PRINTActors be-aging badly
When ancient icons need to take a step back
June 5, 2008 | 12:00 a.m. CST
Given the scrutiny of older female actresses (such as the fascination with dead-sexy Helen Mirren), Vox decided to turn the critical gaze on the old lions and find out why some AARP-eligible actors are still Hollywood material while others just seem old. Aging actors often have to reevaluate how they see themselves as stars. Many have found a way to continue acting without being sentenced to the old-folks home of Hollywood.
Harrison Ford
What made him big on the big screen: It goes without saying, but his roles as Indiana Jones and Han Solo in Star Wars will forever claim his name.
Now showing: Nearly 20 years later, Ford decided to reprise his role as Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which premiered May 22.
Blockbuster or bust? Although he’s no starving actor, this film should keep him comfortable for the next few years. “He is an A-list star amongst A-list stars, but he’s way above the others,” says MU graduate film instructor Ramsay Wise. “In terms of commercial success, he still has the potential to blow all the other ones out of the water.”
Al Pacino
What made him big on the big screen: He might as well be called The Godfather of actors, after his success in the 1972 film of the same name. This paved the way for future roles in Dog Day Afternoon (1975), Scarface (1983) and Scent of a Woman (1992).
Now showing: Pacino took on the role of an addicted gambler in Two for the Money (2005) and a schmoozing forensic psychologist in 88 Minutes, which was released April 18.
Blockbuster or bust? Often criticized for playing himself, Pacino stays busy playing authoritarian figures, and it seems to work. Although his recent films haven’t formed overnight lines at the theater, he promises to bring that adored Italian-American devil’s advocate to any film.
Robert De Niro
What made him big on the big screen: His performances in Taxi Driver (1976),The Godfather: Part II (1974) and Raging Bull(1980) earned him star status in Hollywood. With that infamous smirk, it’s no wonder that he’s still sought after by film producers.
Now showing: In the psycho-thriller Hide and Seek (2005), De Niro challenged himself by playing a broken down widower.
Blockbuster or bust? Although Hide and Seek wasn’t a blockbuster, it made more than $50 million at the box office. “If you need a tough gangster character, cast De Niro, and every gangster movie he’s ever made is there on the street immediately,” Wise says. This is one old man who can still scare the crap out of everyone.
Dustin Hoffman
What made him big on the big screen: The Graduate (1967) put him on the map, and he scored Oscars in Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) and Rain Man (1988).
Now showing: In the 2007 fantasy drama Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium, Hoffman played a senile but faithful, wild-haired shoe-wearer.
Blockbuster or bust? Splitting his time between films that are more artistic and broader comedies seems to be a good way to deal with an aging and maturing career. Although the box office numbers don’t show overwhelming revenue, Hoffman seems to be more focused on leaving a complete legacy.
Jack Nicholson
What made him big on the big screen: His first Oscar winner, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975), brought in a little over $108 million. That win was preceded by Chinatown (1974) and followed by The Shining (1980) and Terms of Endearment (1983). Nicholson’s wacky appeal is evidently timeless.
Now showing: His contrasting roles as an Irish mobster in The Departed (2006) and dying corporate billionaire in The Bucket List (2007) both did surprisingly well in the box office.
Blockbuster or bust? He is still able to open a movie with his star power and signature sunglasses. “His last movie he ever does will be just as good as his first,” says Mike Cusack, program director for the Downtown Optimist Club in Columbia. “He’s a classic. He will never drop his stature. Nicholson is just a stud.”
