Post by TheShadow on Sept 18, 2005 20:13:05 GMT -5
According to BOF, Lachy Hulme and Paul Bettany are the only ones in the running and Joker screentests take place this month!
I've taken various posts from BOF and compiled them into a comprehensive analysis of each actor.
Lachy Hulme
Manipulation by bigvprop3.
From the film Let's Get Skase
Height: 6'3"
Age: 34
Joker-like Roles
Plays a criminal in Let's Get Skase who wants revenge on a mob boss. According to bigvprop3-who saw him in this-he can be a "funny bastard and can do awesome psychotic outbursts."
Plays another revenge-minded character in Four Jacks, who has a twisted sense of humor.
Both films have convinced people that Lachy can play the Joker.
Reviews on Lachy
From ManWhoLaughs83 regarding his Four Jacks performance:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
As everyone knows from all of the pictures and the sketches, the guy has the build: tall, lanky, long face, etc. What you may not know, however, is that this guy has very intense, insane eyes. Looking in his eyes is enough to tell you that this guy is a little bit off. I'm not sure if that was just the character, or how Hulme really is. Either way, he has the intensity in his expressions to pull in the audience and creep them out at the same time. His performance was quite strong all the way through and he really carried the film. He had a dark sense of humor and was equally strong during his character's over the top and subtle moments, which is critical for the Joker. The biggest thing I noticed in watching this performance was Hulme's presence. He has that "it" factor that pulls the audience in and allows him to really stand out. I already knew he was a big guy at 6'3", but he actually seems even bigger on screen. Having the physical and emotional presence that Hulme displayed in this film is what will allow him to overcome the fact that he is an unknown and really become a breakout star if he lands this role. I can definately see where Nolan would think that this guy has potential. BTW, since I know all of you are wondering, he did show great potential for that oh so important J-Man laugh.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
From Conan42 regarding his Four Jacks performance:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boy, this is a menacing guy. He's very much along the same lines of Paul Bettany in his ability to express millions of words and emotions and subtexts with one look. Also, what has been said is true: the man FILLS the screen. In this film he's very blue collar, so he almost slouches into scenes, so he comes off as big but shabby, but he's still very big. Everything he does is given a very keen, vicious edge to it. In fact, that's one of the big twists. I won't go into that. But let it be said, he can pierce you with his eyes. I agree: he carries the movie. In fact, he's easily the best part.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pros and Cons From Writer Empath Based off of ManWhoLaughs83's review
PROS:
- intense and enthralling expressions
- insane eyes
- powerful screen prescence (looks and feels even bigger than he really is)
- can play a dark sense of humor
- equally strong with over the top and subtle moments
- has shown great potential to pull of the Joker's laugh
- won Best Actor at and australian underground film festival for a role portraying the above in the independantly made dark, violent, thriller, Four Jacks
- has acted in comedy films
- is an unknown, which fits an actor playing an iconic role
- does a convincing American accent
CONS: Being a mostly indie actor he might not drag in as much of an audience just to see him,
Role in The Matrix Revolutions:
When the crew reunites with Niobe's ship...two other crew members are shown afterwards trying to reboot Niobe's ship. These are Ghost and Sparks, very minor characters in the movies and very major characters in the video games. Sparks has the sarcastic humor. When everything on the ship turns on, he says, "She lives again." When a crew member on the other ship asks him if they can do something else for him, Sparks replies, "Sure, and could you clean the windshield while you're at it?" Later on, he is the one who checks the Matrix monitors and sees that there's something funky with the code.
Link to footage
Unfortunately, there aren't any trailers or clips of Four Jacks or Let's Get Skase online. There are, however, clips from Enter the Matrix where Lachy displays a good sense of comedic timing, a couple of explosive outbursts, and a killer American accent.
www.code-matrix.net/
On the side is a menu that says Top Archives. The top link says V-7 videos ETM. Click on it.
There you will see lots of clips of Enter The Matrix. I highly recommend clips 0, 12, 13, and 20.
Paul Bettany
Manipulation by MusicWorshipper
From the film Gangster No. 1
Height: 6'3"
Age: 34
Same as Lachy. Weird, huh?
