LEADING MAN REDUX





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.


Popular posts from this blog

St. John Redux

Image
Brooke Shields in St. John Candace Bushnell in St. John St John Spring 23 St John  Spring 23 Elizabeth Moss Shonda Rhimes in St John Everybody is wearing  St. John again. I am seeing the most gorgeous new looks from St. John on stars. The company has been around but now a very  fresh take with colors and styles. The designs always had a classic Chanel and Norell vibe to me but this is very sexy and elegant at the same time. Andie MacDowell in St. John Katy Perry in St. John St John  Spring 23 Marcia Gay Harden in St John Rebel Wilson in St. John Julianne Hough in St John St John Spring 23 Regina Hall in St John St John Spring 23 Phillips Soo in St. John
Read more

Retrofête

Image
  Alessandra Ambrosia in Retrofete Welcome to the party! I was in SoHo this week and noticed the    Retrofête   pop-up   boutique and went in to check out the sexy collection.  Yes I have been  noticing the chic yet affordable fashion line poping up everywhere.     Retrofête    Vinci dress From Paula Abdul, Chloe Bailey, Heidi Klum, Gwen Stefani, Jennifer Lopez, Selena Gomez, and Carrie Underwood, models, actresses, and singers are flocking to the line and looking very sensual and fun. Kelsea Ballerini  Perfect for extroverts  to show out in the evening and parties.  Selena Gomez wears Retrofête’s S & G Alphabet Earrings  There is casual stuff like midriff tops, splatter jeans, and curvy dresses too that are equally hot. Ohad Seroya and Aviad Klin co-founded Retrofête in 2018, passionate about carving out an underserved market for statement pieces. Mickey Guyton A throwback to the all-out glamour and exuberance of decades past, the New York-based label takes its name from a me
Read more

"MINISTER OF SELF DEFENSE"

Image
Last year I remembered a documentary I saw produced by Antoine Fuqua called, "Bastards of the Party" about the Bloods and the Crips.  The director, a former gang member felt the gang turf wars grew out of the restless generation that came after The  Black Panther Party who patrolled to monitor police brutality during the civil rights era. I thought it was fascinating it got me to thinking about Huey P. Newton co-founder and Minister of Self Defense of The Black Panther Party. I started reading everything on his life and work. Truly a labor of love one book on  Eldridge Cleaver  ( Eldridge Cleaver author of Soul on Ice and Minister of Information became a Republican ) would lead me to a book on Geronimo Pratt and on to a book about his lawyer Johnnie Cochran and so on. I read Alondra Nelson' book, “ Body and Soul  The Black Panther Party and the Fight against Medical Discrimination” for her extensive research on the Party's healthcare activism. Tumbler is a great
Read more