We’ve all been keeping tabs on the latest Terminator movie; Terminator: Genisys, and we all know how much the right casting can make all the difference between a good movie and an okay movie.
Jason Clarke is playing the legend John Connor- the savior of mankind and the free world, a role which has been portrayed before by other notable actors with varying results; Edward Furlong was practically concrete, Nick Stahl got a rough mauling, Christian Bale was half and half,- now, Jason Clarke… ?
Part of me thinks that Mr. Clarke was the last vestiges of Annapurna and Miss Ellison’s influences- following Zero Dark Thirty and Lawless; Megan brought Jason Clarke on-board because she trusted his mettle and she believed he would live up to the expectations of the fans.
Was that a risky decision? Yes. Fans were already rather unhappy with the repeated re-casting of the most enigmatic and most anticipated character in the whole franchise (how long have we waited to really see the man, the LEGEND? Since before he was even born) only to be told that yet again we would be experiencing some kind of life-altering face-changing, time flux. Which meant we would either have to adjust to it or resolutely refuse to participate- it’s an important role to say the least.
Can Jason Clarke bring some serious weight to the franchise and to the role of John Connor?
I know that Mr. Clarke can act, He’s proven that on more than one occasion and steadily his career is picking up some serious momentum- his roles have a variance which allows the audience to have an open mind with his seamless moves from Constable Riggs- a police officer destroying families at the behest of the government in Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002), to Malcolm- a leader sympathetic to the Apes struggle in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014).
I know that he has a way of putting himself in the picture without overwhelming the viewer. I know that he’s subtle with his performances, but very solid in the way he delivers his portrayals.
Mr. Clarke’s back catalog includes such movies as the stunningly acted Rabbit-Proof Fence, Public Enemies, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, Lawless, Zero Dark thirty, The Great Gatsby and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, to name a few…
Terminator: Genysis will be Jason Clarke’s thirty-fifth movie since 1997… He’s hungry.
Jason Clarke is a credible actor who has a humble approach to the projects he chooses and definitely brings weight to the roles he plays; he’s understated in his performances without losing momentum or conviction. Most importantly he has the ability to convince.
We may well have to adjust, we might have to loosen our grips and allow the future rushing towards us to take us with it. We might have to hope for the best, regardless of what we’re feeling now.
The most positive starting block for me, right now, is Jason Clarke.
No pressure Mr. Clarke.