Are American actors becoming obsolete?

[BluLobsta]

Well, with the likes of Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Sam Worthington, etc. snapping up some of the more iconic typically American roles, is the Yank talent pool fading? Take Henry Cavill being cast as Superman, for instance. Heck, even Piers Morgan has taken over primetime CNN Just some food for debate...

[sfmarine]

You bring up a good point. All the shows from the UK are coming to the US. I usually watch the old school Top Gear on BBC America. That show is great. The one on the History channel is a bit of a joke though.

As far as the actors...we still have Jack Nicholson..:

[Porkchop Express]

An American managed to get the role as Captain America.

[Rizor]

It sure seems like the American talent pool is drying up, especially with the younger actors. There are so many Brits, Aussies, etc. putting on American accents and taking all the roles in TV and movies.

[kamenriderrx]

I think it's the training. They take acting much more serious over seas as Americans go for "looks". You're handsome YOU should be an actor, you're a pretty model let's give you the girlfriend role in Transformers. I'm not saying that the actors over seas are ugly by any means but they train in their craft alot more. My 2 cents...

[Dotpattern]

Originally Posted by Rizor

It sure seems like the American talent pool is drying up, especially with the younger actors. There are so many Brits, Aussies, etc. putting on American accents and taking all the roles in TV and movies.

The American talent pool is not drying up. They're just in rehab.

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by Dotpattern

The American talent pool is not drying up. They're just in rehab.

great point!

and great topic OP!

i agree with what others have said: overseas they take acting much more seriously. and honestly, i think some - NOT ALL, BUT SOME - of what Americans pine after is special effects and loud explosions, not necessarily great acting performances. and honestly, not all of the films that come out in the U.S. (made in the U.S.) are built or made for character driven pieces.

i think most films from other countries are more centered around, built for great character driven pieces so they require better acting. so thus, if that's the type of film they have overseas, that's what people are gonna focus on more. whereas here, Michael Bay and Cameron films don't require great acting, so it's not a focal point as much, or a requirement.

just my quick 2 cents

[Marcus Wright]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

great point!

and great topic OP!

i agree with what others have said: overseas they take acting much more seriously. and honestly, i think some - NOT ALL, BUT SOME - of what Americans pine after is special effects and loud explosions, not necessarily great acting performances. and honestly, not all of the films that come out in the U.S. (made in the U.S.) are built or made for character driven pieces.

i think most films from other countries are more centered around, built for great character driven pieces so they require better acting. so thus, if that's the type of film they have overseas, that's what people are gonna focus on more. whereas here, Michael Bay and Cameron films don't require great acting, so it's not a focal point as much, or a requirement.

just my quick 2 cents

Well, even 20 years ago some of the most well known actors in Hollywood where non-american.

Arnold Swarznegger as best example

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by Marcus Wright

Well, even 20 years ago some of the most well known actors in Hollywood where non-american.

Arnold Swarznegger as best example

true... maybe it's just the gene pool?
we get Paris Hilton and kids who think MTV is cool, and overseas they actually know how to act and are smart and read books

[Monkey]

Originally Posted by Porkchop Express

An American managed to get the role as Captain America.

That's a shame, should have got an aboriginee for the part

[Alex_DeLarge]

Originally Posted by sfmarine

You bring up a good point. All the shows from the UK are coming to the US.

I feel for you really I do, but The X Factor is all yours, take it. 'REALLY', 'PLEEEEASE' take it.

[Alex_DeLarge]

Originally Posted by BluLobsta

Heck, even Piers Morgan has taken over primetime CNN

His c*cksuckin' bum buddy, Cowell can't be far behind then. God, how I hate that man and all the shite he stands for.

[fgomike]

What about Tom Cruise......? oh, point taken

[octagon]

No offense but you guys are way overthinking this.

A) American actors are still getting plenty of work. You can't turn around with tripping over Leonardo, Matt Damon isn't going anywhere, hell that tedious halfwit Nicholas Cage is still even making money.

B) Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman and Sam Worthington are all moderately talented pretty-boys. Don't get me wrong. I like all three but let's be honest...their current successes have as much (if not more) to do with their jawlines and being in the right places at the right times as they do with the old world's rich history of the stage and stagecraft.

[iam1bearcat]

Originally Posted by octagon

No offense but you guys are way overthinking this.

A) American actors are still getting plenty of work. You can't turn around with tripping over Leonardo, Matt Damon isn't going anywhere, hell that tedious halfwit Nicholas Cage is still even making money.

B) Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman and Sam Worthington are all moderately talented pretty-boys.

holy moly. i've seen it all now.
someone referring to Sam "The Bland" Worthington and Hugh Jackman / Christian Bale on the same scale as actors?!

there's a lot of nonsense on the internet. but this takes the cake

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by octagon

No offense but you guys are way overthinking this.

A) American actors are still getting plenty of work. You can't turn around with tripping over Leonardo, Matt Damon isn't going anywhere, hell that tedious halfwit Nicholas Cage is still even making money.

B) Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman and Sam Worthington are all moderately talented pretty-boys. Don't get me wrong. I like all three but let's be honest...their current successes have as much (if not more) to do with their jawlines and being in the right places at the right times as they do with the old world's rich history of the stage and stagecraft.

I agree with your first point: there are still many fine American actors, to rival the best in the world.

I strongly disagree with your second point. Christian Bale is a very good actor and is going to win the Oscar, so your argument that he's mere eye-candy is baseless. Same for Hugh Jackman, who is renowned for his acting, dancing, and singing talent, on both stage and screen. You're right so far on Worthington, but no one ever said he was a great or even good actor.

[BluLobsta]

Originally Posted by Dotpattern

The American talent pool is not drying up. They're just in rehab.

Yeah, you may be right lol...it seems every other word scrolling across the bottom of the screen on CNN lately is "rehab". Even some Disney Channel kid just checked out of rehab yikes

[Gamma_Winstead]

Piers Morgan is tanking on CNN by the way.

[Clark Kent]

There are a couple of big reasons why Americans are not getting cast anymore in ostensibly American movies. First, a good portion of the movie executives who work in Hollywood at the upper echelons of the studios are not from America. Movie executives make the ultimate casting decision more often than not and obviously foreigners have no allegiance to cast Americans in roles.

The second big reason is the globalization of the movie industry now. Foreign box office can account for as much as 60% of worldwide gross in certain genres. British actors get cast so that UK and European moviegoers will see the film in bigger numbers.

[BluLobsta]

Originally Posted by gamma626

Piers Morgan is tanking on CNN by the way.

Give it to Kiran Chetry...I'll watch