MovieChat Forums > Café Society (2016) Discussion > Bruce Willis as Phil

Bruce Willis as Phil

posted 8 years ago by marathonwatcher
4 replies | jump to latest

I am a big fan of Steve Carrell, but Bruce Willis would have knocked the Phil character out of the ballpark had he not be fired from the role. Per iMDB trivia, it states that Bruce was fired because he didn't remember lines, was late for shoots and was arrogant on set. I wish Woody would have fired Julia Roberts on "Everyone Says I Love You", where she did the same as Bruce: late often, didn't take role seriously and didn't read lines accurately. However, Woody said he would never work with Julia again. Spielberg said same thing when she played Tinkerbell.

Steve did an okay job, but didn't sell his character well. I felt like I was watching Steve Carrell playing Michael Scott playing Phil.

[–] AgentBlue 8 years ago

Steve was good but I wonder how Bruce would have done, shame he got fired his career could really use a role like this in a woody allen film.

Lose the Game!!!!!!!

[–] kmags84 8 years ago

Agreed... But that's Bruce. He's an arrogant guy. I think the fact that he does these things has cost him any chance at a Late Career in Hollywood like many others of his Era. He's a goon.

[–] tyrexden 8 years ago

i think Bruce in the role, would've made the role very antagonistic... like he's a bad guy.

Carrell, while, you're not rooting for him, you kind of empathize with him. With Bruce, i think you would just really not like him.

Its impossible to know what Woody intended with the character, initially, because both actors would've played it different... Woody is very well-known NOT to give direction to his actors. He lets THEM find the role, and bring to it, what they think.

I'm glad Carrell was in it.... because him being both likable, but also you can critique him... that makes his character more interesting. I don't think Bruce would'v been the slightest bit empathetic.

[–] Prismark10 8 years ago

Maybe Bruce would had been good but the guy is just too busy doing things for money and putting no effort.

Here he agreed to do it for little money and put no effort.

It's that man again!!