bgw - Clive Owen is one of my very favorites, so I'm with you!!!

What about Anthony Hopkins? I know that he can play creepy really well but I think he is a tremendous actor in other parts as well such as the father in Legends of the Fall. Or Jeremy Irons, I think he has the bearing and he is a stage actor as well.

I'm in complete agreement with carolynd and Auntie Mame that Michael Kitchen would be perfect. All too many people are unfamiliar with him, but he is an amazing, very subtle actor who expresses greater depth of emotion with a few facial expressions than many performers can with lengthy speeches. If you have never seen him in "Foyle's War" you owe it to yourself to check it out. Like Major Pettigrew, Foyle is a quiet, fair-minded, polite sort of man, but has a steel streak when he needs it. Foyle is probably a bit more secure than Pettigrew, but if you have seen Kitchen in other roles, such as "Reckless" or "Alibi," you know how wonderfully he can do insecure, too!

Patrick Stewart is right on! Jude Law as Henry is perfect.

Anthony Hopkins for sure to play the Major and Jude Law as Roger. Not sure about Mrs. Ali.

Can definitely see Anthony Hopkins playing the major with Colin Firth as Roger.

Michael Caine as MP is brilliant, and I love the idea of Jude Law as Roger. I could see Gwyneth Paltrow as Sandy...

Why am I depressed about talk of casting for a great book? Because almost always (see Water for Elephants), a good book is a bad movie.

I think Michael Caine would be excellent as the Major. He does adapt very well to every role he plays. When I was reading the book in my mind I did have someone who looked like Jude Law playing the Roger role! As for Mrs. Ali, I'm not really sure who would be good for her.

Consider Bill Nighy, ye Gods of Casting.
I have loved him in every role he has taken on.
Or on a different tack, John Cleese?

Much as I love Michael Caine, he is too old.

I immediately saw Barry Fitzgerald as the Major - but he's long gone. Michael Caine might work, but he seems too handsome!