MovieChat Forums > The Paradise (2013) Discussion > Is Emun Elliot miscast as Moray?

Is Emun Elliot miscast as Moray?

posted 9 years ago by AppalachianMountainWriter
7 replies | jump to latest

I found it difficult to watch him.
1. He whispers about 90% of all his dialogue. This is his most annoying trait.
2. He keeps his lower lip straight when he speaks, which reminds me of a ventriloquist dummy. His lower lip moves up and down, but doesn't move in other ways when he speaks. Not sure if this is what makes his accent sound fake.
3. He speaks in a three-word cadence most of the time. Example: The Paradise is...going to be...the best store...ever.
4. He is shorter than Denise, and that looks awkward when they embrace.
If they had cast someone else as Moray, this show would have been SO much better.

[–] 2sweetkids 9 years ago

I'm only through the first season, but I feel quite the opposite. I think he's perfect and feel the Rome of Denise is miscast. Her lines are delivered as if she's reading from the script. It's difficult for me to imagine him being interested in her. I might have felt differently if she had been played by another actress.

[–] RobbieCalifornia 9 years ago

I like him just fine so far, but I'm only just on the first episodes. He has the right amount of masculinity and mystery for me. Enjoying it very much.

[–] nora_movies 8 years ago

I don't entirely agree with everything you said but I, while watching season 1, have generally felt this way. He is growing on me, though, and I am on episode 8 of season 1 now. He just seems young for the part. I'm not convinced he's as great, charismatic of a leader as the show would have you believe. I don't think that height has to be an issue with the right actor---have you seen Gael Garcia Bernal in Mozart in the Jungle? I do think your comment on #2 is interesting and now I'll have to watch for this when I watch The Paradise. I also think that the actor playing Dudley, Matthew McNulty, is distracting because he is very charismatic.

[–] Lady_Orc 8 years ago

its funny you mentioned that, because i thought Dudley and Moray should've switched actors. Matthew McNulty did a great job playing Fisher Bloom in "Lark Rise to Candleford". I think he could've easily been plausible as the charismatic and mysterious Moray character.

[–] suzannereilman 8 years ago

@ dear 'Appalachian'...thanks for your post! I'm only 5 episodes into season 1 and thought that I was imaging that -DOPEY-affectation of 'Moray's'...EVERYthing said as if he's revealing a great mystery in a cheesy Vegas magician's act...that growl/whisper thing with bizarre cadence/pacing...definitely taking away from the positives I'm finding about this show..! :)

[–] rfrf101 8 years ago

I love Emun Elliot as Moray!

[–] mythcalledlove 8 years ago

He is a wimpy looking man and he has that "lisp". He is short and I agree they picked the wrong actor for the role.