Robbins Joins “Green Lantern”

Most people would probably say Tim Robbins’s greatest role was in “The Shawshank Redemption.” 

I still can’t believe Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon broke up after all this time. If those two crazy kids can’t make it, what hope is there for the rest of us?

Luckily, Mr. Robbins can find solace in work. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Robbins has joined the cast of “The Green Lantern.” He’ll play Senator Hammond, the stern father of bad guy to be Dr. Hector Hammond, played by Peter Saarsgard. I’m not a Green Lantern expert. Does Hector become a bad guy because his dad is tough and disapproving? If so, that is rather impressively 1950s-ish psychology.

It feels like a long time since Robbins has done anything substantial (and this is probably a small part, too) on film. In 2008, he was in the barely-seen Iraq vet drama “The Lucky Ones,” but before that, his last good role was in “Mystic River,” in 2003. He never was a typical leading man type, but is a good enough actor that it seems like he should have done more. Unless he really hasn’t been looking; I know he produced a play off Broadway a few years ago. Anyway, good for Robbins. He gets a trip to New Orleans, where filming for “The Green Lantern” begins in March (oh, those Louisiana state tax breaks and incentives for filmmakers…).

“The Green Lantern” stars Ryan Reynolds as the main man in green. Blake Lively plays the love interest, and Martin Campbell gets to direct the whole thing.

“The Green Lantern”