“The Prince of Darkness”Miles Davis is one cool cat with a radiant smile and a world of influence on the landscape of jazz (too much to touch on here). Plus, a tough life left him looking like a very powerful warlock, which is awesome.
Indie StudJoseph Gordon Levitt, or “Jiggles” if you want to get cute with his initials (and who wouldn’t) has become a surprisingly dignified star from his beginnings in 90’s sitcom to his current status as indie darling. He is adorable but with a tailored manliness that the great suits he always seems to be costumed in can’t take all the credit for. I find him quite irresistibly charming and he seems to be the very rarest of actors: un-douchey. Though, it seems like every time I find myself applauding someone, they end up involved in some sleazy hi-jinx (it didn’t tale long for Shia LeBouf to get drunk at a Walgreens, and just the other day, I was saying that I liked Casey Affleck and …).
PS My brother in law shot the photo below.
Humble beginnings.
Tragic Hollywood StarThe incredibly handsome Montgomery Clift was nothing if not tragic. His gradual decline after a face altering accident was called “the longest suicide in Hollywood history” which was fueled by alcohol, bisexual affairs, and drug abuse. Certainly not the most sunny life, but his career included some searing performances which he brought an element of internal turmoil to. I have always loved the movie A Place in the Sun and his performance (along with the amazing Shelley Winters and Elizabeth Taylor) is spectacular and quietly intense. Other stand outs are Suddenly, Last Summer and Judgement at Nuremberg and he was supposed to play the lead in Sunset Boulevard (the role went to William Holden due to scheduling conflicts).
African Musician and the Man Who Plays Him on BroadwayOf all the Tony nominated plays and musicals from the year on Broadway, Fela! looks the most interesting. I’ve yet to see the acclaimed show but find the dynamic star Sahr Ngaujah stunning to gaze upon, especially when sporting an off white tuxedo with snake skin lapels as he did on the Tonys red carpet. The legendary musician, Fela Kuti, whom he plays is an equally intreguing, stylish and handsome man on top of being a revolutionary Nigerian activist and artist.
The Great Stone FaceBuster Keaton has been called “as beautiful but as inhuman as a butterfly” a fitting and poetic description of my personal favorite comedian of his time and genre. While his life was not all roses (he struggled with alcoholism) his work was influential and bring happiness to many.
His heyday was the 1920s but he continued to work well into his later life. My personal favorite appearance is as one of the “Waxworks” in Sunset Boulevard.
Utah!Decided to follow up my trip down childhood heart throb lane (see River Phoenix) with his fellow My Own Private Idaho star, Keanu Reeves. Of course any young girl knows his name means “the breeze”, Sassy Magazine taught us that. As he was a cool, refreshing breeze, the kind of goofy, kind but totally hot man that we all hoped to end up dating some day. And while some might say his acting skills are lacking, I’d refer them to his resume, which includes some pretty impressive and diverse stuff: Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, River’s Edge, Dangerous Liasons, Parenthood, My Own Private Idaho, The Matrix, Bram Strocker’s Dracula, and the mother of them all Point Break! So, ok, the quality of material has tapered off lately (Constantine, The Lake House, The Day the Earth Stood Still) but it doesn’t make his any less charming and it only makes that next movie where he’s really going to shine more exciting (though no word on when it’s coming.. could it be the live action version of Cowboy Bebop?). Also, once he nodded to my dad so you know he’s a good guy too.
Italian ActorAside from Camelot, which I only have the vaguest recollections of as a child, I don’t believe I’ve seen a single frame of any Franco Nero film, but one look at his steely heart stopping gaze has made me a gigantic fan. I might even stoop to watch some old westerns to get an eye full. Aside from his Italian acting career, he has been married to the lovely Vanessa Redgrave not once but twice.
Wizard and Time BanditDavid Warner wasn’t the only hunk to emerge from my recent review of Time Bandits. I distinctly remember developing quite the crush on David Rappaport, leader of the rogue time travelers. While this was most likely his most famous role, he also starred in a series called The Wizard, that after looking up on the very in-depth fan site, does tickle some long past memories for me.
I’m also fairly certain (though could find nothing to corroborate) that he starred in an unaired pilot based on the Mongo detective novels by George C. Chesbro.
I was absolutely distraught and dismayed to learn that he killed himself a while back after a long battle with depression.
I adored Titus Welliver as Silas on Deadwood, and was thrilled when he showed up as the man in black on Lost (whose casting team seems intent on featuring nearly all of Deadwood’s key actors – will the final episode star Ian McShane? That would be awesome). Last week’s episode dedicated to the telling of Richard’s story allowed more screen time for the now silvery haired and dreamily steely gazed hunk.
I hope more appearances on Lost are to follow, because as much as I love the guy I’m simply not willing to tune into The Good Wife.
Dancing GangsterFrom dangerous wise guy to fancy footed musical man, the uniquely manly James Cagney has had several faces in his varied career. Born on the Lower East Side, he was a real life tough guy before playing one in gangster films. And while it seems strange that a sex symbol would be born out of smashing a grapefruit in a woman’s face, here we are. Cagney’s real life persona was a far cry from a brute though. He stayed with his wife his entire life and was once s left leaning liberal (like so many, he veered more to the right the older he got). Also, in a very modern man move, he stayed out of the spotlight by purchasing his own farm where he would retire to often throughout his life. Plus, he’s got that crazy hair wave that defies explanation and makes me so happy.
