Forbes have come up with yet another annual list and this time it’s Hollywoods most overpaid actors, it seems being a comedian is hard work because 6 out of the 10 actors are comedy actors. To come up with this list they compared the actors paycheck to the overall box office revenue. There is only one woman on the list.
Will Ferrell
The former Saturday Night Live star built up to a big payday with a series of successful films, like Elf and Talladega Nights. But a big payday puts a star at risk when it comes to return on investment: His movies have to be home runs. So Land of the Lost, which cost an estimated $100 million to make and earned only $69 million, really hurt the star. For every $1 Ferrell was paid, his films earned an average $3.35.
Eddie Murphy
Murphy was once a sure bet in family-friendly comedies like Dr. Dolittle and Daddy Day Care. He’s still a sure bet in animated films like Shrek, but thanks to two big flops (Imagine That and Meet Dave) he’s become box office poison when it comes to live action films. For every $1 Murphy gets paid, his films earn an average $4.45.
Denzel Washington
Later this month the leading man will star in the film Unstoppable, a prototypical Washington flick. It is directed by Tony Scott, who has partnered with Washington five times before, and features the actor as an everyman hero–on a runaway train. Here’s hoping it helps his return-on-investment number. For every $1 Washington earned, his films returned an average $5.10.
Seth Rogen
The funny man got hit by a movie called (ironically) Funny People. The Judd Apatow-produced film cost $75 million to make and earned only $71 million at the box office. His upcoming superhero movie, The Green Hornet, doesn’t look like it will improve his standing much. It was moved from Christmas to an inauspicious January release date. For every $1 Rogen was paid, his movies earned $6.75.
Tom Cruise
Cruise was once the biggest movie star in the world. Now he seems in constant search of a comeback. Valkyrie didn’t do it, despite a respectable $200 million take at the global box office. Knight & Day with Cameron Diaz (which hit theaters after our deadline for consideration) also failed to make an impact. Now Cruise fans are focused on the upcoming fourth installment of his successful Mission: Impossible series. For every $1 Cruise was paid, his films earned an average $7.20.
Drew Barrymore
Barrymore has struggled at the box office lately. Films like Lucky You and Everybody’s Fine have underperformed. Her latest romantic comedy, Going the Distance, did a bit better, earning $42 million at the box office on a budget of $32 million. That movie came out after our deadline, but it’s unlikely to help her return on investment number much. For every $1 Barrymore was paid, her films earned an average $7.45.
Matt Damon
When he appears in the Bourne films Damon is a fantastic return on investment. Outside of those movies, not so much. Green Zone, Invictus and The Informant all underperformed. Unfortunately for Damon, it looks like he’s not going to appear in the next Bourne film. Until he has another big hit, for every $1 Damon gets paid, his films earn an average $8.30.
Vince Vaughn
The actor had a big hit with Four Christmases, but it was overshadowed by Fred Claus, which earned only $98 million at the global box office. Vaughn continues to stay in his comedic comfort zone with his upcoming Ron Howard film The Dilemma, which has come under fire for using a gay joke in the trailer. For every $1 Vaughn was paid, his films earned $8.35.
Adam Sandler
Sandler had a huge hit with the movie Grown Ups. It was his highest grossing movie ever at the global box office with $270 million in ticket sales. But that movie came out after our deadline. For the sake of this list, Sandler’s average was weighed down by the film Funny People, which grossed only $71 million. For every $1 Sandler was paid, his films earned an average $8.45.
Jim Carrey
Carrey’s last movie, Yes Man, was a bona fide hit. Unfortunately the two other films we counted for this list, The Number 23 and Fun With Dick & Jane, were not. Carrey is taking a huge chance with his next film, I Love You Phillip Morris, in which he plays a gay con artist who gets thrown in jail. For every $1 Carrey was paid, his films earned $8.60.
source: Hollywood’s Most Overpaid Actors 2010 [Forbes]
You know how when you go see a movie and it seems the director is always using the same actors over and over? Well here is a list of 10 pairs that need to just give each other a break and work with other people.
