Only Mel Gibson can play Ned today
Mel Gibson is made for the role. Ned was a swell guy that everyone loved, but he's been cast out, black balled, snubbed. Mel Gibson doesn't look like the Mel from years ago, so I could understand him being Ned, the older man. Still handsome in my opinion, but I saw him in Edge of Darkness, and he did get old.
Another thing I think Mel Gibson has to play the new Ned is the eyes. He has these piercing blue eyes like Burt Lancaster. They really capitalized on his eyes in the movie. When I see Mel Gibson laugh or smile in a movie it reminds me of the swell guy from the days of old. He had like this warmness to him. I've heard from many people that he is one of the nicest guys you can meet. Burt Lancaster had that warmness when he laughed and smiled in The Swimmer.
But if The Swimmer is to ever be remade, they can't make it exactly like the original. They have to make it different. Maybe they can make the new Ned an alcoholic. They tell Ned in the original that he let his daughters get drunk and smash up cars. In the remake they can make Ned an alcoholic and they can have his daughters becoming consumed by it.
I'm sure the Mel we all knew and loved is still there. I really hope they keep the idea of remaking The Swimmer and cast Mel Gibson in the lead. Only Mel Gibson can play Ned today.