| ||||
|
Arts & Entertainment Books Comics Health & Body Media Mothers Who Think News  PeoplePolitics2000 Technology - Free Software Project Travel & Food  Columnists - - - - - - - - - - - - Salon People is sponsored by Lexus - - - - - - - - - - - - Current Click here to read the latest stories from the wires. - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - Also Today For a full list of today's Salon People stories, go to the
People home page. - - - - - - - - - - - - Search Salon - - - - - - - - - - - - Recently in Salon People Nothing Personal People Feature People Feature Nothing Personal Nothing Personal - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
I, Anakin
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Nov. 23, 1999
-- Mr. Showbiz, Nov. 4 Dear George Lucas, When I addressed this letter to Skywalker Ranch, I felt like a child sending his Christmas list to the North Pole. Unlike Santa, though, you've never disappointed me, and your beard is real. Anyhoo, in your quest to find an actor who can play Anakin, you have surely received head shots and résumés from around the galaxy. Every twentysomething lad who ever used a cardboard cylinder as a light saber thinks of himself as a Jedi knight. You might think, from looking at my headshot and résumé, that I'm just another struggling actor begging for a chance to try out for the part of Anakin. Wrong. Allow me to impart some trenchant fortune-cookie wisdom from Yoda: I try not, I do. Or do not. There is no try. Mr. Lucas, look no further. I'm your man. Thanks to a steady diet of Pepsi, KFC and other officially sponsored comestible products from "Episode One," my midichlorian cell count is unusually high, almost toxically so. I am also guaranteed to have romantic chemistry with Natalie Portman, because I've been a fan of hers since "The Professional," and beginning June 9, 1999, I've been sexually attracted to her as well. I'm willing to unlearn what I have learned. I warn you not to underestimate my powers. You'll find I'm full of surprises. I won't fail you -- I'm not afraid. If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine. (I'm using your dialogue on purpose here, to make a point. Please don't sue me!!) Below, you'll find where I stand on the issues. Take for instance, People magazine's 1998 "Sexiest Man Alive" issue. I'm not saying Harrison Ford isn't sexy, but is he really alive? (Ditto "SMA '99" Richard Gere.) Re: Jar Jar Binks: Meesa love him! To his critics, I have this to say: "How wude!" I thought this space J.J. was "Dyno-mite!" I was so amused by his pratfalls, I wish they had digitally inserted him into "Eyes Wide Shut" while they were at it! And not to block out genitalia during the pagan black mass/masked ball orgy scene (which reminded me of my senior prom), but to shield us from the sight of a shirtless yet suspender-clad Sydney Pollack. Nobody needs to see that. Re: The Competition: Brendan Fraser: As much as I enjoyed his seminal work in "Airheads" and "Encino Man" (you have seen those two, right?), I think Fraser is physically all wrong for the part of Anakin. Take a look at the enclosed photos of me at Jake Lloyd's age. (Please be careful -- I need to put them back in the photo album before Nana realizes they're gone.) I look just like Lloyd -- if he had his hair parted up the middle, glasses and parachute pants. Jonathan Jackson: Yes, he won the E! Online poll, but keep in mind that Hank the Angry, Drunken Dwarf and Cartman from "South Park" placed third and seventh, respectively. Besides, he already plays the son of Luke (and Laura) on "General Hospital" -- now you want him to play Luke's father? The guy who's TV dad is played by Anthony "'Members Only' jackets were cool until the minute I started endorsing them" Geary? Think it over. Leo: He was popular, sure, but all those teenage girls (and gay boys) who liked to fill their bathtubs with ice water and flail around to the strains of Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" are not your target audience. I amyour target audience -- a prime representative of the closeted heterosexual male demographic, ages 5 to 35. Plus, rumor has it Leo didn't even like "The Phantom Menace," and I bet he got to see it for free. I rolled pennies, returned bottles and sold blood so I could see the movie 23 times. Rick(y) Schroder: Sure, and how about Jason Bateman as a Darth Maul clone? Alfonso Ribeiro as Mace Windu Jr.? Surely you realize that Schroder's sitcom background (remember "Silver Spoons"?) would open you up to all sorts of digs. "Episode Two? Wasn't that the one when Ricky learned about the dangers of chewing tobacco? Or was it when he broke curfew to go to the Mr. Mister concert and almost got away with it, until he tripped over his ride-on train set sneaking back into the house?" Ryan Phillippe: Two words: Mannequin Skywalker. Other factors in my favor: 1) My boffo James Earl Jones impressions. If anyone can bridge the gap between Jake Lloyd and Darth Vader, it's me:
I've got them all down. 2) I'm American. Nothing against Liam and Ewan, but even though we say that Anakin is from Tattoine, you, me, we know he's a space cowboy from the US of A (probably Texas). 3) I am strong enough to pull the ears off a gundark. 4) I have never partied with Andy Dick. May The Force Be With You, Matt Sullivan
- - - - - - - - - - - -
About the writer Sound off Related Salon stories "Star Wars" widows As their mates obsess over movies, these women find their relationships crushed under the weight of the Force. The spirit is willing, but the Force is weak Finally, "The Phantom Menace." "Star Wars" fans deserve better.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Search Salon | |||
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
