I didn't buy him as the hard man, Robert Carlyle is less than 5'7, very skinny yet he's meant to be this hard psychopath. The acting was great but the actor was miscast.
Those guys at the pub in Scotland and the ones in England could have easily charged or tackled him down no problem.
I don't know, even though Begbie in books is supposed to be bigger physically, Carlyle did a fantastic job and I couldn't imagine anyone else playing him. If anything, Ithink his small stature coupled with his reputation as a violent psycho adds an interesting dynamic to his character.
shareI haven't read the book yet, but Carlyle's portrayal was well done, and I agree about his lack of size adding to the part. He seemed like the type that would go to any lengths, any, to kill someone, using anything at his disposal, any tactic. If you look at prison documentaries and profiles of real killers, not all of them are physically intimidating from appearances. In the context of the movie, I think he worked well.
"Bulls**t MR.Han Man!!"--Jim Kelly in Enter the Dragon
I haven't read the book yet, but Carlyle's portrayal was well done
I've seen guys smaller, with my own two eyes, damn near beat people to death barehanded. Put a knife in their hands--forget it.
The book days that Neighbor is always trying to prove himself to be a tough guy with whom you don't mess nor with his friends. I think Carlyle was good, mind you he does look much older than the other actors, even though Begbie is supposed to be the same age.
shareBruce Lee was 5'7"
Nuff said.
Yeah. I saw the movie first before reading the book and I was surprised that Begbie was the same age as them in the book.
Poorly Lived and Poorly Died, Poorly Buried and No One Criedshare
What garbage.
Joe Pesci is only four feet tall and won an Oscar for playing a deranged psychopath in Goodfellas. Height has nothing to do with it (although short people are bitter, angry people naturally).
~ I'm a 21st century man and I don't wanna be here.
although short people are bitter, angry people naturally
Poorly Lived and Poorly Died, Poorly Buried and No One Criedshare
"Joe Pesci is only four feet tall and won an Oscar for playing a deranged psychopath in Goodfellas. Height has nothing to do with it"
A lot of real-life mafia terrors like Nicki the Ant (disparagingly nicknamed by the FBI because of his height) who Joe Pesci also played in "Casino" were of small stature. Former crime lord Whitey Bulger is 5'7, Sammy the Bull Gravano, the feared enforce for John Gotti, is 5'5, among many others.
Not to mention the character Begbie is hardly a "clean" fighter nor are most psychos like him. They go for maximum pain and a quick victory and minimal pain to themselves. The guy in the pub in London that told him off probably thought he was all bark and no bite.
The others have already summed it up pretty well. You also have to consider, as they say in "Fight Club", that your average person goes out of their way to avoid even basic confrontation let along getting into fights. When someone is so boldly aggressive and crazy, it is hard not to imagine them being intimidating.
One other thing to consider is just how much Begbie doesn't give a f*. That can be dangerous in it itself. The scene in the bar when he jumps up and pops off at Spud's mother in front of everyone about how she is a horrible mother shocks me and makes me shake my head everytime, lol.
Charles Manson is 5'2".
shareBeing a psychopath is one thing but with his stature and the way he rampage around with that kind of attitude, he won't survive very long.
So yes, it was a bad choice of cast.