Another wimpy metrosexual actor. - American Assassin (2017) Discussion

[–] TombRaider09 8 years ago

There is nothing wimpy about Dylan.

Hollywood is currently oversaturated with hunky, super-muscular actors.

Seeing a thin, cute guy as the lead is refreshing.

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[–] lavol 8 years ago

The problem with a thin cute guy is he does not fit the character in the book. There are MILLIONS of Vince Flynn/Mitch Rapp fans and if they miss on the lead character, the chance of a sequel is diminished appreciably.

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[–] randomnumbers00 8 years ago

Well, if you actually read American Assassin, I do think he fits the description perfectly. After all, they are starting the adaptation with the prequel, in which Rapp is supposed to be 23 years old (O'Brien is 25), with a lean/athletic build (he's a lacrosse player and a good runner, not a bodybuilder), handsome, black hair, dark eyes, and most importantly, he's a highly trained assassin that looks like an ordinary person. He is not a HUGE guy, he doesn't have to be heavily-muscled. On the contrary, in the book, they make it a point that he looks like a typical college kid when he is recruited - so much that everyone, including Hurley clearly underestimated him (the terms "college-puke", "mama's boy" and "boy scout" - all of them uttered by Hurley - come to mind).

Most Vince Flynn/Mitch Rapp fans picture Mitch as someone they know from the (on the timeline) later books. But he isn't that guy in American Assassin yet. I mean, I totally understand having expectations for a character of a book you've read and loved, but the best they can do is hire an actor who fits the part and can pull the role off. And I think they did very well here.

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[–] TeeFilms 8 years ago

Two Questions:
1. Have you actually read American Assassin? If you have, you know Dylan O'Brien fits the description from the book perfectly.

2. Why do so many men seem to need to see male action stars be overly-rugged and literally twice their own size, in order to enjoy them in the role?

O'Brien will likely fill out a little more as the series goes on anyway, but it shouldn't be a necessity. He's playing a guy whose main job is to shoot people from a distance. His current body type should be fine for this role.

This casting, in part, shows Hollywood is starting to get it. Many people are tired of seeing virtually the same guy with different hair in every action movie. Don't worry, it's highly unlikely the beefcakes will actually be going away. They just may be joined by men that are more of a normal size.

And I really doubt this film will "fail miserably," but only time will tell.

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[–] randomnumbers00 8 years ago

[Applause] Thank you so much for that. Can I add one more thing?

3. Stop using sexualities, in whatever case, in a derogatory sense.

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[–] TeeFilms 8 years ago

YES! It's 2016 outside, people! If someone's sexuality isn't hurting you or anyone else, then let them be.

Enlightenment. Pass it on.

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[–] aryadne 8 years ago

totally agree.

besides...DOB metrosexual?! David Beckham, Colton Haynes - THOSE are metrosexual. they care about their bodies, they image, their style.

DOB is often seen in a scruffy beard with messed up hair. that's what you think a metrosexual is?

the OP should just go back to his cave.

the way he talks, i bet he has back hair 😨

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[–] TeeFilms 8 years ago

True.

But I've noticed he kinda flips back and forth in his style. One day he's backwards hat, scruffy beard guy, the next he's clean cut, polished, perhaps even slightly feminine looking. Which is likely why the OP used the term metrosexual (albeit incorrectly). It's become somewhat of a go-to term for a guy perceived as effeminate.

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[–] aryadne 8 years ago

O_o i would never consider him effeminate. i mean, look at brad pitt. the guy is most often than not all clean cut and polished and even has a much prettier face and nobody thinks him effeminate. George clooney the same (i'm talking when they were young)

and anyway, i remember when daniel craig was cast everybody went nuts saying that he was too muscular and bond wasn't like that. they had roger moore who was perilously close to fat and kind of old (and not in a good way) and still that was the ephitomoe of masculinity? i mean, roger moore for james bond? terrible.

i've read american assassin and apart from skin color, i think he's mitch to a T. he's in shape, has the body of a runner but he should be a bit darker but i guess with his accident he had no time to go to the beach ;)

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[–] TeeFilms 8 years ago

Personally, I don't think Brad Pitt has or ever had a 'pretty' face. If anything, he has a somewhat rugged face that many consider very handsome (though not me). Couple that with the movies that put him on the map, and that he's still most famous for, like Fight Club, Oceans 11+, Mr. & Ms. Smith, etc, and you have the reason he's never been considered effeminate. Because he's not, and because his rise to fame has been almost entirely off of heavily masculine roles.

George Clooney's always been beautiful 😍, but there's a ruggedness to it, imo. But even so, there was always a lot of speculation about his sexuality, which was largely because of his ever polished look + the all the years that he wasn't married.

Like I said, to me, DOB goes back and forth, not just in his appearance but in his mannerisms and how he speaks. I've watched many interviews and behind the scenes videos of him (pretty much all of them), and it's just something I keep picking up on. If you don't, cool. We'll have to agree to disagree I guess :)

I know nothing about James Bond. Never seen even one film.

American Assassin was inconsistent about Mitch's skin. It literally called Mitch 'Caucasian,' at one point. But I think it also said he has dark skin tone too. Sigh.

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[–] aryadne 8 years ago

* grins *

it's funny how opinions differ. brad pitt has always been too pretty for me. Just think interview with the vampire and legends of the fall. you went for the movies where he was scruffy 😊

i had no idea there was speculation about clooney's sexuality O_o can't a person be single in peace?!

i've also watched lots of DOB interviews and i've never seen anything effeminate about him in them. he makes fun of it, like on the maze runner panel where he said they never auditioned his run and he just showed a really pansy run as a joke. i think he's a guy that is pretty sure of his sexuality and has no problem joking about the different sexualities (liek that pretend kiss with thomas sangster that almost happened). i think a homosexual person that was concerned about what people thought of him and didn't want to come out would never joke like that.

oh well, like you said, it's all a matter of opinion :) it's what makes the world interesting right? ;)

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[–] bizford 8 years ago

Actually the books were consistent with Rapp having darker skin. He is called Caucasian when he wears makeup to lighten his skin as a disguise.

