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How The Hell Did “The Conjuring” Guy Get Cast As The Antagonist In This?

posted 5 years ago by R_Kane (15828)
26 replies | jump to latest

Jason Mamoa’s Aquaman in this film is a modern-day Enkidu from the Mesopotamian poem Gilgamesh, the world’s oldest recorded story—the prototypical Alpha male. He requires a STRONG antagonist, but Patrick Wilson has all the gravitas of a sheet of paper and all the believable machismo of Woody Allen. It’s like pitting Mamoa against a blow-up doll. A geriatric Dolph Lundgren eclipses Wilson’s testosterone quotient to a staggering level as well. What’s wrong with this picture? When Wilson tries to sound dominant, he sounds prissy, which rhymes with sissy, missy.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

Well yes, but perhaps that was the intention, to emphasise Aquaman's masculinity by making his rival to the throne seem weak and inept and unworthy in comparrison. Much like the dynamic between Tom Hiddleston's Loki and Chris Hemsworth's Thor.

That said, I agree that Wilson's screen presence is sometimes a bit on the beige side. I don't mind him as an actor, he's always competent but never really remarkable.

[–] Burk48917 (10979) 5 years ago

He's the Watchmen guy

[–] legnadibrom (5711) 5 years ago

he was also in a movie with kate winslet

[–] ATG6 (3000) 5 years ago

He was awesome as the state trooper in Fargo (season 2).

[–] jekporkins (1924) 4 years ago

He was fantastic as the scheming bad guy in The A-Team. Best part of that movie.

[–] Otter (24464) 5 years ago

What I want to know is...

Why did they cast someone older than Momoa as his younger brother?

[–] R_Kane (15828) 5 years ago

I’m going with “stupid” as to the “how,” but there is always Frank Zappa’s/Mothers Of Invention, “Cocaine Decisions (that you made today)” song to explain this casting travesty. Snoorrt, decide (sort of, in the buzz), decide, vaguely point at someone. Repeat until you’re fired. Then more coke till you die.

[–] Otter (24464) 5 years ago

I'm sure a lot of high-level decisions are made that way, in Hollywood!

And I hope it's just Hollywood.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 5 years ago

My friend, take a look at the stocks and real estate industries. Snort, point, decide.

[–] AP (5258) 5 years ago

Sally Field played Tom Hanks mother in Forest Gump and he's older than her by couple of years. It's called acting.

[–] Otter (24464) 5 years ago

Oh please, "acting" is wasted in a film like "Aquaman"!

And Wilson couldn't act his way to looking younger than Momoa. Of course that was about the 50th silliest thing about this extremely silly movie, I mean, giving someone a water-activated weapon and then sending them into the Sahara desert? What is he gonna do there, pee into it?

[–] AP (5258) 5 years ago

Have you ever made a post on these boards without saying "oh please"?

And as far as looks go, I had no idea who was older between Wilson and Momoa. They look to be in the same range to me.

[–] Burk48917 (10979) 4 years ago

Sally is ten years older than Tom, fyi

[–] Kowalski (58104) 5 years ago

PATRICK WILSON IS A SOLID TOP TIER TALENT...

*HARD CANDY.
*WATCHMEN.
*THE CONJURING.
*LITTLE CHILDREN.
*BARY MUNDAY.
*INSIDIOUS.
*YOUNG ADULT.
*HOME SWEET HELL.
*THE FOUNDER.

AQUAMAN WAS A LOT OF FUN AND I ENJOYED IT...ITS ALSO OVERLY CARTOONISH,BADLY STRUCTURED,AND YES,ODDLY CAST.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

I hated Hard Candy so much.

[–] Kowalski (58104) 4 years ago

I LIKED IT ...BUT IT WAS A TOUGH WATCH,AND I HAVE YET TO REWATCH...I REMEMBER IT EXTREMELY CLEAR FOR A FLICK I SAW I THINK TWICE LIKE 15 YEARS AGO.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Yeah the subject matter was wretched enough, but what I really disliked was Ellen Page's performance. I found her so annoyingly precocious and unconvincing, so much so that I haven't really been interested in anything she's done since.

I find it surprising that anyone was actually entertained by such a grim and bleak film.

[–] Kowalski (58104) 4 years ago

I BOUGHT HARD CANDY SOLELY ON PAGE'S PRESENCE.I HAD A SERIOUS CINEMATIC CRUSH ON HER FOR A FEW YEARS.

[–] ATG6 (3000) 5 years ago

Patrick Wilson is one of the best actors out there. He was menacing and conniving as the Ocean Master, a great foil to the bumbling and direct Aquaman.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 5 years ago

He can’t menace a peanut butter sandwich. I guess you are easily intimidated. And he never gained Ocean Master status. He only coveted it.

[–] ATG6 (3000) 3 years ago

There's more to being menacing than having big muscles.

[–] Wint3rFir3 (6923) 5 years ago

Because of his huge popularity, not only with audiences, but with the director - I believe they've worked together previously. I have nothing against Patrick Wilson, but the staggering amount of admiration and praise this guy gets is, well, staggering.

Many people put him in their top 3 of their favourite actors. And he's not bad, but he's kind of average imo. I liked him in Stretch; in nothing else has he even registered for me. I know that being plain is an advantage for most actors, but I don't think that's the case in relation to the parts he's chosen to play because when he's asked to stand out, he doesn't.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 5 years ago

Thank you. I agree that nothing about this guy stands out. Perhaps that is why his fellow nonentities can relate themselves to him. I’ve been intellectually aware of him, but never, as I recall actually seen him, until Aquaman. He felt like Wonder Bread slathered in tapioca. That’s a bad thing. Yuck. He’s a millennial‘s movie star, which is to say, not a star at all. A bar of Dove soap has more testosterone than he.

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8291) 4 years ago

I disagree with this. I walked out thinking that Wilson's performance was one of the standout performances of the film. I thought he played a convincing villain.

I would not have understood the casting choice before actually seeing the movie, but having now seen it, I do.

[–] FredBurroughs (19705) 4 years ago

Responding to the topic question:

1. Patrick Wilson is a name actor who has appeared in numerous big budget movies.

2. James Wan is the director. He and Wilson have worked on multiple movies together.

3. Both have worked together on multiple movies released by Warner Bros.

4. When James Wan got hired to direct Aquaman, he probably didn't have to do much convincing for the higher ups to approve of him casting a name actor with whom he's worked in the past on several successful movies.

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8291) 4 years ago

Solid, fact-based answer. Good job.

As I mentioned earlier in the thread, I like Wilson's performance here a lot. I would not have thought he had it in him, but he did.