Travis DuncanTyrants of Hollywood
March 23rd 2008 10:47
There are a number of different elements that makes a film a blockbuster. You need a great screenplay, a fair sized budget, a fantastic crew, and then you need your draw cards. People who can carry onto a set what very few others can, they are able to turn a simple character into box office gold. These people are known as the tyrants of Hollywood, at the peak of their profession and quickly becoming invincible.
If you are looking for a man who is assured of success, then your search ends at Will Smith. The man who has been dubbed in Hollywood as a walking blockbuster is without a doubt, one of the most talented and versatile actors in the world. He is able to successfully perform and break any boundaries in any genre including action, comedy or drama. Smith received the first of his 20 million dollar price tags on the film that really signalled his intent to the world, Ali. The depiction of inspirational boxer Muhammad Ali earned him an Academy Award Nomination, he would later receive a nomination for yet another film based on a true story in his portrayal of Chris Gardiner in The Pursuit of Happiness. His biggest payday coming from his futuristic film I, Robot where he took home a clean 28 million courtesy of gross percentage. He once turned down the lead role in The Matrix which later went to Keanu Reeves, to do The Wild, Wild West. He has since publicly stated it was the worst move of his career. What does the future hold for Smith? His new film Hancock is an action, comedy and drama starring himself and Charlize Theron, directed by Transformers director Peter Berg. He is also rumoured to be cast alongside Kevin Spacey, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Sacha Baron Cohen in a drama directed by Steven Spielberg called The Trial of the Chicago Seven. Whatever the film you can be assured it will feature well at the box office.
Leonardo DiCaprio has been in high demand since his break away from films. Although he has been criticised for his one genre acting style, he has built an empire courtesy of it. DiCaprio has demanded his 20 million dollar price tag since his film The Beach, once accepting 10 million on the Gangs of New York, but adding the gross percentage sent him sailing over 20 million dollars. He has being referred to as an Academy Award waiting to occur, having being nominated for the lead actor in the portrayal of millionaire tycoon Howard Hughes in The Aviator, in addition he received a nomination for his depiction of a diamond smuggler in Blood Diamond, also based on a true story. He also received a nomination for the best supporting actor alongside Johnny Depp in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. In 2000 he was attached and allegedly offered 20 million dollars to star in American Psycho, but had to pull out due to scheduling conflicts, the role later went to Christian Bale. DiCaprio was also offered the lead role in Robert DeNiro’s film The Good Shepherd, but turned it down and the role was passed on to Matt Damon. If you are a Leonardo DiCaprio fan, you will be pleased to here he has signed on to over eight films for the future, some of his much anticipated ones are Body of Lies where he stars alongside Russell Crowe and to be directed by Ridley Scott. Two films that will be directed by Martin Scorsese to take the tally to five between him and Leonardo are Shutter Island and The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt. Freedom within the Heart also tipped to be a great feature, will success for Leonardo DiCaprio lie in one of these screenplays?
Tom Hanks is arguably the most successful actor of all time. Well known for not backing away from any challenging script, he has being rewarded justly. He has being nominated for five academy awards in total for best leading actor, taking home two of them. He won an Oscar for his role in Forrest Gump and another for Philadelphia, alongside Denzel Washington when he played a gay, HIV infected patient. Hank’s was also nominated for his roles in Big, Saving Private Ryan, and Cast Away. In Forrest Gump, Hanks not only took home an Academy Award but pocketed an estimated 70 million dollars in one of the biggest pay days of all time. In Saving Private Ryan he collected 40 million dollars plus a gross percentage of the film, also estimated to take the total well over 50 million. He was reportably offered the lead role in Jerry Maguire, he turned it down and the role went to Tom Cruise who was able to turn the film into a blockbuster. For a man who has endured a lot of accomplishments, many thought that his time at the top was over until an old friend in Ron Howard would reunite them back together for the film The Da Vinci Code, it would become one of the most speculated movies ever made. Howard and Hanks will come together again in a new film called Angels and Demons, a crime, drama and thriller starring alongside Naomi Watts. Another film to be released that has brought Tom Hanks a lot of success in the past is Toy Story 3, filming is due to begin shortly. For his rare failures in his last two films after The Da Vinci Code, the future is sure to be full of gold again for Tom Hanks.
One of the most overlooked tyrants of Hollywood is Adam Sandler, through his Happy Madison productions he has built an empire. With competition hot on heels coming from every direction, the pressure is on from Sandler to produce script after script, so far he has lived up to every expectation. He is the only comedic actor who demands the 20 million dollar price tag for his services, which is unheard of in this genre making him a pioneer for the current generation. His high price tag begun with Little Nicky, where he was paid 20 million, his biggest pay day coming from Anger Management along side Jack Nicholson where he pocketed 25 million plus gross percentage. He backed out of the role of the taxi driver in the movie Collateral, a role that later went to Jamie Foxx and earned him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He also was considered for the role of Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which was won by Johnny Depp who also received an Academy Award. For what has been a glittery career, there has being concerns with the direction he is moving in. His recent films to be released are You Don’t Mess with the Zohan and Bedtime Stories, they are being viewed as relatively weak compared to his standards. However the best indication of the future is to look at the past.
