MovieChat Forums > Kill the Messenger (2014) Discussion > The lead role

The lead role

posted 9 years ago by goldpink23
3 replies | jump to latest

seems as if it was meant for Sean Penn. I'm talking about Jeremy Renner's role.I'm not sure why Sean wasn't cast in the lead role. I definitely think Sean Penn would've done a superior job in that role. This movie was extremely disappointing to me. The acting aside from the actor from The Wire who played Omar was average at best(especially his son and his wife.The scene when the son is asking his dad about the cheating).I'm obviously in the minority but I just wanted to share MY OPINION.

[–] shadowrun_2 9 years ago

The only actor I didn't like was his kid playing his son. I don't know if he's new at this or what, but I wasn't buying his performance. Jeremy Renner didn't do too bad, it seems they were going more for getting the look right.

I have the same problem with this film as I have with most of these true story movies. They spit a few facts out onto the screen but add nothing to them.

The movie isn't all about the smear campaign and what is there isn't expanded upon. They dredge up information that it doesn't say if it becomes public or not and then steal his bike? That's it? Surely that's not all the CIA did to attack this guy in lieu of such a massive scandal. It felt like there were elements of the story missing, removed to make room for the drama.

[–] SamoanJoes 9 years ago

I thought Renner did okay, I just felt like they could have got better. Tom Hardy, perhaps?

[–] spookyrat1 8 years ago

Sean Penn at around 54 at the time the film was made (and looks it) is too old IMO to play a 41 year old journalist with a young family. Jeremy Renner was good, wantedto make the film and so he co-produced and took the lead role.🐭