As a writer and film enthusiast, I’ve had the pleasure of following the career of Chris Pine, or as some may call him, the young Tom Cruise, with great interest. His journey in Hollywood is reminiscent of the iconic Cruise, filled with both successes and challenges.
Glen Powell acknowledges his good looks have typecast him in various roles throughout his career. In the 2012 film “Stuck in Love,” he was labeled as “Good Looking Frat Guy.” His character on “Scream Queens,” Chad Radwell, carried the same label. In last year’s romantic comedy “Anyone But You,” his character was perceived as a self-centered fitness enthusiast and finance broker. The flyboy role in “Top Gun: Maverick” saw him portraying a cocky pilot who believed he was the best. Despite Tom Cruise correcting him, Hangman’s unexpected heroics at the end provided a satisfying resolution, emphasizing that this is just a entertaining movie where everything works out fine.
In the upcoming film “Twisters,” a sequel to the 1996 blockbuster tornado thriller, Powell’s character may resemble Hangman in terms of his role. Tyler Owens, portrayed as a storm chaser with a YouTube channel and a carefree attitude, is a likable character who brings enjoyment to this intentionally ridiculous tornado-themed adventure. Unlike others in the film, he seems to be enjoying himself. Powell, known for being friendly and laid-back, often travels with his small rescue dog and ensures that his parents can visit his movie sets. He recently returned to Austin, Texas, to escape the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles. However, on screen, Powell radiates an air of assurance and invulnerability that suggests he has a deep connection with tornadoes.
At the 2023 Venice Film Festival, Richard Linklater’s film “Hit Man,” featuring Powell as philosophy lecturer Gary Johnson who moonlights as a criminals’ entrapment specialist, generated significant buzz. Journalists, including myself, were captivated by Powell’s performance, proclaiming it his breakout moment into movie stardom. David Ehrlich of Indiewire described him as “a natural with a twinkle in his eye and dimples on either side of his face.” Co-writing and co-producing the film showcased Powell’s versatility, as he assumed various personas like a thick Russian accent and Patrick Bateman. In the film, Johnson is an unassuming, shy, bespectacled, jorts-wearing individual. However, his proficiency in adopting one of these badass personas, named Ron, eventually influences his real life, blurring the lines between the two. Essentially, Powell portrays an ordinary guy discovering his inner Glen Powell.
At the age of 35, Powell aims to establish himself as a versatile leading man, reminiscent of Tom Cruise’s early roles. He’s pursuing diverse film projects, including romantic comedies, historical dramas, and crime capers. Powell isn’t just striving for stardom; he wants to revive an era of stars that seems almost extinct. Choosing Twisters as his next project is an interesting decision for an actor yet to score a major box office hit. Although Hit Man garnered positive responses at film festivals and was acquired by Netflix, its success has been limited to the streaming platform. The original movie, Twister, did not require big names to succeed in theaters; it was led by Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton, who were not major stars at the time. Instead, these films’ appeal lies in their cutting-edge storm sequences.
In the movie “Twisters,” Daisy Edgar-Jones portrays the main character, Kate Carter. However, Powell, played by Noel Fisher, embodies the film’s stormy core as the rougharound-the-edges, merchandise-selling, and boisterous Tyler. He leads a team of eccentric tornado hunters and fires firecrackers into tornadoes. Initially, Tyler appears to be an obnoxious character, in stark contrast to Kate and her friend Javier (Anthony Ramos), who lost their closest companions to a tornado. But as the story unfolds, we discover that Tyler is actually a kind-hearted, easygoing guy with a soft spot, possibly even romantic inclinations. Unlike the violent portrayal of a nice guy turning into a killer in “Hit Man,” here, the caricatured Tyler shows his true nature as a good person hidden beneath the exterior. Powell skillfully brings this transformation to life on screen.
The art of becoming a star is an enigmatic and risky process. Actors hone their craft to become one with their roles, merging seamlessly into the films. In contrast, stars have the power to stand out, momentarily breaking the boundary between screen and audience, pulling us away from the movie. It’s often a star’s limitations that matter more than their talents. Consider Brad Pitt’s electrifying yet brief appearance as a rowdy one-night stand in “Thelma & Louise” (1991). Or Harrison Ford’s worn-out charm elevating Han Solo above the sci-fi absurdity of “Star Wars” (1977). Or Denzel Washington’s subtle winks throughout his brilliant portrayal of Steve Biko in the otherwise heavy historical drama “Cry Freedom” (1987). Even going back, think of how Clint Eastwood’s understated, squinting performance in “A Fistful of Dollars” (1964) transformed a low-budget Italian western into an enduring reflection on the western hero.