Joker-like roles:
Played a loud and animated character in A Knight's Tale
More importantly, played a creepy psychotic gangster obsessed with rising to the top in Gangster No. 1
Reviews on Paul
ManWhoLaughs on Bettany in Gangster No. 1:
---------------------------------------------------------
Creepy as hell!!! Bettany really was sick in this film with a perverse taste for violence. He was incredibly vain, obsessed with fine suits, shoes, and even tie pins. He really got off on terrifying his victims insisting that they look in his eyes while he interrogates, hurts, or kills them. He sported a maniacal grin that was Joker all the way. The key thing in Bettany's performance in this film that relates to playing the Joker was his obsession with another one of the film's main characters. We all know that the Joker's obsession with Batman is a critical factor in his behavior. In Gangster, Bettany's character is obsessed with his mob boss, Freddy Mays. Bettany never takes his eyes off of Mays. He wants to be Freddy and have his suits, his money, and the respect. Bettany really showed an ability to deliver an accurate portrayal of the perverse, insane, violent, and obsessive qualities that make the Joker Batman's greatest foe.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conan 42 on Bettany in Gangster No. 1:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul Bettany is ENDLESSLY disturbing in that movie. He, also, can twist his face into the most vicious, inhuman, heartless expressions. So... when it comes down to it... who do I give it to?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul Bettany is one of the great physical actors out there today.
You probably have seen him in films where he plays the stock Traditional Charming British Cad. However, here, in his breakout role, he is anything but. The Young Gangster is probably one of the most inhuman, totally psychopathic characters ever put on the screen. But, what's really astounding, is that it's all done almost completely visually. Bettany doesn't talk a whole lot - his thoughts and contemplations are largely explained in monologue by the Old Gangster. But every single look, every single gesture speaks volumes where the Old Gangster simply speaks a few sentences.
This is due partially to simply good direction, but most of the glory belongs to Bettany. There are countless scenes where all he does is either stare at the camera or stare off screen, and the effect is so skin crawling and chilling that... that it's hard to watch. The Gangster's favorite line, "Look into my eyes. Look at me, look into my f***** eyes" works. He stares down not only the characters, who weep and blubber and beg for mercy, but also the audience. When I watched this with my friends, they would occasionally cry out or swear under their breath.
I'll go through three scenes.
One involves the Gangster in a car with another hood friend. Gangster has just learned of an impending it on Freddie Mays, and whilst his friend plans to immediately go and tell their boss, Gangster has other plans. While contemplating, the thought hits him, the entire plan, and suddenly his face seems to pull back on the skull, eyes rolling, teeth jutting out of his jaw, his entire face a writhing mass of this single inhuman gesture, and while this happens there's a screaming, whining, nails-on-a-chalkboard noise that just won't stop getting louder....
And then he snaps out of it. He's suddenly normal. He turns and calmly says, "Pull over. Pull over, we've got a flat." The entire moment is just so alien that it's possibly the most disturbing part of the movie. And then while his friend is checking for the flat tire, Gangster, hatchet hidden behind his back, reaches out and strokes his friend's head. His friends snaps up. "What you doin'?" he asks. "Nothing," the Gangster whispers back. "I'm just strokin' your frizzy hair."
There is no violence there. The scene cuts that out. But you know it was coming. You know it happened, and that it was ugly.
So that was probably the most disturbing part of the movie. Which is saying something. Because in this film you get to see the Gangster abusing a bleeding, mangled man from the victim's point of view. The Gangster marches into the man's apartment, puts one round in his prey's leg, and then turns up the stereo (a love song quietly crooning from the speakers), turns on the light, unrolls a tool belt (complete with hatchet and icepicks) and then he undresses, taking off his classy suit, his violet cufflinks, his snappy tie pin. Now in nothing but a wife beater and hsi tighty whities, he looks at his victim, and whispers, "You ready?"
Then he's all over him, tearing him apart. And that's when you REALLY see Gangster for what he is: a raving, screaming, blood covered thing, nothing but violence and rage, hacking and stabbing and swearing incoherently. Something totally insane. An animal barely concealing himself.
Another good scene comes when Gangster confronts the fiancee of his boss, Freddie. He leers at her, almost hitting at her, and she's repulsed, telling him, "There's something ugly eating away at you inside. I can see it, I can see it from a million miles," and when he begins to seethe at her, she spits in his face. He takes a step back, arm raised to strike, his face a twisted, ugly symphony, and then...
He smiles. He relaxes. And, not even wiping the spit off his face, he tells her, "Yeah... good luck. I'm really happy. For both of you. I hope you both will be really happy." And it's so convincing that it's also endlessly disturbing, because right before he slipped out from under the veil and you saw him for what he REALLY was: a walking, boiling monster.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pros and Cons by Writer Empath based on ManWhoLaughs83's Review
PROS
- can be loud, as seen in A Knightâs Tale (though he developed laryngitis afterwards from all the yelling)
- can play creepy, perverted, vain
- gets off on terrifying victims
- excellent maniacal grin
- can play the obsession needed for the Joker's relationship with Batman, all as seen in Gangster No. 1.
