We know Johnny loves "misfit" characters. What is it about the character of Lin do YOU think attracted Johnny so strongly to this role? Can you imagine Johnny as Lin? Why? How?

Remember opinions are neither right nor wrong! They're YOURS! ;)

Lin is very complex with many conflicting facets to his personality -lover, fighter, criminal, friend, healer.

The arc to his character and story is a big one. (understatement!)

I think this book had the same profound effect on Johnny as it has had on all of us. I think Johnny wanted to tell this story, because it IS a profound and amazing one. It is set in an exotic locale, in a culture so different from the West, and it's told from the perspective of an outsider who becomes an insider.

More later if anything else comes to me.

Amp I like the way you answered #6 and I agree and do not have anything to add-except when this project starts filming I bet JD will develop a character as diverse as Capt. Jack to tell Lin's story. B)

I think Johnny was attracted to this role because he could see so much of himself in Lin, the way I can see it when I read the story.

There are so many segments in this book where I have jotted down notes in the margin that say (for singing 'You Really Got Me' pg 142) "a pure Johnny moment - will he sing???", (the shower scene p120/121) "very Johnny, I can see him acting this out" and this one "Johnny should do a narration: Imprisonment meant that they took away the sun and the moon and the stars. Prison wasn't hell but there was no heaven in it either. In it's own way, that was just as bad."

I can hear him narrating, speaking, laughing, crying and yes...singing.

Is it the way the character redeemed himself?

The way the character treated people or was treated by people?

Based on what we've seen Johnny do (T&T say the way Capt Jack was played was nothing like he was written. LOL) with characters...what trait, or side of Lin do you think he can sink his teeth into?

I always pictured Johnny playing this character from the first time I read the book. So many parts of Lin are part of Johnny---guitar, singing, compassionate, humor, and the way Johnny has said he wouldn't change anything in his life as it was all part of who he has become, the good and the bad. GDR also had a problem with drugs as Johnny did, and he overcame that by finding purpose in his life and through his writing. Sounds like Johnny to me as well---finding purpose with his family and using his acting as his outlet. Just so many references in this book screamed "Johnny" to me.

Yes, Lin is a multi-layered character as Johnny is himself. The part I think Johnny would like would be going from the "hard" persona in his business, to the compassionate persona in the slums. Also, drawing attention to India and its people I think would be a fascination for him as well. I also feel that Lin does have flaws and that seems to be the pattern in Johnny choosing characters. Underneath it all, Lin is definitely a "good man" as is Capt. Jack. Can't wait to see how he will portray him in the film. Given that this book is based on a real person, I don't know how different Johnny would make Lin out to be.

One of the themes in the book that I think Johnny would connect with is the theme of loyalty ~ to family and friends and compatriots. There's a code of ethics running through the story and I bet that caught Johnny's eye, so to speak. Plus everything that you all have mentioned - the setting in particular - would be pretty irresistible for an actor.

Unfortunately, I'm not one of the lucky ones who saw Johnny in the role of Lin right off the bat. And I must confess it's still hard for me to envision him playing the part of a physically unattractive, brutal, street-fighting tough guy. For me, the physicality just isn't there. Not to mention that part of Lin's struggle with Karla is about his sense of himself as an ugly man - how could she fall for him, yaar? Well, we all know, no matter how much Johnny tries to mess himself up, he's drop-dead gorgeous! I feel sorry for the actress they cast as Karla who has to pretend she's sooo beautiful and Johnny's not!

However, I've no doubt Johnny will put his unique, magic touch on this role and be able to pull it off with his amazing talent, like he's done time and time again. In the first five minutes of the movie, I'll be mesmerized, and convinced, just like always.

