"Good Country People"
CAST:
Joy/Hulga as :
Amanda Bynes
Reasoning: Because Bynes, as well as Hugla, does not mind being ugly to anyone and everyone.
Bynes grew up as a child actress, a role model to many, and then crashed and burned into her adult life. It began when Bynes started getting into motor accidents, often fleeing the scene and not paying fines. Things continued to get worse for Bynes once it was uncovered that she was a drug addict, and then pled that she had a mental illness.
Hulga was born as Joy Hopewell, only to change her name once she was farther than arm's length from her mother, Mrs. Hopewell. As a child Hulga was involved in an accident that caused her leg to be completely blown off- from then on she was forced to wear a fake leg. Because of this Hulga became a bully to everyone around her. To escape her family Hulga chose to be an avid student and continued to go to school until she completed the highest level of PHD.
**Bynes would need to wear a fat suit, wear a wooden leg, and wear a wig that was bad color of orange-y/yellow***
Both Bynes and Hulga had a good running start until their accidents changed their paths.
Manley Pointer as:
Macaulay Culkin
Reasoning: Culkin can pose as a scum bag really well.
However, he'd have to shave his long locks to match the picture above. He would also be banned from doing drugs, so there is no promise. His soft eyes and light hair may work well for playing Pointer because it would give the "good country" boy a more naive, genuine look. Also, for being a Bible salesman, his fair complexion would come in handy for a young man that was living a "straight and narrow" pathway to Heaven. His slender, non-muscle physique would also make his job title more believable.
-OR-
Dave Franco
Reasoning: He is really cute and can swoon anyone: perfect quality of a door to door "salesman."
Franco has sharp, dark eyes that would be perfect for the scene at the barn, right before Pointer swipes Hulga's leg. His eyebrows can be manipulated a tad to increase the look of him being evil, which would be useful in the last scene at the barn. His slender, yet toned physique complements that of a hardworking "good country" boy, that Pointer is assumed to have. Franco would also complement Bynes as a co-star.
-OR-
Jerry Trainor
Reasoning: Has played a comic role for most, if not all, of his career, therefore can convey an inviting look through his facial expressions without having to try too hard.
Trainor has played on Nickelodeon for years, and has mastered the funny persona. As pictured above, he can easily flash a wide smile that would be beneficial to a door to door "salesman" like Pointer. He's has softer eyes than Franco, yet more stern eyes than Culkin which would be a key point into seducing Hulga enough for her to take her leg off. In the last scene of the movie, his eyebrows can also be manipulated to look more aggressive and evil. Trainor's height, over 6', is also a huge selling point, along with the dark hair that can be manipulated to be/or seem darker to add mystique to the character. His lanky, tall physique and dark hair would go along well with the cartoons that are often drawn in reference to "Good Country People."
Culkin, Franco, and Trainor would be excellent as Pointer; each has their own selling points. However, alongside Bynes, Franco might make the most sense. Also, Franco would pull in more of an audience than Culkin and Trainor would.
Mrs. Hopewell as:
Juliet Stevenson
Reasoning: Her looks; she seems nice, but she looks to have an underlying layer of judgement
In finding an actress to play Mrs. Hopewell I google searched "famous middle aged actresses" and she stuck out the most. I have never seen her in a movie, or heard of her name before, but she looks intriguing. Stevenson's physical appearance matches the more modern-day character of Mrs. Hopewell. Her dimples on the sides of her face and her blue eyes make for a sweet woman, but the half smile and blonde hair with large earrings scream "I'm judging you!" She would perform as is.
-OR-
Susan Sarandon
Reasoning: Her eyes could kill
Sarandon is a woman whose eyes are sharp and judgemental from the start. If she were to be more soft-spoken in the movie with killer looks, she would match Mrs. Hopewell. Also, in the illustrations and cartoons of 'Good Country People" Hulga is drawn with red hair, if Sarandon were to play her mother the color of her hair (as pictured above) would be "biologically" accurate.
Both actresses would be a good choice, Stevenson exemplifying more of the "hope" in Hopewell- whilst Sarandon would exemplify more of the double standard of "good country people."