CONS: No evidence yet of a good joker laugh.
Links to footage are in my previous post above.
What do you guys think of these two actors?
I've taken various posts from BOF and compiled them into a comprehensive analysis of each actor.
Lachy Hulme
Manipulation by bigvprop3.
From the film Let's Get Skase
Height: 6'3"
Age: 34
Joker-like Roles
Plays a criminal in Let's Get Skase who wants revenge on a mob boss. According to bigvprop3-who saw him in this-he can be a "funny bastard and can do awesome psychotic outbursts."
Plays another revenge-minded character in Four Jacks, who has a twisted sense of humor.
Both films have convinced people that Lachy can play the Joker.
Reviews on Lachy
From ManWhoLaughs83 regarding his Four Jacks performance:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
As everyone knows from all of the pictures and the sketches, the guy has the build: tall, lanky, long face, etc. What you may not know, however, is that this guy has very intense, insane eyes. Looking in his eyes is enough to tell you that this guy is a little bit off. I'm not sure if that was just the character, or how Hulme really is. Either way, he has the intensity in his expressions to pull in the audience and creep them out at the same time. His performance was quite strong all the way through and he really carried the film. He had a dark sense of humor and was equally strong during his character's over the top and subtle moments, which is critical for the Joker. The biggest thing I noticed in watching this performance was Hulme's presence. He has that "it" factor that pulls the audience in and allows him to really stand out. I already knew he was a big guy at 6'3", but he actually seems even bigger on screen. Having the physical and emotional presence that Hulme displayed in this film is what will allow him to overcome the fact that he is an unknown and really become a breakout star if he lands this role. I can definately see where Nolan would think that this guy has potential. BTW, since I know all of you are wondering, he did show great potential for that oh so important J-Man laugh.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
From Conan42 regarding his Four Jacks performance:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boy, this is a menacing guy. He's very much along the same lines of Paul Bettany in his ability to express millions of words and emotions and subtexts with one look. Also, what has been said is true: the man FILLS the screen. In this film he's very blue collar, so he almost slouches into scenes, so he comes off as big but shabby, but he's still very big. Everything he does is given a very keen, vicious edge to it. In fact, that's one of the big twists. I won't go into that. But let it be said, he can pierce you with his eyes. I agree: he carries the movie. In fact, he's easily the best part.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pros and Cons From Writer Empath Based off of ManWhoLaughs83's review
PROS:
- intense and enthralling expressions
- insane eyes
- powerful screen prescence (looks and feels even bigger than he really is)
- can play a dark sense of humor
- equally strong with over the top and subtle moments
- has shown great potential to pull of the Joker's laugh
- won Best Actor at and australian underground film festival for a role portraying the above in the independantly made dark, violent, thriller, Four Jacks
- has acted in comedy films
- is an unknown, which fits an actor playing an iconic role
- does a convincing American accent
CONS: Being a mostly indie actor he might not drag in as much of an audience just to see him,
Role in The Matrix Revolutions:
When the crew reunites with Niobe's ship...two other crew members are shown afterwards trying to reboot Niobe's ship. These are Ghost and Sparks, very minor characters in the movies and very major characters in the video games. Sparks has the sarcastic humor. When everything on the ship turns on, he says, "She lives again." When a crew member on the other ship asks him if they can do something else for him, Sparks replies, "Sure, and could you clean the windshield while you're at it?" Later on, he is the one who checks the Matrix monitors and sees that there's something funky with the code.
Link to footage
Unfortunately, there aren't any trailers or clips of Four Jacks or Let's Get Skase online. There are, however, clips from Enter the Matrix where Lachy displays a good sense of comedic timing, a couple of explosive outbursts, and a killer American accent.
www.code-matrix.net/
On the side is a menu that says Top Archives. The top link says V-7 videos ETM. Click on it.
There you will see lots of clips of Enter The Matrix. I highly recommend clips 0, 12, 13, and 20.
Paul Bettany
Manipulation by MusicWorshipper
From the film Gangster No. 1
Height: 6'3"
Age: 34
Same as Lachy. Weird, huh?
