It’s easy to get confused in Hollywood, what with so many people in the film industry sharing similar names. Everything else in Tinseltown makes absolutely perfect sense (isn’t that right, “Movie 43?”), but the potential for phonetic confusion between actors sure can get you all mixed up. This can be especially problematic because some of the actors with the most easily confusable names have created iconically singular characters, delivering performances that are so closely aligned with who they are that they seem inseparable from the role. We spent a little time thinking about some of our favorite actors with similar names and imagining how their most popular movies might have been transformed by a slightly different name on the poster.
If there’s anything that legendary broadcaster Edward R. Murrow hated more than witch hunts and no-smoking signs, it was bullies. Action star Jason Statham offers his take on the renowned media figure in “Good Night and Good Luck,” as the broadcaster fights Senator Joseph McCarthy over the airwaves by day and on the streets by night, conducting a relentless manhunt in his desperate search for the truth. Complete with an inexplicable British accent, Murrow’s bulldog determination results in a man who loves breaking stories as much as he does breaking necks, a man who hits first and asks questions immediately afterward, winning awards for his investigative methods and the respect of the country for his physical prowess.
As a mild-mannered courier caught up in a conspiracy beyond his wildest dreams, David Straitharn is a nameless mercenary on wheels, known only to his associates as “The Transporter.” The three-hour film is entirely comprised of long takes of Strathairn double-parked and staring into space, the packages he’s set to deliver tucked gently under his arm. Convinced someone is following him, he begins evasive maneuvers and calls his wife several times, discreetly mentioning his concerns and waving for other motorists to pass by.
Under Steven Seagal’s watchful eye, “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” becomes a tough, neck-snapping action film. The unforgettably savage story of a father attempting to avenge the death of his murdered daughter (Mila Kunis), the film follows Seagal as he eventually makes his way to the villain’s compound on the tropical paradise of Hawaii. While being constantly reminded of her tortured existence amidst the tropical splendor, he takes names and kicks asses, eventually uncovering the truth of her survival and leading to a tearful, mutually pony-tailed reunion.
Meanwhile, as a former Navy SEAL turned fry cook, bumbling Jason Segel struggles to protect the crew of an American battleship from the threat of Gary Busey in “Under Siege.” His puckish and goofy everyman behavior is unintentionally hilarious, turning the film into a sweet comedy that’s punctuated by… wait, is that secondary villain Tommy Lee Jones cos-playing “Easy Rider?” Realizing they’ve hit gold, the producers quickly rush sequels into production, with “Under Siege 2” attempting to rebrand Jason Segel as an honest to goodness action hero. Hilarity ensues.
“Rebel Without a Cause” takes on a decidedly different feel as porn star turned actor James Deen stars as an angsty teenager hell-bent on smoldering his way to self-discovery. Deen romances everyone in sight, from the leading lady to the questionably gay best friend, delivering an overwhelmingly erotic performance that earns big bucks at the box office and horrifies parents everywhere. The film, meant to be a searing commentary on teen strife, is criticized as sensationalistic, hyper-sexual drivel that’s lacking in substance. In real life, of course, James Deen would never be involved in anything like that…
Oh hey, “The Canyons!” James Dean’s soulful and moving performance in Paul Schrader’s already notorious new film is so astounding that it overshadows the remarkable (and kinda frightening) technology required to reanimate him from the dead. Indeed, his work is strong enough to salvage the film from the wreckage left by Lindsay Lohan. Penned by scribe Bret Easton Ellis, the film reaffirms Dean’s gift for elevating so-so material into the stuff of legend. Dean’s final performance earns him an Oscar for his role as the abusive, relentless Christian.
Christian Bale stars in the drama “When in Rome” as a tense New Yorker whose anger management issues poke out during the Italian wedding of his beloved sister, ruining the ceremony.
When the maid of honor (Naomi Watts) follows him back to the United States, the pair strike up an unlikely friendship, despite the fact that Bale lashes out every time he’s in public.
As women begin throwing themselves at him at an alarming rate, he recedes into the depths of his mind, leaving him house-bound and terrified. When Watts’ stalkerish actions begin to border on insane, Bale is left with no option but to slip out of the city in the dead of night, taking his only friend with him as he searches for peace in the countryside.
In a stunning bit of role reversal casting, Kristen Bell dons the iconic cape and cowl for Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” series, continuing the longstanding tradition of goofy comic book films. Turning the entire process on its head, Nolan’s wild world pairs Bell as millionaire playgirl Betty Wayne, who seeks to fight crime as Batman and protect Gotham city, though no one knows that she’s really a girl!
With Ellen Barkin as the disapproving Alfreda, and Whoopi Goldberg as the talented inventor who stores all of her high-tech gadgets in the first place that Betty’s villains might think to look, Bell attempts to fight the Penguin (Chris Pratt) and keep Arkham under control while still quipping it up and having a ball.
In the zany, comedic world of “Total Recall,” Will Farrell stars as a construction worker who dreams of leaving behind his mundane world and traveling to Mars as a spy. When he’s given the opportunity to experience fake memories of Mars, at night, he soon grows attached to the false memories and spends more and more of his time visiting his secondary live on Mars. When he meets a young woman (Anna Faris) who is also on a mental vacation, he starts to spend more of his waking hours attempting to find her. Will the two meet up in real life or are they doomed to a virtual romance forever?
In “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” Colin Farrell stars as a hardened, alcoholic 1970s nightly news anchor, Ron Burgundy, whose addiction to pills and booze is threatening his work and his relationships. Once at the top of his game, Burgundy has given in and taken to covering puff pieces and inane stories, his awards gathering dust on the shelf. When a hard-nosed female anchor (Christina Applegate) is hired into the staff, she sees the potential that Burgundy still has and attempts to revive his career while working her own way up the ladder. Burgundy’s ultimate decision between the promise of love and the lure of addiction proves tragic, moving and profound.
These are just a few of my favorite swaps, but there’s plenty of others out there!
Categories: FeaturesTags: Actors swap roles, Christian bale, Colin farrell, David Strathairn, Diane Keaton, James dean, James Deen, Jason segel, Jason statham, Kristen bell, Michael keaton, Movie Swap, Steven seagal, Will ferrell
