Matthew McConaughey as "The Lincoln Lawyer?" All Wrong!

Paul Levine · 02-11-2011, 01:43 PM

Who would you cast in the role of Mickey Haller, who practices law out of his car in "The Lincoln Lawyer," Michael Connelly's legal thriller?

I'd go with Paul Giamatti or Chris Cooper or John C. Reilly, character actors with lived-in faces. But Hollywood needs star power to open a picture -- they think -- and I'm watching a preview with Matthew McConaughey. Wrong. All wrong.

What do you think of the casting?

What are your favorite and least favorite casting choices?

BTW, when they make a movie from Laura Hillenbrand's "Unbroken," I'd like to see James Franco as Louie Zamperini.

Paul Levine

tm3 · 02-11-2011, 03:02 PM

i think that mark ruffalo might be a better fit

Penforhire · 02-11-2011, 04:37 PM

I thought the same thing about McC when I saw the trailer. Who's a younger version of Harvey Keitel or Gene Hackman these days?

I didn't like Clint Eastood in Blood Work either.

snipenekkid · 02-14-2011, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tm3

i think that mark ruffalo might be a better fit

or Janeane Garofalo,

, btw I really enjoy her sardonic humor and actually how it translates into her acting. So my comment is only half in jest.

rhadin · 02-14-2011, 08:37 AM

I have to admit that I think McConaughey in the lead role is an excellent reason to bypass any movie. I find him smarmy. The only movie he has been in that I remotely enjoyed was Sahara, and that was because of the supporting cast. I really hated when he lead the scene.

I haven't read The Lincoln Lawyer so I'm not familiar with the character, but regardless I would prefer the suggested alternatives (except Mark Ruffalo) to McConaughey.

Surprisingly, one of the best-played lawyers in movies was Tom Cruise in A Few Good Men. Gene Hackman is great in most roles but I'm not sure how well he'd play as a lawyer today.

As I said, I haven't read The Lincoln Lawyer, but if I had to pick out of the air a great character actor, I could easily go for Phillip Seymour Hoffman or Robbie Cole. If I were casting 12 Angry Men today, I could easily put Hoffman in Henry Fonda's role and surround him with Gene Hackman, Denzel Washington, and Jack Nicholson.

BTW, one of the best roles Paul Giamatti has played, IMHO, was the ploice officer in The Illusionist. I consider that movie to be one of the best movies of the past 20 years.

queentess · 02-14-2011, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Levine

I'd go with Paul Giamatti or Chris Cooper or John C. Reilly, character actors with lived-in faces. But Hollywood needs star power to open a picture -- they think -- and I'm watching a preview with Matthew McConaughey. Wrong. All wrong.

Have you seen McConaughey's face lately? It's looking very "lived in"...

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhadin

I haven't read The Lincoln Lawyer so I'm not familiar with the character, but regardless I would prefer the suggested alternatives (except Mark Ruffalo) to McConaughey.

Have you see Kids Are All Right? I rather liked Ruffalo in that, but I haven't seen him in much of anything else. He had a minor bit in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind that was also good.

tm3 · 02-16-2011, 12:41 PM

when i read the book i imagined haller to be youngish, quick witted, but kind of non-macho. i think ruffalo could pull that off. edward norton also comes to mind.

i'd much prefer looking at ms garafalo.

for a big dose of ruffalo see "the kids are all right."

Paul Levine · 03-19-2011, 12:43 AM

Perhaps I spoke too soon. The movie opened today, and...

The New York Times review treats both the movie and Matthew McConaughey rather gently.

Paul Levine

carpetmojo · 03-19-2011, 02:45 AM

Can't remember the title immediately , but Paul Newman, in his first unashamedly "old" role, as a drunk lawyer, was just eye-wateringly believable.

[It's on the tip of me tongue, but I'll never get it now....]

Hoyt Clagwell · 03-19-2011, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carpetmojo

Can't remember the title immediately , but Paul Newman, in his first unashamedly "old" role, as a drunk lawyer, was just eye-wateringly believable.

[It's on the tip of me tongue, but I'll never get it now....]

The Verdict

mikeayers · 03-19-2011, 08:02 AM

Years ago McC played a lawyer. In Amistad. He did a great job in that. Nothing smarmy at all.

MickeyC · 03-19-2011, 08:50 AM

I vote for Paul Giamatti

MightyMoe · 07-08-2011, 09:01 PM

Having only just seen the film a couple of hours ago, i actually thought it was a good performance

MickeyC · 07-09-2011, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MightyMoe

Having only just seen the film a couple of hours ago, i actually thought it was a good performance

And it's an excellent series of books. I just finished The Fifth Witness and really liked it.

