Commentary Track
Robert Downey Jr: The Hottest Man in Hollywood
Posted by Neil Miller (neil@filmschoolrejects.com) on June 12, 2008
Though the title may imply it, this article is by no measure about the physical prowess or sexual desirability of Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr. I am perhaps the worst person to comment on such things as I do, in fact, dig chicks. Though, it goes without saying that RDJ is a pretty handsome dude — if I were a lady, I would want to stalk him.
But alas, this article is not about all of that, it is about the fact that with his resurgence into the mainstream with his role in Iron Man, Downey has become one of Hollywood’s hottest commodities of the moment. In fact, as Nicole Sperling at EW.com reports, Downey is currently being courted by just about every major studio for an impressive handful of high-profile projects. Twentieth Century Fox would love to lock him into Travis McGee, based on a popular detective series by John D. MacDonald; Warner Bros. is after him to star in Sherlock Holmes, a project that has already roped in director Guy Ritchie; Universal is interesting in him for Dog Years, a fantasy/comedy from Seabiscuit director Gary Ross as well as the much talked about Hugh Hefner biopic which is currently still in the hands of Brett Ratner. Not to mention the fact that negotiations should begin soon with Marvel Studios and Paramount around Iron Man 2, a project thats survival could depend on the involvement of both Downey and director Jon Favreau.
Needless to say, Downey has become red-hot in the summer of 2008, and he’s not even done at the box office yet. He will make his most interesting appearance of the year in Ben Stiller’s satirical action comedy Tropic Thunder, where he plays an award-winning Australian actor whose vanity drives him to die his skin black in order to play an African American character.
All of this has brought a media circus to his doorstep, with studios and journos alike flocking to him as if he were the next big thing. But at 43, Downey isn’t an actor who is rising to his prime, he is an actor whose prime has gone under-recognized. Too many of us (in the world of film journalism) have been left to sit back in our office chairs, pounding our fists on the desk and screaming “this is what we’ve been telling you..” when it comes to the career of Mr. Downey.
With his recent roles in films such as David Fincher’s Zodiac and the under-marketed, yet brilliant Charlie Bartlett, Downey solidified for many that he is still has the chops to be a big star. And now, with the success of Iron Man, he is not only a great actor, but a significantly more marketable one. So when you look at his future, as bright as it may seem, remember that it wasn’t just the big summer of 2008 that did it — Robert Downey Jr. has been doing it all along. He is just now getting the credit he has deserved for a long, long time.
Sound Off: What is your favorite Robert Downey Jr. performance, besides Iron Man? Also, which of the projects listed above do you think would be most interesting?
Read more articles by Neil Miller
17 Comments
June 12th, 2008 at 7:20 am
My favorite performance is easily Less Than Zero. A younger Downey but you could see he already had it even then.
I think the Hefner biopic COULD be good but get rid of Ratner, that guy is a hack.
June 12th, 2008 at 10:03 am
I like RDJ in the Iron Man movie, but his face looks a lot rounder in real life.. maybe its the camera angle in the movie, but I feel he doesnt look as handsome.
June 12th, 2008 at 10:22 am
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
“I peed on the corpse.”
June 12th, 2008 at 11:42 am
KKBB
Loved the deadpan humor and the film noir detective angle
June 12th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
RDJ has officially left my “most underrated actor” list. I had faith in him since CHAPLIN. And I found him funny enough in NATURAL BORN KILLERS, if only he would have improved the fake Brit accent there. And he also proved he could play “sweet” in ONLY YOU. CHAPLIN remians my favorite RDJ performance.
June 12th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
you’re forgetting downey’s co-starring role opposite jamie foxx in “the soloist”, directed by joe wright (”atonement”). as far as i know it’s scheduled for release in november 2008.
gotta say “kiss kiss, bang bang” is a new favorite, but loved him in “wonder boys”, “two girls and a guy”, “less than zero”, “home for the holidays”, “only you”, “charlie bartlett” and way too many others to list here! “chaplin” was genius. also thought he was fantastic in “ally mcbeal” (even though it’s not a feature film…)
juan, in NBK, robert played an australian, not a brit. maybe that’s why you thought his accent wasn’t quite right…
June 12th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
kiss kiss bang bang is definitely my favorite rdj performance.
he was fucking hilarious in a skanner darkly too, though.
June 12th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
He’s definitely one of our finest actors.
I hadn’t thought of stalking him until you mentioned it. Thanks!
June 12th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
I have always thought that RDJ was hot!!! He did an amazing job of bringing Tony Stark/IronMan to life on the big screen. I won’t be stalking him but I now have a RDJ pic file!!!!! Too bad there isn’t an IMAX version!!!!!
