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.

Have you ever seen Denzel start an interview? It's pretty creepy. He's not an ungoodlooking man, at rest, but then he turns on this thing...and he's hot.

Which is what worked so well for Training Day, I think. Sure, there's acclimation to Denzel being on the side of good, but, again, so are many leading men. When he pushed his charisma into evil, I almost was swayed to his side.

He's not an ungoodlooking man, at rest, but then he turns on this thing...and he's hot.

It's that lopsided smile, I think. He has that fearful symmetry, and then he pulls it out of whack with his sly grin and guh. Best opening sequence of a Shakespeare movie evah.

"Chlo Sevingy, indie film star Vincent Gallo told the New York Daily News this week, deserves to 'be on 10 billboards on Sunset Boulevard.'"

Well of course he'd say that ... he got a blow-job out of her, what's he gonna say?

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?

Ah, thanks. And yeah, I'd bet on the steady money.

Bale also has the advantage of what is, except in name, the kind of cult usually associated with fringe religious leaders. After 8 years of Buffy fandom, I can say that I've never seen a Kitten or Spike apologist that strikes me as being so fanatical as the more extreme Bale-heads.

DiCaprio better be glad he got talked out of the American Psycho role by Christian's stepmother rather than some of Bale's less stable fans showing up in his home late one night after hearing that he took the part.

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.

Which, coincidentally, was also a non-traditional Meg Ryan movie (and Matt Damon's first big role, at least with critics).

DiCaprio better be glad he got talked out of the American Psycho role by Christian's stepmother rather than some of Bale's less stable fans showing up in his home late one night after hearing that he took the part.

I don't even want to contemplate what kind of fan stuff Bale got sent for that movie. The Huey Lewis and Phil Collins cds alone would be enough to send me over the edge.

Matt Damon's first big role, at least with critics

I remember watching that movie and not recognizing he was the same guy as in (the bad western) Geronimo. Some of the books I've worked on quote him when they talk about anorexia, because AFAIk he's one of the few cases of "professional" anorexia who (a) did it the wrong way and became a head case, (b) snapped out of it without becoming tabloid fodder, and (c) has talked about the psychological aspects openly.

Also, I mean, what textbook doesn't want to quote movie stars?

Yeah, he's talked in interviews about how he thought Lou Diamond Phillips was so fat, while they were filming.