Movie stars today don’t resemble actors like the great Walter Matthau.
The “Grumpy Old Men” star could have been the guy who cut meat at your corner grocery, or the worker who unplugged the stubborn clog in your sink.
You’d never see Matthau’s name attached to any plastic surgery rumors.
My latest piece for BoxOffice.com looks at the role appearance plays in Hollywood circa 2009 – just as Denzel Washington steps into Matthau’s shoes for the “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3″ remake.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Walter Matthau was superb. Although Denzel Washington is a fine actor, I really missed the charm that Matthau brought to the subway dispatcher in Pelham.
Paul Giamatti gets plenty of work, sometimes as the lead, in Hollywood. But he’s really the exception these days.
I could watch Matthau in “Bad News Bears” over … and over … again. I even forgive him for “Out to Sea.”
Where is he? Well, I saw him on AMC a few days ago , screwing with Audrey Hepburn’s head in “Charade”.
Sadly, a phenomenon the result of all the test groups and something I notice all too glaringly when watching shows and movies from the 70s/early 80s: Giamatti the exception to the rule, the “beautiful people” need to be cast. Off to watch a TiVo’ed “Newhart” with Larry, Darryl and Darryl.