When did it become illegal to cast rough-looking men as heroes?

[akiratubo]

Every movie I've seen in the past few years features smooth-skinned, reed-thin, perfecly manicured and coiffed guys in their twenties who would look more at home as underwear models than in any sort of action piece.

What happened to tough, rough, hardened action heroes?  Guys in their thirties or even forties who actually look like they've had some experience fighting?

Hell, even Dustin Hoffman in "Straw Dogs" made a more convincing action hero than most of the current crop.

[Fearless Freep]

Probably when the studios realized that the movie-going public was mostly teens and early twenties...

[Neville]

The funny thing is that I recently watched the Burt Reynolds actioner "Malone" and I remember chuckling whenever he was on screen. His appearence was carefully tailored to make him exude masculinity from all his pores, but he looked so dated that it was hilarious instead. Maybe that answers your question.

[Ed, Ego and Superego]

I hate the idea of all the pretty people as heroes.  Charles Bronson or Clint Eastwood would never get a shot any more.  Can you imagine Brad Pitt in Death Wish?  

-Ed

[Gerry]

Ed wrote:

> I hate the idea of all the pretty people as heroes.  Charles
> Bronson or Clint Eastwood would never get a shot any more.

Charles Bronson was my first thought too.  Followed by Doug McClure.  John Wayne would likely never make it in the current climate for that matter.

[Ozzymandias]

Gerry wrote:

> Ed wrote:
>
> > I hate the idea of all the pretty people as heroes.  Charles
> > Bronson or Clint Eastwood would never get a shot any more.
>
> Charles Bronson was my first thought too.  Followed by Doug
> McClure.  John Wayne would likely never make it in the current
> climate for that matter.
IMHO, Doug McClure is more in the Brad Pitt territory than in the Bronson corner. Blond, tan with a big smile. Vin Diesel is more of a Charles Bronson type with Yul Brenner's hair style.

[peter johnson]

Hey, ain't Humphrey Bogart just so pretty he could be gay?
peter crane/denny johnson

[BeyondTheGrave]

I noticed nowadays that when they want to cast a "rough looking charater" they go to rappers. Vin Diesal already ruined his career with Pacifier. He not going to be seen for awhile.

_____________________________
"We Greeks created democracy! You also created homos!"-Ghost World

[daveblackeye15]

Do you think Harrrison Ford would have made it as Indian Jones if this were happening back then? I doub it. Give us tough rugged guys!

[Ed, Ego and Superego]

Well, look at Brendan Fraser in the Mummy.  He's a total inaction hero.   He looks like our IT guy at work.
-Ed

[h.p. Love]

Russel Crow comes to mind. He's an ass off screen but I hate to admit that it's in a different way than anyone else I can think of.  Yeah, he's got hollywood looks, but he's believable in Cinderella Man as a boxer and he gets knocked around pretty good. He's the closest I can think to a "man's man" type. He seems pretty tough and not all in a gym muscle way, like a vin diesel or the pretty boys.

[zilla]

What about Bruce Willis?  He's still going stong and you got to admit he aint exactly Brad pitt.

[AndyC]

Bruce Willis is a rugged-looking guy, sure. But he secured stardom in the 80s, before things got bad.



Post Edited (07-04-05 20:19)

[dean]

Since when is Vin Diesel classified next to Brad Pitt?

I don't know about any of you, but in comparison to Pitt, Diesel is a rugged nasty pile of muscle...

[The Burgomaster]

Look at this list of "tough guy" actors compared to what we get today:

*  Charles Bronson
*  Clint Eastwood
*  Lee Marvin
*  John Wayne
*  Robert Mitchum
*  Kirk Douglas

Those guys could really mess you up.  Any one of them would give Brad Pitt or Colin Farrell a backhander and watch them run home crying.  We've entered the sissy generation.  Let's all join hands and pray . . .