GQ is about to hit newsstands with its annual Men of The Year issue, but the magazine’s website is offering a sneak peek of its selections and covers. Its picks are organized into categories: President Barack Obama is “Leader of the Year,” Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis and Ed Helms—the stars of The Hangover—are “Funnymen of the Year,” Chris Pine (the new Kirk of JJ Abrams’ Star Trek) is “Breakout of the Year,” New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is “Comeback of the Year,” and Clint Eastwood is “Badass of the Year.”
GQ’s MOTY franchise provides a provocative starting place to begin our annual season of awards and looking back. Having had the opportunity to interview Chris Pine for EW’s Star Trek coverage, I second GQ’s motion—the dude exudes superstardom. The Hangover guys deserve all the plaudits coming to them—headlining an R-rated comedy to a $276 million gross is one effin’ amazing feat—but I would have nominated Cooper for Makeover of the Year. Until recently, Cooper for me could only ever be Will Tippin, the nice wimpy reporter guy with hopelessly unrequieted crush on Jennifer Garner’s Sidney Bristow in Alias. Since then, he’s been repositioning himself as Hunky Super-Jerk in movies like Wedding Crashers and He’s Just Not That Into You, but The Hangover was the first movie that really made me buy it. GQ’s exultation of Eastwood feels a little stale—Gran Torino was so last year, because it was last year. (Although I am eager to see Invictus, his newest directorial effort, starring Morgan Freeman and some Chris Pine lookalike named Matt Damon.) And Tom Brady feels a little premature, especially mere days after the Patriots blew a 17 point lead in the fourth quarter to Peyton Manning’s Indianapolis Colts. Now that was a comeback. (In fairness: I actually think Bill made the right call.) (Sorry: I’m a sports geek, too.)
What do you think of GQ’s picks? And if you don’t like ‘em, who would you have selected as men of the year?
Comments (1-15) of 33 Add your comment
I’d go with Matthew Morrison, but that’s because I’m a Gleek!
I’m a straight man, but I’ll be gosh darned if I don’t have a crush on Chris Pine
Seriously Obama?
Here we go. Go over to the review of Palin’s book and do some real good. Let’s keep this discussion out of the gutter.
agree!
thats for leader of the year
YES, Obama. And what?
Love that Tom Brady’s on the cover! Although, I do think he’s one of the few people who looks better in candid shots than when he’s modeling. Don’t get me wrong, he’s still smokin’ on the cover.
agree
There aren’t too many guys Clint Eastwoods age who you can look at and say badass!! There are some younger ones, but actually no one comes to mind right now. Clint you’re a badass!!!
I was excited to read that someone at EW was a sports geek and even more excited to read the byline and find Doc Jensen!
I kind of want to throw ZQ in with Chris Pine but only since they’re good together.
Yup, the Chris cover needed more Zach Quinto.
It was a terrible call, but I do think it was a first down. And I’m a Colts fan!
Wasn’t Gran Torino released late in December last year…? So it really played heavily into this year. Add that to another big movie coming out soon…
h e l l, I’d make Clint the bad a$$ of the decade!!
Did someone forget to give Clint his afternoon snack? He’s looks a little grumpy.
clint eastwood man of the year,should be “atheist of the year”should look in the mirror before he throws stones at any one
What happened to the groom of The Hangover? He was funny too!
Tom Brady is not a comeback…yet.
Is there really a choice? There’s only one guy I’d trust with my vintage chevy truck!
I’m vey psyched about Clint, Chris Pine and The Hangover guys. Jeff Jensen is a sporst geek?! Cool! I start every morning with Mike & Mike. But that was a terrible call. Punt the ball and make Peyton go 80 yards to beat you instead of 28.