10. Helena Bonham Carter and Tim Burton (5 films together)
Helena Bonham Carter, believe it or not, used to be a distinguished actress who was nominated for an Oscar for her performance in The Wings Of A Dove. Since with Burton, however, she only seems to find work in his films slumming around in creepy makeup. Apart from some appearances in the Harry Potter series, the actress hasn’t made a notable splash outside the Burtonverse since 1999’s Fight Club and it seems like there is no slowing down this husband/wife movie making duo. Burton has three projects slated for production that will likely feature the quirky actress.
9. Denzel Washington and Tony Scott (4 films together)
Have you ever noticed a couple at a party and one person was so clearly out of the other person’s league that it left you dumbfounded? This is the feeling I get every time Denzel Washington agrees to make another film with Tony Scott. Washington is one of the greatest actors of this generation, has two Oscars and is a considerable box office draw and yet he chooses to work so faithfully with the lesser of the Scott brothers (I was hoping that American Gangster would steer him in the direction of the more talented brother). There has to be some secret to their working relationship that keeps Washington coming back for more. Whatever it is, I hope Washington wises up and starts working with directors worthy of his talent as soon as possible.
8. Keira Knightley and Joe Wright (2 films together)
These two have only made 2 films together but their working relationship became stale somewhere around the middle point of Atonement. Perhaps the problem is that Keira Knightley seems to only play in period dramas (she’s done 5 in the last few years) and thus her work with Wright seems redundant? There were rumors that the two were going to take on My Fair Lady but luckily they abandoned that project. Knightley is marginally talented and Wright seems to have a good eye but unless the two of them break out of their comfort zones (each other), they will forever be pigeonholed into the realm of glossy period productions.
7. Tom Hanks and Ron Howard (4 films together)
Although their works have been spread out over 3 decades, the recent one-two punch of The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons was enough to suggest these two go on permanent hiatus from each other. With the critical ‘meh’ that the first film received, I was shocked the sequel (based on the much less popular book) was ever greenlight in the first place. Hanks and Howard are both capable of producing good work but rarely do so together. Perhaps the two should look into doing another comedy a la their 1984 classic Splash?
6. Penelope Cruz and Pedro Almodovar (4 films together)
It’s hard to fault this pairing because most of their work together has been stunning but the Spanish duo’s last film together, Broken Embraces, left a lot to be desired. Almodovar has always relied on muses and Cruz has served him well over the years but now seems like a good time for them to take a break from each other. Cruz has become a hot commodity in the US and Almodovar needs to take on a new direction. Interestingly, Almodovar is turning to one of his former muses, Antonio Banderas, for his next film.
5. Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott (5 films together)
I’m a big fan of Sir Ridley Scott but the ‘Russell Crowe’ years have led to his most boring films as a director. Sure, their initial pairing (Gladiator) re-established Scott as an auteur and turned Crowe into a bonafide star but their subsequent pairings have done nothing for me as a viewer. With Scott setting his sights on 2 Alien prequels, it seems unlikely that he will find room for Crowe in those films but going back to a past success doesn’t bode well for a reinvigoration of the director’s creative potential.
4. Scarlett Johansson and Woody Allen (3 films together)
Woody Allen does love his young blonde starlets, doesn’t he? Sometimes he is able to garner fantastic performances out of them (Mira Sorvino in Mighty Aphrodite) but he hasn’t had such luck with Ms. Johansson. She’s starred in quite possibly his worst film to date (Scoop) and been the least interesting part in the better of his more recent efforts (Match Point and Vicky Cristina Barcelona). Now that the actress is over the age of 25 perhaps old Woody will grow tired of her and move on to younger stars to fill his creative void. That’s the thing Allen loves about his stars, he gets older but they stay the same age.
3. Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass(3 films together)
If Green Zone proved one thing it is that Paul Greengrass and Matt Damon should probably avoid each other outside of the Bourne series if they don’t want inevitable comparisons to their previous work. It would be hard not to draw those comparisons since the trademarks of the Bourne series are Greengrass’ signature directing style and, of course, the appearance of Matt Damon. There are still rumors of these two doing a 4th Bourne film but if they plan to work together outside the series they are going to have to lay off the breakneck action sequences and go for something less recognizably Bourne. Perhaps a romantic comedy (with shaky cam)?
