At
the end of his GQ magazine article, ”The New and Improved Leading Man”, Mark Harris
asks the question about the movie “Magic Mike”, “Remember the other guy in the movie? You know, the young guy who
played...you know, the Guy? What’s his name?“ Well Mark we do. AdamRodriquez. Joe Mangniello. These two gorgeous and talented actors should be bona
fide Movie Stars. The most
important rule of being a leading man is best described in “Bambi vs. Godzilla”
by the venerable David Mamet, “These men, and their performances, are characterized
by the absence of the desire to please. On screen, they don’t have anything to
prove, and so we are extraordinarily drawn to them. They are not sensitive:
they are not antiheroes; they are to use a historic term, “he-men”. How
refreshing.” Today’s movie going audiences have seen real men in the media,
9/11 first responders and Seal Team Six. John Wayne and Cary Grant were molded
by a studio system but you believed they could lead a posse or sweep a woman off
her feet (literally). Later Paul Newman, Gene Hackman, Gregory Peck studied
acting at the New York schools (Meisner, Strasberg, Adler) on GI Bills and
probably know the price of eggs, butter and gas. A seasoned actor’s work is
enthused with his life experience and the audience can relate to his
authenticity. I feel that’s what is lacking in the current crop. I don’t see
any reason they can’t have long careers too. In “Adventures in the Screen Trade”
William Goldman derides the list mentality while casting “Misery” and how the
delicious Richard Gere has successfully defied the peak shelf life logic and
continues to do so (“American Gigolo”, “Pretty Woman” Arbitrage”).
Actors have
bills like everyone else so there's nothing wrong with a nice payday from a big
franchise film or blockbuster and a nice cushion to explore indie film roles. My question is does Hollywood have to
remake the same three authors and franchises every ten years. The New York Times
bestseller list is rampant with excellent books by authors Pelecanos, Carcaterra,
Quinonez and Mosley. How about
“Meet John Doe”, “Evil Roy Slade” give Kate Hudson a call and remake her mom’s
movie, “The Duchess and The Dirt Water Fox”. Adam would be great as Miguel
Melendez of The Young Lords”. For the production cost of “John Carter” Disney
could have produced five movies. So having said my piece I’m going to have
myself a Magnum ice cream bar.
