star image that pours from Eric. Not to mention that with Leto in the lead role it already gives us a great start to a stellar soundtrack which was always a staple to the original Crow franchise.
Until next time,
Woodinator
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