Cinematical Seven: Movie Stars About to Fall Off the A-List
Filed under: Fandom, Cinematical Seven, Cinematical Indie, Nicole Kidman
It's always a difficult task picking and choosing which stars are or aren't on the A-list. It's not like Hollywood puts out an official list each year, and I'm not crazy about letting the gossip rags define for me who is and isn't among the best of the best. So, the following is based solely on my opinion, and will most certainly be up for debate. Basically, I made these choices based on the actor (or actress') recent track record, including box office take, and also took into account how valuable their name currently is to a film. Feel free to disagree ... or, even better, agree. That said, here are my choices for seven stars about to fall off the A-List:
Jake Gyllenhaal -- While it may take an actor awhile to land on the A-list, there is an express lane and that includes starring in one, over-the-top controversial film. For Gyllenhaal, as well as Heath Ledger, that movie was Brokeback Mountain. Unlike Ledger though (who decided to take a risk and play an iconic villain in next summer's The Dark Knight), Gyllenhaal followed up Brokeback with Proof, Jarhead and Zodiac. Granted, the last film won high praise from critics, but no one went to see it. What would it take for Gyllenhaal to remain on the A-List (and not slide into ensemble hell)? A high-profile romance might. An Oscar-worthy performance might. But Gyllenhaal is interested in neither at this point (Rendition? Eh?), so look for his star to slowly fade until someone convinces him to do Brokeback: The Prequel.
Reese Witherspoon -- And speaking of fading stars, Reese Witherspoon (who co-stars alongside Gyllenhaal in Rendition) has been falling faster than a sorority girl at a keg party. The gal broke onto the A-List following her Oscar-winning performance in Walk the Line, but then chose to follow it up with two bizarre comedies: Just Like Heaven and Penelope. The latter hit the festival circuit, then test screened for what felt like a year -- and, well, I don't even think it ever came out. At least not yet. Apart from Rendition, it appears she'll most likely go the Kate Hudson route: Just keep making romantic comedies until people stop going to see them. For those who absolutely loved films like Legally Blonde and Sweet Home Alabama, I guess that ain't such a bad thing.
Robert De Niro -- This is a tough choice, because some would argue that De Niro will forever have a place on the A-List. But whereas his appearance in a film used to be something special -- something to really promote -- it's now become simply something to mention. Let's take a look at his last few films: Stardust, The Good Shepherd, Arthur and the Invisibles, Hide and Seek and The Bridge of San Luis Rey. Is there a memorable performance found in any of those films? Want me to back up more -- Meet the Fockers, Shark Tale and Godsend. While he might be re-teaming with Al Pacino on the upcoming Righteous Kill, it sort of reminds me of a charity fight between two aging boxers. And, in that case, it seems De Niro has officially gone done for the count.
Jamie Foxx -- Unlike De Niro, some would argue Jamie Foxx ditched the A-List shortly after he followed up his Oscar-winning performance in Ray with a film about an out-of-control fighter jet. Yup, I'm talking about Stealth. Contrary to what you might think, it takes more than one role to knock someone off the A-list (see: Halle Berry). Both Jarhead and Miami Vice were disappointing, in my opinion, and the man was greatly overshadowed by three girls and Eddie Murphy in Dreamgirls. It seems Foxx can't hold a film by himself anymore, and I wouldn't be surprised if he plays out the rest of his career as part of one ensemble cast after another. Case in point: his last film and his next, The Kingdom.
Robin Williams -- I'm sad to include his name on this list, but Robin Williams has been annoying the hell out of me lately. Do I even need to list the bombs he's starred in over the past several years? And watching him dial in a lame performance during this summer's License to Wed simply proved the man passed his prime 12 exits ago. Knocked out at the wheel, cruise control has taken him through such gems as RV, Man of the Year, Night at the Museum, The Big White, The Night Listener -- ugh, somebody stop me! What happened to Robin Williams? Did getting sober actually hurt his career? If someone doesn't throw together a Mrs. Doubtfire sequel -- and fast -- Williams will soon become the old guy who sits on a park bench and drools. "Aww, isn't he cute feeding all those pigeons?"
Nicole Kidman -- As much as I absolutely adore Nicole Kidman, her name now reminds me of one of those boring national monuments that you just have to see because it's famous. No longer does Kidman draw a mass audience; in order to find her last wildly successful film (that wasn't animated), we have to go all the way back to 2001 for The Others. Granted, The Hours and Cold Mountain both made a profit, but they weren't as popular as, say, Moulin Rouge. Skipping The Invasion (which I don't think will do tremendous business), Kidman's only hope is The Golden Compass. If she can soar in that film, the gal might have a chance to win back the mainstream audience. But if hubby Keith Urban keeps making return trips to the local rehab, she'll need a little more than a compass to find her way back on the A-List.
Sean Penn -- I Am Sam, Mystic River and 21 Grams put Sean Penn back on the A-List map, but his annoying political talk and nasty attitude -- coupled with the disappointing All the King's Men -- have combined to push one of my favorite actors to the A-List edge. His next film, Crossing Over, boasts one helluva ensemble cast (and that's where Penn seems most comfortable), but I'd love to see another Dead Man Walking or Casualties of War out of the guy before his massive ego steals him away forever.