Soul Singer SongwriterSoul singing Bobby Womack is mostly remembered for the scandal of marrying Sam Cooke’s widow mere months after his death. But it’s pretty pale stuff compared to some other big name scandals. He was a major songwriter and as you can see quite a handsome man who could hold his own with major side burns.
Charming Leading ManI have an affinity for fellow dimple cheeked persons but Kurt Russell would make my list of hunks even without them. I mean, who doesn’t love this adorable (yet manly) rascal? One of Hollywood’s steady and solid leading men known for his fetching anti-heroes (see Snake from Escape from New York), Russell can also show a softer, funnier side (see the incredibly entertaining guilty pleasure Overboard and his real life role as family man with the infinitely cute Goldie Hawn).
It’s been a few years since he’s graced the screen, and the last time was a great opportunity lost on a mess of a movie (apologies Grindhouse fans) so it’s about time he got cast again. Sadly it won’t be to reprise his role as Snake, as that has been handed out to the increasingly less and less charming Gerard Butler.
As an added note, from a perusal of his wikipedia entry I came across this unusual tidbit:
“It was long reported that the final written words of Walt Disney were Kurt Russell’s name scribbled on a piece of paper. Russell confirmed that he had seen the paper himself, but did not know what Disney was trying to convey.”
Maybe Kurt Russell was the name of Disney’s boyhood sled.
Times ReporterOk I’ll admit that there’s something distinctly Patrick Bateman, or at least Jay McInerney/Bret Easton Ellis privileged evil about the looks of Times reporter Nicholas Confessore and I’ll admit it’s probably unfair to judge a book by his cover, but here we are.
Besides, I find Cofessore’s insights somewhat, well, insightful when he one ups the other reporters during the reporter round up on our favorite early evening local show Inside City Hall (which is better than ever with the dismissal of shockingly terrible Dominick Carter because of the lovely and tough (Jim crush) Elizabeth Kaledin). Well, he one ups style wise at least – imagine Jordan Catalano in a designer suit with a quirky (but expensive) tie plopped down among men and women that look like, well, normal hard working, no sleep, lots of cigarette Albany reporters. His baby blues stand out a mile away in the crowd and no doubt the pretty boy looks have gained him as many haters as admirers.
Gawker calls him a party-ho, but of course can’t help but take a photo of him at every single party he attends – usually with equally cute long time girlfriend Noelle Hancock on his arm. She’s also a reporter of sorts. Though while he was part of the crack team that took down Eliot Spitzer, she helped launch Us Weekly’s entertainment blog (laugh if you want – but I bet I know whose articles you’d secretly read more often).
Josh HollowayAs I write this, I’ve yet to watch the series finale of Lost but I am already a bit sad to realize it’ll be the last I’ll be seeing of Sawyer. The handsome guy is rarely my favorite character in anything – I prefer quirkier heroes, but Josh Holloway’s Southern grifter has defied my tradition. While, let’s face it, the actor looks like he would be equally well cast in the latest crappy CW drama about models (maybe a Models, Inc reboot anyone?), Holloway has become the show’s most complex and consistently beloved characters: he is the best comic relief (no small feat with a kind hearted nerdy jolly fat man on staff), a believably redeemed schemer, and a sexified romantic lead rolled into one Steinbeck-reading, cage sex making rogue. I’ll miss you hoss.
Childhood Heart Throb LostAfter Stand By Me came out, to which my sister and I sobbed uncontrollably at with every viewing during the epilogue, River Phoenix officially became my second beloved heart throb. The first being Corey Feldman, who even people who find his has been realty TV career and excruciating impersonations to be awful, have to admit he was pretty darn charming in, especially for a seven year old girl with a soft spot for smart asses.
But Phoenix was something different. More serious, more brooding, and he quickly overshadowed Feldman (who also stars in Stand By Me) with his kind and deep soul, a kindness and deepness, I have to admit was lost to me as a kid when he was pudgier in The Explorers, where I failed to begin my crush on him.
Of course as well all know Phoenix met his untimely death far too early, just as he was really beginning to shine as a talented actor. His best role, in my opinion was My Own Private Idaho, which hinted at the kind of unique choices he would have been likely to make later in his career.
Callan’s MenThis week’s TV pick, Callan is packed with British manliness and Edward Woodward and Patrick Mower are among the most dashing examples. Woodward might be more familiar to you from the show The Equalizer which, I have to admit, I’ve never actually seen.
Mower is less well known having made a career in Britain as television spies or detectives with his squished in nose (a feature that always drives me wild – see Noel Fielding or Joaquin Phoenix).
Click here to see the rest of Edward Woodward and Patrick Mower
Elegant and Sinister Character ActorJust like this week’s dessert (Peeps), I’m righting a wrong by adding David Warner to my list of hunks. He’s such an obvious love of mine that I simply took it for granted that I had mentioned him here before. The veteran actor, often sinisterly cast, boasts a great career of character roles including Jack the Ripper (Time After Time), Evil (Time Bandits), and Master Control Program in Tron.
Spend a Couple Hours of the week: American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity
