The U.S. is short on tough guy actors, says Variety

[terry78]

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117991319.html?categoryid=2508&cs=1

This came out a few months back, but I caught it in another site last night. Does it have some merit to it?

 

[TNC9852002]

It's the movies, not the actors.

-TNC

 

[Knightsaber Priss]

I have to agree with TNC there.

 

[Schlosser85]

One comment about the article...Mel Gibson is actually American, not Australian.

 

[The Englishman]

The reporter does not even know where half of the actors that shes reporting on are from....t:

 

[cerealkiller182]

This article is full of holes./

I think most actors nowadays are looking for range. The article mentions a lot fo actors who do tough guy roles but go on to other roles as well. How much range does Jason Statham really have?

The writer also must have missed Jackmans performance in Boy from Oz. Or Butler's role in PS I Love You. Yet she writes off Will Smith because Hancock wasnt the right kind of heroic for her.

The man boys of superhero genre citing Superman, Hulk, and Spiderman. These arnt exactly the most rough and tough individuals. Superman is the worlds oldest boyscout. Bruce Banner is a weakling timid scientist, and Spider was a geeky highschool student. You can't get Jason Statham to play those kinds of characters.

She also fails to mention Mark Wahlberg , Thomas Jane , Jeffrey Donovan, Michael Chiklis, and Michael C Hall, and Jeremy Renner (who is showing massive potential as an actor in general not just tough guy roles)

 

[블라스]

There are some exceptions here and there, but for the most part people today cannot top
Clint Eastwood, Charles Bronson, Steve McQueen, James Garner, Steve McQueen, Robert Conrad, etc.

 

[chamber-music]

brendan frasier is canadian

 

[블라스]

Dude, what's your avatar? It looks cool

 

[chamber-music]

Pete Wisdom kicking Jack The Ripper in the balls

 

[Franklin Richards]

There are some exceptions here and there, but for the most part people today cannot top
Clint Eastwood, Charles Bronson, Steve McQueen, James Garner, Steve McQueen, Robert Conrad, etc.

Back then Action Men could be ugly. It's like music today. If you aren't a supermodel you can't be in the Billboard Top 40.

Same with Action Men. Charles Bronson wouldn't have made it today.

 

[terry78]

Back then Action Men could be ugly. It's like music today. If you aren't a supermodel you can't be in the Billboard Top 40.

Same with Action Men. Charles Bronson wouldn't have made it today.

Ugly, but they still got some ass because they saved the girl's life and just didn't give a ****. In those movies, acting indifferent and uninterested usually made the female love interest horny as all get out.

 

[Franklin Richards]

****in' A, Bubba!

 

[블라스]

Pete Wisdom kicking Jack The Ripper in the balls

Heh thanks.

Back then Action Men could be ugly. It's like music today. If you aren't a supermodel you can't be in the Billboard Top 40.
Same with Action Men. Charles Bronson wouldn't have made it today.

Nailed it.
And this is why, save some exceptions (because yeah, there are exceptions), music/actors today can kiss my ass.

 

[terry78]

Who do we have today? Zac Efron.

 

[Franklin Richards]

Too bad there are no wrestlers that can act.

 

[Dr. Manhatten]

Too bad there are no wrestlers that can act.

Funny you should mention that since I noticed The Rock (or Dwayne Johnson or whatever) wasn't mentioned in the article, but I think he's a good example of an action guy. Just hasn't been given the right roles to show it

 

[chamber-music]

Who do we have today? Zac Efron.

Hollywood loves make wearing lady boys while your Stallone, Van Dammes and Chuck Norris can't get a break.

The most macho American action star you can get today is probabley Matt Damons Bourne (kiefers Canadian or else his Jack Bauer would probabley have it in the bag).

 

[Franklin Richards]

McConnaHey has prolly got the paycheck.

 

[The Englishman]

Hollywood loves make wearing lady boys while your Stallone, Van Dammes and Chuck Norris can't get a break.

The most macho American action star you can get today is probabley Matt Damons Bourne (kiefers Canadian or else his Jack Bauer would probabley have it in the bag).

Kiefers a London born Canadian as well....

 

[WeaponXProject]

Not saying they are good or not but America has (in no particular order):
1.Vin...only cool as Riddick to me.
2.Dwayne Johnson...meh but tough.
3.Bruce Willis...just all around tough guy
4.Marky Mark...Southy tough
5.Brad Pitt who can be tough and will be in Inglorious Basterds
6.Thomas Jane...punisher tough
7.Ed Harris...old but tough
8.Clint...always will be tough and still is in Gran Torino
9.Will Smith...tough
10.Josh Brolin...tough


We just don't make typical hero movies where the toughest looking guy ever used to be a marine and now he has to save somebody. I like that stuff but Hollywood is on the Comic book and CGI front and would rather chose the best actor for the role. I think that is fine.

 

[Bobber]

Bruce Willis will go to her house at night and kill her

 

[phillyboy]

There are some exceptions here and there, but for the most part people today cannot top
Clint Eastwood, Charles Bronson, Steve McQueen, James Garner, Steve McQueen, Robert Conrad, etc.

John Wayne could eat all those guys for breakfast.

 

[Superark]

I dont agree with everything in the article, but I think there is a huge lack of tough guy actors in Hollywood now, at least ones building successful careers on them

There are no Arnold's, Stallone's, Gibson's, Clint's, John Wayne's, De Niro's, Lee Marvin's, Willis'
anymore.

Obviously some of these actors are still around in films, but we don't see them too often anymore and dont have any new up and coming guys making their careers like these guys did.

You have Statham, but he has never really had a big hit outside of The Transporter. The Rock is playing in too many light comedies.
Vin Diesel hasnt had a many hits

I would say Matt Damon is a tough guy actor now because of his Bourne success. Daniel Craig would be another. Christian Bale seems to be filling that role with TDK and his upcoming Terminator role.

Russell Crowe is the only actor working on a consitent basis that truly stands out as a tough, tough guy. He is, IMO, at the top of the heap.

And for the record, I'm so glad Mel Gibson is starring in another film. IMO, he is the most bad-a** actor next to John Wayne (A Movie God) and Clint Eastwood.

 

[terry78]

I dont agree with everything in the article, but I think there is a huge lack of tough guy actors in Hollywood now, at least ones building successful careers on them

There are no Arnold's, Stallone's, Gibson's, Clint's, John Wayne's, De Niro's, Lee Marvin's, Willis'
anymore.

Obviously some of these actors are still around in films, but we don't see them too often anymore and dont have any new up and coming guys making their careers like these guys did.

You have Statham, but he has never really had a big hit outside of The Transporter. The Rock is playing in too many light comedies.
Vin Diesel hasnt had a many hits

I would say Matt Damon is a tough guy actor now because of his Bourne success. Daniel Craig would be another. Christian Bale seems to be filling that role with TDK and his upcoming Terminator role.

Russell Crowe is the only actor working on a consitent basis that truly stands out as a tough, tough guy. He is, IMO, at the top of the heap.

And for the record, I'm so glad Mel Gibson is starring in another film. IMO, he is the most bad-a** actor next to John Wayne (A Movie God) and Clint Eastwood.

You're basically confirming what the article says. All of the actors that play the tough guys are from across the pond, none are homegrown here in the states. When it comes to action flicks or thrillers, I always hear the names Craig, Bale, Crowe, etc. but rarely do I hear anyone that's from the U.S., except maybe Damon. It's like we automatically look for dudes not from the country as our first choices.