Features
Headlines
Search
Archives
Director Michael Mann has been trying to get an adaptation of “For Whom the Bell Tolls” off the ground for a while now. As far back as October 2006 (when I interviewed Mann for an Eric Roth profile), the film was mere days from being announced.
I’m not a sleuth like the Anne Thompsons or the Sharon Waxmans, so I don’t know the specifics of why it hasn’t happened. I imagine it’s budgeting concerns on some levely.
Anyway, it’s been a shame not to see things come together on that front, but I’m glad Mann has found a nice outlet to get his Spanish Civil War groove on, and perhaps a better opportunity overall, with Columbia’s acquisition of “Waiting for Robert Capa,” a biography of the war photographer and Mann’s next gig.
It seems almost too easy to cast Leonardo DiCaprio here, no? (The actor’s Appian Way offices are in the same Santa Monica complex as Mann’s Forward Pass, and Mann, of course, produced and was once set to direct “The Aviator.”) Maybe he’ll go a different route (though DiCaprio would be a no-brainer for “Bell”‘s Robert Jordan).
Colin Farrell? Probably not, since Farrell just finished a similar role in Danis Tanovic’s “Triage.” Russell Crowe? Perhaps, but he might seem a bit sanitized (Capa being an Italian and all). Johnny Depp would be perfect, but if the rumors are true of the “Public Enemies” set, he and Mann aren’t leaping at the opportunity to work together again.
To steer out of Mann’s usual stable, Andy Garcia would have been a fine fit a few years ago. Maybe he could still pull it off. Michael Imperioli would be a nice choice. And while both might be obvious calls aesthetically, I think it’s safe to say both are capable actors.
I think John Ortiz would be a brave choice, but a Christian Bale-type is likely to nail it. What do you think?
8 responses so far
1 10-04-2009 at 9:22 pm
Georgie said...
So has the awards talk for Depp in Public Enemies completely dried up then? I think he sounds like the best fit here as well.
2 10-04-2009 at 9:29 pm
Mr. Gittes said...
I wonder what “low-budget” means to Columbia on this project.
Christian Bale or Michael Fassbender would be nice. Though Javier Bardem could probably do Italian.
3 10-04-2009 at 9:54 pm
AmericanRequiem said...
leonardo is basicly a sure bet for a good film, good opportunity to do a film with him
4 10-05-2009 at 4:21 am
Eric said...
Leonardo as Robert Jordan? You’ve got to be kidding. Why is he automatically being considered for these roles, and as a ‘no brainer’ no less?
Outside of film geek circles (no offense) he is NOT seen as the Great American Actor.
Hemingway is completely out of his depth. Can we please get a literary adaptation that for once is not abused as a ‘star vehicle’ for some barely talented Hollywood celebrity ?
I say let Colin Firth play Robert Jordan!
L should do The Beach II and leave us alone. Please.
5 10-05-2009 at 8:52 am
Kristopher Tapley said...
Good luck selling Colin Firth as Robert Jordan to the public.
Don’t act like Leo is some gross reduction to star-fucking/worship. He’s a fine actor. Certainly not the best, but way above mere “movie star.”
Your Beach 2 comment is stupid, by the way. Is that meant as some shot at the guy? A unique film from 11 years ago (from a wonderful director, no less) that didn’t fully work? That’s your ammo?
6 10-05-2009 at 11:37 am
aspect ratio said...
As much as I would love to see a biopic about a photographer, being one myself, the idea of Michael Mann butchering it with his awful 10-year-old digital cameras (someone get this guy a Red One, seriously, what the f#ck?) is reason enough to hope this project falls apart and ends up in someone else’s hands.
7 10-05-2009 at 5:24 pm
austin111 said...
Can’t see Christian Bale doing this. DiCaprio would have been an excellent Jordan. And unlike Gary Cooper, who was too old for the role, he would be around the right place. And Kris, I’d disagree with your assessment, too. Leo is not the best actor yet but I’m not sure we’ve seen him at his best yet.
8 10-05-2009 at 6:17 pm
aspect ratio said...
I’d like to throw in Adrien Brody into the mix as Capa. He’s got the chops, he’s certainly big enough to carry it (unlike Ortiz, Imperioli), and he could definitely pull it off resemblance-wise, too.
Plus, it’s about time he got a juicy Oscar-y lead role, he hasn’t had one since The Pianist, really.