Variety columnist Anne Thompson has written an interesting piece titled "U.S. short on tough guy actors." "Where have the manly movie stars gone?" she asks. Why do directors, who could once turn to Steve McQueen (left), now need to look outside America for a macho man? (Hello, Russell Crowe, Jason Statham, and Gerard Butler.)
She deems Johnny Depp "fey" (at least in the Pirates trilogy), Brendan Fraser "goofy" (that’s just his dual citizenship with Canada), Tom Cruise "out of his league" (Lions for Lambs) and comic-book superheroes Brandon Routh, Edward Norton, and Tobey Maguire all "boy-men." She acknowledges that we do have some actors — over the age of 50 — with enough balls weight to play the U.S. president (Harrison Ford, Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Samuel L. Jackson, and Tommy Lee Jones). And that a few men are "seasoning well" (Will Smith, Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, and Nicolas Cage… just go with her on that last one). And yet, we still need to outsource many of our most rugged roles.
So, help Hollywood out: Are there "manly" American actors they’re overlooking?* Thompson offers up Mad Men star Jon Hamm, and argues that his "laconic, mysterious, and masculine" presence is one explanation for that show’s success. I concur. I find it curious that she didn’t bother to address Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson (right), who can certainly kick ass and take names (and wear a suit). Or even Matthew McConaughey, who had the weightiest role in Tropic Thunder. It’s because macho men don’t really have that white of teeth, isn’t it?
* Sorry, Mom, David James Elliott is Canadian.
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Matthew MacC never comes off as a grown man–he constantly plays the boy-man. Dwayne Johnson always manages some level of girly moment in his movies for levity and to show a different side of him: macho men don’t have girly sides. I’ve said to people that it’s interesting that today’s stars don’t look like “grown-ups” the way past stars do. I think that’s one of the reasons Daniel Craig made such a splash as Bond: he looks like a grown man. And there’s Clive Owen…although, of course, the UK gives us Jude Law, yet another fey boy-man.
I guess I can see where she’s coming from- the days of John Wayne and Steve McQueen are over. But America has still got some manly men in movies and television. I would offer up Rescue Me’s Denis Leary. And Jeffrey Dean Morgan- I’m betting his performance as The Comedian in Watchmen will blow us all away with macho-ness.
Nathan Fillion fits the bill, but can’t seem to find tyhe right project to launch him into that arena.
These seven ’seasoning well’ names are making manly man movies right this second – what does she want or mean for that matter?
The macho man isn’t really in vogue anymore, any more than Marilyn Monroe-style female vapidity is. Times change, get used to it.
I don’t mean to be so nitpicky on a Monday morning, but it’s Gerard Butler, not Gerald, and Mike, Nathan Fillion is from Canada too…we make ‘em extra awesome up here.
I agree with keiren63–Matthew McC is, at most, a boy-man. He’s not macho, and to me, not even attractive.
Mike, I agree with you about Nathan Fillion, but since he’s Canadian, how about another Firefly vet, Adam Baldwin? He deserves to be a big-time actor more than those OTHER Baldwins.
I hate when people write articles like this because there are always exceptions and it doesn’t really matter anyway. Is anyone really clamoring to go back to the sexist chauvinistic days of the alpha-male leading man? Exactly. And to offer Hamm as an example of manliness is funny given that “Mad Men” tries to break down that image in every episode.
Dennis Leary?
The whinebucket?
Nope. Too babyish. There are no manly men in American movies anymore but that’s probably because the manly men have real jobs. MAYBE The Rock would count, but I don’t think of him so much as manly as an insecure metrosexual who is overcompensating for something. But then again, when the best the rest of the world has to offer is Jason Statham (a balding, middle aged puny runt with an oversized ego) I dare say that we’re not the only ones in trouble.
What about Denzel Washington? Keifer Sutherland? Michael Chiklis (from The Shield)?
Nose, it is still Tuesday even in Canada right? J/K
Clint Eastwood is still the man! Matthew McConaughey is a bongo-playing raging metrosexual . . .
I’m just going to throw these out there..Casey Affleck and Mark Wahlburg. It seems to me that these two guys can hold there own in a movie.
I’m just going to throw these out there..Casey Affleck and Mark Wahlburg. It seems to me that these two guys can hold there own in a movie.
I’m just going to throw these out there..Casey Affleck and Mark Wahlburg. It seems to me that these two guys can hold there own in a movie.
What about Lawrence Fishburne? I agree with the suggestion of Adam Baldwin.
How about Christopher Meloni? Elliot Stabler of SVU? He is fantastically manly.
I agree with Adam Baldwin as a choice for a stereotypical “manly man,” but in his breakout role (in “My Bodguard”), he was a tough kid on the outside, but a softy on the inside.
Don’t talk smack about Alec B.!!! He’s played his share of tough guys. With that voice, how could he not be a convincing toughie?
Leo DiCaprio is someone I would consider to be the seasoned man’s man. After the Departed and Blood Diamond you can only expect more B.A. roles from him
“How about Christopher Meloni? Elliot Stabler of SVU? He is fantastically manly”
I second this. Meloni is manly enough in my book.
How horribly sexist that men aren’t manly enough. I can’t believe this drivel still exists.
He hasn’t been in much but Jeff Boddy is definetly the manliest man in the US.
I agree with the commenters that said that the article is ridiculously sexist. Just imagine if a man had written an entire article about how women aren’t feminine enough. People would be up in arms (myself included).
The writer rightly cites a shift in American culture for the supposed lack of masculinity here. Men no longer have to be butch alpha-males. Why shouldn’t films show the different kinds of men that exist in the world?
And I’d hardly say there is a shortage of “manly” men. The article conspicuously left out the one American male lead in The Dark Knight: Aaron Eckhart.
aymzer: I totally deserved that
That Variety article is so stupid & sexist that I won’t comment on it any further.
I thought that Dwayne Johnson was from Winnipeg(aka Canada)?
I agree. Hollywood is full of hot guys playing oversexy, overexagerrated, overnuanced unrealistic characters written mostly for women. From TV Jon Hamm and Matthew Fox seem a bit more fit for manly roles. British or Australian actors are definitely better in playing it subtle and manly.
It seems that America is adverse to showing strong men in movies these days. Maybe it’s the weather. There are a few up and coming actors that I think can pull it off in the future, though, most notably Chris Evans, who is continually just under the radar.
I gotta agree with the folks who mentioned Keifer and Denzel. Mark Wahlberg is also pretty stoic, though I’ve always found his voice a little soft. Vin Diesel is just about as masculine as they come. It’s too bad Christian Bale–with his flawless American accent–doesn’t count, he’s only the hero of now TWO gigantic American franchises. But the guy with the most attitude (and now a bona fide action hero) is none other than Robert Downey, Jr. The guy just KILLS. Every. Single. Time.
i would like to add michael rosenbaum on smallville for tv and for movies terence howard.