In February, he launched his own sketch show on Comedy Central, Important Things With Demetri Martin. March brought a peek at his first big-screen lead role in Ang Lee’s Taking Woodstock (pictured), out this summer. And now it’s been announced that the mop-top comedy whiz will be acting opposite Brad Pitt in Steven Soderbergh’s upcoming Moneyball. It’s a good thing he’s ambidextrous; Demetri Martin must need both hands to field all the offers coming his way in Hollywood.
But does the comedian have what it takes to cut it as a big-screen star? Aside from bit parts in The Rocker and Analyze That, Martin doesn’t have any real movie credits at this point. And he rarely strays too far from his trademark deadpan persona in skits on his show.
Still, something tells us Martin is going to be around for a while. He certainly wouldn’t be the first brainy stand-up to jump onto the A-List; the careers of Steve Martin, Bill Murray, and Robin Williams speak for themselves. And while I’m not a huge fan of his TV series, anyone can recognize that it takes a huge amount of focus and talent to pull off a one-man show like his. Compared to that, the movie biz must seem like a piece of cake.
So, PopWatchers, is Demetri Martin on his way to A-List cinemetic glory? Or will he eventually just be another name on the list of "Next Big Things" past?
I for one was very impressed with his acting in his series. he was called on to do a lot more than just be Demetri. I think he’ll do great on the big screen.
I never watched any of his stand up, but I caught one episode of his show by accident once (my gf and I were watching Colbert at 7 CT, which went into South Park while we were doing something else, and Demetri Martin followed) and we were hooked. He’s one of those guys that, at least from his show, seems to be someone who’s always likable no matter what type of part he does. I hope he does well on the big screen.
If Soderbergh is putting him in the movie, I’m thinking he will do okay.
I’m gonna echo what Jim La Rose said:
If Oscar winner Steven Sodebergh (and fellow Oscar winner Ang Lee) put Martin in his movie, then there HAS to be something to this guy with regards to his acting skills that we may not have seen yet.
This definitely does NOT sound like Dane Cook and his various craptastic movie projects.
Eep, I’m excited to see him getting so much work! I loved his show, and from what I’ve seen in the trailer for Taking Woodstock he seems to pull off the character. Yay Demetri!
Wait, since when has Robin Williams’ stand-up performance been brainy?
Demetri Martin is poised now as one of the most brilliantly demented (and yet strangely benevolent) comedic voices in today’s America. Has anyone read his incredible palindrome poem? It’s fantastic! This guy is smart, funny, and shockingly imaginative. If left to nurture and follow his own unique voice alongside those outside projects that come his way care of Tinseltown, I think Demetri Martin has what it takes to become the first legitimate philosopher-king of 21st century American pop culture.
I loved Demetri Martin for a long while now. His stand-up is hilarious and I enjoyed his show on Comedy Central. I’m glad he’s getting into film. I think he’ll be around for a good long time.