Indie director Ramin Bahrani typically draws notice on the festival circuit with his low-budget character-driven dramas (that include Man Push Cart, Chop Shop, and Goodbye Solo) despite the fact they have no stars to speak of. But for his next feature, formerly titled Heartland but now referred to only as The Untitled Ramin Bahrani Project, he’s leaving obscurity behind, casting stars and noteworthy character actors to fill the roles of his farm-set domestic drama.
While shopping the would-be film at Cannes, Bahrani’s team announced quintessential everyman Dennis Quaid would be taking on the lead role of Henry Whipple, a father whose intense yearning to grow his farm, distances him from his family, which includes a son played by teen-heartthrob Zac Efron. Now that the film has begun production in Illinois, news on the rest of the cast has finally been revealed. THR reports that consummate character actor Clancy Brown has signed on to play a “rival farmer,” and mentions that Kim Dickens, best-known for TV roles on Treme and Deadwood, and former indie It girl Heather Graham have also joined the cast. Dickens will play wife to Quaid, but little is known about Graham’s role at present.
While there are some true luminaries in the cast, I have to admit I’m disappointed to see Bahrani working with known actors. One of the most intriguing joys of watching his films is the neo-realist quality of them, which would be inevitably lessened by the impact of famous faces. Plus, he has a keen eye for talent, plucking unknown or amateur actors to head his films, and yielding compelling results. In 2007, Ahmad Razvi, who Bahrani boldly chose to lead Man Push Cart despite his having no prior acting experience, was nominated for an Indie Spirit award for Best Male lead! Just three years later, Goodbye Solo star Souleymane Sy Savane received the same prestigious honor, for what was his film debut. Goodbye Solo has since launched Savane, who scored a role in Machine Gun Preacher and is set to appear in Girl Soldier opposite Uma Thurman in 2012. He’s an engaging actor who Bahrani took a chance on, and I’m disappointed that his next effort won’t offer the same kind of wild card excitement.
Still, it’s hard to fault Bahrani for wanting to utilize his buzz to score bigger actors and likely a correspondingly higher budget. Hopefully, despite his star-studded casting choices, he’ll stay true to his roots and continue to craft captivating and intimate dramas.
We’ll see in 2012.
What do you make of this cast? Do you have any thoughts on Bahrani casting established actors?