SouthernSweetieTX

The kids and I were talking about this on the way to karate. He gives a good performance, but the projects are duds in some way.

KitscherSunk

We should be honest. He has seemed cursed. Even in the projects we like, none is really a slam-dunk. Even in this one, there are pacing issues sometimes and the humor doesn't always land as it should. I think it's a lovely movie and I'm a Brendan fan, but if Taylor weren't in it, I would've watched it once or twice, tops.

If he's serious about writing and directing, maybe he can change his own luck and start creating projects that are solid through and through. It mainly does come down to the writing.

It's so weird that I was just thinking about all this today. Maybe he needs to expand his wheelhouse too. We don't know what he's gone up for and not gotten, or what he's turned down. But his films are kind of geared toward the same kind of audience. Yes, there are clearly exceptions, but they're mostly geared toward older, suburban men. I'm not saying I want him to join the Fast and Furious franchise or something. But look, he's never done a comedy; he probably won't do a horror movie; he won't do a romance; he hasn't done an "urban" drama; and he'll probably pass on anything sci-fi now because of Battleship and John Carter.

Take Mark Wahlberg. He goes from dumb movies like Transformers, to "gritty" thrillers, to silly comedies with Will Ferrell and now the new Ridley Scott drama (the one where they replaced Kevin Spacey). Mark is a bigger star, but Taylor has the acting chops to be that diverse. He just ... isn't. I was hoping AA was a turning point, but it hit the same demos, really, as OTB and now Waco will.

Forgive me for going on and on. I'm not sure I'm even articulating this well.

worthyoflove

I think you're on to something with what kind of movies/roles he's attracted to. I know we've talked about it before but he says he always wants to change it up and do something different but he tends to go for those true story/hero type roles (Lone Survivor/OTB) he's pigenholed a bit in the ex-military/brooding/damaged character (Savages/True Detective).

Only the Brave at least showed (if anyone has forgotten Riggins) that he could hold his own doing a comedy and The Normal Heart was genuinely something different for him playing a gay man, but he repeated that in TD and again, Normal Heart, that true story drama.

I don't think he'd jump back into a big budget sci-fi/green screen type movie for a long time.

It'll be interesting to see what kind of doors OTB and hopefully Waco will open for him. If it's a case of he's picking these roles because these are the stronger projects that are sent to him, whether it's truly just something he gravitates to or if he will now be offered different roles he maybe wasn't considered for previously.

I was thinking about this, what projects could really realistically be considered a success, what projects did moderately well (were kind of a wash) and which ones downright bombed/hurt his career and this was the list I came up with (I'm not counting anything pre-FNL) it's just unfortunate that the four that hurt him the most were four of the most high profile projects he's done. Hopefully Waco will change that.

Success

Friday Night Lights - Got him his start, critically loved, iconic character
The Bang Bang Club - Indie film, not really expected to make money but he was constantly mentioned as the stand out, most people wanted a movie revolving around his character was nominated for a Canadian acting award.
Lone Survivor - critical and financial success
The Normal Heart - Critical success very different role for him.

Moderate success

Only the Brave - Great reviews, very positive response to Taylor but no box office success/longevity ( I want to put this in the success category so bad).
American Assassin - Decent reviews for Taylor...box office was okay, the movie was just not great.
The Grand Seduction - reviews were just okay, it was cute, made a decent amount of money for an indie film but nothing groundbreaking.
Savages - made a decent amount of money for an R rated film, was kind of lumped in with his other 2012 under achievers, reviews were just okay.
Gospel Hill - it was fine, little indie, he did some panels for it, got his name out there outside of FNL but didn't do anything outside of show he could be someone other than Tim Riggins.

Underacheivers

X-Men Origins - It stinks that you have to put this in this category, BUT if he were to have nailed it and if the movie was better it really could have launched him into that superhero category. As usual, he wasn't the problem, a lot of people liked his Gambit, want him back but the movie just wasn't good and he carried that stigma.
John Carter - Really really hurt, reviews were overly harsh, made a lot of money but the budget was just too big. Even with people coming around to the movie now, still doesn't make up for that stigma that movie holds for him.
Battleship - came too soon after John Carter, probably could have been forgiven as just a big budget popcorn movie that was a little too quirky if it hadn't come two months after JC's release. Really hurt...
True Detective - was supposed to be his big "break" after his bad luck. Kind of took a step back after doing solid films like Lone Survivor and The Normal Heart. But performances weren't the issue, completely a plot failure.

elherts

I don't think he's cursed at all. I don't think real actors measure their success based on box-office success, I really don't. John Carter and Battleship were big bombs and I'm sure that felt like **** but everything else only moved his career further, even if the movies weren't huge box office successes. He got good reviews, he got people's attention (in Hollywood and fans), and he's made some pretty good choices lately. EVERYONE from Brad Pitt to Tom Hanks has made bombs. Taylor's day is coming, but I don't think it will be in a big blockbuster. And if his BIG day never comes, so be it. He's a working admired actor. I do think he needs to broaden out, but I think he's done that some... Grand, Heart, and Waco to name a few.

