Fantasy cinema draft

As a film nut and fantasy-football acolyte, I often find myself applying the “mock draft” aesthetic of fantasy sports to the world of movies. To that end, if we were drafting a keeper league of talented, low-name-recognition actors and actresses 30 and under, these would be my first-round draft picks. Call it Mock Cast 1.0.

1. Jesse Eisenberg: The Social Network—the Chris Johnson of talented young actors; you could have grabbed him in the early second round last year, a little like buying Facebook stock early.

2. Abbie Cornish: This beautiful Australian actress was a revelation as Fanny Brawne in Bright Star.

3. Andrew Garfield (Never Let Me Go; The Social Network): And by the way, he’s the new Spider-Man.

4. Ben Whishaw: Despite the low name recognition, he’s already carried two excellent movies—Bright Star and Perfume.

5. Greta Gerwig: Local girl makes good in the sublimely prickly Greenberg, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

6. Reece Thompson: The sky’s the limit if he ever graduates from twee indies like Assassination of a High School President.

7. Rooney Mara: star of the upcoming American remake of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo—like Rashard Mendenhall, you draft her as much for opportunity as for talent.

8. Krysten Ritter: Excellent in Breaking Bad, and she uplifts the otherwise execrable She’s Out of My League.

9. Dileep Rao: He’s only had a few roles, but they were scene-stealing bits in Inception and Drag Me to Hell.

10. Donald Glover: The Community comic possesses seemingly limitless talent, but I would advise a late-round Danny Pudi handcuff.