Analysis & Commentary Rick on 17 Apr 2008 01:37 am
Robert Downey on the Rebound
Just about my favorite American actor is starring in the biggest blockbuster of the summer (ok, other than You-know-who in the Kingdom of You-know-what). It’s Iron Man, of course, and while I appreciate a good comic book movie as well as the next guy, I really appreciate him in those smaller, quirky roles like tranny-loving Terry Crabtree in Wonder Boys or Harry Lockhart in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.
Whatever, I’m glad he’s turned his life around, for the moment, at least, and Rebecca Winters Keegan has an appreciation in Time:
Fifteen years after he was nominated for an Oscar for his uncanny portrayal of Charlie Chaplin and seven years after his last of several well-publicized trips to either rehab or jail, Downey, 43, is finally claiming the career he was always meant to have, one befitting a fiercely talented, eccentric and magnetic leading man. Later this summer, Downey will appear as an Australian Method actor who is overly committed to playing a black soldier in Ben Stiller’s raucous satire of filmmaking and war movies, Tropic Thunder. And in the fall comes another plum role, as a journalist who discovers a schizophrenic Juilliard violinist (Jamie Foxx) living on the streets of Los Angeles in Joe Wright’s drama The Soloist. Downey’s career feels a lot more than six years removed from 2002, when Woody Allen said he couldn’t afford to cast the unstable actor in Melinda and Melinda because it cost too much to insure him.
More power to him.
And now, for something completely related:
RSS 2.0
on 17 Apr 2008 at 2:13 am # janetleigh
Hello. I’m here by way of Amputated Moon, Pam’s blog..:) Just want to say how thrilled I am that Downey looks like he’s turned his life around. I understand it’s due to his fairly new marriage to the woman of his dreams. I’ve always been disturbed when he’d go off half-cocked not knowing if he was going to off himself or OD and deprive the world of his immense talent. It’s nice to know there’s someone else out here in the blogosphere who realizes this man’s rightful place in the universe and wishes him well and many happy trails.. from here on in. It looks like Iron Man could be a blockbuster from the trailer’s I’ve seen on TV. I wish him the absolute best. And you, too!
on 17 Apr 2008 at 4:46 pm # Ibetolis
Thanks for the welcome to LAMB post.
Must admit to having a soft spot for Mr Downey Jr as well, I’ve always felt that we’ve yet to see the best from him.
Glad you liked the banner and that someone has recognised it. Can’t go wrong with a bit of Ikiru. One of my all time favs.
Oh, and I really like your blog, would you consider a link exchange?
on 17 Apr 2008 at 10:23 pm # Rick
Sure. Consider it done … your link is on my blogroll.
I’m a major Kurosawa fan, and Ikiru is perhaps my favorite of his.
on 19 Apr 2008 at 10:30 am # Pat
While I’m a not a fan of comic book-action hero movies, I’m definitely planning to see “Iron Man” just for Robert Downey Jr. (And yeah, he was great in “Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang.”)
BTW - Could we possibly exchange blog links? Thanks.
on 19 Apr 2008 at 3:19 pm # Rick
Pat –
I like your blog, don’t know how I missed putting it on my blogroll. It is now.
on 20 Apr 2008 at 8:05 am # Marilyn
I have been a RD, Jr. fan for a long time and have always been distressed by his self-destructive behavior. My favorite Downey moment was at the Chicago International Film Festival when Downey made a personal appearance to talk about his new film at the time, the unfairly dissing The Singing Detective. (I’m a big fan of the TV miniseries but still thought the film had a lot going for it, including, surprise(!), Mel Gibson.) He showed up way late, and the stupid organizers wouldn’t let us into the theatre until he did. So everyone was grumpy and cold. Richard Roeper, my least-favorite “critic” and Chicago newspaperman was to do the interview with Downey. Downey tore him a new one and was absolutely wonderful in talking about the movie (though a little group therapy-ish). It was great!
I’ll looking forward to Tropic Thunder. The other one sounds a little too much like The Caveman’s Valentine. How will it distinguish itself, I wonder.
on 22 Apr 2008 at 4:10 pm # Tony Tanti
Great post.
I love Robert Downey Jr., can’t wait for Iron Man and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang was one of the most unexpectedley good movies I saw last year.
You should see A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints.
on 22 Apr 2008 at 6:50 pm # Rick
Thanks, Tony … I’ll take your advice.
on 03 May 2008 at 12:56 am # Joseph
Gotta love The Online. Great video.