Not at all. To me that looks very much like finery. What I see is a Steampunk vest complete with metal buckles, a fancy duster which isn't intended for real use just looks. I suppose I should put a finer point on it, I expect the people of Midworld to be dressed more like the people in the Unforgiven, with homespun cloth, dirt, and outfits that look like that have seen real work. His outfit doesn't look the least bit worn to me. That little bit of roughneck they gave it doesn't do anything at all, like a girl buying jeans with strategic rips in them. Am I being picky? Yes. Costuming matters. Let me put it this way, the actor they have chosen is pretty. Roland is not. That means the only way they have to take the shine off that apple is to dress him down.
While I grant that we don't know where in this alternate reality story Roland stands, it suffices to say I don't recall anytime where he would be dressed like that. Perhaps the closest I can think of is when he was a boy near the clean sea and dressing up for a fancy party. That may look rough and Western to you, but to me it does not. The film 3:10 to Yuma (the remake of course) had some great costuming and they managed to dress down and somehow increase the menace of Christian Bale and Russel Crowe. Am I backseat directing? Sure. Am I wrong? No. Modern Westerns, even those set in a fantastical other world, have a certain set of reality. Even over the top things like Silverado (lots of fun) costume the appropriate people right. I don't like what I've seen so far.
Well said! My first thoughts of costuming was that it was far too clean and pretty. It's like Idris is getting to play dress up time. Looks more like Mel Gibson in Maverick (a pretty gambler).
I'm just happy I read the books before this extraordinary ruination of literary greatness gets its few weeks in theaters.
Customs IS VERY IMPORTANT. But honestly this is starting to show the signs of just being an Idris Elba film, with a dark tower theme. It was a smart play to cast him because he's popular right now, and McC will always be popular, but I'm worried that Sony may have been wise when they dropped this poorly handled project back in 2011.
I pray I'm wrong. I'd be tearfully and pleasantly surprised if I am wrong. But if I had Mearlyns Grapefruit I'm sure it would show me the heart breaking disaster that is developing over in Africa where they are filming.