I followed the path of anonymity and supporting roles for many years before my mid-30s brought me unexpected success. Like Eastwood, I started out in Austin, Texas, with a role in “Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over” at the age of 13, and went on to do small movies and bit parts. However, my journey in Los Angeles proved to be a frustrating experience with countless auditions for major roles and minimal progress. I even had a brief appearance as a Wall Street guy in “The Dark Knight Rises.”
As a cinephile, I’ve always been fascinated by Powell’s journey in Hollywood. After spending years in the background, he now embraces the limelight with open arms. He engages in interviews, podcasts, and TV shows, even sharing personal tips on fitness, dating, and social media. There were whispers of a romantic connection between him and Sweeney during the promotion of “Anyone But You.” Although these rumors were unfounded, they played along with the speculation, poking fun at it on Saturday Night Live. Going through a breakup at the time, Powell credits Sweeney (whose fiancé was one of the film’s producers) for helping him accept the attention. Their viral promo clip, where they recite ASMR-style pickup lines to each other, further solidified his image as a celebrity who revels in the spotlight while maintaining a sense of self-awareness. Most stars shy away from excessive exposure, but Powell isn’t afraid to put it all out there.
In simpler terms, Tyler’s portrayal by Powell in “Twisters” is surprising and effective because not many actors could make such a character endearing instead of annoying. The YouTuber character seems unlikely to win over Kate’s down-to-earth mother (Maura Tierney), but Powell manages to make their interactions not only believable but also inevitable. While young Matthew McConaughey or Tom Cruise might have attempted this role, they each had distinct career paths at the time, with McConaughey focusing on romantic comedies and Cruise carefully selecting his roles for depth and likability. The public saw these actors differently than how their film characters were portrayed – McConaughey was swinging between box office hits and underperforming films, while Cruise demanded script rewrites to make his characters more complex.
During his recruitment for “Maverick,” Cruise advised Powell not to shy away from customizing roles to showcase his abilities. It’s evident that Powell has followed this advice diligently. Before joining “Maverick,” he requested modifications in characters Hangman and Hit Man. In earlier drafts, Hangman was a nepotism case named Slayer who wasn’t even a skilled pilot. Powell not only collaborated on the production of Hit Man; the concept was his brainchild initially. He drew inspiration from an article about Gary Johnson in “Texas Monthly” and contacted fellow Texan and collaborator Linklater about it. It will be intriguing to observe how Powell molds his future roles. With a Hulu comedy series, “Chad Powers,” based on the viral Eli Manning persona, and upcoming films like “Huntington,” a reimagined version of “Kind Hearts and Coronets,” a remake of “The Running Man,” and a fact-based legal drama titled “Monsanto” in production, it’s clear that Powell is carefully choosing his projects while enjoying the process.
At the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, Netflix held a low-key gathering for actor Powell and a handful of writers. I don’t usually go to such events, but I made an exception for this one. With Powell fresh from the success of “Hit Man” and its rave reviews, he had just finished filming “Twisters,” and “Anyone But You” was still playing in theaters. Once I arrived at the party, I mostly talked to my colleagues instead of engaging with the actor, despite his friendly demeanor and frequent laughter while eating Netflix-served pie. As Powell prepared to leave, he approached me, shook my hand, and sincerely said, “Hi there, sorry we didn’t get a chance to talk.” He then mentioned reading my review of “Hit Man,” which he acknowledged was among the earliest published after its Venice premiere.
Although I shouldn’t have been impressed, I couldn’t help but be when I saw how prepared Powell was. It was just a small gathering of journalists, yet he had thoroughly read through all our previous works and made it a point to let us know. It reminded me of Tom Cruise’s meticulous nature. And yes, it came across as rather uncool. Picture Powell sitting in front of a computer screen, taking detailed notes as he diligently clicked through articles penned by individuals like myself. In today’s world of celebrity, an air of effortlessness is expected. However, Powell chose to display his hard work.
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2024-07-22 19:01