2. Milla Jovovich and Paul W.S. Anderson (4 films together)
This is a duo who I wish would just take a break from filmmaking altogether. Jovovich is a stunning beauty but is one of the least talented actresses I have ever witnessed on screen. Anderson, similarly, is one of the least talented directors I’ve ever had the displeasure of seeing films by. When you put them together, you get one of the worst action-adventure-scifi franchises of the last twenty years, Resident Evil. With that series coming to an end this year, the director already has plans to cast his wife in his next feature; a 3D retelling of the Three Musketeers. Maybe they’ll get a divorce and spare us all their future collaborations?
1. Johnny Depp and Tim Burton (6 films together)
It’s hard to argue with success (their most recent film, Alice in Wonderland, has garnered their highest box office) but Tim Burton’s reliance on Depp has reached a level of near parody. Their collaborative efforts have become more and more predictable and the once exciting duo has been reduced to a bland mix of dayglow hot topic merchandise. Their last truly great film together was Ed Wood in 1994 and found both at their career best. It is possible for them to reclaim this glory but Burton is going to need to cast Depp more appropriately instead of dressing him up in garish make up and wigs and letting him run on autopilot.
This list would be 100% correct if they had of added Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese to this list. Is there any actor/director pairs you are sick of seeing working together?
source: 10 Director/Actor Pairings Who Need A Break [The Film Stage]
You know those Hollywood men that drive women crazy and drive us men crazy for a very different reason because they are rich and just all around perfect? Well here is a list of some Hollywood guys that we actually love as much as women do because they actually seem like they would be fun to hang out with, well in my opinion anyway.
1. George Clooney
George Clooney is the quintessential guy’s guy. Not only is he popular with the ladies, but he’s into practical jokes, always seems in control and he likes fast cars and motorcycles. In Ocean’s 11, he made every guy want to be part of his crew, and on the red carpet he makes men think about how cool they would look in a tuxedo.
2. Leonardo Dicaprio
In 1998, after starring in the guy-Krypton Oscar winner Titanic, Leo’s cherubic face was plastered across teeny bopper magazines that ruined his rep with everyday bros. Thanks to some judicious role selection and a three-movie run with Martin Scorcese, Leonardo has since redeemed himself in the eyes of guys everywhere.
3. Denzel Washington
Ever since he came on the scene with his breakout role in the 1983 movie Cry Freedom, Denzel Washington has been walking the line between swoon-worthy hunk and politically-aware intellectual. Along the way, Denzel landed in movies like Training Day and American Gangster that showed just how badass this intellectual hunk can be.
4. James Franco
It might be his self-deprecating sense of humor or the fact that Judd Apatow just makes him seem so damn likeable, but for whatever reason James Franco transcends heartthrob status and is in with the guys. Sure he was named “Sexiest Man Living” by Salon.com, but he was also hilarious in the guy-centric Pineapple Express.
5. Robert Redford
Robert Redford may be past his full-on hunk days, but he still pulls off a rugged sense of cool that’s been much-emulated and rarely achieved. It helps his status with guys that he made probably the best buddy cowboy movie ever with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
6. Jon Hamm
It’s hard to believe that Jon Hamm’s breakout role in Mad Men came just three years ago. Since then, Jon has hosted Saturday Night Live twice and landed on both People and Salon.com’s lists of sexiest men. But don’t confuse him with his alter ego. Jon is quick to warn people off looking up to Don Draper too much and says he’s actually nothing like the brooding leading man.
7. Benicio del Toro
Benicio del Toro has said he doesn’t see himself as a hunk and he doesn’t know why he ends up on lists like these, but admits he’s always been popular with the ladies. His roles in guy favorites like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Sin City, have helped make him a hit on both sides of the gender divide.
8. Brad Pitt
Brad Pitt is the cool guy that guys want to hang out with. Sure he’d probably always win the attention of the hottest girl in the room, but he’d also be a really awesome wingman. Brad won over the ladies first in Legends of the Fall, but by the time he played Tyler Durden in Fight Club, the guys couldn’t resist. He gets bonus points with guys for growing ill-conceived facial hair.
9. Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp is a one-of-a-kind cultural anomoly. He’s spent the better part of his career enjoying full-on heartthrob status. He’s flirted with androgyny. He spends about half his time in France and has insulted the United States in interviews. And still he’s adored by guys and girls alike. How could this be? Simple. Guys love pirates.
10. Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey, Jr. has some serious demons in his past, but that just seems to give him character. Not only is he the guy that guys would love to party with, he’s the guy whose stories would actually be interesting. He’s got a cocky attitude that works for him somehow, leading future co-star Chris Evans to remark, “I don’t think anybody tells Downey what to do, and that’s what makes [him] Downey.”
