WHY NO CLETE?


Where is Clete Purcell? And why isnt Goodman playing him? Give me answers.

reply

He's not in the story.

reply

Bloody hell i agree with every book i have read goodman is clete. grumble*

reply

Goodman might work, but I always picture Nick Nolte as Clete.

Well anyway one day hopefully they'll adapt a Robicheaux book involving Clete. I think he appeared in all but Heaven's Prisoners and In The Electric Mist...

reply

Although it's great this film is finally being made, I'm sorry we still won't be seeing Podna Cletus. I always envision the actor Graham Beckel (do a search on him, you'll recognise him as a character actor from a bunch of films) as Purcell. But I agree that Goodman fits more as Clete than as Balboni.

Think I'll start a new casting post, come to think of it...

reply

You nailed it, podna. IMHO I never quite jibed with Goodman as Clete. I like Goodman, but he just never seemed down-and-out edgy enough to me for Clete. Clete is a standup friend and always has Dave's back, but he's also a perfect trainwreck. I never would have thought of Graham Beckel, but now that you mentioned him, he's perfect. Good on ya.

reply

Graham Beckel-Good choice, great in LA Confidential!!

Keyser-soze was just misunderstood

reply

You are preaching to the converted here, I have always thought that Goodman was perfect for Clete. Clete, by the way, is my favorite character in the novels, including Dave. I always saw Sylvester Stallone, especially like he was in Copland. What do y'all think?

reply

Sorry, just had to amend a little here: I was suggesting Stallone for Balboni, not Clete. Goodman is the Cletus!

reply

... as Clete Purcell.

"I am Mr. Snrub ... yes, that will do ..." Honga-Hula!

reply

I agree with hatch, definitely Dennehy.

reply

I just thought of Red West, though he's now too old for the part. Otherwise, it's got to be John Goodman.

reply

I just started the book yesterday and am hooked by page 2. I love Clete and am really surprised and disappointed that he will not be in either this book or the movie. He is a wonderful, rich character. I like the idea of Goodman, but Clete is even more of a wild man. Nolte is wild enough but not huge enough. Goodman would have to shed that comic air that comes with him. I'd actually like to see a new face in his role.

reply

Benwade, exactly, shoulda been Goodman but he's playing tiny feet Balboni in this one so if there is another he can't play Clete! Shame.
About Stallone, i think he's too dark, has to be fair TALL Irish looking dude,read Tin Roof Blowdown yet?
Keyser-soze was just misunderstood

reply



I don't know if John Goodman could be as physical as Clete- he's pretty agile for a big guy....but maybe. Can't think of anyone! Bruce Willis with padding? LOL

reply

Hands down John Goodman.
Though my second choice would be William Forsythe

reply

Gotta say... I can't see Goodman having the "bite" to play Cletus... I saw someone suggest Nick Nolte - he sure seems to be a bit crazy enough, but I have to agree here - William Forsythe would probably be GREAT!

reply

It's too bad he's too thin, but Billy Bob Thorton would be perfect. He should be able to play Clete without making too much of a stretch :-)

reply

Haha, lol. I always pictured Clete as John Goodman. Nice to know some people agree.

I Decapitate
Wack and Fake
Rappers at a Rapid Rate
- Jehst

reply

When I picture Clete, I think of John Goodman circa late '80s. Think of The Big Easy or when Roseanne first started. He has always been a big guy, even in his thinner days. In the late '80s, he was tall and wasn't skinny, but not nearly as big as he is now. He probably would have to lose a little weight to really play Clete, but he would be awesome.

reply

Nah, I have to go with the people that say Goodman is not physical enough. I don't doubt he would be a good enough actor to pull it off, but he is not perfect for it. I have to go with Nolte, especially the DUI booking photo version of Nolte.

Anyway, I am glad to see that Clete was not in the book, I read it too long ago to remember if he featured in the story and I would hate to hear that they had messed with the storyline enough to remove a character like Percell.

reply

I always pictured Gary Busey. Especially after seeing him acting all out of control in "Under Siege" with Steven Seagal. John Goodman doesn't seem to have the self-destructiveness that Clete has.

reply

James Gandolfini has everything in place to make a character like Clete Purcel come to life. Imagine it. Clete is a described as a large man with appetites ranging from booze to women. He is written as a man with a weight problem who is also in possesion of a physical power that would allow him to tear most mens' heads off. He is also written in the book as a man who puts family and friends first. That sound like Mr. Gandolfini? That sound similar to a character he has played in the past on a level of excellence? He would be great.

reply

He's to old for the part now, but I always see Joe Don Baker as Clete. Watch the original Walking Tall, you will see what I mean.

reply

I also think that a younger John Goodman would have been perfect as Clete (Barton Fink-era, when he could be very intimidating and scary). Brendan Gleeson I think would be good, too. Too bad Clete isn't in this one, I had forgotten that & was disappointed not to see his name in the list of characters.

reply

randy quaid is clete. imagine cousin eddie from national lampoon's VACATION....with a pork pie hat and a dixie beer...QED

reply

The younger Randy Quaid, from the era where he did "Long Riders," would have been pretty close to my idea of Clete. Maybe he could still pull it off though it is harder for me to imagine it now, especially with all the ridiculous comedy parts he has done, Cousin Eddie & "Kingpins," etc.

reply

Mickey Rourke is the only actor who could play Clete. He's the right age, the right build, and could pull off the "f-you" attitude perfectly.

reply

Mickey Rourke does have the build and the attitude and I've always liked him as an actor. I wonder if he could really come off as Southern, though.

reply

Having read all of the Dave Roboichux novels, I always saw Michael Madson as Clete. He's tough enough, crazy enough, mean enough and at the same time can be a nice guy if he wants to. I vote for Madson!

reply

I like the Michael Madsen idea, tho I always pictured Robbie Coltrane (with some makeup, tho). Does that work for anyone else (think 'Cracker')

reply

Clete wasn't in Heaven's Prisoners either (crap Robicheaux flick starring Alec Baldwin about 13 years ago)? Perhaps he is too anti-PC for the studios, or the MPAA? I mean Clete in the books makes Vic Mackey in the Shield look like a boxed lunch if ya catches my drift, Streak.

reply

Clete wasn't in Heaven's Prisoners either (crap Robicheaux flick starring Alec Baldwin about 13 years ago)? Perhaps he is too anti-PC for the studios, or the MPAA? I mean Clete in the books makes Vic Mackey in the Shield look like a boxed lunch if ya catches my drift, Streak.

Clete isn't in either of the books adapted for the screen.

End of story.

reply

I always wanted Donal logue as Clete -- big, Irish and redheaded. but with TLJ as DR, the ages don't match. I like TLJ, especially since he can be a realistic 'Nam vet, but can he carry a franchise at his age?
The biggest problem with both DR movies is the lack of Clete -- the coolest character in the series. Clete is a force of nature that I think productions are afraid of overshadowing their star and franchise.
AINC is afraid of open exchange of info -- they have an agenda.

reply

Sadly I don't think there's going to be a "franchise" for TLJ to carry; IIRC the movie rights to the books are mostly owned by different people - about a decade ago HBO looked at the feasibility of doing a full series and dropped the idea very quickly when they realised the huge costs involved in getting all the rights in place. I believe Jones does own Dixie City Jam as well as Electric Mist; so it's possible that we could get a single follow-up if the first film is a success. Personally I'd treat this as a one-off that we're lucky to have at all. :)

reply

Now that Donal Logue is getting a bit of age on him, yeah, I can see it. But, nah, not against Tommy Lee, come to think of it. And let's face it, Tommy Lee was born to play this part.

reply

[deleted]