The recession has already coughed up great deals like double coupons, half-off clothes, and free chicken dinners. And now it looks like the discount craze is headed for our local theaters with a crop of movies that might as well save a few more bucks by splitting a single tagline: "Buy one movie, get six stars, free!"
Whether it’s an actual phenomenon or just a coincidence, the list of celebs packed into three upcoming releases — the musical Nine, and the comedies Valentine’s Day and Date Night (three cast members pictured) — reads like the seating chart at the Academy Awards (in Nine alone the cast members have a whopping 20 Oscar nods between them). I won’t bother rattling off all the actors for you (click on the links above for cast info), but it seems like we’ve got about 60 percent of Hollywood’s A-List packed into three pics.
It’s easy to come up with examples of times when the all-star strategy worked (Ocean’s Eleven) and didn’t (All the King’s Men, anyone?). But overall, I subscribe to a more-is-better philosophy when it comes to movies. Why should the "best friend" be played by some One Tree Gossip Night Lights thing if Jennifer Garner is up for the job?
What do you think, PopWatchers? Which of these movies are you looking forward to most? Is more always merrier? Or is there such a thing as star-overload? (And why wasn’t Star Overload ever the name of a synth-pop duo?)
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Not to mention that Nine boasts seven Oscar wins. 20 nods is a lot…but seven Academy Awards? That’s just craziness.
I was performing in a showcase to some agents a few weeks back, and the organisers told us that those just starting out in the industry weren’t really affected by the recession, but the stars were struggling to find good work – so when you used to see just one name getting top billing in a play, you’ll get 3 or 4. I guess the same must be happening in cinema (although I don’t really see how a casting director’s ability to cast as many stars as they like DOESN’T affect those just starting out…)
There’s no such thing as a free chicken dinner. Just ask KFC.
I just saw the poster for Night at the Museum, and I could only recognize maybe three stars. The others, I wouldn’t know them to save my life. Who are these people???? Anyway, it’s a throwback to the grand epics of Hollywood, when they had a cast of “thousands”, like Annie Get your Gun and those big musicals and epics. I just think it’s hard for actors to get work, so they’re like us, “networking” to get a gig….anything to pay the rent.
I’m probably most excited about “Date Night” Can you go wrong with Steve Carell & Tina Fey? I hope not. “Valentine’s Day” might be good. I usually enjoy all-star packed films, but not always. Movies like “Ocean’s 11″ & “Playing by Heart” are great, but a movie like say “Ready to Wear,” that was horrible.
I vote for “Date Night” I am a huge fan of Tina Fey? Have you seen her in these 30 Rock Bloopers?
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