Casting the Uncastable Adaptation: Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian
September 17, 2012
Jeremy Renner, Liam Neeson/Photos © Featureflash/DFree/Shutterstock
Have a conversation with any well-read film buff about unfilmable books, and one novel is sure to come up: Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian or The Evening Redness in the West. And with good reason: It would be a damn-near impossible task to do it theatrical justice.
Every few years, a Hollywood director will take an interest in bringing the book to theaters before inevitably throwing in the towel. Most recently, James Franco joined Todd Field and Ridley Scott in the list of directors who’ve given up on adapting the epic Western. And who can blame them? Unlike McCarthy’s other books that have been turned into award-winning adaptations – like All the Pretty Horses, The Road, and No Country For Old Men – Blood Meridian is not camera-friendly.
For starters, it’s violent as all hell. To which, you may be thinking, “But No Country for Old Men is violent. It features a man killing a cop point blank with a cattle gun!” While the Coen Brothers did a commendably flawless job of adapting No Country for Old Men for the silver screen, Blood Meridian makes No Country look like a “Finding Nemo” sequel. Scalpings and savagery abound throughout Blood Meridian, but what’s amazing is how breathtakingly poetic McCarthy portrays the violence. It is so jaw-droppingly shocking and vivid that it would be difficult to capture for theatergoers. Not convinced? By all means, put down your lunch and try this paragraph on:
All about her the dead lay with their peeled skulls like polyps bluely wet or luminescent melons cooling on some mesa of the moon. In the days to come the frail black rebuses of blood in those sands would crack and break and drift away so that in the circuit of few suns all trace of the destruction of these people would be erased.
But perhaps the biggest contributor to the book’s unfilmable nature is its cast of characters. Blood Meridian offers a long list of hard-to-cast roles. But if there’s anything Hollywood has shown us time and time again, it’s that “unfilmable” is just one of those industry buzz words with no meaning like “unnecessary reboot” or “superhero movie overload.” So here is a list of would-be actors if the book ever meets the box office.
The Kid: Kodi Smit-McPhee
The novel’s main character, the kid, is meant to be in his mid-teens. “He is not big but he has big wrists, big hands … the eyes oddly innocent.” It’s a pointless exercise to try to cast him since any current age-appropriate actors will likely have kids of their own by the time the film sees the light of day. But were it filmed tomorrow, Kodi Smit-McPhee might be able to fill the role. He played the boy in the film adaption of McCarthy’s The Road and is now sixteen.
Judge Holden: Liam Neeson
The novel’s most iconic character, Judge Holden, is almost supernatural. Holden is described as being seven feet tall and hairless and has a penchant for violence. Although a few inches shy of seven feet, Liam Neeson is certainly imposing enough to play the terrifying yet pensive character.
Benjamin Tobin: Bryan Cranston
Who better to play an ex-priest who turns to a life of crime than Bryan Cranston? His Emmy-winning portrayal of the chemistry teacher-turned-meth-dealer, Walter White, in “Breaking Bad” makes him a perfect match for Tobin.
John Joel Glanton: Brad Pitt
Glanton leads a gang of scalphunters through the Western plains. Who else have we seen lead a band of men motivated by bounties for scalps? Ah yes, Brad Pitt in his unforgettable “Inglourious Basterds” role as “Nah-tzee scalp” hunter, Lt. Aldo Raine.
Louis Toadvine: Sam Rockwell
Toadvine is a role that requires grit. On a behavioral level, he’s a veteran outlaw and brawler. And physically, he’s got no ears and the letters “H.T.” branded on his forehead. Few in Hollywood have the grit to pull it off like Sam Rockwell.
Captain White: Jeremy Renner
Jeremy Renner could play an American soldier in any time period. You could send him into the year 3000 or back to 1850 and he’ll still fit in. He’s just got that soldier look about him.
David Brown: Ben Foster
Brown is a ruthless and unpredictable member of Glanton’s gang. In just about every movie he’s done, from “30 Days of Night” to “The Mechanic,” Ben Foster has played ruthless and unpredictable characters. And in “3:10 to Yuma,” he proved he can play the heck out of a badass Old West bandit.
