It's two weeks later, so I'm starting a new thread (Reacher).

[wurm]

I didn't want to add on to a two week old thread, and I wanted to wait until I finished the book before I started watching Season 3, so I just decided to speak my mind in a new thread. Sorry. So here we go.

I was very pleased to see that with a few exceptions (no mother?), I thought this one followed the book very well. From interviews I've seen with Alan Ritchson, he seems like a very nice guy. But as an actor, he's a great bodybuilder. I realize the character is a man of few words, and as much as I resented Cruise playing the part in the movies due to physical differences, I have to admit he delivers those few words much better than Ritchson does. After getting over my original disdain when Cruise produced and acted in those movies, I did enjoy them. And I've enjoyed these Amazon productions as well, despite the thespian limitations of the star. I think they're well produced and directed, and the supporting actors are great. Neagley is terrific, and I'm glad she appears in all of these. The others have all been great, too.

Two closing thoughts.

1. I just saw an interview with Sonya Cassidy (Susan Duffy). I did not realize she was British. As a MA native, it always irritates me to hear a "Boston accent" in a film, but though there were some inconsistencies, she pulled it off pretty well, which made it all the more annoying. It is a very unpleasant accent. I worked very hard to get rid of mine.

2. It wasn't until I saw the credits that I realized who played the character of Beck. Having read the book I was curious who they'd cast in the role, and frankly I thought it was just some no-name actor who did a very good job. Then I saw the actor's name in the credits and it took me a minute to figure out what character he was playing.

[Ombligo]

Funny, but I much prefer Ritchson to Cruise in the role. Cruise just came across as his usual cocky self while Ritchson seems slightly more vulnerable.

[Golfer]

Ombligo wrote:
Funny, but I much prefer Ritchson to Cruise in the role. Cruise just came across as his usual cocky self while Ritchson seems slightly more vulnerable.

I'd wholly agree with that sentiment. I thoroughly enjoyed all three seasons.

[RAMd®d]

I realize the character is a man of few words, and as much as I resented Cruise playing the part in the movies due to physical differences, I have to admit he delivers those few words much better than Ritchson does.


This is my complaint of the complaints of Cruise not being 'right' for the role.

It all hinges on the difference in physical appearance of the book character and Cruise.

That's a weak metric.

Now some people have a bias against Cruise regardless.

Aside from that, without reading the books, I think most of those who prefer Ritchson, wouldn't, if they saw Cruise without the physique bias.

For me, the characterization is the most important metric.

It makes or breaks the role.



It wasn't until I saw the credits that I realized who played the character of Beck.


I knew who he was immediately, only because my girlfriend quizzed me when we watched him in The Dead Zone.

Holy Moly, I never ever would have guessed.

Once I knew and watched him long enough, I could see it, but it took work.

I'm very good at identifying actors I don't recognize, by their voices.

But I had no clue this time, the change was so drastic.



I just saw an interview with Sonya Cassidy (Susan Duffy). I did not realize she was British.


I looked her up, as I like her almost as much as Willa Fitzgerald (Roscoe Conklin).

Brits steal American jobs right and left. (A joke.)

But they do because they do so well with American accents, and Americans can seldom return the favor.

The list of Brits playing Americans in TV shows is astounding.

I watched Damien Lewis in Life without a clue.

Same for Hugh Laurie in House.

The gorgeous Michelle Ryan played Jamie Sommers in the reboot of the Bionic Woman.

In one episode she's tasked to go undercover, and play a Brit.

Can you do a British accent?

I can try.

And she was brilliant.

Then my girlfriend informs me 'She's a Brit'.

Curses!

Another American job, stolen!

The list of Brits passing as American is nearly endless, and dwarfs that of Americans to may do a passible British accent.

Let's not forget the land of Oz, with Robert Taylor (Longmire) and Yvonne Strahovski (Chuck, Dexter, The Handmaid's Tale).

Watching chat shows, it amuses me when a Brit congratulates another Brit on their mastery of a Manchester, RP, Cockney, or some other Brit dialect, or — American accent.

I welcome our Accent Overlords.





Cruise just came across as his usual cocky self while Ritchson seems slightly more vulnerable.


I don't see that at all.

I see Ritchson as the cocky one.

He wouldn't know nuance if it forearm smashed him in the face.

'You don't mess with the 110th Special Investigators' and 'when do I get to take off my shirt?'

And a ton of smirks.

All that said, I'm really looking forward to Neagley, a Reacher spinoff.

Maria Sten (Frances Neagley) is really good, but I don't remember her in any of the books I've read.

The supporting cast in Reacher has been great, in every series.

[wurm]

All that said, I'm really looking forward to Neagley, a Reacher spinoff.

II didn't realize there was going to be one, but if they write it right, it should be great, because she is.

Maria Sten (Frances Neagley) is really good, but I don't remember her in any of the books I've read.

I definitely remember her character appearing a few of the books, but I can't tell you which ones now.

The supporting cast in Reacher has been great, in every series

Agreed.

[N-OS X-tasy!]

test