_thumbnail.jpg)
Fan Made: Steampunk 'Return of the Jedi' Figures_thumbnail.jpg)
Exclusive: 'A Christmas Tale' Poster Premiere_thumbnail.jpg)
Cinematical's Fourth Annual Halloween Costume Contest is Coming!
Netflix Unleashes Another Batch of "Forgotten" Flicks
Geek Daily: Wolverine, 'Batman 3', 'Punisher' and 'Kick-Ass'
_thumbnail.jpg)
_thumbnail.jpg){kind=spacer}
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
8-12-2007 @ 8:29PM
R.A. Bartlett said...
I'm not sure what you mean when you talk about "A-List". Granted, the concept itself is vague and amorphorous, but I'm not even close to sure what it means here. Sometimes it's having a great body of work, sometimes it's commercial power, sometimes being in a commercially successful, critically praised movie isn't enough. Also, in some cases, the chronology of many of the films you refer to is off; Just Like Heaven was released before Walk the Line. Jarhead and Proof were released after Brokeback I think, but before the cowboy movie did much of its business and awards collecting.
Also, Moulin Rouge! technically made less than Cold Mountain--it did manage an Oscar nod, and I think in the long run people favor it, but I think that should be mentioned just to keep things in perspective.
Reply
8-12-2007 @ 8:35PM
Porcalina said...
I just came back from Stardust and I have to say DeNiro was pretty great in his role.
I've always like Nicole Kidman and I keep hoping Invasion will be good but I'm not so sure about it.
Reply
8-12-2007 @ 8:49PM
Bubba8193 said...
'Jarhead' and 'Proof' both came out before 'Brokeback Moutain'. But I don't know when any were filmed...
and 'Just Like Heaven' did come out before 'Walk The Line'. But, again, I don't when either was filmed.
By the way, they were going to make a Mrs. Doubtfire sequel, but supposedly the script wasn't any good. But I do agree that Robin Williams hasn't been making great films lately. 'License to Wed' was awful.
Reply
8-12-2007 @ 8:53PM
akilis said...
It must be a slow news days at Cinematical, I guess IESB doesn't have anything to report.
Bar Jamie Foxx who was never on the A-list, none of the people on the list are about to fall off the A-list anytime soon.
Since when did Nicole Kidman ever have the mainstream audience as her audience? and even with that, she may not have legs at the BO but her mainstream movies have opened at a solid $20m each (Bewitched, TSW, The Interpreter all opened well, it is legs that she lacks) and even with the lack of legs, the studios are not shy about paying her $17m to work for them. Did you expect Birth, Fur, Dogville to make millions or would you rather she gives those movies a miss and go do another mainstream hack job that you would like to watch? The woman has less mainstream movies on her filmography than she has indies or small budget movies or probably equal numbers, and Moulin Rouge had a budget of $55m but made $57m in American so what was popular about it apart from the fact that people talked about it alot and yet, few saw it? what was the point you were trying to make again? And the fact that you think a movie being "popular" merits some kind of worth baffles me. Kidman's career holds it worth more to the very small movies she has made than the Hollywood mainstream fares she has subjected her fans to where the studios seem very confused about what they want her to do or be in the movie. Everytime she goes off to do a big budget movie or mainstrea movie, there is always trouble as we have seen in The Invasion. And as for your silly jab about her husband getting help for his alcoholism, would you have prefered that he drank himself silly or is that your smart-alec throwaway comment of the day? Falling off the A-list? not bloody likely, I suggest you actually go read up on her filmography. If she started turning her back on gems like Fur, MATW, Dogville and working with interesting directors like Baumbach, Hirschbiegel, Luhrmann then please give me a call, comsidering the dreck that mainstream audiences pay to see, not particularly sure what the big deal is. BTW, even without being a hit at the BO, she has made the studios over $1bn.
Why is Reese falling off? she hasn't done anything since Walk The Line. De Niro is too great to be worried about making hit films or finding an audience. Jake G already did Jarhead, Proof before Brokeback Mountain turned up, Zodiac was an excellent movie.
Suggestion Erik, leave the tabloid jabs where they should be, reading hints of them here on Cinematical is pretty silly.
Reply
8-12-2007 @ 9:11PM
Scott Weinberg said...
ANYway, if Robin Williams hasn't fallen off the A-list yet, I volunteer to push him.
I mean no disrespect to the man himself (who I still consider a comedy genius) but his last several movies make poop look like pancakes.
Reply
8-12-2007 @ 10:16PM
Gary said...
I don't know if I agree with Kidman and De Niro. They can make a movie just about any time they want and some are great and some are average. But they still have star power. Williams is one of my favorites and know it might just be father time catching up to him. He's still great!!
http://www.choicearizona.com
Reply
8-12-2007 @ 10:27PM
Justa said...
LOL, yeah sorry, but these are kinda ridiculous. And your reasoning behind most (all?) made me laugh out loud in parts. I know to skip over your posts next time I visit the site.
Reply
8-12-2007 @ 10:38PM
david said...