So, how did we do? What would you do differently? And is a big-screen adaptation of Blood Meridian simply impossible?
Tags: Blood Meridian, Brad Pitt, Coen Bros., Cormac McCarthy, James Franco, Liam Neeson
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Clearly, the “biggest” challenge would be casting the Judge. I think it would almost have to be an unknown actor. Someone willing to shave their entire body. Must be huge, but not necessarily ripped. The key would be his demeanor, affect, and presence. In short, his acting skills, which would need to be sift officiant. A giant Marlon Brando. I’m not sure such a man exists.
Gary Farmer.
Phillip Seymour Dodd, who plays the title character in The Master, could play the Judge. Different character, but see the movie and you will agree. Huge, commanding, frightening, spiritual, compelling, can dance.
Marlon Brando will be the perfect Holden as he is the greatest actor ever, but since he is not around the only one I can think of to be Holden is TOM HARDY. No other actor has today his physical strength, mass, brutality and huge talent.
The best novel of the XX century deserves the best actor of the XXI century.
You speak words as if they’d come out of my very own mouth. It would HAVE to be an unknown actor; someone who could come roaring in and do the Judge Holden role true theatrical justice. Think of how Christoph Waltz seemed to come seemingly ‘from nowhere’ in Tarantino’s ‘Inglorious Basterds’. It would have to be someone who would have THAT kind of shock-value, but accurately present the well-described physical and psychological attributes of the Judge. The hunt is on !
Phillip Seymour Hoffman as the judge,
this is the worst cast for anything i’ve ever seen in my life and it’s obvious you haven’t read the damn book.
i agree with matt. liam bloody neeson? as the judge?? you cant be serious? hes not worthy. brando certainly! so an unknown would be best. an unknown actor 7 ft tall with no body hair and a huge pale dome of a head that can speak dutch and sketch and dance and never die. BM is my favourite book and i shudder at the thought of some moron tarnishing its reputation with some money grabbing adaption. nicolas winding refyn would have a good go at directing. but paul thomas anderson would be my choice.
Amen
Oh just get Daniel Day-Lewis to play the Judge already and be done with it.
He could totally do it and leave us weeping.
Watch Nicholas Winding Refn’s “Valhalla Rising” to understand why he should direct Blood Meridian.
I love that movie. . .
Seems to me the violence in NO COUNTRY was toned down a lot for the movie. A faithful screen version of the novel would have risked becoming farce.
You thought No Country for Old Men was toned down? If I remember correctly, it was nearly line for line and word for word adapted from the book.
Anyway, I love how defensive people get about Blood Meridian casting choices. Us McCarthy fans sure are passionate. I’ve never been able to think up someone who could pull off the Judge, but I’m sure there is someone out there. I love both the ideas of Sam Rockwell (perfect choice) and Bryan Cranston that you have.
Hmm, the Judge. I’m blanking. If only Tom Hardy were taller!
David Morse as the Judge. Wasn’t No Country written with the intent of the Bros making a movie from it…….
Pointless. Books are for thinking and discerning people. Movies are for hackneyed, drooling, stupefied tools. This is a book, not a movie and should remain so.
“Movies are for hackneyed, drooling, stupefied tools.” Ever seen a Sergio Leone movie? Or John Ford´s The Searchers? Now that´s an unfounded, radical opinion if I´ve ever seen one
I always pictured Ed Harris as Judge Holden because of his role’s in History of Violence, and Just Cause. Hook him up with a Hollywood trainer, and apply some careful camera work. Perfect.
I always pictured Vincent D’onofrio as the Judge. He’s big, not buff, and would look incredibly frightening without any hair at all.
OR possibly John Malkovich? both are compelling on screen – you can’t take your eyes off them. And both can be very scary.
