Explain this to me: In the span of a week, Stephen Dorff has landed a role playing a porn star in a comedy co-penned by Adam Sandler called Born to Be a Star, on top of the lead role in the next Sofia Coppolamovie, Somewhere. Quick: Can you name one Stephen Dorff movie? I couldn’t. I know his face, but had to do an IMDB check for a refresher on his career. He’s been steadily working since the ’80s, but his recent work seems to be comprised of the schlock-horror and direct-to-DVD variety. And, the forgettable Oliver Stone opus, World Trade Center.
I have to ask, in all fairness and with all due respect: What did he do to earn this career resurgence? Sure, an Adam Sandler-written comedy isn’t a huge get, but this one co-stars Christina Ricci (who’s great) and has a funny premise about a couple discovering their parents were famous porn stars. The Coppola movie, on the other hand, is kind of a big deal, if only because they are as rare as solar eclipses, or McDonald’s Shamrock Shakes. Her last film was 2006′s Marie Antoinette, which came and went, but she did propel Bill Murray to critical acclaim and awards glory for Lost in Translation. And Dorff’s role in Somewhere, where he’ll play an excess-loving actor with an 11-year-old daughter (Elle Fanning) who suddenly enters his life, sounds like a perfect platform to turn heads. But certainly you’ll agree, it’s odd to see him transition from Fear Dot Com and a Britney Spears video to these high-profile roles and a bit part in this summer’s Public Enemies. It’ll be interesting to see how this all goes down.
Are there any Stephen Dorff fans out there? Will his volatile, hard-edged persona be good for these movies? And do you think he’s headed for a Mickey Rourke-style comeback into the hearts of audiences and casting agents everywhere?
Are you kidding? I loved him as Deacon Frost in Blade!!!
Must admit, I’m a HUGE Stephen Dorff Fan. I could certainly pass on Blade and the like, but still have a warm spot for him as a result of awesome roles in the 90s in the moving film about racism in South Africa, The Power of One (with Morgan Freeman), the biting and even-more-relevant today satire S.F.W (with Reese Witherspoon), and his awesome performance in Backbeat as Stuart Sutcliffe, the almost fifth Beatle. And no, I didn’t have to look those up.
My favorite part of this report is the reference to “McDonald’s Shamrock Shakes.” They truly are the Holy Grail of fast-food milkshakes.
Yeah, but The Power of One movie’s third act was out of left field and really, really paint-by-the-numbers. The novel’s unglamorous denouement in the mining camp could have been done in the film easily and fulfilled its power.
Come on! Stephen Dorff…the man who did one of the greatest villians ever on film! It is called Blade and his Deacon Frost, I would say, ranks up there with Heath Ledgers Joker. Maybe not as good but still pretty darn brutal and effective. For that character alone I give him a pass on whatever else he will ever do.
Celebrity Apprentice!
I like Stephen Dorff. Go hate on something useful like Twilight, EW.
I am a huge Stephen Dorff fan. I LOVED “The Power of One” and have adored him ever since. He was part of the awesome ensemble that made up “Judgement Night” and check out the lesser known “Steal.” Now that was an action movie. I am very excited for any movie that he does that hits the big screen
He was in Entropy!!!
I adored Stephen Dorf from the first time I saw him in the “Power of One” in the 8th grade. I have followed his career since then. Some good, some bad, and some really weird (I haven’t forgotten you, Cecil B. Demented). But he was one of my first movie star crushes and holds a special place for that.
Someone already mentioned it but he was GREAT as Deacon Frost in Blade. I felt he should have became a huge star after that movie. Why you hatin EW? He’s still young and has a long career ahead of him. Unlike most child stars he isn’t a crackhead
This is great news. I love Stephen Dorff. He was great in “Blade” and “Deuces Wild” and he’s the only reason I’ve watched Britney Spears’ video for “Everytime” about 10 times.
if this is the same Stephen Dorff who played Stu Sutcliffe in Backbeat – hell, yeah!! beutiful and brilliant performance that
I own both S.F.W. and Backbeat for Dorff’s performances. Haven’t been able to bring myself to watch his latest stuff and don’t like anything by Sandler but I am very interested to see what Coppola will do with him.
dorff is a talent and always has been. the only surprise is the ammount of time this comeback took.