While I'm in total agreement, let's remember that Hollywood is after the bottom line. Very few books even remotely resemble what we see on the screen. If they're looking to exploit Cruise's box office draw, that's their focus. Ask just about any author whose books have been turned into movies. Once they take the money, they're out of the loop. Robert Crais spoke about this. Someone asked what he thought of the movie they made based on one of his books. His response: "It sucked." But he learned that although they told him he'd have input, it was totally ignored. Then someone asked if he'd do it again. He said. "Yes."
But again, I agree that Cruise isn't Reacher. But I'll bet Cruise fans who have never read Lee Child will see the movie and love it, and then maybe they'll go buy the book. A win-win for Lee Child.
Terry -- you are right about the money, and if Hollywood wanted to cast Mr. Cruise as Willie Grisseljon in a filming of The Prairie Grass Murders, I'd probably hold my tongue.
But as a Child/Reacher fan, I'm unhappy and I will skip this movie because I don't want my own vision of Jack Reacher spoiled.
Cruise is big box office, but he's totally wrong for the part. No Child/Reacher fan will accept it. I always think of Humphrey Bogart as the perfect Sam Spade. When you read The Maltese Falcon and then watch the film, you realize how perfect the casting was. I don't see why Hollywood can't be as effective now.
8 comments:
Pat - Agreed! You said it better than I would have.
Here's another one in agreement, Cruise doesn't fit Reacher.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
Freelance Editing By Mason
I don't even know who Reacher is.
Yvonne.
While I'm in total agreement, let's remember that Hollywood is after the bottom line. Very few books even remotely resemble what we see on the screen. If they're looking to exploit Cruise's box office draw, that's their focus. Ask just about any author whose books have been turned into movies. Once they take the money, they're out of the loop. Robert Crais spoke about this. Someone asked what he thought of the movie they made based on one of his books. His response: "It sucked." But he learned that although they told him he'd have input, it was totally ignored. Then someone asked if he'd do it again. He said. "Yes."
But again, I agree that Cruise isn't Reacher. But I'll bet Cruise fans who have never read Lee Child will see the movie and love it, and then maybe they'll go buy the book. A win-win for Lee Child.
Terry
Terry's Place
Romance with a Twist--of Mystery
A-gree. Reacher doesn't jump on couches. Ev-ah.
Terry -- you are right about the money, and if Hollywood wanted to cast Mr. Cruise as Willie Grisseljon in a filming of The Prairie Grass Murders, I'd probably hold my tongue.
But as a Child/Reacher fan, I'm unhappy and I will skip this movie because I don't want my own vision of Jack Reacher spoiled.
They must think Cruise fits every bill - but he doesn't.
Cruise is big box office, but he's totally wrong for the part. No Child/Reacher fan will accept it. I always think of Humphrey Bogart as the perfect Sam Spade. When you read The Maltese Falcon and then watch the film, you realize how perfect the casting was. I don't see why Hollywood can't be as effective now.
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