To ensure box office success, there is no chance of overlooking these tyrants of Hollywood. These four men have dominated their area of expertise like no other, and have redefined the word blockbuster. At the peak of their powers, can they sustain their level of success, or slip from the highest of highs. With the healthy competition that trails them, we are assured of a great future in films.
Travis Duncan
If you are looking for a man who is assured of success, then your search ends at Will Smith. The man who has been dubbed in Hollywood as a walking blockbuster is without a doubt, one of the most talented and versatile actors in the world. He is able to successfully perform and break any boundaries in any genre including action, comedy or drama. Smith received the first of his 20 million dollar price tags on the film that really signalled his intent to the world, Ali. The depiction of inspirational boxer Muhammad Ali earned him an Academy Award Nomination, he would later receive a nomination for yet another film based on a true story in his portrayal of Chris Gardiner in The Pursuit of Happiness. His biggest payday coming from his futuristic film I, Robot where he took home a clean 28 million courtesy of gross percentage. He once turned down the lead role in The Matrix which later went to Keanu Reeves, to do The Wild, Wild West. He has since publicly stated it was the worst move of his career. What does the future hold for Smith? His new film Hancock is an action, comedy and drama starring himself and Charlize Theron, directed by Transformers director Peter Berg. He is also rumoured to be cast alongside Kevin Spacey, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Sacha Baron Cohen in a drama directed by Steven Spielberg called The Trial of the Chicago Seven. Whatever the film you can be assured it will feature well at the box office.
Leonardo DiCaprio has been in high demand since his break away from films. Although he has been criticised for his one genre acting style, he has built an empire courtesy of it. DiCaprio has demanded his 20 million dollar price tag since his film The Beach, once accepting 10 million on the Gangs of New York, but adding the gross percentage sent him sailing over 20 million dollars. He has being referred to as an Academy Award waiting to occur, having being nominated for the lead actor in the portrayal of millionaire tycoon Howard Hughes in The Aviator, in addition he received a nomination for his depiction of a diamond smuggler in Blood Diamond, also based on a true story. He also received a nomination for the best supporting actor alongside Johnny Depp in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. In 2000 he was attached and allegedly offered 20 million dollars to star in American Psycho, but had to pull out due to scheduling conflicts, the role later went to Christian Bale. DiCaprio was also offered the lead role in Robert DeNiro’s film The Good Shepherd, but turned it down and the role was passed on to Matt Damon. If you are a Leonardo DiCaprio fan, you will be pleased to here he has signed on to over eight films for the future, some of his much anticipated ones are Body of Lies where he stars alongside Russell Crowe and to be directed by Ridley Scott. Two films that will be directed by Martin Scorsese to take the tally to five between him and Leonardo are Shutter Island and The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt. Freedom within the Heart also tipped to be a great feature, will success for Leonardo DiCaprio lie in one of these screenplays?
Tom Hanks is arguably the most successful actor of all time. Well known for not backing away from any challenging script, he has being rewarded justly. He has being nominated for five academy awards in total for best leading actor, taking home two of them. He won an Oscar for his role in Forrest Gump and another for Philadelphia, alongside Denzel Washington when he played a gay, HIV infected patient. Hank’s was also nominated for his roles in Big, Saving Private Ryan, and Cast Away. In Forrest Gump, Hanks not only took home an Academy Award but pocketed an estimated 70 million dollars in one of the biggest pay days of all time. In Saving Private Ryan he collected 40 million dollars plus a gross percentage of the film, also estimated to take the total well over 50 million. He was reportably offered the lead role in Jerry Maguire, he turned it down and the role went to Tom Cruise who was able to turn the film into a blockbuster. For a man who has endured a lot of accomplishments, many thought that his time at the top was over until an old friend in Ron Howard would reunite them back together for the film The Da Vinci Code, it would become one of the most speculated movies ever made. Howard and Hanks will come together again in a new film called Angels and Demons, a crime, drama and thriller starring alongside Naomi Watts. Another film to be released that has brought Tom Hanks a lot of success in the past is Toy Story 3, filming is due to begin shortly. For his rare failures in his last two films after The Da Vinci Code, the future is sure to be full of gold again for Tom Hanks.
One of the most overlooked tyrants of Hollywood is Adam Sandler, through his Happy Madison productions he has built an empire. With competition hot on heels coming from every direction, the pressure is on from Sandler to produce script after script, so far he has lived up to every expectation. He is the only comedic actor who demands the 20 million dollar price tag for his services, which is unheard of in this genre making him a pioneer for the current generation. His high price tag begun with Little Nicky, where he was paid 20 million, his biggest pay day coming from Anger Management along side Jack Nicholson where he pocketed 25 million plus gross percentage. He backed out of the role of the taxi driver in the movie Collateral, a role that later went to Jamie Foxx and earned him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He also was considered for the role of Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which was won by Johnny Depp who also received an Academy Award. For what has been a glittery career, there has being concerns with the direction he is moving in. His recent films to be released are You Don’t Mess with the Zohan and Bedtime Stories, they are being viewed as relatively weak compared to his standards. However the best indication of the future is to look at the past.
To ensure box office success, there is no chance of overlooking these tyrants of Hollywood. These four men have dominated their area of expertise like no other, and have redefined the word blockbuster. At the peak of their powers, can they sustain their level of success, or slip from the highest of highs. With the healthy competition that trails them, we are assured of a great future in films.
Travis Duncan
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