I would cast the talented Mr. Gosling in a remake of Shawshank (not that it needs a remake
) and Face/Off.
Shawshank: The opening would retain all of the classic time period feel of the original, maintaining the cut between Andy approaching the house and the courtroom, but it would open on the courtroom. Head down in court as proceedings occur, lawyers talking, accusing questioning, scorn from witnesses, jury. Intersperse Gosling as Andy sitting outside the home, clearly deep in thought - a thousand yard stare - but the audiences doesn't know about what. Suddenly seeming to snap out of it, he begins drinking and looks simultaneously lost and hurt. More court proceedings, head still down, lawyers consulting. A deal is attempted but denied. Back to in front of the house, he looks like he's on the verge of crying. Cut to the house and his wife is "engaged" with another man in clear view. Suddenly, the crying ceases and an odd, almost trance-like calm comes over our main character. He calmly reaches over, and pulls something from the glove compartment. Cut back to the court room as the verdict is read. Music intensifies, back to the house as we see Andy/Gosling coolly walk out of the car, up to the house and as he walks away the HAMMER IN HIS HAD IS SILHOUETTED. Back to court as the gavel comes down HARD, verdict: guilty. Andy/Gosling suddenly looks up, a sinister, twisted look on his face. Then the faintest hint of a wry smile as we cut to the title. Is he a good guy? Is he a bad guy?? Seems like he's done it!
Face/Off: We open on a montage of a police briefing, detailing horrendous crimes that the antagonist has committed (we'll say he's played by...Adrien Brody); drug runner, weapon smuggling, human trafficking, murders, etc. Some awesome rock soundtrack plays as the captain orders our hero and his squad to gear up. Cut to the antagonist's crew in a warehouse of some sort, a young informant runs in saying the cops are planning a raid. Both sides get armed to the teeth. Gosling, chewing on a toothpick, utterly cool as he checks his weapon loadout. Brody maniacally sweating and barking out instructions. The music crescendos as our heroes approach the warehouse. The cops surround the building, blockading the main entrance. The captain shouts out orders. Brody sneers and retorts that they're all already dead. A rookie cop prematurely fires on the building and all hell breaks lose. Some awesome gunplay starts that will eventually lead to Brody making his escape and some awesome chase and dialogue.
I would totally watch both of these movies lol. Fun idea for a contest!