I'm so glad that he didn't play the part of Jean-Dominique Bauby in this movie.
I think big name actors ruin films like this. they get too popular[stupid fangirls] and people like me....who like to have favorite obscure foreign films....would not be able to add it to their list of favorites.
This movie reminded of Awake (american) but way better.
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...you're bragging about your taste in "obscure" foreign films (this was nominated for four Oscars--so much for "obscure") and you reference Awake?
What reminded you of it, the conspiratorial murder-plot against Jean-Do?
Geesh. Be gone, already.
I totally agree with the original poster, Golden. I think that Johnny Depp is so overrated. It would just be a vanity project for him. The French actor is great in this movie!
shareIt wouldn't have worked if JD was in the film. It needed to be a French actor, not just because I feel the opportunity should go to a French native, but because JD is too famous, his acting is very over rated and because I think it would be harder for us viewers to lose ourselves in the film and in the character without always being reminded that it's JD's first attempt at pretending to be French.
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Aside from whether you believe Depp would have or have not ruined the movie with his popularity, you have to look at whether you think he has the ABILITY to play the part or whether he would have been right for the part. I guess no one will know, but it doesn't seem the type of thing that I would connect with Depp.
I know it is one of those roles that people would love to see him play due to it getting him back to the rather different storyline and interesting character, but to me, one of the traits that stand out in Depp's acting is his facial expressions and physical reaction to everything. Even when he is not the main focus of the scene you can see him responding fully in character even in the background. He is never stagnant.
I just feel that it would be difficult for him to play a part where he would be nearly still the entire time/not able to have the facial expressions. I mean, I obviously do not know if he could do it or not. I just feel that it would have been terribly difficult and that most people tend to think of Depp as a God actor nowadays with infinite ability to play any part, which is not the case with any actor/actress.
Not to mention, while reading the memoir, I could never have pictured Depp as fitting the part on just a physical level with the way he looks.
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I disagree. I think he would have done a fabulous job.
However, I do agree that it really did need to be a French actor. Mathieu Amalric was wonderful.
We're having too good a time today, we ain't even thinkin about tomorrow Public Enemies
This would've suffered for being another Depp movie, and he just isn't enough of a jerk anyway.
shareI agree with the OP, when I read that Depp was considered for Bauby after I watched this, I felt relief that he wasn't cast. Not because he'd attract loads of screaming female fans, and apart from him being American and not French, although though he's better than most Hollywood A-listers, big stars like him bring a lot of baggage to films, I'd feel like I was watching Johnny Depp acting rather than the character. Because I'd only seen Mathieu Amalric before in Quantum of Solace, it was easier to see the character rather than just the actor.
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