Fuchsia · 07-13-2011, 10:44 AM

Possibly someone knows what is the model of mobile phone that Mickey is using?

02-11-2011, 01:43 PM	#1
Paul Levine Connoisseur Posts: 75 Karma: 725480 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles Device: Kindle	Matthew McConaughey as "The Lincoln Lawyer?" All Wrong! Who would you cast in the role of Mickey Haller, who practices law out of his car in "The Lincoln Lawyer," Michael Connelly's legal thriller? I'd go with Paul Giamatti or Chris Cooper or John C. Reilly, character actors with lived-in faces. But Hollywood needs star power to open a picture -- they think -- and I'm watching a preview with Matthew McConaughey. Wrong. All wrong. What do you think of the casting? What are your favorite and least favorite casting choices? BTW, when they make a movie from Laura Hillenbrand's "Unbroken," I'd like to see James Franco as Louie Zamperini. Paul Levine

02-14-2011, 08:37 AM	#5
rhadin Literacy = Understanding Posts: 4,833 Karma: 59674358 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: The World of Books Device: Nook, Nook Tablet	I have to admit that I think McConaughey in the lead role is an excellent reason to bypass any movie. I find him smarmy. The only movie he has been in that I remotely enjoyed was Sahara, and that was because of the supporting cast. I really hated when he lead the scene. I haven't read The Lincoln Lawyer so I'm not familiar with the character, but regardless I would prefer the suggested alternatives (except Mark Ruffalo) to McConaughey. Surprisingly, one of the best-played lawyers in movies was Tom Cruise in A Few Good Men. Gene Hackman is great in most roles but I'm not sure how well he'd play as a lawyer today. As I said, I haven't read The Lincoln Lawyer, but if I had to pick out of the air a great character actor, I could easily go for Phillip Seymour Hoffman or Robbie Cole. If I were casting 12 Angry Men today, I could easily put Hoffman in Henry Fonda's role and surround him with Gene Hackman, Denzel Washington, and Jack Nicholson. BTW, one of the best roles Paul Giamatti has played, IMHO, was the ploice officer in The Illusionist. I consider that movie to be one of the best movies of the past 20 years. Last edited by rhadin; 02-14-2011 at 08:40 AM.

03-19-2011, 12:43 AM	#8
Paul Levine Connoisseur Posts: 75 Karma: 725480 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles Device: Kindle	Did I speak too soon? Is McConaughey just fine? Perhaps I spoke too soon. The movie opened today, and... The New York Times review treats both the movie and Matthew McConaughey rather gently. Paul Levine

07-08-2011, 09:01 PM	#13
MightyMoe Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: kindle	Having only just seen the film a couple of hours ago, i actually thought it was a good performance Last edited by MightyMoe; 07-26-2011 at 06:22 AM.

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02-11-2011, 03:02 PM	#2
tm3 Groupie Posts: 174 Karma: 56678 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kindle 3	i think that mark ruffalo might be a better fit

02-11-2011, 04:37 PM	#3
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	I thought the same thing about McC when I saw the trailer. Who's a younger version of Harvey Keitel or Gene Hackman these days? I didn't like Clint Eastood in Blood Work either.

02-16-2011, 12:41 PM	#7
tm3 Groupie Posts: 174 Karma: 56678 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kindle 3	when i read the book i imagined haller to be youngish, quick witted, but kind of non-macho. i think ruffalo could pull that off. edward norton also comes to mind. i'd much prefer looking at ms garafalo. for a big dose of ruffalo see "the kids are all right."

03-19-2011, 02:45 AM	#9
carpetmojo Wizard Posts: 3,117 Karma: 9269999 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony- T3, PRS650, 350, T1/2/3, Paperwhite, Fire 8.9,Samsung Tab S 10.5	Can't remember the title immediately , but Paul Newman, in his first unashamedly "old" role, as a drunk lawyer, was just eye-wateringly believable. [It's on the tip of me tongue, but I'll never get it now....]

03-19-2011, 08:02 AM	#11
mikeayers Zealot Posts: 136 Karma: 432377 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: USA Device: Kindle PW 10thGen, Kobo Clara HD	Years ago McC played a lawyer. In Amistad. He did a great job in that. Nothing smarmy at all.

03-19-2011, 08:50 AM	#12
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,731 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	I vote for Paul Giamatti

07-13-2011, 10:44 AM	#15
Fuchsia Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	Possibly someone knows what is the model of mobile phone that Mickey is using?