Bettany VS Harrelson

Posted by Movie Morpheus on Feb 16, 2010 in Entertainment | Comments Off

This may seem a bit dated… but then really, when high concept has triumphed over A-list actors, it’s not.

Paul Bettany. Woody Harrelson.

These two arguably gifted actors would seem to have nothing in common. Don’t be fooled. 2009 may have been a watershed moment with Bettany on the downturn, and Harrelson on the upswing.

The former is British, intense-looking, and married (with children) to the once-curvy (now-intense) actress Jennifer Connelly. The other (also a bit intense-looking, but a bit aloof) has grown quite an eclectic resume for American audiences who first got to know him from Cheers.

Attitudinally, they’re both laid-back in their persona. On screen, though, last year they’ve been at war — with the box office & the critical dialogue: it’s clear that Woody has won.

In this corner: Bettany looks like he could be no luckier to have 2 very different films released on the same day. What a way to show off your “performative versatility” let’s say? However, Bettany may have experienced a first. Fighting Darwin’s own demons moved slower than his own theory of evolution; and he’s gotten no love playing the last good angel (with guns & knives?) to prevent the apocalypse!

But in the other corner… wow. Harrelson has not only got in good with a genre-hybrid ick-flick (his first?!) that’s already got buzz for sequels. But he earned his second Oscar nomination for what was the latest contemporary Iraqi war based film. And a very good one — dealing with actual war dead – IMHO!

I have no interest in the Bettany films.

So… who’s worth his next quote, if he cares that much hmmm?