Dec 26, 2007,
C. Robert Cargill
In 1972, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum-security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, and no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire, the A-Team.
(Machine gun fire! Cue the music!)
So now they're talking a movie reboot. Who would we cast?
George Clooney as Col. John "Hannibal" Smith
First of all, if you're going to cast Hannibal, you need to replace George Peppard. And you don't just REPLACE George Peppard. Even if he was in a career slowdown by the time he jumped from B-movies to TV, he still was the romantic lead in one of the greatest romantic comedies of all time, Breakfast at Tiffany's. And he was a bad dude to boot. Always charming, funny, dashing and poised, there was also this very genuine quality to him, as if he weren't acting like he was a nice guy. George Clooney is all of those things. And let's face it; he's already played a similar character with Danny Ocean. This role would combine the slyness of Danny Ocean with all the military roles he's ever played. And he'd nail it with gusto.
Ryan Reynolds as Lt. Templeton "Faceman" Peck
One of the keys to understanding The A-Team is knowing that while it was an action send-up of The Seven Samurai/The Magnificent Seven model, it was first and foremost a comedy. It was Face's job to provide the more sly one-liners and looking good while doing it. And who better right now is there at being both charming and slimy than Ryan Reynolds? The guy is funny as all get-out; he has a large enough range to pull off the in-the-movie cons, and man do the ladies love him. This guy has "Faceman" written all over him.
Ryan Gosling as H.M. "Howling Mad" Murdock
Murdock is crazy. Murdock is funny. Murdock needs to be played just right in order for the whole package to work. The pilot of the group (and oddly enough, also the only member not involved in the crime that got them in the clink to begin with), Murdock needs to be freed from a mental institution every chance the team gets. But being a group fresh out of the military in this version (as opposed to having been on the run for 10 years like in the show) we need to skew a little younger. And Gosling would be a perfect fit. A great actor and funny to boot, this kid has the chops to take up where Dwight Schultz left off.
Ving Rhames as Sgt. Bosco "B.A." Baracus
How do you follow an act like Mr. T? You get one of the baddest dudes in cinema to step up and kick some hindquarter. He's got the voice, he's got the look, and he's got the chops. He can be funny and intimidating. And just imagine the words, "I Pity the fool" or "I ain't gettin' on no plane," rolling of his tongue. You know you can hear it.
C. Robert Cargill - - - Email Me
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Austin-based Cargill, who not only loves but owns The Cutting Edge, writes on movies and DVD five times a week.