I agree with you for the most part.. a few changes.

Success
Friday Night Lights
The Bang Bang Club
Lone Survivor
The Normal Heart
Only the Brave - Great reviews, very positive response to Taylor

Moderate success
American Assassin
The Grand Seduction
Savages
Gospel Hill - I'd like to do a rewatch of this
True Detective - His performance was reviewed pretty well. Overall, the show gained more positive feedback after the fact.

Underachievers
X-Men Origins
John Carter
Battleship -first 20 minutes is Taylor gold

worthyoflove

That is true that every actor has had ups and downs...but it's been so hard for Taylor to shake his because they were his first roles as a leading man. He had a hit box office or critically claimed movie first and I think those bombs are kind of forgiven because you can say "but" he had this movie that was so great.

I think Waco might get him there, even if it's technically TV it's still a prestige series.

He just really needs something that people can definitively point to as a success outside of FNL. He's the lead in Waco, I hope it's it!

And I want to agree with Only the Brave, I just think it didn't have the viewership, like in the podcast they mention it but nobody has seen it nobody really knows much about it. I feel like I can throw out he was great in Only the Brave and most people will say, "never heard of it" or "didn't see it" that's where if it even made its money back at the box office would make me put it in the success category. His reviews though were so good.

elherts

I have the episode of Entourage on where they are trying to sell Smoke Jumpers. They can't get a bite with Vince attached to the lead because of the failure of Medellin. Makes me want to cry. What ever happened to Ed Norton?? And Giovanni Ribisi?

Haha. Johnny in the drunk tank and everyone screaming VICTORY! I love this show.

I still say that Taylor reminded me of Johnny Drama playing Chris Mackenzie... especially after the baby scene where he's sitting on the couch drinking a beer.

worthyoflove

I know Entourage is a dramatization, but there is a ton of truth to it. Taylor trying to land a leading role after 2012 was probably something similar. He was lucky he had Pete and Lone Survivor lined up to soften his fall a bit. But if a studio head is going to choose between someone who, admittedly was not at fault, but couldn't "save" a movie or someone who is new and upcoming or a proven box office draw, they're passing on the guy that fronted a "flop" and going with the other.

I wanted to do an Entourage rewatch and tried but the Piven stuff is such a turn off.

elherts

Ari Gold is funny for like 3 episodes and then he's just annoying. I love the guy who is supposed to be Harvey Weinstein. He is so gross.

worthyoflove

Well I kind of meant all the sexual misconduct accusations against Piven, but YES, that too. He treats his family, especially his wife, like ****.

SouthernSweetieTX

I completely agree that Taylor needs to expand the type of movies that he does. He would kill in a rom com! I know he won’t do it, but he would be phenomenal.
I don’t think his acting is the issue at all, it’s the projects he chooses. He seems to purposely avoid anything that would be too big or a franchise. Which is unfortunate. He’s going to have to branch out and enrich his resume.

worthyoflove

He said he's for sale in his recent interview, but not for porn, I mean everyone has their limit.

elherts

Actually, I think his wife is the only person he is nice to.. in an Ari kind of way.

SouthernSweetieTX

Nice to know where he draws the line.

worthyoflove

Depriving us of both a rom-com and porn in one interview? Brutal.

KitscherSunk

This made me actually laugh out loud. It's so true!

I'm late getting back to this conversation. Sorry! I think the rankings would depend on how "success" is defined. That word means different things to different people. In OTB's case, it might've been a critical success, but the movie was quickly forgotten. And, like Amanda said, people just aren't aware of it. Everyone's heard of John Carter, meanwhile, and it made $275 million -- but it's considered a bomb. And he got good reviews for the Bang Bang Club, but the reviews for the movie overall were mixed AND most people have never heard of it.

So the question is, is success defined in terms of box office, critical success, fan love, how HIS performance was received regardless of the project overall, or whether Taylor felt personally satisfied/rewarded because of the experience?