LMAO. Who put you up to this Erik?! That was kinda embarrassing on your part. Your explanations for Jake, Reese, Nicole, Jamie (who I actually hate) and Sean were written as if you have never really looked at their careers or kinda high on something when you wrote them.
The only one I agree with is Williams, but your reasoning ("Did getting sober hurt his career?!") is still laughable. You sound like you work for a gossip rag.
Reply
8-12-2007 @ 10:46PM
Erik Davis said...
If my reasons for an actor's popularity decreasing include starring in bad movies, and you think that's "laughable" and "embarassing" to me, then I don't know what to tell you. Damn. You people are angry tonight.
Reply
8-12-2007 @ 10:47PM
kbsoy19 said...
Reading this article pissed me off with it's lack of knowledge.
That's all.
Reply
8-12-2007 @ 10:57PM
david said...
Erik, dude, it's not the fact that these actors have been in some bad films that make your article lacking in the truth department. It's true that all of these actors have had a few letdowns. What makes it hard to read is the fact that you think in order to be respected in this industry you have to have a "high profile romance" or be the star in every single film he or she does or knock them out at the box office all the time. That assumption is bullshit? I can name about lots of actors who, by most people's standards, could be labeled "A-list" and don't have a high profile romance, do a lot of ensemble pieces, and don't have 10 100 million dollar films on their resume. I mean....come on?
Reply
8-12-2007 @ 11:12PM
soundoftheground said...
"4. It must be a slow news days at Cinematical, I guess IESB doesn't have anything to report."
i have to agree to a point, but at least he's not reporting on 3 week old dvd release news...
Reply
8-12-2007 @ 11:13PM
Jonathan Lapper said...
Well, I'm not angry - I'M INSANE WITH RAGE!!!!!! Just kidding, like a give a crap. Erik, my sidekick, let this stuff roll of your shoulders. Muskatel helps.
And hey Scott, did I ever tell you how I once actually made poop pancakes? Tasted like chicken.
Jonathan Lapper
http://cinemastyles.blogspot.com
Reply
8-12-2007 @ 11:23PM
superbagman said...
If anyone is angry it might have something to do with the fact that some of your reasons for falling of the A-list are movies that came out BEFORE they got on the A-list.
I get that it's an opinion piece, that's fine and dandy, but research is useful...
Reply
8-12-2007 @ 11:27PM
metome said...
Sorry but I agree with most people that this list is BS, Erik. I don't consider Jake Gyllenhaal doing bad work at all. And I consider Rendition a good choice in film and is an Oscar type of film with a great cast. And how do you know he doesn't want to do good work in future films? Plus your stupid Brokeback joke is way beyond old. Find something interesting to write about because this is crap.
Reply
8-13-2007 @ 12:31AM
Stan Heck said...
Jarhead was released Brokeback Mountain
Reply
8-13-2007 @ 1:07AM
YouFaceTheTick said...
Wow the whole article it beyond silly.
Reply
8-13-2007 @ 2:23AM
Robbie Myers said...
What does it take to be B-List blogger?
Reply
8-13-2007 @ 4:25AM
mayorjimmy said...
Timeline accuracies aside, the only one i see you being dead wrong about is DeNiro. for starters, he was great in Stardust. but more importantly, he never gets off the A list. ever. he's earned a permanent spot. Like Joe Pesci and Harrison Ford and Al Pacino. Doesn't matter what they make, you can't get them off the list.
but that's not to say certain actors aren't trying. case-in-point, Robin "coked up nutcase in every role" Williams. I'm convinced the man is trying to get himself off the A list. Maybe a friend dared him to make as many shitty films as possible until Hollywood just stops calling. God knows he's tried. He's been trying since the 90s. But, unfortunately for us all Hollywood doesn't seem to be tired yet.
Kidman will always have good jobs. She's like Michelle Pfeiffer, she's beautiful and she can act good enough to pass and she ages well. They both have got a lot of years of collecting paychecks ahead of them.
Reply
8-13-2007 @ 4:53AM
Nick Scramble said...
Yeah, I hate to pile on here, but seriously-- Robert De Niro? Robert freakin' De Niro? Dude, it is impossible for someone of that stature to fall off the a-list. Like there's ever going to be a studio or director or actor that say "I don't know, I get that he really wants the part, but I just don't think Robert De Niro's hot enough for this movie."
It may not have been the best idea for a post in the first place. But the list itself really is laughable. Nicole Kidman ain't going anywhere. Sean Penn? Dude, these are actors that have been around a long time-- they're not flavors of the moment. Their careers will have ups and downs, but as far as club memberships go, MOST of these names are exclusive as they get.
Plenty of actors go from ridiculously 'it' to out of work in short time. I thought Heather Graham was about as in demand as you could get at one point (and deservedly so in my opinion), but now she can't seem to even make a tv pilot work. But most of the people on this list have long outlasted any questions about their star status. The only example I can think that comes close to what you're suggesting is Kevin Costner, and he still toplines a flick a year and will always manage to land high profile stuff one way or another.
Really, best to just put this post behind you and move on. Everyone's entitled to a dumb post once in a while, but for God's sake, don't try to defend it.
Reply