Is George Clooney Overrated: Looks or Otherwise?

Is George Clooney Overrated when it comes to both his looks and his movies?

Disclaimer: This post is the opinion of one female movie-goer. I do realize that my opinion doesn’t affect Clooney in anyway. And I do hate people who act like their own movie taste is absolute. This post is written fully aware of the fact that taste is RELATIVE, and my taste is totally subjective, flawed and very me.

George Clooney image via nfku.com

Golden Globes’ Golden Boy Clooney & Ricky Gervais

So what brought it on? I have been thinking it quiet sometime, and I was reminded of my George-neutral preferences once again by the movie Friends with Benefits (the movie includes 2 very entertaining references to his private life) and George’s The Ides of March (where I was rooting for and lusting after      Ryan Gosling’s character.

But when my favorite British comedian Ricky Gervais hosted the Golden Globes for the 3rd time and joked about letting George Clooney …………(you know Ricky, you fill in the blanks),  if George happened to get more attractive or successful, I realized I was a couple of years too late to write this post. I am only hoping that Ricky isn’t as infatuated with George as the rest of the world…

What is so attractive about George Clooney?

Seriously. Because I have no idea. George just doesn’t do anything for me.

• He looks like he is about 50 (and he is, but he has looked 50 for at least over a decade). So it is not a younger-looking/boyish charm.
• He is well-built, but many of the leading men who want leading roles (especially in action) are.
• He doesn’t have the tall/dark thing going for him either.
• His face? He looks OK. Maybe it is just me. Frankly I prefer Jason Bateman (said Bateman because while he is not gorgeous, he can be really cute, he is not that much younger than Clooney and they starred in Up in the Air together).

Jason Bateman image via showbizspy.com

So grey hair, looks his age, nice body but come on-nothing that spectacular when you consider his resources and job…I’d think that he looks a lot more like a guy’s guy and more men than women would find him handsome.

So he is a good actor. But is he that award-worthy?

So, no. I don’t think George Clooney is hot. Or cute (with the exception of the 36-year-old, Clooney in One Fine Day- I loved the character’s personality, and more black hair suited the guy.)

1996. Remember the times when Pfieffer was bigger than Clooney?

Now as for his talent…He is a good actor, I won’t debate that. And I really enjoyed his directorial effort The Ides of March. But I could give up on all of his movies and I wouldn’t feel like I’ve missed a thing, entertainment or otherwise.

Aside from the fact that we rarely see eye to eye on stories that we like (so far I really liked only 3 of his films: One Fine Day, Up in the Air and The Ides of March). And as for his variety, where is that? No really? For a guy who has been nominated for his acting 3 times and won once (although another nomination is probably on the way, since you know- he already won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in drama with The Descendants), I just don’t see it.

And even though I loved his character’s journey in Up in the Air, I so didn’t see why he would even get nominated. What was so special about that performance? Yes, how important/valid/serious…..Oscars are is up for debate, but I just wanted to point out anyway.

Maybe there is a brilliant side to him that I don’t see. Maybe it is so subtle that it is invisible to the untrained eye. Maybe critics/award voters are more interested in what seems effortless rather than unique, diverse or difficult.

What I do like about Clooney

I may not be his biggest fan, but I do respect the guy, because:

• He is not getting married and divorced every 5 years, and having babies as if the survival of the species depends on him (nope, I wasn’t trying to be subtle. I do mean Brad Pitt. 7th baby? Really???). He knows himself, he knows what he wants and acts accordingly.
• His drunken or enraged tapes aren’t going viral and that we don’t get to see him in the tabloids for any other reasons than being with a girl or being in a movie.
• He has the chops to write, direct and act at the same time-a talent/ tradition/focus I have admired since Kevin Costner’s Dances with the Wolves, Clint Eastwood’s A Perfect World and Mel Gibson’s The Man Without a Face (Braveheart came later). And while Clint/Kevin/Mel didn’t contribute to the script, Clooney did- with The Ides of March and Good Night and Good Luck.

P.S.

Some Actors I do find attractive (close to Clooney’s age) – Yes, I know this is not relevant. This is just in case you are wondering; )

Ralph Fiennes before his hair fell out

Mel Gibson (1979-1997)

Kevin Costner (when he doesn’t have a moustache, from the 80s to 1999)

Hugh Jackman  (Reel Steel haircut/shaving excluded)

Gerard Butler (his Golden Globes 2012 haircut excluded)

Antonio Banderas (especially Desperado years and image)

Josh Holloway (all through Lost)

Denzel Washington (from his 30s to present- as long as he doesn’t have a moustache)

Keanu Reeves (from the mid-90s to present)

Clive Owen (should have no moustache, and should not be playing a cheating bastard)

…………

(so no, I don’t really have a particular type.)

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What do you think about Clooney? Comment away: )