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thank you crazy for pointing out that the title of the thread was not most promising awards whore...

I probably missed the point of the poll but I feel when it is all said and done Joseph Gordon-Levitt's career will be the most memorable. I am talking about the unofficial actor's hall-of-fame. I am just not certain that some of the other actors on this list have the tools to tranisition into the rest of their career. I mean I know Ms. Johansson, Ms. Knightley, Mr. Gosling and Mr. Gordon Levitt have the chops but I am not sure who else does. The only reason I pick Joe over the rest is the word promising, referring to potential. Everyone else I have mentioned is in the first part of their careers, creating name recognition and career stability (something Ms. Lohan could take a page from), the next step is the Ali step that Will Smith took a few years ago. The step that distinguishes actors from movie stars. The step that lifts you in the eyes of your peers and not just your audience....

I digress. I guess what I am saying is Shia is a movie star not sure he has what it takes to become an acting star and Hall-of-Famer like Willie and Julia. When I look at Joe I see Seymour-Hoffman and Giammatti except better looking, which puts his ceiling much higher than these tremendous gentleman, but potential is nothing just ask Ms. Lohan. I do think Joe could be one of the greats. He just needs one breakout and there will be no looking back.

Eh. He did a good job on his little cameo that seventies show. Other than that I haven't seen The Lookout yet so I don't know about all this potential. He hasn't really done that much so I think the proper forum he should be in is the better agent forum. And I thought Shia did an amazing job in disturbia. Its not like he's sticking to one genre. He's got a pretty wide asortment to. Let's just wait a few years and see who really blooms.

Honestly, I'm mildly disappointed at the bad wrap Joseph Gordon-Levitt gets for having been on 3rd Rock. If anything it shows his range (I personally liked the show, and it was on for quite a long time, so others must have agreed at some point). Additionally working with John Lithgow and Jane Curtin for the amount of time that he got, can be nothing short of amazing.

I can't believe he is being mentioned as a "promising young star" his career up to now has been nothing but consistent!
- He had memorable roles as a child actor culminating in major roles in Angels in the Outfield (Kiddie flick) and The Juror (Drama)
- As a "teen" he branched out WHILE continuing to film 3rd rock - he stepped out with 10 Things I Hate About you, then filled some MASSIVE shoes opposite Don Cheadle and Zooey Deschanel in his first dramatic lead in Manic (to me this was his real emotional breakout starring role, not sure why Brick and The Lookout are getting the attention for it)
- His recent hits Mysterious Skin, Brick, and The Lookout have just been a continuation of an already solid career.

Shia LaBeouf is definitely my choice. Coming from the UK, the one you need to look out for is James McAvoy.

James McAvoy played Tumnus in Narnia, correct?

As for Gordon-Levett, His career may allign with someone like John Cusack- solid but not great actor with a smaller but loyal audience base.
(I like Cusack, I just have admitted to myself that he's not one of the greats. I still like watching his films.)

jameydunne wrote:

James McAvoy played Tumnus in Narnia, correct?

Correct, he also got a bit more props for Last King of Scotland.

As for Gordon-Levett, His career may allign with someone like John Cusack- solid but not great actor with a smaller but loyal audience base.
(I like Cusack, I just have admitted to myself that he's not one of the greats. I still like watching his films.)

*Aghast* I honestly have a hard time believing you could say a thing like that about John Cusak, but then to me he's right up there with Johnny Depp and Christian Bale as an actor. The fact alone that he was able to carry the audience attention/interest alone in a room for over an hour in 1408 - has to say something about his talent.

becs, I'm not questioning his talents- High Fidelity is one of my favorite films and he is one of those actors that I would watch in a movie sight unseen. And I'm not questioning his abilty that he showed in 1408- I didn't have the opportunity in my schedule to see in the theatre so I will have to see it on DVD first. I'm simply making the point that I don't think his career ever made it over to the 'great' list. But to be fair, most actors, and most of the actors I really like, don't really deserve the right to be on the short list of greats.

