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It's a question I wonder about a lot. 2001 was a great year for Kate Beckinsale -- she had both a successful John Cusack romantic comedy and a mammoth Michael Bay blockbuster in Serendipity and Pearl Harbor out, respectively, two terrible movies that seemed to be unavoidable star-launching events. Not to mention the fact that she is one of the most gorgeous people in the history of gorgeous people, and that on top of all of it she can actually act. So, why didn't she become a hugely popular movie star? Or even one of the Awards show ball hogs like Kate Winslet or Hilary Swank? Why did she make Vacancy? Why does she have to be in the unfortunate-looking Whiteout right now, when by all accounts she should be starring in award bait and blockbusters?
Of course, the answer could be boiled down to the irritating fact that very few decent roles are written for women every year, particularly starring ones, and when those roles arise ladies like Kate Beckinsale have to compete against Cate Blanchett, Charlize Theron, the aforementioned Kate Winslet and Hilary Swank, now Amy Adams, and sometimes Angelina for them. When you look at it that way I can see why a terrible movie like Click, and the paycheck it offers, could start to look pretty appealing, even though she's capable of better.
It's just a sad thing. Snow Angels was a good movie and she was great in it, and the first Underworld is one my biggest guilty pleasures, but other than that her career's been pretty much 24/7 Van Helsings. I don't know if she's just not very smart about picking her projects, or if it's just a perpetual shut-out by bigger names or both, but every Whiteout commercial I see just makes me want to sit her down and talk her into looking for work that's worthy of her somewhere on cable.
It's just a sad thing. Snow Angels was a good movie and she was great in it, and the first Underworld is one my biggest guilty pleasures, but other than that her career's been pretty much 24/7 Van Helsings. I don't know if she's just not very smart about picking her projects, or if it's just a perpetual shut-out by bigger names or both, but every Whiteout commercial I see just makes me want to sit her down and talk her into looking for work that's worthy of her somewhere on cable.
TAGS: Kate Beckinsale, Whiteout
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Jesus, do a bit of research before you start slamming someone who is far richer and far more successful than you are. Have you heard of Nothing But Truth, Snow Angels, and Winged Creatures. Do you even realize she has a film coming out with DeNiro called Everybody's Fine.
Yes, she hasn't always chosen the best work. But I'd argue her worst films are no worse than the crap blockbusters like Transformers.
I agree. I have always loved her, she's one of my favorite actresses. she's totally gorgeous and capable, and I've wondered the exact same thing... why isn't she getting better parts/scripts? She's still fabulous, whatever she chooses, but I do think she deserves more!
She was a fantastic 'Emma' for BBC. Loved her ever since.
Don't be misled by her good looks; face the facts, she is a mediocre actress at best.
Nothing But the Truth was a real chance for her to shine, she did, but only in a few scenes.
"and the first Underworld is one my biggest guilty pleasures"
Mindy, After reading your articles and getting insight into your favorite films, I'm certain that you are my soul mate... Bless you.
Underworld is NOT a guilty pleasure; it is just a pleasure. There is nothing wrong liking fun, funny (intentionally or not), action-packed movies. And I with head held high say that two of my favorite movies are Underworld and Starship Troopers.
I was just wondering if Kate Beckinsale had ever been in a decent film...
I loved Last Days of Disco- thought her and Chloe Sevigny would do so much more than they have after seeing that.
Are you high? Kate is not even a mediocre actress. She was good in Cold Comfort Farm and did reasonably well in Snow Angels. Otherwise? She sucks. And most of the reviews she's gotten over the course of her career reflect that.
She isn't a big movie star because: a) She never has chemistry with her costars, b) She gives crappy performances (seriously, that look on her face in the pic above? Is the face she makes during about 95% of any movie she's in), c) She's not charismatic.
And even Cold Comfort Farm was another Emma role for her. I've never been that taken with her, and don't see the acting ability at all. Mr. Nonymous says he used to like her, but then her attitude seemed to eclipse her talent and appearance, and he lost interest.
Chris, she was - she was brilliant in Cold Comfort Farm and not half bad in Branagh's Much Ado About Nothing in the 90's. I do like that she does the occasional indie film like Laurel Canyon and then shit like Vacancy comes along and I am sad.
She sure does seem to show up in some real stinkers, and it does make me wonder why. I'm leaning towards her just needing some better help when deciding what to do. For example, if you look like Kate Beckinsale, why on earth would you star in a movie where you are wearing a Parka the whole time? How the hell does that make best use of everything you have to offer?
Why do talented actors like Bruce Willis and Shia Labeouf make vapid sci-fi/action flicks instead of romantic comedies? Cash.
I agree with this article I think she is very good actress and I also wonder why she is not more mainstream. I adored her performance with Gary Oldman in Tiptoes!
I like when some a-hole blog writer who probably lives in a fleabag one-room apartment picks apart some performer who's proven to be more sucessful in her field than 99.999% of the SAG just because her career isn't the equivalent of Katherine Hepburn's...put it another way; at least she's not likely to go the way of an A-hole like Wakco Jakco!!!
Never mind Kate Beckinsale...WTF happened to Janeane Garofalo that cause her to turn into an unpleasant liberal b-munch?
I never realized Kate was so.....polarizing. Reading the comments, either folks are all riled up and in personal attack mode because Mindy dares to question her roles, or people are completely meh on her acting and still manage to insult Mindy.
I must admit, I'm in the latter category (although I've no desire to insult Mindy). I've never been impressed by her acting, and I enjoyed Underworld despite Kate's acting rather than because of it. I'm also perplexed by the hotness factor - she's attractive, but I can't help but see "generic, pint-size white woman" at the same time. *shrugs*
Why is Kate Beckindsale's career toast? One word: UNDERWORLD. Why she had to make those movies, I have no idea, especially after she spanked it in "Serendipity" (one of my favorite flicks), and "The Aviator," but those stupid RE movies KILLED her career.