Also, a main reason that Rapp is said to have darker, olive skin is because it allows him to pass as a local in may Middle Eastern countries. Do you thing anyone would see Dylan O'Brien in one of these areas and not assume he was a foreigner? I didn't think so.

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[–] eahmouse 8 years ago

I think,often, when he is clean cut and polished looking it is not his choice. That is the image that they (? producers, etc.?)want when he is promoting their movies and shows or simply for the roles he is playing. Anyway, I don't really know what metrosexual is supposed to mean and don't care. I think one of the reasons people are drawn to him is because he exudes this "regular guy" persona which seems very genuine. He's not too macho, not particularly effeminate, just the guy next door. A really nice funny one :) He seems comfortable with who he is and comfortable expressing his feelings for others including his best bud. If that makes him "metrosexual" then ok.

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[–] aryadne 8 years ago

exactly. he's really the guy next door, isn't he? :)

and yeah, i actually just posted the same thing :) he does appear to be very comfortable with what he is.

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[–] Vins_gurl18 8 years ago

totally agree.

besides...DOB metrosexual?! David Beckham, Colton Haynes - THOSE are metrosexual. they care about their bodies, they image, their style.

DOB is often seen in a scruffy beard with messed up hair. that's what you think a metrosexual is?

the OP should just go back to his cave.

the way he talks, i bet he has back hair 😨

OMG I almost spit out my drink cracking up while reading this LOL!!! 😂

Anyway, I agree...Dylan is just FINE for the role.

I don't get these crazy assumptions of him being metrosexual either. Goodness...have we become so RIGID in our definition of sexuality that any little deviation from that is an automatic assumption about someone's sexual preference?? Geeez....

Yes Dylan is sometimes scruffy, but sometimes he cleans up! And he cleans up well I might add.... 😊

Why is being "Clean cut" now = to someone being "MetroSexual"??? Seriously?? Can't a MASCULINE man also be CLEAN cut, well dressed, and take pride in his dress and grooming without being called "metro"??? What's wrong with being well-dressed and looking CLEAN?? Back in the 1950's ALL men were clean-shaven, dressed well, looked presentable, made sure their hair was combed, and looked handsome. Honestly, I wish more people took MORE pride in their dress and grooming these days instead of looking like homeless bums on the street.

Anyway, I digress.... Dylan looks fine the way he is, and I have NEVER gotten a metro or effeminate vibe from him...EVER. I think we are way too rigid in this country with regards to men and their masculinity and even women and their femininity. But with men it's like there's no breathing room anymore. Dylan does not fit my idea of a "metro" guy, but whatever... I guess if you're not looking like The Rock or Vin Diesel then you must be "metro" or "Effeminate" (insert eye-roll here).

Btw, Brad Pitt IS very "pretty" imo too lol.... But he's always had a rugged masculine vibe to him. He's a midwestern guy after all.... Probably grew up in a more rural area. Whereas Dylan is from NY. Different locations of the country. I just don't think we should be so rigid honestly. Dylan is very nice-looking (yes), but just because a guy is nice-looking it doesn't mean he's "metro", or "effeminate" or even "Gay". I just think that type of thinking is very backwards.

Dylan is fine for the role, and I don't see him as being anyone but himself. He's very comfortable in who he is, and that's one of the reasons why I like him as an actor. He seems very down-to-earth,and like an all around cool guy on AND off the camera. It's a breath of fresh air honestly in that industry.

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[–] eahmouse 8 years ago

JakeHelmer - if this movie fails miserably, it won't be because of Dylan O'Brien. And I don't see what it is that "Hollywood just doesn't get". I think they do get it. If they cast some super bulky macho guy the movie would only attract the gun totin', govmnt hatin' people who make up the bulk of the Vince Flynn fans. Hollywood knows that if they want to make is cost effective, they need to attract a wider audience.

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[–] maximmm (3344) 7 years ago

I agree - he's too thin for this role.

Now, it is possible to be thin and strong if you have very powerful fast twitch muscles (think Bruce Lee), but we really don't see any muscles on this guy at all. So yeah - total miscast.

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[–] KutWrite (1317) 7 years ago

A few minor spoilers:

Wimpy is as wimpy does. In this movie, he held his own and then some.

Keaton isn't muscle-bound, yet is certainly believable in the Hurley role.

Now... I disliked the character. To me, too formulaic, moody and willing to blow a mission for a surge of hormones. I'd have liked to see at least a flick of electricity between him and that Iranian gal. He's not likable, not reliable to the mission and not loyal. I do not count his search for Hurley, as he was really looking for the bomb his bumbling allowed to fall into the wrong hands. OK, maybe he's mission-oriented for a few minutes there.

I haven't read the book, so I'm not comparing.

I'd go see a sequel about Hurley this minute... esp. if there was some illumination of the back story between him and Irene.

I'd also go see a sequel in which Ghost is "created" from his Navy Enlisted beginnings, then turned to the "Dark Side." Or... If he survived this story.

I don't plan to see one about Rapp. I don't even like the name.

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[–] [email protected] (2017) 3 years ago

Hard to relate to narcissistic hedonist protagonist who seems to have no family nor care for them. He seems as bad as the terrorists.

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