Going way out on a limb
CHARLIZE Theron. PHOTO BY RUBEN NEPALES
Some TV-Film productions this season are notable for their decision to go way out on a limb with casting concepts, and to tickle viewers’ fancy and curiosity with their unexpected choices.
In general, we support these audacious moves, but occasionally they stretch credulity too much—and the tenuous branch could break.
Take the decision in “Snow White and the Huntsman” to cast Charlize Theron as the beautiful but evil Queen, and Kristen Stewart as Snow White. Initially, the choices appear to be edgy and promising, but the movie’s trailer perplexes viewers, because Theron still comes off as more beautiful than Stewart—which makes suspect the believability of the fairy tale’s “Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?” jealousy theme.
We wonder why Stewart got the plum part, because she has shown in her vampire films that she’s a rather listless performer, and not at all stunning in the looks department, either. As for Theron, she may be much older than Stewart, but she’s still a vividly exceptional beauty—so what reason would her character have to feel so insecure about Stewart’s appearance in her queendom? No, honestly!
In the new “Men in Black” flick, the casting dud is Josh Brolin as the younger version of Agent K. He focuses so much on the “stolid” part of his character that he unwittingly immobilizes and petrifies viewers, as well!
On the local show biz scene, the decision of Sarah Geronimo to do pictorials to project a “sexier” image and performing persona for her forthcoming concert comes off half-baked. You can’t conjure up sexiness out of thin air or from the “magic” touch of master photographers and stylists, because true sensuality comes from within.
Transformation
Sarah’s problem is that she’s spent too many years projecting a cozily cute and kooky image, instead of slowly and more believably segueing into a more young-adult phase in her career. Yes, TV and the movies’ skilled creative people can work wonders, but “total transformation” really takes time, and has to happen first within the star, before this transformation manifests itself believably onscreen.
Another far-out casting gambit is the decision to turn singer Angeline Quinto into an overnight movie star, by way of a starring role in her very first film, “Born to Love You,” opposite Coco Martin. One would have thought that, given the singer’s sometimes still iffy musical performances, she would have spent more time to really clean up her singing act before she plunged deep into the completely different field of acting—and in a big, stellar role to boot!
Of course, it is possible that Angeline could pull it off with astounding competence and flair, so we should give her the benefit of the doubt. And we truly hope she succeeds, because if she falls short, the insufficiency will be difficult to recover from, or explain away.
That’s the reason why most new stars first launch their acting careers with “cameo” or “introducing” roles. In that manner, they slowly acquire the confidence and “K” to move up to “supporting” and “also-starring” parts, in preparation for their first lead or “above the title” gambit. Angeline and her handlers have opted to fast-track that process, so we fervently hope—that they know something we don’t!