There are a lot of mean and negative comments here- many of you are elitist snobs! But you, you have the right idea- fucking Vincent D’Onofrio is IT. bravo!!! I also agree with Sam Rockwell, he’s brilliant.
Overall, this is a wish and a prayer, this book being adapted- and many will not agree but Nick Cave should have something to do with the screenplay adaptation. He’s notoriously poetic and dark. The Proposition? C’mon. And his book And the Ass Saw the Angel- well whomever has been lucky enough to read it MAY agree.
I think Brad Pitt would make a great Glanton but the Liam Neeson is riding way too high at the moment.
While he can ape at being brooding his accent betrays him.
Ralph Fiennes would be my choice for The Judge. Imagine him with all of his intensity delivering his fireside sermons. Whilst not as physical as Neeson, his turns in Red Dragon and In Bruges show how well malevolence and calculating violence can suit him
If I were to cast Blood Meridian, I’d pick these fellas:
The Kid – Joseph Gordon Levitt
Judge Holden – Rutger Hauer
Glanton – Gary Oldman
Toadvine – Charlie Hunnam
Captain White – Guy Pearce
Tobin – John Hurt
David Brown – Kevin Gage
White Jackson – Danny Huston
Black Jackson – Michael K. Williams
The Idiot – Sharlto Copley (District 9, The A-Team)
Sproule – Richard Wilson (The Proposition)
Grannyrat – Garret Dillahunt
Bathcat – Tim Roth
As for the too old/too young, too thin/too fat, too tall/too short, there’s amazing what can be achieved with prostetic effects these days.
But as to whom should direct the thing…? John Hillcoat.
Can’t stand JG Levitt but you’re reminding me that Tom Hardy is the SHIT. Who would he play? Sharlton Copely YES, Tim Roth YES- whomever said Idris Elba, fucking YES. Jackie Earl Haley is no-brainier for Toadvine, and Ian McShane, John Goodman (thinking of Barton Fink), JK Simmons, and Garrett Dillahunt would all need a place
Good thinking people!
Danny Huston…The Judge after seeing him in the Proposition and 30 days of night his dominating tone and the evilness he brings to his roles would make him great. He is 6’2 but camera magic folks….
First off, I’d have John Hillcoat directed it from a script adaptation by Nick Cave… with music by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis. That’d be a great start. If John Hillcoat passes, get Andrew Dominik to direct.
As for casting… why go with cliches and established actors like Liam Neeson? He’s a fine actor, though he’s cashing paychecks lately it seems, but he’s simply played too many iconic characters, and frankly he seems to old to play Judge Holden, who I always imagined as a pudgy baby of indeterminate age (perhaps get John Carroll Lynch, he’d be perfect… He’s got a “that guy” quality that everyone knows, but could easily make the character of Judge Holden enigmatic, scary and when appropriate, downright evil.
On that note, other character actors could be cast (I like the idea of Kodi Smit-McPhee, but think other name actors should be left out), but the more “character” the face of the actor, the better… and please, for the love of Zod, cast REAL Mexicans in the movie and not some Americanized idea of what a Mexican should look or act like. Oh, and… make all casting age appropriate to the book… no need to make this The WB’s “Blood Meridian” (might as well add frickin’ vampires at that point).
There’s still a huge misconception among studio execs and critics that somehow name actors can open a movie and give it legs… this really isn’t true any longer, and in my opinion, unless the script and director are solid, you can have top-notch actors and not even come close to having made a great movie.
Take a look at TV series (via cable) such as Deadwood… hardly a “big name” among the cast… mostly American and British unknowns or barely-knowns, and a great heap of character actors. Again, take a look at films like John Hillcoat’s “The Proposition” and Andrew Dominik’s “Assassination of Jesse James…” for ways to do Cormac McCarthy’s masterpiece right on screen.
plus 1. I’ve just read the book and was blown away. All the way through I was thinking how it really deserves a film in the style of ‘The Proposition’, ‘The Road’ and ‘The Assassination’. With Cave and Ellis doing music, Cave’s hands all over it, let’s give him a cameo too
Liam Neeson as Judge Holden? No. He’s too big screen and with an admirable screen presence like Harrison Ford. Judge Holden is a fascinating character but he’s meant to be completely unlikable. And he’s a…well I don’t want to spoil it for those who haven’t read it. Mickey Rourk, however, could play this role for sure! My vote goes to Rourk as Judge Holden.