June 13th, 2008 at 4:56 am
I first saw Robert in Chaplin way back when it first came out and I was absolutely blown away. I was 12. After that, Soapdish, Only You and Heart and Souls were my three favorites for a long time. I LOVED Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang, totally awesome and he was fantastic in Less Than Zero, though that movie makes me sad when I realize how much of that stuff he himself actually went through. I’m also a huge fan of his role on Ally McBeal.
I’m really looking forward to Tropic Thunder and The Soloist and I would love to see him do the biopic of Hef. Anything he does though, I’ll watch. He makes every project better just by being a part of it.
The only bad thing about his rise in popularity is that it means it’ll probably be a long time before he gets around to putting out his second album. I love The Futurist dearly and I want more. Robert has an awesome voice.
June 13th, 2008 at 6:31 am
I have enjoyed watching Robert since Air America. I love the range of charaacters that he has successfully played in his career. You know that a film is not going to be boring when he has a significant role in it. I loved Ironman because it took me by surprise. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy a comic book film, yet I did. I can’t pick a favourite film because they are all so different. Instead, there are particular scenes which stick in my mind. e.g the Nijinsky scene in Chaplin or the bar scene in Zodiac. Some films don’t seem to get much attention over in the UK so I have to wait for dvds to come out but I am looking forward to Tropic Thunder - that is being advertised already.
June 13th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Absolutely loved him in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. He was absolutely brilliant in that. He was also
great in Heart and Souls (1993). I’m pretty sure its one of the first movies I saw him in, and I
became a fan of his ever since. I also thought he was one of the best thing that Ally McBeal
had going for it when he briefly joined the cast. He’s just an incredibly talented actor-able
to make you laugh and break your heart all at the same time. Its great that he’s getting all
of this recognition…as you write its long overdue. Can’t wait to see Tropic Thunder!
June 14th, 2008 at 10:11 am
uh of the moment my fav non Ironman movie of his is definitely KKBB absolutely hilarious. as fa as any upcoming projects to be quite hones I would watch any of them. RDJ is one the VERY few actors that can make ANYTHING watchable. Even if a movie were mediocre he brings his all to every performance and ends up being the best part of every film he is involved in.
June 15th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Hmm, I have not seen all of his movies yet (he has done quite a few), but I’d say my favorite Downey performance was either from Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, where he had a great starring role and made that movie extra funny, or in Wonder Boys, where he steals every scene he’s in with ease. Both great films!
July 9th, 2008 at 11:55 am
First saw him in either The Pick up Artist or Chaplin. Chaplin blew me away–especially the scene where he develops the “walk” and the one in which he watches his mother fall apart. Like Neil Miller said: “This is what we’ve been talking about!”
I’m looking forward to seeing KKBB. Saw A Scanner Darkley recently….LOL. His rifts were outstanding. Best scene was when he brought the 18-speed bicycle in… and then they start counting the gears.
I’d love to see him as Travis McGee and as Sherlock Holmes. Frankly, that man can act any part. I’d watch him read the phonebook!
August 10th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Bravo Mr Miller for a great blog/article …. you do “get” RDJ !! Yes, he has been brilliant for a long time … I love all his movies. The only one I have a hard time watching is “Less Than Zero” … just comes too close to reality.
I guess I would have to say “Chaplin” is the one that really blew me away … not because the film itself was that great but Robert was just amazing! I can’t even find one scene in particular that is the best, there are so many. As mentioned, the Nijinsky ballet scene was perfection, the “roll dance”, the opening scene-taking off his makeup, the “audition” for Mack Sennet, when he found out his first love had died…… the pain he showed in that was almost unbearable. Of course, Iron Man is right at the top now but some of his others are Chances Are, Restoration, Pick-Up Artist, KKBB, The Singing Detective, ASD, Zodiac, Charlie Bartlett ….. and so many more!! Oh, “Fur” was another amazing performance, so sensuous.
Oh yes, if he wasn’t so much in love and happily married to the beautiful little sweetheart, Susan, I might be tempted to stalk him…. ha ha …
Really looking forward to Tropic Thunder, The Soloist ( just might be an Oscar nom there) , the Sherlock Holmes film and IM2. Any of the mentioned possibilities being talked about would be great too. Just hope he will be able to stretch them out and leave some free time for his family and some fun.
August 21st, 2008 at 2:26 pm
KKBB is def a favorite it was well scripted, smart, witty and Robert was just freakin hilarous! “times 8, twelve percent” lol