List: 27 Desired Director/Actor Collaborations
June 27th 2011 00:11
27 Actor/Director Collaborations I’d Like to See
This list is more of a wish list. Some of it is rather sad as I’m sure the majority of these pairings won’t occur. Basically, there’s a lot of different reasons within for these choices. Some it’s a surprise they haven’t happened yet, others are for a career boost, others are for what this director and their standard type of projects could bring to the chosen actor. There’s no order here.
Quentin Tarantino & Leonardo DiCaprio
Every list I do has a focal point behind it – something that inspired the entire idea. This list was inspired by the news that Tarantino wanted DiCaprio for the lead in his upcoming project – and has wanted him to star in one of his films for a while now. This would be a fantastic shift for DiCaprio – allow him to play something slick, most likely villainous, and violent. Since I made this list it’s been announced DiCaprio is rumored for the villain in Tarantino’s next project. We shall see.
Martin Scorsese & Ryan Gosling
It would be great to see Gosling in something violent, perhaps he’s a morally complex character – basically I want to see him and Scorsese collab on a Goodfellas/Departed type of project – the two could bring a lot out in one another.
Cameron Crowe & Claire Danes
Claire Danes is fantastic and she’s doing a lot of smaller projects lately where she shines completely. I’d love to see her carry a film again, ala Shopgirl, and I’d love to see Crowe as her director. Crowe aims mostly for male central characters yet he writes women incredibly well. I’d love to see a story plotted around a woman this time, or if not, at least have her be as essential as her male counterpart. She’d fit in perfectly with his attention to detail and execution of small moments.
Paul Thomas Anderson & Ben Foster
Ben Foster is one of the most talented actor’s working today and Paul Thomas Anderson is an innovative and brilliant director – the match would be stellar. I don’t even care about the content.
Gus Van Sant & Tom Hardy
I’d love to see Van Sant use Tom Hardy in a gritty film, getting back to his roots; something ala My Own Private Idaho or Drugstore Cowboy. I’d love to see the fish eye shots, the fast moving clouds and I’d love there to be a gay central storyline. Hardy is natural and gives everything 110% -- this would be fascinating to see.
Christopher Nolan & Kate Winslet
I’d love to see Kate do something mind-bendy. The closest she’s come is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. If Nolan could cast her in a vehicle filled with intrigue and mystery, this could be something greatly different than what she’s used to.
Joel and Ethan Cohen & James Franco
James Franco has proven he’s strong at comedy given his turn Pineapple Express and his stint on SNL but the Cohen’s is an entirely different brand of comedy – there’s has a specific wit and dryness to it – it’s also very dark and cynical. I think this could really push Franco a lot and it would be incredibly interesting to see what may come out of it.
Whit Stillman & Joseph Gordon Levitt
Ah, one of my favorite filmmakers ever and one of my favorite actors. This would be a perfect match. Gordon Levitt would fit in perfectly to Stillman’s upscale bourgeois world of yuppies. It’s a travesty to think that Stillman’s first film in over a decade will star someone like Adam Brody when Gordon Levitt would probably be perfect for it. Perhaps next time.
Woody Allen & Emile Hirsch
Hirsch desperately needs a project – he hasn’t done anything really since Into the Wild. He would fit in perfectly with Allen’s brand of humor – I could easily see him as a young protagonist
David Mamet & George Clooney
Picture Mamet directing something he wrote – perhaps it’s sharp and political or a heist film or psychological drama. Something where Clooney gets to use Mamet’s dialogue, the fast pace, the clever nuances. Perfection.
Todd Haynes & Michael Pitt
Would love to see Pitt shine in a Haynes directed project – maybe something in the vain of Velvet Goldmine. I feel like this should have happened already.
Steven Soderbergh & Kate Beckinsale
Kate Beckinsale needs a strong project with a great director who can allow her to shine. Soderbergh made the most of limited Catherine Zeta-Jones usage in Traffic – it was rather phenomenal. He can clearly give Beckinsale something great to work with.
Pedro Almodovar & Salma Hayek
He does absolute wonders with Penelope Cruz in her native tongue – can you imagine what he’d do for Salma? The way he’d film her alone would be a sight to behold. It’s odd this hasn’t already happened.
Noah Baumbach & Emma Stone
She’s sharp and hilarious – a project both written and directed by Baumbach would allow her to use these traits to the max.
Gregg Araki & Cillian Murphy
This would never, ever happen but I would just love Cillian Murphy to walk around in a sexually fluid role, shirtless, and engage in mind-altering situations. Again, never happen but boy, can I see it so clearly.
David Lynch & Carey Mulligan
It would great to see Mulligan do something a bit dark and perhaps a little twisty. Lynch would bring that out in her.
David Fincher & Christian Bale
Bale isn’t the easiest person to work with – Fincher is a director who does significant takes – it would be so interesting to see how Fincher could push him.
Sophia Copolla & Michelle Williams
Copolla films women gorgeously – she’s been responsible for Dunst’s best work, as well as Johansson’s. Williams is already doing incredible work and a match with Copolla is one of the things I’d want to see most. I can easily see in my mind how she would be filmed.
Richard Linklater & Allison Pill
Allison Pill deserves all the work she can get. She’s fantastic. Seeing her in a Linklater film, either an ensemble with a young cast, or something romantic like Before Sunrise would be wonderful.
Catherine Breillat & Kirsten Dunst
Dunst thrives when she works with innovative, unique directors. In something different, majestic and real that Breillat could easily bring – and in the English language – this match would be something to see.
Andrea Arnold & Christina Ricci
Christina Ricci has the unfortunate stigma of being offered rather mediocre roles. She has shone on occasion but largely, she’s been wasted. Andrea Arnold, helmer of the hypnotic Fish Tank, could do wonders for her as a career boast. I want to see this, yesterday.
Edgar Wright & Sean Penn
Sean Penn hasn’t done a comedy in quite sometime yet he’s so good at it. Something from Edgar Wright would be a different root for him – and perhaps even challenging.
Lars Von Trier & Josh Harnett
Josh Harnett is an actor I’ve always loved, yet he has the misfortune of being poorly miscast more often than not. He’s been able to shine through on a few rolls, truly revealing his talent. He’s been rather absent as of late, doing some West End theater but when he returns he needs something darker, a project and a director that will push him past his limits. Von Trier would be a great fit.
Lukas Moodysson & Soairse Ronan
He’s so wonderful working with younger actresses. His first English-language film was a bit of a let down, despite it’s great cast so what if he were to try again but go back to his roots with a largely adolescent tale? I’d love to see it.
David O. Russell & Paul Dano
Paul Dano has been frustrating me as of late. Since his on-the-map turn in Little Miss Sunshine, wherein he was subdued and magnetic, his next roles have been louder – and, well, whiny. This isn’t to say he wasn’t great in There Will Be Blood but to see him portraying nearly the same type of character in Meek’s Cutoff was just too much. I want O. Russell to push him – to get something incredibly different out of him. Dano really needs a change.
Darren Arnofesky & Jesse Eisenberg
It would be great to see Eisenberg do something gritty and darker. Arnofesky could easily bring this type of performance out in him. Particularly, it would be great to see Eisenberg filmed with handhelds cameras and less polished sequences.
David Cronenberg & Robert Downey Jr.
Downey can do no wrong – but he could definitely push himself a bit more lately. I can easily see him filling a Viggo Mortensen type role in a Cronenberg film. In fact, I want it more than I can say.
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