MovieChat Forums > Disappearing Acts (2000) Discussion > Different leading man

Different leading man

posted 20 years ago by blkhrt430-1
26 replies | jump to latest

I feel that this movie would have been a better movie if there was a different leading man. I have a lot of respect for Wesley Snipes as an actor, but I feel that he was not the right actor for this part. There seemed to not be any real chemistry between Wesley and Sanaa, also I think that it's just hard to imagine Wesley as a poor and not fully educated man. I haven't seen all of his movies, but I've seen quite a few, and the only movie that I've seen of his where he didn't play a well to do, articulate or both character was when he was Tremaine in Wildcats. I think that Zora, Claudette and Portia were all cast very well, but what happened to the fourth friend Marie? I guess in retrospect it would have been a useless complication to implement her story into the movie. Also I think it would have been a riot to put the thanksgiving day dinner where Franklin's mother threw mashed potatoes at Zora in the film, but oh well.

"These seconds when I'm shaking leaves me shuddering for days" she says. And I'm not ready for this sort of thing.

[–] strait_sensual 20 years ago

I liked Wesley in that movie and I think that he was perfect for that role...I think it's good to see regular men perform. I mean he's not the PRETTY BOY we normally see in this type of movie. Being in love with someone that don't have nothing is the strongest romance 2 people can have. Those guys are usually creative. It's really something when you love someone that don't have anything but the shirt on their back, been there...don't believe in marrying that type, but even though I have been married to the same man for 12 years I still have to say I enjoyed those inexpensive thoughtful dates with the person I had that relationship with. They were sensual and I remember them more vivid than the wining and dining...

[–] Tovia88 19 years ago

I never thought about diffrent actors in the lead roles until I read this post. I thought the whole cast did a good job. But then I thought how good would Terrence Howard have been instead of Wesley? Not only is he finer but he really plays the anger-just-under-the-surface thing really well, plus I'm thinking Sanaa woulda had no problem with chemistry with Terrence! But in saying that, I really enjoyed the film just the way it was.

[–] bashardettem 19 years ago

I love Wesley as the leading man, and I sincerely felt the chemistry between them, it's somewhat similar to my own relationship! I felt that the cast was very well selected and I actually can't see anyone else playing his role. It showed the depth of his acting abiltiy, how well rounded and talanted he truly is, since as you stated you don't really see him portraying such characters, but he truely did an excellent job! I began to dipise him for the triffling, pittiful, needy,and inconsiderate man that he became, even though the potential for greatness was there, some just need to be pushed to stand on their own!!

[–] ijonesiii 18 years ago

The physical description of the character of Franklin in the book is NOTHING like Wesley Snipes.

[–] JAG2005 18 years ago

blkhrt430-1,

I loved this movie but I agree with you. While I didn't hate Wesley Snipes in this movie, he was the one thing that didn't really work for me. I think a rapper type would have worked well here. Someone like Mos Def. I also think Sanaa and Isiah Washington would have awesome chemistry. Both really good actors.

"smile. be happy"

[–] ijonesiii 18 years ago

Isaiah Washington comes a lot closer to the physical description of the character in the book than Wesley Snipes did.

[–] djames3 16 years ago

Even though this was a film based on a book about black relationships, I think Woody Harrelson would have made have made a great leading man in this film! He is awesome and I think he and Sanaa would have had good chemistry on the screen!

[–] mikemic73110 16 years ago

Woody Harrelson is not black and, as you said, this is a film based on a book about black relationships. So, why cast a non-black actor in the lead role?

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] axara_ 18 years ago

I simply love this film and I think that this part suited for Wesley Snipes very well. He is usually acting roles where there isnät a lot of emotion, and in this film he had emotions, wich was great, allthough his carractor vas in a way sometimes very cold. Sanaa and Wesley clicked so good and seemed like a REAL couple with ups and downs, but the love still stayed strong.

[–] ijonesiii 18 years ago

Don't get me wrong...I really liked this film also and I LOVE,LOVE,LOVE Wesley Snipes and loved his performance in the film, all I was saying was that he did not fit the phsycial description of the character in the BOOK, that's all.

[–] Isaac5855 16 years ago

While Snipes did not fit the physical description of Franklin in the book, I still thought he was unbelievably sexy in this movie.

[–] hunibunznow 18 years ago

Yes. I do believe that some of the scenes in the movie did not relate to anything in the book, but I guess for length. Being that it is a HBO movie they could of have it in a series to coincide with the book. I think the movie would have been a whole lot better if they would have did that. Showtime can make Soul Food into a series, along with The Barbershop, but HBO could not make Disappearing Acts a series involving a topselling book plus a phenomenal author-Terry McMillian that just goes to show you that viewers unlike directors should have the finally say on how a movie should be made......BUT that will mean too much money to be dish out to "everyday folk".

[–] killuminati91 16 years ago

Denzel and Sanaa had great chemistry in Out of Time. He couldve played the role of Franklin.

[–] DivaJ75 16 years ago

He's over twenty years older than the character. Morris Chestnut would have been great or Richard T. Jones.

"Poor is the man whose pleasures depend on the permission of another."

[–] Isaac5855 16 years ago

Chestnut and Jones both fit the character physically better than Snipes but I think they are both a little too old for the role as well.

[–] DivaJ75 16 years ago

They are the same age as Lathan, so how are they too old?

"Poor is the man whose pleasures depend on the permission of another."

[–] Isaac5855 16 years ago

Denzel is a little too old for the role of Franklin.

[–] Tamara4470 15 years ago

I know this is an post but I just caught Sanaa's bio on Leading Women and it reminded me of how wrong Wesley was for this movie, I see I wasn't the only one who thought so lol. I guess if you hadn't read the book it wouldn't bother you so much but upon reading Disappearing Acts, Franklin just did not translate into Wesley Snipes or Denzel for that matter. I agree with Richard T. or even Isaiah. They were much better suited to the character portrayed in the book of that tall chocolate drop!

"I'm originally from the southern portion of the Nation where my granfather was in textiles!"

[–] RShaBazzEMS2002 14 years ago

Hmmmmmmmmmm well based on the description in the book I'd say Morris Chesnut he's one of the sexiest chocloate men I've ever seen!

Rafiqa $.

[–] bloorain82 14 years ago

I caught this movie recently on HBO and I just think Isaiah Washington would've been perfect for this role. Sanaa and Isaiah in a love story like this would've been awesome. Isaiah seems to have a very hot/cold kind of temperment and from what I've seen he's a good enough actor to have pulled this off. Wesley Snipes just didn't do it for me. He just came off as a straight up loser from the hood and didn't have much chemistry happening with Sanaa. His performance and portrayal of this character seemed one note. By the end of the movie I just thought he was still a loser who somehow made his way back in to her house. Sanaa of course was excellent. If they ever do a remake I think they should definitely consider Isaiah.

My favorite performance in the entire movie though was actually Aunjanue Ellis, who played the 2 boy's mom. She was fierce. Too bad that part was so small.