Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2011 10:18 am
This article is a pretty interesting read. It's written by Bill Simmons, one of the most popular sports writers on the planet, and he's very big into pop culture.
Basically, he breaks down how our society currently inflates people into the role of "movie star" even though they aren't actual movie stars. Ryan Reynolds is the prime example used in the article. (He focuses on men in this article, indicating that a follow up on women could be in the works.)
His points about Ryan Reynolds are valid, and he paints Will Smith in an entirely new light that will have you finding new respect for him, while also losing some. (Smith is apparently a marketing genius.)
So who are the movie stars these days? What names (and stick with male leads just to stick with the article) sell tickets in your mind?
For me, the only film I've actually gone to a theater to see because of an actor was My Name is Bruce and that's because Bruce Campbell was doing a Q&A in the theater immediately following the film.
I don't think any actor has ever made me want to see a film just because they're in it...in the theater...I have rented films based solely on an actor being involved. For example, any movie with Statham, Willis, Schwarzenegger, Stallone, etc. might not get me into a theater, but I'll definitely rent it.
That being said, if a film has an interesting premise, having good actors can push my interest level enough to get me into a theater, but again, never just based on an actor alone.
Basically, he breaks down how our society currently inflates people into the role of "movie star" even though they aren't actual movie stars. Ryan Reynolds is the prime example used in the article. (He focuses on men in this article, indicating that a follow up on women could be in the works.)
His points about Ryan Reynolds are valid, and he paints Will Smith in an entirely new light that will have you finding new respect for him, while also losing some. (Smith is apparently a marketing genius.)
So who are the movie stars these days? What names (and stick with male leads just to stick with the article) sell tickets in your mind?
For me, the only film I've actually gone to a theater to see because of an actor was My Name is Bruce and that's because Bruce Campbell was doing a Q&A in the theater immediately following the film.
I don't think any actor has ever made me want to see a film just because they're in it...in the theater...I have rented films based solely on an actor being involved. For example, any movie with Statham, Willis, Schwarzenegger, Stallone, etc. might not get me into a theater, but I'll definitely rent it.
That being said, if a film has an interesting premise, having good actors can push my interest level enough to get me into a theater, but again, never just based on an actor alone.