By resourceful I infer that he/she has made best use of the resources (whether that be skills, looks or influence) available.
In my opinion I think that someone who has built success on very little would qualify as resourceful. For this I would nominate George Clooney. Simply put, other than the man’s sex appeal he has no real discernable talent. The guy’s not funny; he’s not a very good actor (be honest now, he plays practically the same role - albiet with very slight alterations that usually do nothing for the character that he’s playing, unlike say Gene Hackman); he hasn’t picked particularly challenging roles (The Peacemaker anyone? How about the unforgettable Batman and Robin? Let’s face it, he’s only good when he’s playing what turns out to be an affectionate version of himself - a charming thief) and he can’t really adapt or change his style much.
Yet he knew that his sex appeal would make him a bankable Hollywood star for a couple of years - so the guy went crazy and cashed in. In those couple of years he made movies back to back - now he’s sitting on the can waiting for new opportunities. Like I said, resourceful.
Who do you reckon is the most resourceful actor (dare I say) of all time? How about in current history (last 50 years)?
Gotta disagree here. I thought he was great in O’Brother Where Are Thou, Ocean’s Eleven, and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. I look forward to all the man’s movies because he really plays some fun parts…
I see what you’re saying in regards to Clooney, though while I agree he has taken many similar roles in order to cash in I think he does posesssome talent as well, “Oh Brother, Where Art Though” probably being his biggest stretch, and its not much of one.
My understanding of Clooney is that he was something of a lazy actor, comming from a showbiz family (Rosemary Clooney, amongst others) he thought it would be pretty easy to “get famous” and instead spent a dozen years toiling in bad sitcoms until E.R. put him on the map. I think he is just cashing in now, giving the people what they want. If many other individuals were to do this I would be bitter, but for some reason Clooney is likeable enough that I don’t begrudge him.
That long lead-in exists pretty much for me to only second the Ben Affleck nomination. As I was found of saying upon the release of “Daredevil”: I find it a delicious irony the “man without fear” will be played by “the man without talent”.
Though, Sharon Stone is a pretty good one too, as is The Governator himself, Van Damme, and of course the world’s fattest action star ™ Seagal.
Other nominees may be: Costner (though I think he’s been good too, on occaison), Bronson, & Demi Moore.
And, courting a real flame war, I would suggest the ubiquitous Mr. Hanks deserves some serious consideration as well.
The first person that popped into my head when I read the OP was Keanu Reeves. If he were to come to an untimely demise in, say, a tragic goat-felching accident or something, he could easily be secretly replaced by an animatronic double and no one would be the wiser. I’ve seen more depth and emotion in the “presents” my dog leaves for me on the lawn.
I can see that. He strikes me as someone that doesn’t take anyone or anything seriously, including himself. I think he’s hilarious, personally, because he’s such an unbelievable smart ass. I’d love to meet him in real life to see if he’s as sarcastic as I imagine he is.
Oh come on, folks. There’s a fine old Hollywood tradition of actors who can’t act making a career out of playing themselves (or the very same character) over and over again.
I mean, who honestly shelled out money for the privilege of watching John Wayne act? Or Fred Astaire? Or George Burns? Or Elvis? Or Danny Di Vito? Or Sylvester Stallone?
You don’t have to be able to act to be a major Hollywood star. All you need is an image people will pay to see. And a lot of luck.
[Family Guy]
“Uh…there’s a woodpecker on your head.”
“Yeah, he comes and goes…”
[/Family Guy]
IMO, the most perplexing actor in Hollywood is Chris Klein. A B-list Keanu Reeves, if there is such a thing. A total placeholder. And I’m not just saying that b/c I wasted $8.50 on Rollerball. Nor am I angry that he’s boffing Katie Homes and I’m not.
Melanie Griffith and Jennifer Tilly. Particularly Tilly, who is as vapid and talentless in life as in film. I had to grudgingly acknowledge Griffith in “Nobody’s Fool”, but she still flashed her boobs.
See, now the flashing her boobs part is good. Having nice boobs is a talent, of sorts. I think that Melanie Griffith has done some other fine work besides just “Nobody’s Fool” though too. “Something Wild” springs to mind.
I posted to the “What celebrities have you met” thread earlier, and I totally forgotabout Jennifer Tilly (easy to do). Never in the history of one word definitions has there been a more accurate example than Jennifer Tilly:vapid. I could not agree more. THough she too, is talented for having nice boobs.
The man has made an entire career out of playing an unstable person. He’s about as Johnny-One-Note as an actor can get.
Having said that, I admit I find the aforementioned “unstableness” to be entertaining.
At times.
Seriously, have you ever seen a single film of his without anticipating the “Five Easy Pieces” moment that they all contain at least one example of?
It HAS to be Anthony Hopkins. Who else could go from “Remains of the Day” to “The Silence of the Lambs,” and so many others (like that Mamet film about the bear stalking those guys in the woods after the plane crashes)? The guy’s middle name’s got to be, Versatile.
And calling John Wayne an ‘actor’ borders on the obscene. Even Wayne said, “I don’t act; I re-act.” He also said, “That’s real hair; it’s not MY hair, but it’s real hair.” Honest
