Have Your Say: Will Smith For Tarantino's DJANGO UNCHAINED?
It seems you can't turn around today without stumbling over some reference or other to Will Smith and his potential involvement in Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained. You see, word is Tarantino's a fan. Enough of a fan that he wrote the lead role of the film for Smith and has already offered him the part informally. Whether Smith will say yes is yet to be determined but the offer is apparently out there.
Which raises the immediate question: Is this a good idea?
I, for one, say yes. While Smith has rubbed some people the wrong way by adopting a career in which he simply plays variations on his character from the Fresh Prince Of Belair days the fact is that whenever he has been given a chance to show that he can actually act he has done just that. Smith has been vocal about wanting grittier roles for years now and the story of a slave turned bounty hunter would certainly qualify.
As for whether audiences would accept Smith in a Tarantino film ... well, remember that John Travolta's career had stalled out in talking baby territory before Tarantino got his hands on him. Tarantino's particular genius - I truly believe this is his greatest asset - lies in his creative casting decisions, his ability to see layers in a performer that have been otherwise overlooked. The man has never been wrong when he's made a move like this and I see no reason to think he will be now.
But what do you think? Do you like Smith for the part and, if not, who would you rather see in there?
Which raises the immediate question: Is this a good idea?
I, for one, say yes. While Smith has rubbed some people the wrong way by adopting a career in which he simply plays variations on his character from the Fresh Prince Of Belair days the fact is that whenever he has been given a chance to show that he can actually act he has done just that. Smith has been vocal about wanting grittier roles for years now and the story of a slave turned bounty hunter would certainly qualify.
As for whether audiences would accept Smith in a Tarantino film ... well, remember that John Travolta's career had stalled out in talking baby territory before Tarantino got his hands on him. Tarantino's particular genius - I truly believe this is his greatest asset - lies in his creative casting decisions, his ability to see layers in a performer that have been otherwise overlooked. The man has never been wrong when he's made a move like this and I see no reason to think he will be now.
But what do you think? Do you like Smith for the part and, if not, who would you rather see in there?
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