I think that Johnny will crave out a character who starts out as the frightened "tough guy" whose mission in life is about running and surviving who transforms into a character who finds compassion and an ability to help others and therefore saves himself. I feel confident that Johnny can pull off the character of Lin when I remember his character arc of the pompous Lord Wilmont to the ill, weak, lesion-infested Lord Wilmont in The Libertine. This character is the type that will embody all of JD's skills-after all we all will witness his ST in a few months and Lin only sings in the shower. :shistle

I can see Johnny so clearly in this role. The drug user, street fighter, lover, friend. Someone who has the chance to start over again yet is looking over his shoulder because he really is not a free man.

And besides loyalty, Lin's ability to forgive and survive would have to be the traits that I think would appeal to Johnny.

I remember Johnny saying something like that if the first few (3) pages didn't appeal to him, then he wouldn't look any further.

The way Lin starts off, as a good person on the run, mentioning his family past, then the future must have captured Johnny's attention. Then the way he treats charachters, and the struggle to redeem him self and still maintain his integrity while doing bad deeds, is something that I think appeals to Johnny. The struggle to maintain what is integrity while others have 'labelled' him a bad person. Ahhh...Johnny is going to be PERFECT in this role. woohoo

I can see Johnny as Lin first being reluctant to mentor Tariq and then becoming very bonded and protective of him. I can hear Johnny's Aussie/Indian accent. I can see him being the fierce warrior who gets his revenge on Madam Zhou and Rajan, and most importantly, I can see him wearing over-underpants. ;)

As I've mentioned before, I am actually struggling to see and hear Johnny as I read. It's Greg all the way. Damn that pic of him on the back cover!

In the book they describe Lin as having short blond hair-----wonder if Johnny will go with that look.

Golly I hope so...I see Spencer Armacost............ :thud

:lol:

Haircut you say? :sweeneytodd ?

I think not.
I see hippie all the way.
He's trying to blend in to the slums...:ciggy

THe book really gets into alot of visual details of the charachters.
The movie might look alot different. It's going to be a suprise all the way, visually , I mean. :captain Can't see much on the horizon yet!

:thud :thud :thud

Please! Someone make sure he takes a copy of 'On The Road' with him to India!

Just saying! :lol:

I picture the hair being more like it was in Blow. :thud

I think they had nice showers in blow.
Perhaps:
http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c120/Din...nt=9807c428.jpg
or
http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c120/Din...urrent=96d4.jpg

I just assumed that Johnny would have longer hair for Lin after seeing pics of GDR, but then I read the description in the book. I would love to see a Roux look myself............wouldn't Lin change his appearance somewhat from when he escaped from Australia?

Hmmm - I wonder if Johnny felt free to develop Captain Jack Sparrow into his own creation ("nothing like the way he was written") because CJS was a character that TnT created.

Lin, on the other hand, although fictional, is based on GDR. I wonder if Johnny will use his considerable talents to make Lin his own or use those talents to fully communicate the man GDR is? I tend to lean toward the second. I could see Johnny spending a ton of time getting to know GDR so that he can accurately portray Lin in the film.

I guess a lot of it depends on the screenplay. A lot of the book will have to be cut out - time limitations will see to that - I wonder what aspects of Lin's character will be the primary focus of the movie?

OMG there is so much to this book and so much is in Lin's head. I love the narration part that someone else mentioned in order to get his fantastic thoughts out. I think Johnny will become Lin but it is hard to imagine him as an unattractive street fighter, but then that is how Lin sees himself that is not what others see. I am sure it will be a great film and Johnny will do a good job.

I always thought the same---Lin's view of himself as not being attractive--sounds like Johnny, too. Johnny didn't look exactly like Joe Pistone either, much more attractive, so I'm sure he's going to look great.

Good question about Lin's appearance. We don't know Greg did in actuality. But it will be interesting to see what Johnny and Mira Nair have in mind for the character of Lin as far as appearance goes.

I think Johnny will have to color his hair - otherwise I fear he will look too much like the Indian men and not stand out enough as a foreigner. Even if GDR tried to disguise himself to blend in, it might be too monotonous for Johnny to do so. I picture a look like this -



:thud

Parlez, that was my third choice. Nice Pic! :thumbsup