Should Have Been The Role Of A Lifetime...

[Optimus-Prime-Rox]

Ralph Macchio & C. Thomas Howell, each were in different popular movies from the 80's but never got the big roles like most of their costars from The Outsiders.

[FrodoBagginz]

Jake Lloyd

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by LegacyCosts

The question isn't whether someone went to the movie to see an up and coming star, its asking which actor/actress had a massive opportunity after a big role and their career wasn't helped much. Sam Worthington fits the bill.

Noomi's career deserves better than goofy Netflix action movies I can't sit through. She's great in dramas.

Yeah, but I'm not sure I accept your original premise, no offense. I mean, most people who became very big stars or household names after being in a huge movie started as a known quantity to one degree or another.

Also, there's only room for so many "stars" to begin with. Whether we're talking about people in spots in big franchises (which usually, let's face it, are box office draws far more for the franchise itself than anything else; like Harry Potter), or box office mega-stars (like Tom Cruise -- the dude has pulled in over $10bn).

But only so many people are going to one, have that star quality, and two, get the opportunity and material to use it. And someone like Brandon Routh -- and this isn't a criticism of his talent at all -- but he's not one of those guys.

[Samus Aran]

It's not the big role that sets up the career, it's the next big role after that. Tom Cruise broke out with Risky Business, but it was Top Gun that took him to the next level. Look how quickly Charlie Sheen burned through his Platoon and Wall Street cred with all those crappy movies.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by Samus Aran

It's not the big role that sets up the career, it's the next big role after that. Tom Cruise broke out with Risky Business, but it was Top Gun that took him to the next level. Look how quickly Charlie Sheen burned through his Platoon and Wall Street cred with all those crappy movies.

While I'm not really arguing with you, let's face it: Sheen's only problem wasn't "crappy movies."

And the thing about Cruise, more than anything I think, is his dedication and determination. The guy's a machine. There's really nothing that is going to stop the guy, not long days, not tough stunts, not climbing up and running on a broken ankle, and apparently not age.

I mean, however people feel about the guy (seems like a really good guy to me, say what you want about the "other stuff"), he's incredibly driven, he's good-looking, he's got talent, skill, charisma. Let's face it, very, very few people can say that.

There'll only ever be one Tom Cruise.

[Aclea]

Klinton Spilsbury and Sam Jones for the win.

Going back to the 50s, Dick Davalos beat Paul Newman to the role of the good brother in East of Eden (Newman also tested for James Dean's role) and was given a big buildup: by 1967 Davalos was playing one of Newman's unnamed guards in Cool Hand Luke.

[MassiveMovieBuff]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

While I'm not really arguing with you, let's face it: Sheen's only problem wasn't "crappy movies."

And the thing about Cruise, more than anything I think, is his dedication and determination. The guy's a machine. There's really nothing that is going to stop the guy, not long days, not tough stunts, not climbing up and running on a broken ankle, and apparently not age.

I mean, however people feel about the guy (seems like a really good guy to me, say what you want about the "other stuff"), he's incredibly driven, he's good-looking, he's got talent, skill, charisma. Let's face it, very, very few people can say that.

There'll only ever be one Tom Cruise.

Great post! My thoughts about Cruise exactly. Like Leonardo DiCaprio he is one guy who has earned his star power.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by MassiveMovieBuff

Great post! My thoughts about Cruise exactly. Like Leonardo DiCaprio he is one guy who has earned his star power.

Thanks

And I agree about Leo, too. What he's done has been fantastic and unique and something I think only he could do. Both Tom and Leo have led careers which have been one of a kind and full of some unbelievable stuff.

[levcore]

Originally Posted by Falaskan

Why is Hayden as Anakin Skywalker not on here yet?

Now that is a great example!

[Thomas Irwin]

Originally Posted by Samus Aran

It's not the big role that sets up the career, it's the next big role after that. Tom Cruise broke out with Risky Business, but it was Top Gun that took him to the next level. Look how quickly Charlie Sheen burned through his Platoon and Wall Street cred with all those crappy movies.

I think Beyond the Law (1993) is one of Charlie Sheen's very best films. A truly great cast in that one. Men at Work, Navy Seals, The Rookie, Terminal Velocity, The Chase... I feel he still had a pretty good run of films, at least for a time. Even if they weren't blockbusters.

'' beyond the law '' - official film trailer - 1993. - YouTube

[Rzzzz]

Bruce Campbell should have been a modern day Clark Gable....

[levcore]

Originally Posted by Thomas Irwin

I think Beyond the Law (1993) is one of Charlie Sheen's very best films. A truly great cast in that one. Men at Work, Navy Seals, The Rookie, Terminal Velocity, The Chase... I feel he still had a pretty good run of films, at least for a time. Even if they weren't blockbusters.

'' beyond the law '' - official film trailer - 1993. - YouTube

Yeah Sheen has had a great career compared to many.

[MassiveMovieBuff]

Yeah Platoon is my favorite war film, Wall Street is one of my favorites as well and Hot Shots! Part Deux is one of my top 10 favorite comedies.

[levcore]

Britt Robertson bagged what must have seemed like the role of a lifetime when she got the lead part in Tomorrowland, a mega budget Disney tentpole.

[Samus Aran]

Was Billy Baldwin supposed to be the next big thing after Backdraft? He basically had a one movie peak.

[levcore]

Originally Posted by Samus Aran

Was Billy Baldwin supposed to be the next big thing after Backdraft? He basically had a one movie peak.

Yeah that's a good example. I think Fair Game with him and Cindy Crawford was intended to be a blockbuster but that totally flopped.

[Samus Aran]

Originally Posted by levcore

Yeah that's a good example. I think Fair Game with him and Cindy Crawford was intended to be a blockbuster but that totally flopped.

In terms of big budget studio films, he had Sliver, Fair Game and Virus, and since they all bombed, that was the end of the road for him. But this month we get to watch him in... Backdraft 2... where he's not even the lead.

[levcore]

Ellen Page had the role of a lifetime when she got the lead (sort of, co lead let's say) role in Inception but she was far from being the next big thing.

[SeanJoyce]

Originally Posted by Aclea

Klinton Spilsbury and Sam Jones for the win.

Going back to the 50s, Dick Davalos beat Paul Newman to the role of the good brother in East of Eden (Newman also tested for James Dean's role) and was given a big buildup: by 1967 Davalos was playing one of Newman's unamed guards in Cool Hand Luke.

Davalos also played a pretty capable lead in Jack Harris' cult Pit Stop, which is a pretty solid drive-in flick, but point taken...always wish we got Newman to star opposite Dean onscreen.

My submission for this thread is Judd Nelson in The Breakfast Club; you talk about one of the great anti-heroes of 80s cinema, Bender is constantly being discovered and loved by younger generations. But while he's steadily worked since then, he just never really took off after that.

And for people saying Charlie Sheen, I have just two words for you: Major League.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by Samus Aran

Was Billy Baldwin supposed to be the next big thing after Backdraft? He basically had a one movie peak.

Being able to act helps at least a little bit.