Anyone But Scarlett Johansson (With Apologies to Scarlett Johansson)

This post is directed towards Hollywood's casting directors. Of all employed movie types they are the people who I most regularly fantasize are visiting my blog. I like to think they're listening to my pleas for underappreciated actors, reading my countdown lists of most valuable players, and the like. Because sometimes... I just don't get where they're coming from. Take Scarlett Johansson, this week's "it" girl. She's a memorable beauty, sure. She can hold her own onscreen, mm-hmm. She has a great voice, yes. But should they really be casting her in everything? Is she right for every single role?

I imagine she's the most hated actress among the young female set in Hollywood. If you check out her filmography it really gives one pause. She has been featured in 22 films. In half of those she is either the lead or a prominent supporting player. She is only 21. To top it all off she has three more roles in the can and another four contracts signed. I'd argue that more than any other actor in Hollywood she risks complete backlash very soon.

In an effort to curb a quick downfall (I'd personally like ScarJo to stick around) I'd suggest a year off and for casting directors to give some other young ladies a reasonable shot at making a splash.

Now obviously among the 18 to mid20s set Anne Hathaway, Kirsten Dunst, Evan Rachel Wood, Keira Knightley, Natalie Portman, and Lindsay Lohan (and less explicably Jessica Alba, Kate Bosworth, and Emmy Rossum, with 5 facial expressions between them) have eked out careers while Scarlett has devoured every other role. Beyond about 10 girls, though, it seems Hollywood doesn't care...

Give these girls a shot!

Amanda Seyfried, 20. You've seen her on HBO's Big Love and as the dumbest of the Mean Girls. Why her? She's younger than Scarlett if you need the dewy freshness. And while Scarlett certainly isn't bad in comedies, her mellow character vibe in Ghost World and Lost in Translation isn't really the laugh generator. Next up for Amanda is the horror film Solstice. Casting directors please save her from a life of TV guest work and B-Movies.

Ludivine Sagnier, 26. She had a brief moment a few years back when it looked like she might crossover with high profile work in Swimming Pool, Peter Pan, and 8 Women. Why her? Say you're looking for someone who, like Scarlett, possesses potent sexuality that's still malleable to the character demands and who also can play several different ages? Ludivine's a slam dunk winner on both counts. Her beauty, talent, and star presence will keep her busy in French cinema for years to come but there's really no reason (given that she speaks English) for Hollywood not to borrow her more often.

Nathalie Press (age?) & Emily Blunt, 23. They made a mini-splash together in arthouses for the underseen but well received My Summer of Love. Why them? First and foremost the talent. For Press, both Summer and the Oscar short-film winner Wasp are potent performance films. She could be a highly regarded actress very soon with just one really high profile gig. Blunt proved this summer in Devil Wears Prada that she's a total chameleon, more muteable from film to film than Scarlett if you need a shapeshifter more in the line of Streep or Blanchett. Her bitchy comedic character in Prada is nothing like her dreamy seductress from Summer. I have a sharp eye for actors and I didn't even realize it was the same woman until after the movie was over. I can't wait to see what other forms she takes.

Kathleen McDermott (age?) I know zilch about her and she's barely ever worked in the movies. Why her? Anyone who can hold their own with the brilliant Samantha Morton as she did with sweet grounding naturalism in Morvern Callar deserves more opportunities on the screen. What gives? Seriously. I thought we'd be seeing her a lot.

Scarlett, with her old soul vibe, and is often cast older than she is. Lost in Translation was meant for a mid 20s actress and Scarlett made it when she was 18. These ladies are also worthy of your consideration...

Kerry Washington, 29. I might start crying. I think things have gotten a lot better for black male leads in the past decade. But the women? Not so much. Why her? Mostly for my sanity. Every time I respond to a young black actress I start seeing the fate of Angela Bassett all over again: big splashy success followed immediately by crap supporting roles. Very few actresses of any ethnicity have chops as powerful as Angela Bassett but still... Even when future Angelas work a lot, as Kerry does, they seem to get stuck in roles that don't require anything of them. Kerry started off strong in indies like Lift and Our Song (a great rental choice if you like under-the-radar indies) and scene stealing in big hits like Save the Last Dance but lately...ouch. I'll be the first to admit that she didn't really run with the Ray opportunity the way, say, Regina King did. But Scarlett doesn't hit it out of the park every time either and that doesn't stop her from attracting top filmmakers and big projects. Shouldn't Kerry be getting better gigs than cameos in Fantastic Four and Mr & Mrs. Smith and employment in Little Man?

Lucy Punch, 28. Her biggest claim to fame is the 'humiliate the golddigger' role in Being Julia Why her? if you were paying attention you probably noticed that she actually knew what she was doing with the role. However thankless the part was, that was no phoned-in performance. Next up for Ms. Punch is a comedy with the makers of Shaun of the Dead called Hot Fuzz. Lucy is also very at home in period films as her filmography suggests. Now I know that Scarlett can do that too (Girl with a Pearl Earring) but, again, you can't cast her in everything. Or at least you shouldn't.

Other Posts From "Scarlett Johansson Week"
It's a Wrap Scarlett Week Concludes with Lists Galore
A History Of... Scarjo
'Scarlett Fever' Poll Which is her best performance?
Hugh Jackman her current co-star in Scoop
My Endless Link Two Scarlett links & other random goodies.

tags: Scarlett Johansson, movies, films, casting director, cinema, acting, Young Hollywood