Browse: Home / Taco Break: Good Actor, Bad Agent

Menu

Skip to content
  • Home
  • Who We Are
  • About
  • Privacy
  • Contact Us
  • Login

The-SoluteLogo

A Film Site By Lovers of Film

Menu

Skip to content
  • Features
  • Reviews
  • Long Reviews
  • News
  • Articles and Opinions
  • Other Media
  • The Friday Article Roundup: The Truth is In Here
  • Lunch Links: Schwarzfahrer
  • Websites on the Internet: THE SOLUTE
  • New on DVD and Blu-Ray
  • Movie Gifts Holidays 2024
Dorff, moments after seeing this post and making some cuts.

Taco Break: Good Actor, Bad Agent

Posted By The Ploughman on December 17, 2020 in Short Articles | Leave a response

The topic of Stephen Dorff came up in this week’s Solute Happy Hour, specifically how it could be that we all recognize Dorff and could name at least one performance of his that we adored – as the villain in Blade was a common one, but Cecil B. Demented, Cold Creek Manor and the most recent season of True Detective were also brought up. Yet, the guy has an unbelievable amount of dreck in his filmography. He appeared in two different Cinemascore “F” movies. In 2012 he is credited in seven different films, the most recognizable title arguably being Roman Coppola’s A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III. Outside True Detective his most recognizable title in the last nine years is Leatherface, the maligned 2017 Texas Chainsaw Massacre prequel.

This is, admittedly, a glass half-empty approach on my part. I haven’t seen most of his movies, and it’s possible I’m the philistine for missing out on Don’t Go (2018). Also, he’s worked on some very promising projects dogged with some bad luck. He’s worked with Michael Mann (on the more or less abandoned Public Enemies) and Sophia Coppola (on the underseen Somewhere) and Oliver Stone (World Trade Center). He’s recognizable from music videos in the past (Aerosmith’s “Cryin'” for example). The nicer take would be how cool is it that this working actor has periodically banged out some iconic work?

But on the whole his filmography suggests a lack of discernment. How much of this is personal preference/indifference can only be guessed. His first two imdb quotes offer two different conclusions: (“I enjoy my lifestyle, living by the beach in Venice. I’m not afraid to admit I enjoy the money,” followed by “I like to make movies about characters. I like smaller films, that’s what I love to do.”) So without the man himself available to solve the mystery (maybe? I guess I didn’t check the price), we’ll lay the blame at the feet of his agent, presumably a person in charge of protecting his interests and curating his options, and not just Stephen himself using falsetto on the phone: “Mr. Dorff requires a hotel with complimentary hot breakfast.”

There are curious filmographies driven by known factors. Nicholas Cage is the most visible example, his financial situation being a public explanation for his appearance in many strange roles for a performer of his renown. Eric Roberts has publicly acknowledged suffering from burnout in the Hollywood game and combating it by throwing the decision-making aspect of job hunting out the window. In a common, sad trend many women, like Dorff’s fellow double F-scorer Ashley Judd, have had their careers derailed by powerful abusers in the filmmaking system. But for many performers, like Malcolm McDowell, an icon who churns out movie after movie despite likely never needing to work again, the answer is simple: acting is the job they love to do. Why not do it whenever and wherever possible?

Your turn, Soluters! Who are the gems that make the little movies go? Who are the talents undone by the movies they’re in? Do you prefer performers who can turn up anywhere or do you gravitate toward the meticulously curated career? Do you have a different perception of the B-movie stars of yesteryear versus the straight-to-streaming magnates of today?

Posted in Short Articles | Tagged Actors and Acting, Stephen Dorff, Taco Break

About the Author

gemofpurestray@gmail.com'

The Ploughman

Related Posts

Taco Break: Revealed!→

Taco Break: Casting Characters in Other Roles→

Like young Jodie Foster escaping from Dr. StrangeloveTaco Break: Posterized (by Miller)→

Taco Break: Wanted it to Work→

  • Comments
  • Popular
  • Most Recent
  • j*****@yahoo.com'
    mr_apollo on Year of the Month: Mon OncleWonderful piece, Sam. It's made…
  • j*****@yahoo.com'
    mr_apollo on Year of the Month: Mon OncleFellow heretic here. I've never…
  • n***********@gmail.com'
    Ruck Cohlchez on Film on the Internet: AN AMERICAN CRIMEI wouldn't have called it…
  • j***********@gmail.com'
    Son of Griff on LIFE ITSELFGlad to hear back from…
  • n*********@gmail.com'
    Jake Gittes on Film on the Internet: AN AMERICAN CRIMEThis is the single most…
  • “The End” of SAVAGES

    38376 views / Posted November 10, 2014
  • The Untalented Mr. Ripley: The Craft of Standup Comedy and the Non-Comedy of TOM MYERS

    30712 views / Posted June 26, 2018
  • What the fuck did I just watch? SPHERE

    30336 views / Posted March 19, 2015
  • Gordon with Mr. Looper

    Attention Must Be Paid: Will Lee

    27649 views / Posted January 7, 2023
  • Scenic Routes: SHOWGIRLS (1995)

    23333 views / Posted November 20, 2014
  • The truth is FAR out there.

    The Friday Article Roundup: The Truth is In Here

    December 6, 2024 / The Ploughman
  • This is a way lower res image than I will be allowed to get away with at the new site.

    Lunch Links: Schwarzfahrer

    December 5, 2024 / The Ploughman
  • Websites on the Internet: THE SOLUTE

    December 4, 2024 / ZoeZ
  • New on DVD and Blu-Ray

    December 3, 2024 / Greta Taylor
  • Movie Gifts Holidays 2024

    December 2, 2024 / The Ploughman

Last Tweets

    ©2014 - 2016 The-Solute | Hosted, Developed and Maintained by Bellingham WP LogoBellinghamWP.com.

    Menu

    • Home
    • Who We Are
    • About
    • Privacy
    • Contact Us
    • Login
    Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!