Danny Huston hands down…
Borrowing yet again from another McCarthy adaptation, Javier Bardem as the Judge. While he may not be 7 foot tall white man, his demeanor in No Country For Old Men resembles quite closely what the Judge is. I’d have Brendan Gleeson as Toadvine, and Mandy Patinkin as Tobin.
I love all CM’s books. The Judge, for me, should look a little like Dick Cheney in his face and eyes and his body should be big like John Wayne’s. I always pictured the Judge as kind of a pink person, not quite Albino, but fair. I can’t think of anyone famous that would make a good Judge. Also I don’t think it is a good idea for directors to always use famous actors. I prefer to see new faces and talents that actually bring the book to life. I am not sure it is possible to make this book into a movie. I love it so much I almost wish people would leave it alone lest they corrupt it.
The Judge? Rade Serbedzija comes to mind
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0784884/
Maybe not. Just watched his scene in Eyes Wide Shut and he was only about three inches taller the TC
I think the violence can (and should) be played to the fullest. Any adaptation would be a joke without it.
And lets face it, I saw Piranha where a girl was scalped by a boat motor and another was slashed in half diagonally by a swinging cable, and these were played for laughs! Certainly we can handle the same in service of the disturbing dramatic effect intended by CM.
As far as this fantasy casting… I don’t agree with any of it. Of course you’re not going to find a hairless 7 foot unhinged genius actor, so basically you just have to find the unhinged genius and let the production worry about the rest. Brando was like 52 and nuts when he did Kurtz. I’d say maybe Sizemore is the closest we’ve got to an off-the-rails 50 something with the chops (and the bloated-ness) to pull it off.
Sam Rockwell is an interesting choice for Toadvine, where I would have leant toward Danny Trejo. Most of your choices are based solely on typecasting and trying to fit characters already out there to match the characters in the book…. Liam Neeson is about the farthest choice from the Judge that I would pick. How about a Mickey Rourke? I think he would be down with going full-bald and he’s got the quiet menacing bit down.
I think that the Kid should be an unknown, also, and that Brad Pitt shouldn’t have more than a cameo.
As an avid rabid fan of this book I’d like to add my two cents.
John Joel Glanton – I totally agree Brad Pitt. Pitt can throw himself so deep into a role that your suspension of disbelief kicks in almost immediately, and he is that character. Glanton and all his duplicity would be in very capable hands.
Louis Toadvine – Joseph Gordon-Levitt. It would take an actor with some serious range to pull of the complex moral balance going on in Toadvine throughout the novel while still keeping his overall weirdness, and gruffness. Toadvine is older and more experienced than “the kid” but not as long in the tooth as much of the Glanton gang, this would be another great role for Gordon-Levitt who has been holding his own in some great material. I think he could really pull it off.
Benjamin Tobin, or “the expriest” – Tom Wilkinson. Tobin’s the eldest member of the Glanton gang, an ex-priest, and still tolerable to violence. I think Cranston is good, but wouldn’t be as believable if he had to be prosthetically aged into this role. Wilkinson has been able to play protagonist and antagonist. To me this is a no brainer; Wilkinson would be a great Tobin, hands down.
Captain White, or “the captain” – Jerry O’Connell. I know sounds like a weird choice for such an important film adaptation; but think about it (once you read the book), this is not a very likeable character, but he also needs to have a certain “all American” aesthetic to him, and be believable as someone who would thrive in a military setting given the time. It would be a daring choice to put O’Connell in this role, but something about him just screams Captain White to me, and I think the movie going audience would be satisfied to see the events of this character played out by someone like him.
