I Drink Your Milkshake! - Could you imagine another actor playing Daniel Plainview?

Could you imagine another actor playing Daniel Plainview?

E. W. Marland — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 15:42:35 -0600

ddl_luver's joking comment on Bill Murray as DP made me want to ask: Do any of you think there's another actor who could've played DP, or rather, played him well? I've thought of a few great actors, but I'm not sure they could have pulled it off.

Could you imagine another actor playing Daniel Plainview?

The Dude — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 15:48:01 -0600

Nope.

Could you imagine another actor playing Daniel Plainview?

ddl_luvr — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 16:12:59 -0600

I wasn't joking. I think Bill Murray would have been amazing in that role.

Could you imagine another actor playing Daniel Plainview?

E. W. Marland — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 16:21:27 -0600

Well, that would be interesting. I'd like to see a fusion of whiskey, milk, milkshakes, and Suntory time.

I've seen Murray deadpan. I've seen him over-the-top. But not angry or overly serious. While I enjoyed "The Razor's Edge," I don't think he'd entirely gotten Nick the Lounge Singer out of his system when he made that film.

Could you imagine another actor playing Daniel Plainview?

EatHimByHisOwnLight — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 16:46:34 -0600

no. nobody could have done this but ddl. i really just...can't see anyone else. especially not bill murray.

Could you imagine another actor playing Daniel Plainview?

ddl_luvr — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 17:13:21 -0600

Agree to disagree. I think Vincent Donofrio would have been amazing in this role, as well.

Could you imagine another actor playing Daniel Plainview?

Lufirel — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 17:42:35 -0600

Personally I think that Plainview would have turned out very differently if played by anyone other that ddl. That's not to say that other actors might not have had an interesting take on the character but he wouldn't have been the same DP that we all know and love. Considering how thoroughly ddl inhabits his characters and all the little habits and ticks, intricacies and complexities that go into making up Plainview, however, I don't think there are many if any actors who could have pulled it off as well. Most actors I can think of wouldn't have disappeared into the role the way ddl does and even if they did few actors can match his intensity. So to sum up, no.

Could you imagine another actor playing Daniel Plainview?

E. W. Marland — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 17:49:52 -0600

Yeah, what Lufirel says.

I fear most other actors would lapse into caricature and would lack all the DDL DP's fun features.

Could you imagine another actor playing Daniel Plainview?

shepherdess — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 17:56:56 -0600

And that would not be fascinating to watch for 2 1/2 ++ hours!

Could you imagine another actor playing Daniel Plainview?

The Bandy Tract — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 18:00:29 -0600

Happily, we have DDL's Plainview. But if we didn't, I'd like to see Christian Bale or Chris Cooper give it a go. And if we didn't have Paul Dano's Eli, I'd like to see what Vincent Kartheiser did with that role.

Could you imagine another actor playing Daniel Plainview?

E. W. Marland — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 18:14:48 -0600

Well, I guess what inspired this question was I saw "In Bruges" a few weeks ago and was trying to imagine Ralph Fiennes as Plainview.

But yeah--Kartheiser would make a very interesting Eli.

Could you imagine another actor playing Daniel Plainview?

sues — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 18:16:08 -0600

And then there's the late John Huston. Or Brando, for that matter. Imagine Brando saying "Eli, this is your church, you have a full congregation..."

Could you imagine another actor playing Daniel Plainview?

The Bandy Tract — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 18:22:02 -0600

E.W., how was "In Bruges"?

I am a huge Ciaran Hinds fan. He is a big, handsome, charismatic guy. And in TWBB, he is Daniel Plainview's errand boy. Brilliant.

Could you imagine another actor playing Daniel Plainview?

GodisaSuperstition — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 18:22:17 -0600

10 bucks says that if A Streetcar Named Desire came out today, some people would be calling Brando a ham. Not everyone can handle intense acting anymore.

Could you imagine another actor playing Daniel Plainview?

E. W. Marland — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 18:32:16 -0600

Hinds has only a cameo in "In Bruges."

I just wanted to see a movie and TWBB had left my theater, so I went to see that.I was expecting a comedy and got a reaaaaaalllly dark comedy.

I'd never heard of Hinds before TWBB. That of course means that now I'll see him everywhere.

Could you imagine another actor playing Daniel Plainview?

E. W. Marland — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 18:34:20 -0600

What about George C. Scott as Daniel Plainview? (Yes, I've seen "Oklahoma Crude.") Scott was unfairly accused of being a ham, and he was damn good at comedy.

Interesting isn't it, that many of the actors we're coming up with are dead.

Could you imagine another actor playing Daniel Plainview?

shepherdess — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 18:57:28 -0600

Ciaran Hinds was Ceasar in the HBO series Rome. That's the first time I recall knowing his name, although I did recognize that I'd seen him in other, smaller roles.

Could you imagine another actor playing Daniel Plainview?

E. W. Marland — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 19:02:22 -0600

Ah, I don't have HBO right now.

Hmm---what about Sean Connery as Plainview? Maybe a somewhat younger Connery.

Could you imagine another actor playing Daniel Plainview?

ddl_luvr — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 19:12:10 -0600

Danny Glover? He could be all like: "I'm get to old for this oil sh*t!"

Could you imagine another actor playing Daniel Plainview?

E. W. Marland — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 19:35:37 -0600

It could be done like a Seventies blaxpoitation film and called "Black Gold!"