Joker-like roles:
Played a loud and animated character in A Knight's Tale
More importantly, played a creepy psychotic gangster obsessed with rising to the top in Gangster No. 1
Reviews on Paul
ManWhoLaughs on Bettany in Gangster No. 1:
---------------------------------------------------------
Creepy as hell!!! Bettany really was sick in this film with a perverse taste for violence. He was incredibly vain, obsessed with fine suits, shoes, and even tie pins. He really got off on terrifying his victims insisting that they look in his eyes while he interrogates, hurts, or kills them. He sported a maniacal grin that was Joker all the way. The key thing in Bettany's performance in this film that relates to playing the Joker was his obsession with another one of the film's main characters. We all know that the Joker's obsession with Batman is a critical factor in his behavior. In Gangster, Bettany's character is obsessed with his mob boss, Freddy Mays. Bettany never takes his eyes off of Mays. He wants to be Freddy and have his suits, his money, and the respect. Bettany really showed an ability to deliver an accurate portrayal of the perverse, insane, violent, and obsessive qualities that make the Joker Batman's greatest foe.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conan 42 on Bettany in Gangster No. 1:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul Bettany is ENDLESSLY disturbing in that movie. He, also, can twist his face into the most vicious, inhuman, heartless expressions. So... when it comes down to it... who do I give it to?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul Bettany is one of the great physical actors out there today.
You probably have seen him in films where he plays the stock Traditional Charming British Cad. However, here, in his breakout role, he is anything but. The Young Gangster is probably one of the most inhuman, totally psychopathic characters ever put on the screen. But, what's really astounding, is that it's all done almost completely visually. Bettany doesn't talk a whole lot - his thoughts and contemplations are largely explained in monologue by the Old Gangster. But every single look, every single gesture speaks volumes where the Old Gangster simply speaks a few sentences.
This is due partially to simply good direction, but most of the glory belongs to Bettany. There are countless scenes where all he does is either stare at the camera or stare off screen, and the effect is so skin crawling and chilling that... that it's hard to watch. The Gangster's favorite line, "Look into my eyes. Look at me, look into my f***** eyes" works. He stares down not only the characters, who weep and blubber and beg for mercy, but also the audience. When I watched this with my friends, they would occasionally cry out or swear under their breath.
I'll go through three scenes.
One involves the Gangster in a car with another hood friend. Gangster has just learned of an impending it on Freddie Mays, and whilst his friend plans to immediately go and tell their boss, Gangster has other plans. While contemplating, the thought hits him, the entire plan, and suddenly his face seems to pull back on the skull, eyes rolling, teeth jutting out of his jaw, his entire face a writhing mass of this single inhuman gesture, and while this happens there's a screaming, whining, nails-on-a-chalkboard noise that just won't stop getting louder....
And then he snaps out of it. He's suddenly normal. He turns and calmly says, "Pull over. Pull over, we've got a flat." The entire moment is just so alien that it's possibly the most disturbing part of the movie. And then while his friend is checking for the flat tire, Gangster, hatchet hidden behind his back, reaches out and strokes his friend's head. His friends snaps up. "What you doin'?" he asks. "Nothing," the Gangster whispers back. "I'm just strokin' your frizzy hair."
There is no violence there. The scene cuts that out. But you know it was coming. You know it happened, and that it was ugly.
So that was probably the most disturbing part of the movie. Which is saying something. Because in this film you get to see the Gangster abusing a bleeding, mangled man from the victim's point of view. The Gangster marches into the man's apartment, puts one round in his prey's leg, and then turns up the stereo (a love song quietly crooning from the speakers), turns on the light, unrolls a tool belt (complete with hatchet and icepicks) and then he undresses, taking off his classy suit, his violet cufflinks, his snappy tie pin. Now in nothing but a wife beater and hsi tighty whities, he looks at his victim, and whispers, "You ready?"
Then he's all over him, tearing him apart. And that's when you REALLY see Gangster for what he is: a raving, screaming, blood covered thing, nothing but violence and rage, hacking and stabbing and swearing incoherently. Something totally insane. An animal barely concealing himself.
Another good scene comes when Gangster confronts the fiancee of his boss, Freddie. He leers at her, almost hitting at her, and she's repulsed, telling him, "There's something ugly eating away at you inside. I can see it, I can see it from a million miles," and when he begins to seethe at her, she spits in his face. He takes a step back, arm raised to strike, his face a twisted, ugly symphony, and then...
He smiles. He relaxes. And, not even wiping the spit off his face, he tells her, "Yeah... good luck. I'm really happy. For both of you. I hope you both will be really happy." And it's so convincing that it's also endlessly disturbing, because right before he slipped out from under the veil and you saw him for what he REALLY was: a walking, boiling monster.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pros and Cons by Writer Empath based on ManWhoLaughs83's Review
PROS
- can be loud, as seen in A Knightâs Tale (though he developed laryngitis afterwards from all the yelling)
- can play creepy, perverted, vain
- gets off on terrifying victims
- excellent maniacal grin
- can play the obsession needed for the Joker's relationship with Batman, all as seen in Gangster No. 1.
CONS: No evidence yet of a good joker laugh.
Links to footage are in my previous post above.
What do you guys think of these two actors?