11. Jamie Foxx
Jamie Foxx has shamelessly played up his lady’s man status throughout his career, and while the way he’s pandered to the audience doesn’t earn him cool points, somehow it hasn’t hurt him either. Jamie got an inexplicable Mike Tyson-like head tattoo, he’s trotted out his Oscar-winning Ray Charles impression more than once for pop music, and yet he’s still cool enough to get Ron Howard to show up in his music video.
12. Paul Rudd
Look at his resume and you’ll quickly realize Paul Rudd has one of the coolest filmographies in Hollywood. He had his breakout in the 1995 chick flick Clueless, and more recently he starred alongside Jason Segal in I Love You, Man, which is basically how guys feel when they see him play his everybro schtick for laughs on the big screen.
13. Justin Timberlake
Sure he got his start making teenage girls scream with N*Sync, but with the help of a haircut, some snappy clothes, and a “D— in a Box,” J.T. successfully reinvented his image as guy friendly.
14. Alec Baldwin
How do you win over guys and girls alike? Being good looking and hilarious has worked out for Alec Baldwin. Tina Fey saved his career, but before 30 Rock, Alec’s mix of charm and quick wit was cracking up SNL fans with sketches like his classic “Schweddy Balls.
Celebrity endorsements mean a lot to marketing executives as their cash cows bring in the dough from the consumers. Take Tiger Woods, for instance. Before he crashed into that tree and cheated on his wife with numerous women, he was the spokesperson for Nike, Tag Heuer, Accenture and more name brands who trusted his name and face to their campaigns.
According to Gerry Philpott, the reason that we bother with celebrities at all goes something like this:
“In a very crowded media environment its hard for companies to stand out. They need those names to cut through the clutter.”
According to E-Poll, the highest ranked A-list celebrities made the cut for the highest in trustworthiness, awareness and appeal.
10. Denzel Washington
The Academy Award-winning actor has never shied away from Tinseltown’s more meaty roles, portraying historical heavyweights like Malcolm X and Hurricane Carter. Among the results: He commands his viewers’ attention–and respect–whether he’s playing a corrupt cop in Training Day or a depressed detective in The Bone Collector.
9. Bill Cosby
The Cosby Show star has earned himself an “America’s Dad” nickname and an instantly endearing image–and advertisers have taken notice. In fact, over the course of his decades-long career as an actor and comedian, he’s served as a spokesman for Jello, Kodak, Coca-Cola and Ford, among others.
8. Will Smith
The former Fresh Prince star has reigned over the box office with commercial blockbusters like Independence Day, Men In Black and I Am Legend. With talent, charm and a stable family life on his resume, Smith is the kind of celebrity marketers can’t help but drool over.
7. Ron Howard
The name–or better yet the freckled face of–Ron Howard conjures images of an adorable redhead named Opie Taylor (on The Andy Griffith Show) or an endearing teen by the name of Richie Cunningham (on Happy Days). But Howard has since proved that he has talent on the other side of the camera as well, directing and producing Oscar-caliber films like A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13 and Cinderella Man. Up next he’ll update his 1980s flick Parenthood starring Peter Krause and Lauren Graham on NBC.
6. Sally Field
In recent years the Norma Rae star has garnered attention–and fans–as the Emmy-winning matriarch of the Walker family on ABC’s long-running drama Brothers & Sisters. Off set she’s lent her star power to a postmenopausal osteoporosis medication called Boniva.
5. Morgan Freeman
The Academy Award-winning actor and director is often described as the man who made films like Million Dollar Baby, Driving Miss Daisy and The Shawshank Redemption the successes that they were. Still others instantly associate him with reserved image and authoritative speaking voice. Freeman has put the latter to good use–he replaced Walter Cronkite as the voice that introduces the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.
4. Mike Rowe
As host of Discovery Channel’s Dirty Jobs as well as the narrator for other series like Deadliest Catch and Ghost Lab, Rowe has endeared himself to an ever-expanding fan base. To date, companies like Ford and W.W. Grainger have already attempted to connect with those adoring fans–and their wallets.
