For theater folks, our response when Swordfish came out was "Oh, Hugh Jackman, the guy from the London production of "Oklahoma" that got such amazing reviews." I was waiting for him to get into films, because his theater rep. preceded him. So not stunt casting in his case.

our response when Swordfish came out

What was your response when X-Men came out?

So not stunt casting in his case.

Yes, yes, you can stop slapping me now. I only asked if it was, not claimed it was.

Paige Davis, of Trading Spaces fame, is currently in Chicago. I shit you not.

I just watched It Happened One Night. Is this why scriptwriters think that it's a good idea to do escalating misunderstanding romantic movies, or movies where she bolts at the altar?

Get the FUCK over it. I retract my statement that both devices suck. This movie was a delight, and plausible too. However, I replace that sentiment with "don't EVEN try it." It's been done crappily too many times since then for me to think it's a sensible risk.

What was your response when X-Men came out?

D'oh, X-man. Whatever was first.

and isn't IHON lovely film? Got a wonderful relaxed feel to it, which a lot of films of that era lack.

I really don't understand the Denzel love.

Davis has been a stage actor-singer-dancer for years. She was in the Broadway "Beauty and the Beast." I have no idea why she auditioned for a "presenter"'s slot with a traveling tv makeover show. The schedule can't be any better. Money, maybe?

Did anyone in LA see the Brown Bunny poster before it got taken down? How much raunch was in it?

eta: found this -- I'm only guessing what means what.

I'm imagining the regular income.

In re that EW article about stardom -- the funny part is using Christian Bale as an example of pre-stardom hype. Dude has been the main character in a lot of movies, the first one before he could sing tenor. He's absolutely a star -- just, heretofore, a star in the indie market. You'll probably get a different character/plot every time, but I don't doubt that, in his market, the Bale name attached to a script can get it financing and a good marketing budget.

Jackman can keep a musical alive, but not a movie.

I think musical theatre is a lot more desperate for stars than Hollywood is (moreso than non-musical theatre). They've got plenty of supporting actors, and plenty who are good actors in lead roles, but not a lot who are so (a) good at singing/acting/dancing, (b) charismatic, and (c) well-known that they can draw butts to seats and make them stay there after the intermission. Two out of three is common, but all three together, less so.

I was going to say, when people say to me "a Denzel Washington movie", my brain jumps to Courage Under Fire -- upstanding man with integrity unravels his own Secret Pain while unraveling the central mystery. Considering it wasn't a hit, I'm surprised that's what comes to mind, and the discussion so far has come up with plenty of other roles Denzel has taken. Still, that's what sticks in my mind.

I do know that when biologists talk about the evolutionary appeal of bilateral symmetry, they usually mention Denzel, because his face is bizarrely symmetrical (thus, theoretically, more appealing than average). I suspect this explains why I find his face vaguely blank. When Denzel wins me over, it is with his voice and body language, never his face.