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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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 OPINION 
10

AWOL: Orlando Bloom's Career

Once a heartthrob, now a has-been, Bloom was scorned for putting the film first

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(Newser) – He “has a record six movies that have grossed $300 million+ in the US,” has worked with hugely successful directors, and was once “a big-league heartthrob whose poster adorned the walls of many a teenage girl,” writes Scott Mendelson for the Huffington Post. So why is Orlando Bloom “nowhere to be seen in today’s filmmaking landscape?” Blame it on his daring to “put the movie first and stardom second.”

The big problems: “Taking major roles in films that looked great on paper but ultimately floundered through no fault of his”—see Elizabethtown and Kingdom of Heaven—and “being critically torn apart not because of his acting, but because of the content of the character he was playing”—see Troy and Pirates of the Caribbean. Legolas the elf's alter ego “may not have deserved Oscars,” Mendelson concludes, “but he deserved more than just our scorn.”

Orlando Bloom arrives at the Raisa Gorbachev Foundation Gala dinner in Hampton, in England , Saturday, June 7, 2008.
Orlando Bloom arrives at the Raisa Gorbachev Foundation Gala dinner in Hampton, in England , Saturday, June 7, 2008.   (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
This undated photo released by Disney Enterprises shows actors Johnny Depp, left, as Jack Sparrow and Orlando Bloom in a scene from
This undated photo released by Disney Enterprises shows actors Johnny Depp, left, as Jack Sparrow and Orlando Bloom in a scene from "Pirates of Caribbean: At Worlds End."   (AP Photo/Disney Enterprises, Stephen Vaughan)
Viggo Mortensen, Liv Tyler and Orlando Bloom at the premiere of 'The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers' at the Cinerama Dome Theatre and after-party at the Sunset Room in Hollywood, Ca., Dec. 15, 2002.
Viggo Mortensen, Liv Tyler and Orlando Bloom at the premiere of 'The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers' at the Cinerama Dome Theatre and after-party at the Sunset Room in Hollywood, Ca., Dec. 15, 2002.   (Getty Images)
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Reviewers criticized Bloom not for his acting, but for his portrayal of Paris as a spineless, selfish, cowardly idiot who started an epic war because he couldn't keep his pecker in his pants. But guess what people? THAT's the character of Paris.

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-mendelson/the-surprising-and-unfair_b_290733.html

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-mendelson/the-surprising-and-unfair_b_290733.html - Scott Mendelson

No young male actor would consider for one second turning down the lead role in a coming-of-age story written and directed by Cameron Crowe. Yes, the film ended up being Elizabethtown, but is that really Bloom's fault?

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-mendelson/the-surprising-and-unfair_b_290733.html N
Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-mendelson/the-surprising-and-unfair_b_290733.html - Scott Mendelson

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10 comments
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Jojo
Sep 18, 09 11:10 AM CDT
First of all, Orlando shows 5 films in production currently on IMDB - so how is he “nowhere to be seen in today’s filmmaking landscape?” Secondly, if what the writer said was true, Nicole Kidman wouldn't exist and Keanu Reeves would be on a "Where are they now?" show somewhere. Huffington Post is losing my interest more and more every day. Reply
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RobN
Sep 18, 09 12:43 PM CDT
Perhaps he doesn't want to be a heart throb. Maybe he wants to be an actor. Reply
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youngblood
Sep 18, 09 2:17 PM CDT
Orlando Bloom an Actor?!! LOL Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Johnny Depp, Gérard Depardieu are Actors, Merryl Streep, Charlize Theron. Christina Ricci are Actors!! Orlando Bloom does not even know what acting is, better to be a heart throb till he gets old.
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RobN
Sep 18, 09 6:12 PM CDT
Really? Christina Ricci? Really?
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youngblood
Sep 18, 09 7:17 PM CDT
Yes Christiana Ricci, did u not see her work In Monster and her work in Black Snake Moan? RobN do me a favorite and don't reply to my post anymore and me, I won't reply to yours, you're fucking boring with always trying to get the last shot in. So here's you chance to gt the last shot, go for it!
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+2
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