The movies we pick aren’t necessarily classics, but we like them anyway. We might like them even better if they were recast like this…
Police investigating a boat that exploded on a San Pedro pier discover 27 bodies and $91 million in drug money. The only survivors are a severely burned and very scared Hungarian terrorist and Verbal Kent, a crippled con man. Reluctantly, Kent is pressured into explaining exactly what happened on the boat. His story begins six weeks earlier with five criminals being dragged in by New York police desperate for suspects on a hijacked truck and ends with the identification of criminal mastermind Kaiser Soze.
Truly a great movie — if you haven’t seen it, rent it now.
Roger ‘Verbal’ Kent
They Chose: Kevin Spacey
We Chose: Mos Def
Kevin Spacey was perfect for the role (it blew up his career) but we think mighty Mos has a knack for off-kilter characters. Not convinced? See Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy or his newest flick, Be Kind Rewind
Dean Keaton
They Chose: Gabriel Byrne
We Chose: Don Cheadle
Don can bring the world-weariness the part demands and can convey hints of an infamous past that everybody has heard about. We also know Mr. Cheadle can play dangerous men; remember Mouse from Devil in A Blue Dress? Plus, Don da man.
Michael McManus
They Chose: Stephen Baldwin
We Chose: Wesley Snipes/First Runner Up: Michael Jai White
McManus was a wild-out commando type who was down for his partner but wasn’t afraid to go solo. While we all know Mr. Snipes can get physical from the Blade series, and figured this could be Wesley’s comeback movie, it has to be noted that MJ White (of Spawn, not Trois physique) is nice with his hands, and has Snipes by more than a few years.
Fred Fenster
They Chose: Benicio del Toro
We Chose: Idris Alba
This is the role that introduced Benicio del Toro to the world. One of the main ticks of the character was that we could barely understand him. So we figured Idris can finally use his real British accent in a role (you do know he hails from England right? Right?). Plus he can use all that Stringer Bell charisma. Unfortunately, he’s the first to catch one.
Todd Hockney
They Chose: Kevin Pollack
We Chose: Jamie Foxx
Since Kevin Pollack is a comedian (or former comedian) we figured why not Jamie Foxx. Although the role calls for no special comedic timing it just seemed like a good way to get another big name black star into the movie
Dave Kujan
They Chose: Chazz Palminteri
We Chose: Steve Harris
“You’re dumb, that’s why he picked you, Verbal!” As Special Agent Kujan, Chazz was all up in Spacey’s personal space, bull-headed, confident and loud. If you used to watch The Practice back in the day, you know our man Steve Harris could be the same way: intimidating and in your face. Plus, some folks round here seem to think he’s sooooo fine.
Kobayashi
They Chose: Pete Postlethwaite
We Chose: Jeffrey Wright
Kobayashi was the mysterious, ever-cool and racially ambiguous lawyer of the elusive Kaiser Soze. Jeffrey Wright has played a Puerto Rican drug dealer, a drag queen named Brazil, a CIA agent, AND Dr. Martin Luther King. With his skills, the brother can do any role he sets his mind to. So why not Kobayashi?
Check out the trailer
*FYI: Want to watch this flick free? Go to Hulu.com and have it streamed to your computer at no charge.