John Jackson (white) Walton Goggins – If you don’t know who this is you haven’t seen either of the best 2 television shows of the last decade. Goggins played the complicated and eventually morally bankrupt Detective Shane Vendrell on the smash hit FX series “The Shield” a show that single-handedly made basic-cable networks a viable outlet for quality programs that would have otherwise been shelved by major networks. He also played former white supremacist leader Boyd Crowder on the brilliant television show “Justified.” With dozens of capably handled yet diverse roles, and genuine southern roots, Goggins would be another great lock for this casting.
John Jackson (black) – Idris Elba. Another great actor whose name doesn’t just drop at first thought is Idris Elba. In reality he is both comedically and dramatically a fine actor who can capably handle any variety of character roles, and would be a great foil for the other John Jackson
David Brown – Todd Lowe – Another TV actor whose time has come is Todd Lowe, after years of various minor roles in TV and Film, he was a breakout star on the show “Gilmore Girls” as musician Zack Van Gerbig, and more recently does an amazing job with what would otherwise be a forgettable role on the wildly popular HBO drama “True Blood.” His Texas roots would lend an authenticity to the character and the multi-layered performance he shows as the PTSD afflicted Iraq war vet Terry Bellefleur on True Blood is probably some of the best acting on an otherwise ridiculous show.
The Judge – Brendan Gleeson. This rol a huge challenge for any actor, and Gleeson who has shown amazing range in all of his supporting roles, fits many of the physical attributes needed to fill the very big shoes of the character. I beleive that with he may be one of the few actors capable enough to pull off the gravitas that the Judge holds, and in my opinion he is one of the finest actors of our generation. Really he is the only actor I can imagine doing justice as the Judge.
Yes! B Gleeson! I just wrote that a minute ago! He is just fantastic.
..and finally
The Kid – Charlie Rowe. The Kid is roughly fifteen/sixteen throughout most of the novel, usually Hollywood hires actors in their early twenties to portray mid-teens, I think with this material it would be a mistake not to physically show the vast contrast between the kid and the judge. There is a year old British actor named Charlie Rowe, who I think fits the physical characteristics needed for the role. Based on what I’ve seen of his work in the 2010 feature “Never Let Me Go” and 2007′s Golden Compass he may just have the chops to pull it off, depending on his skill at changing speech patterns and accents. Other than Rowe I would think this role is probably best filled with a capable an unknown actor 14-17 years old. Although there are many fine young looking 20-somethings, keeping “the kid” as a kid would help keep the mood of the story intact.
Okay, I’ve really thought about this one before, here we go:-
The Kid: Ezra Miller
Judge Holden: James Gandolfini
Joel Glanton: Ian Mcshane
Toadvine: Jackie Earl Haley
Captain White: JK. Simmons
Brown: W. Earl Brown
I’m not the first to say it, so credit to Roger Ebert, but aside from lucking out and finding some perfect total unknown, Tom Noonan is the best and only option to play The Judge. He’s a physically imposing, terrifying sight who could easily match the description, a phenomenal actor, and doesn’t have the baggage that Neeson does particularly in the latter’s last few years where he’s devolved into an action star.
The boy should be an unknown (teenage Lukas Haas would have worked) and otherwise you’re just typecasting to such an extent that you’re having actors play roles really similar to parts they’ve already played, which is boring for the actor and the audience. Rockwell is the only inspired choice on your list.
No way you can have a half decent adaptation with Liam Neeson as the Judge. Don’t know, maybe a John Sharian-esque in The Machinist type. But definitely not Neeson. Wouldn’t pay a ticket to see that.
Roger Ebert once wrote that his dream choice to play Judge Holden is Tom Noonan. I think that’d be just about perfect.
Seconded
The Judge: Tom Noonan!
The only Holden I can imagine is daniel day lewis, given the “Hobbit” effect in reverse and after gaining 40 pounds.
Unfilmable.
The Coen brothers did a remarkable job with No Country for Old Men. But BM is of a different kind entirely.
Sometimes it’s best to just leave well enough alone. In this case, it’s an insult to even try.