I guess If being a great was an 'A', I would rank Cusack's career at a B-B+. I would have ranked Johnny Depp a B+ before Pirates. I would Put his career at A- now post Pirates.

The Brittish version of John Cusack, Colin Firth, is another actor I really enjoy. And on the US side, I would rank his film staus about B.

I hope that better explains what I meant to say about Cusack.

jameydunne wrote:

James McAvoy played Tumnus in Narnia, correct?

As for Gordon-Levett, His career may allign with someone like John Cusack- solid but not great actor with a smaller but loyal audience base.
(I like Cusack, I just have admitted to myself that he's not one of the greats. I still like watching his films.)

Yes, James McAvoy was in Narnia. I have read articles where Shia LaBeouf is called "a young John Cusack". Or someone even said that he looked a bit like him.

Shrugs. I look at LaBeouf and I definitely see a young man that could easily pass as a relative of Kyle Chandler (of Early Edition, to go into the past, and King Kong, to step into the present). There is definitely a strong appearance resemblance. I voted for LaBeouf for the same reason I've been rooting for him for years: I saw him in Holes, years ago, and his performance for a child of his age blew me away. And of course Constantine (say bad things about the movie itself if you like, but his acting was spot-on -- in fact, he hasn't always picked A movies, but he has done pretty well at predicting, or even making, A roles; that's a gift). Even though I don't target him as someone whose movies I want to watch, I keep seeming to watch em. That says a lot.

The danger for him, and for all of these actors, is ducking away from stereotypes. I have always been a huge fan of Cusack but I've also noticed that he's been typecast for so long that he seems to keep playing similar characters, at least on an emotional level. I think he might just be BORED of it by now. I noticed that before Serendipity came out, but Serendipity did kind of clinch it for me. I still love him in "Better Off Dead" though

. I think he needs to break out. He's definitely pulling an "About A Boy" (or trying to) with Alien Child, but I think that movie and movies like it will probably wind up being his comfort zone for a few years. Awkward age. Oddly, I think he might do better for his career, long-haul-wise, if he stepped away from the screen for a few years then came back with something really challenging to his typical role. I think he'd do wonderfully in something a whole lot grittier.

I like Gordon-Leavitt, but I don't see him as becoming a big-time leading man. I'd like to see him flex his muscles a bit more, if he's given a chance. My guess is he'll probably wind up with one of those character-actor resumes with minor repeated comebacks and perhaps eventually a major one when he's hit his mid-30s or so. Just a thought.

As for Lohan... I don't know if she has potential, but if she does, I don't think her adolescent behavior should be used as the ruler to judge by. Drew Barrymore went through a rough time but after getting over it, she wound up making a comeback and then surpassing anything she'd done previously. Life experience might show an actress to be bitchy, but generally speaking it is life that winds up being the great teacher for acting. Some of the best actors I know of have had less than uncheckered pasts. Robert Downey, Jr, for instance, came back with a vengeance after his problems.

In the end it'll be about presence, charisma, versatility, good judgment, and above all, I hope, great acting chops.

So, for guys: LaBeouf. Oh, and for girls? Knightly. Even if you don't consider her acting (which isn't bad, but could probably improve, and almost certainly WILL improve): She's got a lot of spunk, and a whole heaping ton of presence.

I just hope Mandy Moore doesn't wind up surpassing everybody on that list.

If for some reason, you had HSM2's Vanessa Hudgens on your list, you might wanna reconsider now...

i really do not get this whole gordon levitt thing...i mean maybe brick and the lookout were good but did anybody actually see them...i know that i didnt and neither did many other people.

I'm not sure if he'll ever break through, but I think Jesse Eisenberg is a darn good actor.

I've only seen him in Roger Dodger and The Squid and the Whale though. Seeing him in The Hunting Party should be quite fun - I thought the Matador was very cool.

Can't wait for "I'm not There"

I recommend going out and renting The Lookout and Brick for Levitt's performances.

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