3. Michael J. Fox
As Alex P. Keaton on the 1980s sitcom Family Ties, actor Michael J. Fox earned viewers’ affection. As a leading activist in the fight for Parkinson’s disease funding (a disease he was diagnosed with more than a decade ago), he has earned their respect. For these and other reasons (like talent and fame), Fox is among the marketing world’s safest bets.
2. Tom Hanks
Audiences laughed with Hanks as a wisecracking cross-dresser on the early 1980s cult comedy series Bosom Buddies. They cried with him as a homosexual AIDS victim in the 1993 tearjerker Philadelphia. And they rallied with him as a slow-witted Southerner in the 1994 runaway hit Forrest Gump. Throughout these and other roles the Academy Award-winning actor and director managed to earn their esteem, respect and confidence.
1. James Earl Jones
Jones boasts one of the most instantly recognizable voices in entertainment history –and a commanding presence to match. Still best known as the voice of Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy, he’s also lent his voice to the CNN tagline and NBC’s Olympic coverage and his acting skills to everything from Conan the Barbarian to Field of Dreams.
Who would you add to the list? Who’s your favorite most trustworthy celebrity?
source: The 10 Most Trusted Celebrities – [forbes]
I was looking around for interesting images the other day, and happened upon one of my favorite pictures of Anne Hathaway (which is on this list). The most noticeable feature of the picture is the incredible side boobage that seems to leap from the image and scream “gaze upon me in all of my glory, for I am side boob.”
What is it about the side boob that is so appealing? Is it the hint of what lies just out of reach? I tend to appreciate a good side boob more than a great under boob image, although some men (and women) may disagree.
Even Peter Griffin of Family Guy appreciates a flash of side boob:
Regardless of your boob preferences, most mammary aficionados like myself will have to agree that boobs are mounds of beautiful goodness no matter what side or angle they are viewed from!
So without further ado, I present to you my choices for the top ten celebrity side boob images of all time.
#10 Elisha Cuthbert
Elisha Cuthbert played the hot porn star with a heart of gold in The Girl Next Door and also played as Jack Bauer’s daughter Kim in the awesome series 24.
#9 Jennifer Connelly
Jennifer Connelly starred opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in Blood Diamond and Russell Crowe in A Beautiful Mind. She is without a doubt one of the most beautiful women on the planet. Well, I don’t doubt it, at least.
#8 Emma Watson
Emma Watson is best known for playing Hermoine in the Harry Potter series. Who would have thought she’d grow up to be so gorgeous?
#7 Brooke Burke
Brooke Burke was the host of Wild On! and Rock Star, and won season 7 of Dancing with the Stars. She’s also ridiculously hot.
#6 Joanna Krupa
Joanna Krupa is a model who also loves animals and blah blah blah, PETA ads, look, boobies!
#5 Anne Hathaway
Anne Hathaway began her career in the 1999 TV show Get Smart before appearing in the Disney films The Princess Diaries (1 and 2) and Ella Enchanted. She then decided to let it all hang out in Havoc before starring in The Devil Wears Prada opposite Meryl Streep (who will not be appearing on this list).
#4 Eva Mendes
Eva Mendes first hit my radar when she starred in Training Day with Denzel Washington, and since then I will pretty much watch any piece of crap (ahem… Ghost Rider) that has her in the credits.
#3 Christina Aguilera
Beautiful songstress Christina Aguilera has gone through a dozen different looks, from pinup model to sexy bad girl to transvestite, but the picture above is the look I like best on her. By that I mean naked.
#2 Angelina Jolie
I struggled long and hard (heh) before deciding to make this picture of Angelina Jolie number two. I like her so much more as a person than I do the person I picked for the first place spot, but this isn’t my “top ten nice celebrities that do cool shit for poor people and adopt enough children to start their own country”. It’s all about the side boob.
#1 Katherine Heigl
My number one choice for this post is this picture of Katherine Heigl. I think the only thing I’ve ever seen her in was Knocked Up, where I thought she must be the sweetest woman ever. Judging by reports from costars and anyone else that has had the misfortune to spend more than five minutes working on a film or Grey’s Anatomy with her, however, she can be a complete bitch.
Oh well, that is one fantastic side boob.
So there you have it, folks. My top ten greatest celebrity side boobs ever. Or as Kanye West would say “OF ALL TIME!”
Think you know of any that should have been included here? Let me know in the comments below!