The challenge of doing in pictures what has been done in words and is said to be impossible is perhaps what spurs these producers on… I personally don’t believe anyone can do total justice to William Faulkner, but it will be attempted. I have read ALL of Cormac’s books… and I feel that to attempt to turn them into film produces the mood, and the plot, but its product is a different entity than the author’s book. That doesn’t make it any less a piece of art. It just makes it a copy of a piece of art.
It’s unfilmable because the magic of the book is it’s language, not it’s story. Film simply doesn’t have the language to match the prose In Blood Meridian. No Country and The Road were filmable because the stories and characters were fascinating. Woody Harelson might pull off the judge, if anyone, but it would be pointless.
I picture Woody Harrelson as The Judge whenever I reread portions of Blood Meridian. I think he would be perfect for the role.
As I read the book I pictured Peter Boyle, or yes, Brando, as the Judge. Anyone can adapt any story to make a film. What’s tricky is making a Good film. The coen bros performed a miracle with no country, but what makes blood meridian good as a work of literature is exactly what can’t be translated into a visual medium. One thing the article forgot to mention is that the plot is winding and anarchic. They already made this film, it’s called Cannibal Holocaust and it sucked.
BLOOD MERIDIAN is a VISUAL novel (just consider the subtitle). I rather liked ALL THE PRETTY HORSES as a movie, although the VISUAL part of that novel was neglected (think of the cinematographic possibilities of John Grady Cole at the beginning of the novel out on the Comanche Trace, and then the image of the sad Indian group and the bull throwing dirt into the sunset at the end: the film used none of this!) I like Terry Malik to do this film; he is the only one I can think of who can do the visuals justice. I know, I know.
You’d want Cormac as consultant and you’d want to use my brother (Skip)’s script. Just sayin’. I like John Goodman for the judge and Brad Pitt as Toadvine (remember Kalifornia?) Tape back his ears: he can do it! The kid is the hardest, I think. The combination of in-bred violence (he killed his papa before he left home, and fought his way West!) and innocence (the Judge is disappointed in his lack of blood-lust) would be hard to cast: any other suggestions? Dale
BTW: My brother, Skip Cosper, was Malik’s first assistant on DAYS OF HEAVEN and THE THIN RED LINE, and he is a HUGE and very knowledgeable Cormac afficinado (he’s written three screen plays based on his novels.) He would be a good influence on Terry.
Liam Neeson as the Judge. Lame.
John Malcovich has played many a hulking strongman, could easily pull off hairless, and can do weirdo genius psychopath in his sleep. Same with Vincent D’Onfrio. Alas, both may be too old now.
If Tom Hardy was a foot taller….
This is probably an odd choice, but I always thought Brad Garrett (the older brother in Everybody Loves Raymond) would be an awesome choice for Judge Holden – assuming he can do more than comedy. The guy is charismatic, over-the-top, and imposing as hell. I would prefer someone who looks the part, as opposed to a “great actor” who they have to give an appearance of massiveness by using camera manipulation.
I was going to suggest Tom Noonan for the judge. To me, he’s the only choice. I didn’t know that Ebert suggested it too.
They should animate it, not make a live action movie.
Can’t disagree more with those who say this is unfilmable. Blood Meridian is one of the most beautifully cinematic novels I’ve ever read. It could be a spectacular film. Think of what Stephen Spielberg did with the D-Day sequence in Saving Private Ryan (the confusion, the surreality of the battle imagery — a guy with a flame thrower bursting into flames, another walking dazed holding his severed arm, etc.)
Not saying Spielberg should direct it, but let’s face it. Cinema is capable of taking us to some pretty violent, visceral, strange, unexpected places. If I were a filmmaker I’d be salivating over the imagery in Blood Meridian (maybe that’s a bad word
— the Comanche assault, the dead baby tree, the Judge…. It could be done, and if done right it could be brilliant.
Don’t let the bibliophiles say it can’t be filmed. McCarthy is not Joyce, and Blood Meridian is not Ulysses (a purely literary piece of art).
