The Shack - A Poll (UPDATED - X3!)
For those who have read or are reading The Shack and are also fans of The Matrix.
Is it just me, or is this who you picture in your mind when you read Papa's dialogue?
'Cause that is exactly who I see... including the cigarette!
UPDATE: And for those who have read it, Wes has pointed us to this blog post/update.
UPDATE: Well, this is turning into a fantasy actor pick for a movie version. Make sure you get your choices in!
UPDATE: We've got a growing list of Shack resources here.
...love the image!
...for those who can't handle that one
...let me stretch you a bit
...again :-)
...how about Queen Latifa?
...but I do like Mike's Matrix reminder!
Posted by: Wes | March 25, 2008 at 09:09 AM
I don't understand the facination with this book or it's message. It is infinitely more connected to the New Age movement than any sort of Christianity and for all the good thoughts and concepts it brings up and discusses it is interlaced with philosophical underpinnings which are the antithesis of Christianity...this is problematic, especially for less discerning readers who cannot effectively separate the good from bad or truth from error.
What am I missing?
Posted by: Brian in BC | March 25, 2008 at 11:08 AM
Brian, have you read the book? or just some reviews?
For myself, I picture Whoopi Goldberg as she appeared in Ghost, or actually there's another actress who's name is escaping me that I really picture ... but truth to tell, I'd forgotten that scene from The Matrix and that's pretty good.
Posted by: sonja | March 25, 2008 at 12:28 PM
Antithesis? Dude, you're going to need to back that one up.
Wes - I can see Queen Latifah, maybe in her Stranger Than Fiction role.
Sonja - Whoopi's pretty good. I'm a Matrix freak though, so The Oracle is wedged in my head pretty tightly! Something about the smell of baked cookies...
Posted by: Mike | March 25, 2008 at 02:49 PM
...it's obvious that "Brian in BC" doesn't get the drift that it's a metaphor
...a very important one
...which Jesus used a bunch of in his "red letters"
...and there is sincerely nothing antithetical to Christianity anywhere in the book
...wonder what he does with The Chronicles of Narnia?
...oh well
.......all opinions welcome
...I simply know the value of the book in too many lives
...bring on the Oracle
...or Whoopi
...or the Queen
...or someone yet to be discovered?
...who, should a movie be made, might play Jesus or Sarayu...or even Mack?
...just wondering. :-)
Posted by: Wes | March 25, 2008 at 03:03 PM
mike...l vote for whoopi...without a cigarette...sorry wes but l can,t go for the smoking.....it must be my advanced years....l am loving the book....betty t.
Posted by: Betty | March 25, 2008 at 04:18 PM
It's OK Wes - I let Mom know I was the one with the smoking God.
Posted by: Mike | March 25, 2008 at 07:11 PM
Oh ... definitely Mandy Pantinkin for Jesus.
And ... um ... let's see now ... I don't know enough Asian actresses to say for Sarayu. But Lucy Liu comes to mind.
For Mack ... if he were still alive, I'd say Jerry Orbach. But he's not. So. I'm having a hard time thinking of someone who's humble enough. Maybe Robin Williams?
Posted by: sonja | March 26, 2008 at 07:24 AM
Jerry Orbach? That is huge! (Law & Order is our favorite TV show at Delta House, and I love the old ones with Jerry.)
And let it be known for the record that someone has suggested Della Reese for Papa.
The list continues to grow...
Posted by: Mike | March 26, 2008 at 07:33 AM
Della Reese!!!!! That's it ... that's the actress I could not think of. Thank you, thank you, thank you unknown person who came up with that name. I have been picking and picking and picking at that ... like a sore spot on my knee. Ugh ... it was just getting worse.
Yeah ... and can you not see Jerry as Mack? He'd be absolutely perfect. But he had to go and get cancer on us. I grieve this loss fairly regularly.
Posted by: sonja | March 26, 2008 at 07:50 AM
Oh ... and I forgot to say, L&O in one of it's iterations is on in our house almost nightly. I'm an addict. My children and husband make fun of this ...
Posted by: sonja | March 26, 2008 at 07:52 AM
Here's my list:
Papa: the Oracle....positively brilliant!
Sarayu: Ziyi Zhang (http://imdb.com/name/nm0955471/)
Jesus: this one I don't know...I actually really like Robin Williams for Jesus
Mack: Mark Harmon (http://imdb.com/name/nm0001319/)
Missy: Abigail Breslin (though she might be too old)
Posted by: Heidi | March 26, 2008 at 09:49 AM
Sonya, you're welcome :)
I don't know if I can admit this here, but I can't picture the Oracle as Papa because I've **ahem** never seen The Matrix.
Posted by: wilsonian | March 26, 2008 at 02:30 PM
If I get time to read this book (and from everything I've heard it needs to be read), I don't think I'll get past all this intresting characterization...
