Is Paul Mescal A Movie Star?

[just444]

just watched gladiator ii. the difference between an actor and a movie star has never been more apparent lmao
- feral (@ncrmalpeople) November 19, 2024

Gladiator 2 is getting...fine reviews, but a few people noted that lead Paul Mescal was maybe not the right casting for a big action blockbuster role

denzel on the other hand ……………. an actor AND

Comments

[genbu_no_miko24]

I haven't seen the movie yet but I feel like most young actors coming out now want to be seen more as ~serious actor~ (while acting coy about awards) and all more than a movie star but at the same time I think some do want a bit of the limelight.

Paul said he'd be fine doing indies like aftersun for the rest of his life but he also saw Top Gun: Maverick and be up to do that too.

The movie star can be talented but a lot of it I think is reliant on charisma and an enigma-like state. Cause Denzel comes from the 90s A-list and all of them had that it-factor whether you liked them or not. The newcomers seem nice but are also kinda boring and lacking more upfront-ness.

[donaestrangera]

I feel like the current crop of young white male actors are almost all better suited for indie movies than blockbusters but the industry is desperate so will shove anyone with any bit of Internet following into a blockbuster in hopes their fans will show up to see the movie. I felt that way about Timothee in both Wonka and Dune 2 and it sounds like Paul is the same in Gladiator 2. She’s an actress obviously but Anya Taylor-Joy was similarly miscast in Furiosa. She doesn’t have the same physical presence as Charlize.

I agree, they all lack charisma and enigma in part because of social media but in part also because they’re not really being encouraged to have actual personalities… we talked about this in another post but they just pander to their fans and what they think their fans want, while older stars all had strong personalities.

[genbu_no_miko24]

See I think Timmy has more of a likability than Paul and the others cause he does put himself out there. Dune being successful is partially due to his own popularity cause I think back to another Denis Villenueve film -Blade Runner 2049 which had Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford...that's 2 guys with a generational popularity but that movie flopped. Marketing played a part in this but not even Ryan's popularity could get that box office. Dune similarly could've flopped since it has a similar niche following despite having a lot of pop culture shoutouts in other mediums but most people wouldn't know it. I think having popular actors like Timmy and Zendaya really helped it. So compared to his peers he does seem to have that box office and enough fans who'll go see his movies. Dune is also a lot meatier and complex than the Blade Runner universe.

I need to watch Furiosa again cause I thought Anya was good but wonky in some scenes. But Anya doesn't strike me as someone actively chasing movie star status.

[donaestrangera]

yeah, i agree that out of his peers Timothee has the strongest personality, but i also think he's much better suited for indie movies. idk, he def did bring in a lot of box office for Dune 2 but i also think he was just miscast! i would absolutely not be convinced to follow him into battle. his performance was fine up until that point though.

i don't even know if i'm going to bother to see Gladiator 2 but Paul also is just better suited for indie movies.

And Anya, i think she needs to be our period piece queen. she didn't work as an action movie lead for me.

[genbu_no_miko24]

See for me I believed it only because we follow his journey from this guy who gets this destiny thrust on him but he's totally aware of the scam of it all to eventually buying into it primarily to suit his agenda so I feel like the writing was smart there. Cause I'll agree some of his acting in the final confrontation could've been better. But when it comes to acting, I thought Rebecca Ferguson was the best actor of the bunch.

Anya def does seem to be better in smaller, not necessarily indie, films. Because Emma, Queen's Gambit, and The Witch are some of her best.

[donaestrangera]

yeah as i said i was fine with Timothee's performance up until the climax which was when i couldn't buy into it anymore. for me the MVPs were Rebecca Ferguson and Austin Butler but they admittedly didn't have to lead the movie like he did so he had a taller task.

btw off topic but i meant to ask, have you seen Conclave yet? i was bored and i wanted a drink so i decided to go to the movie theater to see it before it leaves theaters (think it's going to be on VOD next week). the theater was more full than i thought it would be except i was the only person under the age of like, 70. the elderly turned out to see Ralph Fiennes play a tortured gossipy cardinal!!! i feel like he's going to lose to Adrien Brody but i'd love to see him snatch that Oscar.

[genbu_no_miko24]

LOL I haven't seen Conclave yet but I've seen a lot of people make comparison to Mean Girls!! He's basically the Regina George of the Vatican!! MY MAN RALPH HAS BEEN IGNORED FOR FALL TO LOONG AT THE ACADEMY!!

[donaestrangera]

you need to see it lol, i kept thinking oh you're going to eat this up! ralph spends all his time gossiping, sabotaging other cardinals, throwing other cardinals under the bus, etc. all the while he's shaking and crying at the thought he might have to become the pope himself. i'm going to rewatch it too once it's on VOD.

i see it now, he's going to harness the power of the elderly vote (i saw he got nominated for an AARP Movies for Grown Ups Award earlier today) and snatch that Oscar from Adrien Brody! there were two elderly lesbians making out in front of me during the movie and i was losing it. like of all movies to make out like teenagers during??!!

[genbu_no_miko24]

LOL I need to find a stream!! I'm actually watching a decent cam leak of gladiator ii rn because of this post!!

The Brutalist has an almost 4-hr runtime iirc...lol sorry Brady Corbet you're not a Scorsese or even Nolan to inspire that much patience. Although funny that movie comes out next month and I haven't a new trailer meanwhile Babygirl is released 5 days after (christmas day) and it has 2 trailers already. Both are A24 films and both premiered at Venice....I'm surprised it's been quiet given the rave reviews at Venice....hmm A24 shifted it's awards prospects or are they just waiting till it's closer to release date 🤔

[donaestrangera]

LOL! report back and tell me if gladiator 2 is worth watching. the reviews are kinda off-putting which is why i was originally planning to go and now i'm not so sure. i already promised to take my sister to wicked this weekend and moana 2 the next weekend anyway

[itsme_eloise]

popping into this thread to say i cackled when he went from one scene saying "don't tell me, the sanctity of the conclave must be preserved 😔" to literally next sidling up to someone and asking "what did you know and when did you know it"

[feitality]

Anya Taylor-Joy seemed to clean and demure for Furiosa. I believe Charlize is a badass surviving armageddon, ATJ on the other hand... I'm sorry but she's more fit for one of the concubines.

I liked Timothee on Dune though.

[bttrsondaughter]

anya taylor-joy as furiousa...i knew she wouldn't be able to pull it off as soon as i saw her eat that burger in The Menu like. that character is supposed to be ravenous, she's supposed to devour it. and anya taylor-joy ate it like it was a macaron.

emma stone was originally supposed to play that role in The Menu and like. she would've been straight up nasty about that burger.

[dnttllhrry]

You didn't lie about Emma Stone. lol

[takarai_karin]

I watched The Menu and in my head keep thinking this would've been a good movie for a younger JLaw. And JLaw would've gone to town with that last scene.

[rabbitofalice]

i was so mad about her being cast as the lead in that movie
every time they told her she should not be there, i was furious because she fit in perfectly with that crowd
she was nothing like the character she supposed to play