Am I the only person who thinks Philip Seymour Hoffman would be the perfect Judge Holden? Shave him bald and have him lift weights for twelve months and let the camera work worry about how tall he looks, but I can’t imagine a better babyfaced, pale, scary good actor.
For the Judge I could picture a bald John Goodman. He can be an imposing figure when he wants to be. I honestly feel he could summon up the gravitas for the part. I’d definitely throw Glen Moreshower into the mix as well. Perhaps as Glanton.
Jeffrey Jones to play Judge Holden. Booooom! Done. Sign him up and shoot the damn thing.
Brendan Gleeson as the Judge? Or is he too tender? I know he could pull it off though.
Does anyone else think there’s a jolly aspect to the judge? A terrifying jolliness? Think of his dancing around, fiddling, etc. The only person I can think of to play him would be Orson Welles–he had the right kind of grin and old-fashioned charm, spoke with such perfect diction, and could easily have been made to look huge. We need a new Orson Welles.
Couldn’t agree with Matt more.
It’s been a couple years since I last read Blood Meridian. I view it as rather unfilmable, or a very risky indie project if undertaken.
I also imagined Brando when reading it. Tom Noonan has been a long standing ideal as well. Maybe if Rourke hadnt screwed his face, he would be ideal as well.
There are a few Orson Welles lookalikes in Hollywood, like the guy that played him in the recent biopic, and the guy that was in the early seasons of Mad Men. That sort of look would work for me. And, not focusing on the look, Russell Crowe could pull it off. Although I get the feeling an english actor would be chosen for the role.
I could imagine Mads Mikkelson playing someone.
Having authored several academic papers on this book, as well as being an actor and a fan violent western film, I have often given this dilemma consideration. The Judge is the key. While, I have enjoyed Liam Neeson in just about every film in which I have seen him perform, but the physicality of Judge Holden is a component of his Mythos, his suzerain persona. The Judge is HUGE and completely bald, otherworldly in appearance. He must, for a solid adaptation, completely dominate any scene in which he is included. While some of this can be accomplished with make-up and costumes, not all can be created artificially. I would love to see a nation/worldwide search for this actor—open casting calls etc.
As for directors–John Hilcoat is the man for the job. And the adaptation must include the Comanche attack, the church, and the tree “hung with dead babies.”
You’re exactly right, Foy!
Agree with this write up. Would be very difficult to do the novel justice. But if one were to cast this work of Cormac’s, I think Daniel Day Lewis would be the only actor that could pull off the Judge. Liam Neeson is a good suggestion, but a distant second or third at most.
Danny Huston as the Judge.
I thought Tommy Lee Jones had the rights to BM for awhile. Anyway, a bearded, slovenly Tommy Lee Jones should play Glanton. An unknown giant should play the Judge. The rest can be picked from wherever you want. A giant Marlon Brando would have been perfect as the Judge, though. The book can be filmed but it would have to be relentless in following the narrative and violence. Real Indians, real Mexicans required.
Rank snobbery aside it seems to me that any story is adaptable, McCarthys book is actually a pretty standard narative tale, it is just very poetic.
The best way to film this story as far as I can imagine is to not even attempt to make the film seem poetic and thoughtful, just film the story in gut wrenching visceral glory.
I hate movies that try to tell you how to feel about them, just film the damn thing and let the actors and the plot allow me to feel what I want to.
As for casting, think outside the box, John C Riley is a shockingly underated dramatic actor. Kevin Durand is a giant scary looking dude who I would love to see doing something more serious exactly like this. The key thing though is the skill of the actor and here Daniel Day Lewis is second to none, I don’t think he could beat up my 8 year old in real life but he can’t half act hard!
Whenever I read a book my mind attaches a mental image of what the characters look like very early…and for some reason the character I keep picturing the Judge as TOM NOONAN
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006888/
He played The Ripper in the movie “The Last Action Hero” and he also had a bit part in the movie “Heat” with Robert Deniro. He is tall gaunt and bald man who can capture the creepiness and unabashed evil of the Judge.
