MovieChat Forums > Northern Lights (2009) Discussion > Casting

Casting

posted 15 years ago by cinzim82
13 replies | jump to latest

I really do not know who comes up with the casting for some of Nora's books into movies, but I am continually disappointed. I mean they get pretty good actors but they don't fit the characters they are supposed to be playing. As I read Nora's books I always visual people based on her description of the character. In this movie, Northern Lights, LeeAnn Rimes is cast as Meg Galloway!! The book clearly describes a fiesty young lady with black hair... last time I checked LeeAnn was blonde. Then they also cast Rosanna Arquette as Charlene. Charlene is supposed to be a bombshell a little past her prime. Rosanna is pretty but I wouldn't cast her as Charlene. Rosanna comes off a little more tough and rough around the edges and Charlene is supposed to be very very feminine and into pinks.

After this I looked up other casting for the additional movies being made. In High Noon Phoebe is supposed to be a straight redhead with green eyes, her mother Essie is supposed to be a curly redhead with blue eyes. I see both actresses are blonde with blue eyes. With Midnight Bayou, Lena is supposed be Cajun with curly black hair. (I picture a gypsy looking woman, sort of like Esmerelda in Hunchback of Notre Dame) And they have the woman who played Rose on Grey's Anatomy cast!! This woman isn't remotely Cajun looking!

I know matching actresses to movie characters isn't all that important. But to me it is, and it outrages me to see characters who not only don't fit the physical description, but don't match the character personality either.

Ok I think I'm done venting now.

[–] lvatfrstkss 15 years ago

I know what you mean

I'm not happy with the casting at all.

Her lips were red and full, like tubes of blood drawn by an inattentive phlebotomist.

[–] DarcyBrandon 15 years ago

Urgh! I know what you mean about Meg. She was supoosed to be this tough bush pilot and while LeeAnn Rimes is cool in her own way, she's not exactly who I picture as a bush pilot. I was kind of hoping that someone like Moon Bloodgood would be cast.

[–] suz8600 15 years ago

I agree with you 100%! I would have never pictured LeeAnn Rimes to play Meg from Northern Lights. I mean, I'm in the middle of reading the book and I like the character of Meg, she's a very colorful, out-spoken, black haired woman--the complete opposite of her mother. Add to that I have never seen LeeAnn act before so this should be something interesting to watch. Besides, the book is already different from the movie. I could tell from just watching the short clips off TV.

________________________
The Bitch is Back.

[–] once_again 15 years ago

Awful casting. And Leann Rimes can't act. The book was good, but the movie is a mess.

[–] sunflowerstarr 15 years ago

I agree. It probably doesnt help I reread the book in anticipation of the movie and have it fresh in my mind. I know you cant fit everything in a movie thats in a book but why not at least get the main characters and names for crying out loud right. Its like they took the basic outline of a story and built their own around it.

[–] Ash-lee 15 years ago

They never get the women right for the roles. Heather Locklear was the worst in Angels Fall last year. Although I think Brittany Murphy for Cilla is bound to be the worst yet - the girl doesn't look like she can stand up without help and we're supposed to believe she can rehab a house? Not gonna happen.

[–] sunflowerstarr 15 years ago

I havent read it yet, planning to soon but i was thinkin that when I saw the commercial.

[–] Ash-lee 15 years ago

It's a good book, I really enjoyed it. But Cilla is described as having strong shoulders, a long torso, long legs and long honey-blonde hair - Brittany Murphy that is not! Jason Lewis should be pretty good though. Ford was described as kind of the hot geek, so he can make that work (although he's obviously a lot more on the hot side of the spectrum).

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] sunflowerstarr 15 years ago

all were gonna hear is ppl saying we expect too much and that they always change things from the book. Not that I am defending it cuz that was horrible. I watched it for the purpose of finishing it that was it.

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] vargamor 15 years ago

I agree. I realize that they don't have big huge budget but you can't tell me that they can't find unknown actors just starting out who can act AND look the part. Or that they can't, at the very least, afford a wig or some hair dye for crying out loud.

Meg was the worst yet.

Discuss movies and everything else under the sun at http://www.epicopinion.com

[–] SassyPoet819 15 years ago

I agree with you. I will eternally be annoyed w/ the fact that Mandy Moore had brown hair in Walk To Remember when the character in the book was blonde. Mandy Moore is NATURALLY blonde so why the change? it was so weird. I mean, some changes are necessary in adaptations but some are just completely ridiculous.

You hesitate to stab me with a word, and know not - silence is the sharper sword.