Without having read the book, if we put a beard on Wes and make him darker, couldn't he be Jesus? Unless you prefer the Swedish supermodel Jesus...then it is Wes for sure, just as he is.
Posted by: matt | March 26, 2008 at 05:05 PM
Papa - I like the oracle (although in my mind I pictured a black Aunt Bee from the Andy Griffith show)
Jesus - Orlando Bloom :)
Sarayu - hmmm, I picture a young asian, indian, or arab actress, although Audrey Hepburn was the first actress that came to mind.
Mack - I bet that Steve Martin could play the serious role brilliantly.
Posted by: grace | March 28, 2008 at 12:13 PM
BTW, I think there are already plans for the book to be a movie.
Posted by: grace | March 28, 2008 at 12:15 PM
I've heard the same thing. It's going to be a challenge for the screenwriter though... all that dialogue.
Posted by: Mike | March 28, 2008 at 07:28 PM
Wow like the Oracle. The moment I saw the picture at the top of this page I was like that is the lady I pictured. I sometime pictured Della Reese too. Great thoughts on actors. I read yesterday over at Lifestream that they were off to NY to talk over the picture with some people and then they were currently working on the script for the movie. I hope I read that right. I can't wait.
Posted by: Jen | March 28, 2008 at 08:16 PM
Okay, here's my 3 cents worth:
Papa: (Yes, I immediately thought of the Oracle from The Matrix, too!!!) But I also thought of Maya Angeleu (SP?) -- who is one of Paul's inspirations, by the way.
...and Sean Connery for the "male" version, or Liam Neeson, or wait! Sam Elliot! Yeah!
Jesus: What about Jim Caviezel (SP?) -- I really liked him in "The Passion" and other movies (like the recent Monte Cristo version).
Sarayu: For those of you who have read "A Wrinkle in Time" she reminds me of Mrs. Whatsit...and grace, I also immediately thought of Audrey Hepburn (especially from her role in "Always"). What about Merle Streep?
Which leads me to Richard Dryfess for Mack. Or perhaps Mel Gibson. Or even Richard Gere. Are these guys a little too old? Hmmm...what about Daniel Day-Lewis? Ooh, what about Aragorn...er...Viggo Mortensen? Yeah!
Well, this was entirely too much fun. ;^)
Posted by: Peggy | March 28, 2008 at 08:48 PM
LOL ... Peggy ... remember, the description of Jesus in the book? He's not very good-looking. So, that lets out Viggo right there. ;-) That's why I went with Mandy Patinkin ... but Daniel D-L might be good.
OTOH ... I can also see Harrison Ford as Mack. But he might be too swash-buckling.
I love Meryl Streep for Sarayu ... what a good thought.
We need someone for Mack's wife (who's name is escaping me right at the moment) ....
Posted by: sonja | March 29, 2008 at 03:46 AM
Sonja...hehehe...they could use make-up to "uglify" Viggo ... are you saying that Daniel D-L is not good looking. Girl, you gonna have to clean your glasses! ;^)
Besides, I was talking about them for MACK, not Jesus!
What about Barbara Hershey for the wife?
And then, what about the FBI woman? I was thinking about her and the local Sheriff....
Posted by: Peggy | March 29, 2008 at 04:07 PM
hahaha ... well ... that's what I get for trying to write a comment before I've had my coffee. I was clearly confused. But, much as I love Viggo, I'm not sure he's old enough and Richard Dreyfuss might be too old. Richard Gere might be good. Mel is too bold. I also liked the Mark Harmon suggestion ...
The lady FBI agent? Local sheriff? Now we're gettin' down to it ...
I'm thinkin' there should be a cameo role for Sophia too.
Posted by: sonja | March 29, 2008 at 07:05 PM
Matt...my friend...your delusional in a sacred sort of way. How about you for Mack with all the pic of you and all those girls? :-)
Posted by: Wes | April 01, 2008 at 06:18 AM
Rikki - who interviewed Paul for Listen Up - and Melinda who had lunch with him .. OUR VOTES ARE IN!
Mac: Paul Giamatti (Sideways)
Papa: The Oracle lady hands down!
Jesus: Still considering... we need time!
Sarayu: Ziyi Zhang (Crouching Tiger..)
Missy: Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine)
The Judge: Aishwarya Rai (Bollywood Goddess)
And Rikki and Melinda will be the EXTRA'S ... Angels, Wise Women, whatever...
Posted by: Melinda Estabrooks | April 07, 2008 at 02:20 PM
Mel - I just finished watching the last 45 minutes of Lady in the Water. You totally nailed it with Paul Giamatti! Paul and The Oracle would be awesome together.
Posted by: Mike | April 07, 2008 at 08:43 PM