Also if you want to see the vain in which this movie should be produced, see “Valhalla Rising”
The only one who could do the judge justice is Ray Winstone.
I don’t know where to start. Ray Winstone for Judge Holden? Too fat and too old. The actor playing him would have to look lean so as to convey added height since there aren’t any actors out there around 7 foot. The only person on the planet i can think of with the right dimension is Nikolai Valutin, a former Russian boxer: he’s 7 feet tall, weighs almost 24 stone, is already bald and appreciates the arts (apparently he writes poetry). Don’t think he speaks English and even if he did he’d do it with a hell of an accent. He does have some acting experience though.
Alternatively you could have Michael Shannon, a great actor, not too famous, does a great line in sinister. He could also work as Glanton although he is very tall for that role.
Sam Rockwell for Toadvine? I don;t think he’s hell-raising enough, or dangerous-looking enough. Tom Hardy might suit that role better. As for the kid he’d have to be no older than 20 or he won’t feel real. Same for the other actors, these were violent people in a violent time and not too many lived into their 60s so don’t cast anyone that age. And i’d make sure they’re all butt ugly, there shouldn’t be any pretty boys in this film. Everything should be ugly except for the landscapes.
Nicholas Winding Refn for director feels right, or Andrew Dominik or John Hillcoat. Guy Ritchie? Why not whoever did the last Fast & Furious movie? Or Chris Columbus for that matter.
Casting is not half the problem if you dont have a director who even understands the book or the script. Guy Ritchie is the only director with some edge who can understand the book well enoungh to do the film.
Holden could be played by one of the hulking brutes in the mma world. Say Fedor Emilianenko (a Russian accent wouldn’t hurt) or Randy Couture (acting experience). Liam Neeson is big and can act. Shave him and paint him white. I think Hillcoat wasted the talents of Viggo in The Road and should not be considered. Nicholas Winding or whoever filmed Valkyrie Rising is the only director I know to direct Blood Meridian. A director that can put it down as it is with no moral, political, or social message.
As I read Blood Meridian I always imagined Black Francis from the Pixies as Judge Holden. I will give him the part when I take on the project.
If this were twenty-five years ago, I would have said Gene Hackman as the judge. He’s only 6’2″, but he is such an imposing figure on the screen. If this had been 60 years ago, I’d say Orson Welles for the Judge! Alas, I think Tom Noonan, Daniel Day-Lewis, or Philip Seymour Hoffman would be the likely choices.
Judge: Woody Harrelson
Director: Martins Scorsese ( in Gangs of New York Style!)
The Judge: finally Woody Harrelson.
Daniel Day Lewis as Glanton (gangs of New York syle) and Phillp Seymor Hoffman as Juge Holden. directed by the Cohen brothers
My vote: Clancy Brown
The Kurgan, Sgt. Zim, Brother Justin…
Smart, big man, always has an edge, can play charming and scary, he keeps you guessing.
Holden: John Malcovich, Seymor Hoffman, or Ralph Finnes.
Glanton: Sean Penn, Billy Crudup, or Tim Roth.
The Kid(young):who cares.
The Kid(old): Casey Affleck.
Christoper Walker = Judge
Christoper Walken* = Judge
From the first time I read BM I always pictured Nick Nolte as the Judge. Not sure what condition he’s in these days though. But Tom Noonan is a great choice, never thought of that before.
John Hawkes (Teardrop in Winter’s Bone) would be a perfect Glanton.
It is highly unlikely that the Coen brothers will ever do another McCarthy novel. The director who does this has to be stronger than Ridley Scott which seems an expensive proposition for anyone producing the film. The rights seem to belong to T. Lee Jones, and no director can be found to be assigned this tough book. Not even clear if anyone could succeed at a script version of the book.
Without a doubt, Danny Houston as the judge. Apart from that a totally unknown cast and an unfliching director ( definately not a hollywood type). Saying that, and having read the book, not sure I would want to watch the film