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Movies Need More 'Faces'

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 26, 2009 8:27 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Hollywood’s gone off the rails, writes Naomi Serviss of TheWrap. Back in her day, movies were filled with “faces,” actors with “it” factor who could carry a film on pure savoir faire. People like Cary Grant, Bette Davis, Paul Newman, or Audrey Hepburn. “Manly Men. Manly Women. Who cared or even doubted sexuality in the way-back machine?”

Now who do we have? George Clooney’s nice enough, but he’s no Cary Grant. For women we have Renee, Julia, and Sandra. “Yawn. These are talented stars? Their movies are typically dreckful and unfunny.” Actually, most movies are crap these days—a barrage of CGI and super heroes. “We need faces! Not teenage boys posing for the dreaded paps or teenage girls practicing stripper moves.” Serviss’ solution? Avoid the multiplex—stay home and watch TCM.

British-born American actor Cary Grant (1904 - 1986) sheltering in a hotel porch as he waits for the rain to stop.
British-born American actor Cary Grant (1904 - 1986) sheltering in a hotel porch as he waits for the rain to stop.   (Getty Images)
George Clooney gestures as he tours earthquake damage on the sidelines of a G8 summit, in St. Demetrio, Italy, July 9, 2009. Sorry George, but you're no Cary Grant.
George Clooney gestures as he tours earthquake damage on the sidelines of a G8 summit, in St. Demetrio, Italy, July 9, 2009. Sorry George, but you're no Cary Grant.   (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Cary Grant as Nicky Ferrante and Deborah Kerr as Terry McKay in the film, 'An Affair to Remember', directed by Leo McCarey and produced by 20th Century Fox.
Cary Grant as Nicky Ferrante and Deborah Kerr as Terry McKay in the film, 'An Affair to Remember', directed by Leo McCarey and produced by 20th Century Fox.   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 12 comments
Michael_CT
Aug 27, 2009 7:37 AM CDT
I think Kate Winslet, Gwenyth and Anne Hathaway, not to mention Meryl and Cate are incredible faces, and hence i watch films with them in the way i watch Bette Davis films. The men side is poorly represented. would it be such a bad idea if films like "To Catch a Thief" were re-made? i think we might need a Golden Hollywood revival.
cognitivefilter
Aug 27, 2009 4:01 AM CDT
dude, leonardo dicaprio is the best actor of the current generation. he's only gonna get better !
NxBigmouthery
Aug 26, 2009 9:08 AM CDT
I disagree almost entirely. The medium is about the telling of stories, and if one actor can tell the story in a more satisfying way than another, it should matter very little if that storyteller is a star. There are one or two people at the pointy end of showbiz who are both stars and actors. But in my view, once a performer allows the 'movie star' to outweigh the 'actor' they begin to lose the truth of the story. Actors are supposed to serve the story, not the other way around. When you start placing ego-based restrictions on what can and cannot be done, the process is stifled. Of course, I recognise that there is a great deal more money to be made by having an A-lister in a movie, but it doesn't always ensure quality.

 
George Clooney • actor • movies • Cary Grant • movie star

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