sirchuck23
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Post by sirchuck23 on Nov 30, 2020 22:36:04 GMT
Chiwetel Ejiofor has been around awhile now and I remember even going back to 2006 with Children of Men and Inside Man he was being touted as one to watch out for and as the next big thing as a leading man. Of course he had his great year in 2013 with 12 Years A Slave and being nominated for his first and only Oscar so far. He's a great stage actor in the UK and won an Olivier Award for Othello in 2008, but I think he's somewhat underachieved with what was expected him over a decade ago. He's still working fine in big Hollywood studio projects like Doctor Strange and The Old Guard, stuff like that, but he seemed like he was poised to be talked about in "best actor of his generation" terms. Now I argue one of his UK peers, David Oyelowo, has taken some of his spotlight and shown more ambition in the past 10 years.
What do people think about Ejiofor's career right now as it stands?
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Post by quetee on Nov 30, 2020 22:39:34 GMT
Hollywood probably doesn't know what to do with him.
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sirchuck23
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Post by sirchuck23 on Nov 30, 2020 22:43:46 GMT
Hollywood probably doesn't know what to do with him. Could be, I don't know though..the 2010s have been good for Black British Actors/Actresses crossing the Atlantic for greener pastures in Hollywood/US, so much so there's been some grumblings from Black American actors about them (i.e. Samuel L. Jackson, etc.) Actors like Kaluuya, Elba, Oyelowo, Erivo, etc. who probably wouldn't have gone far in the UK industry were able to eat over here. Ejiofor was part of that wave as well. |
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Post by quetee on Nov 30, 2020 22:47:13 GMT
Hollywood probably doesn't know what to do with him. Could be, I don't know though..the 2010s have been good for Black British Actors/Actresses crossing the Atlantic for greener pastures in Hollywood/US, so much so there's been some grumblings from Black American actors about them (i.e. Samuel L. Jackson, etc.) Actors like Kaluuya, Elba, Oyelowo, Erivo, etc. who probably wouldn't have gone far in the UK industry were able to eat over here. Ejiofor was part of that wave as well. Yeah, but you still have to be marketable. Everyone knows Samuel L Jackson and will at least give one of his movies the benefit of the doubt. A lot of people don't know the British actors. That's why I think John David Washington is getting a lot of play right now because there really isn't a go to black actor. Everyone loves Denzel (well... except for a few...  ) but he's older now and Hollywood is having a hard time finding another black male crossover lead. |
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Post by pupdurcs on Nov 30, 2020 22:53:11 GMT
He's a very good actor, but that indefinable presence and star quality that compels people to want to watch you (that say someone like Keanu has) isn't there. He made a couple of questioniable choices after 12 Years A Slave that did nothing to advance his career. Half A Yellow Sun sounded good on paper, but got mediocre reviews and nobody cared. Z For Zachariah was a critical and commercial flop. Secret In Their Eyes was probably supposed to position him as a Denzel level leading man (he was the lead opposite Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman, which is insane when you think about it) but again the movie was met with mediocre reviews and box office, and his performance didn't rise above it.
After that, I think the industry just gave up on hoping he'd become this generational actor/talent or leading man, and just settled for him being a classy Brit character actor who adds bit of class to big budget Hollywood productions (sort of like Jude Law settled into being in middle age after his heat cooled down in the industry) |
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sirchuck23
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Post by sirchuck23 on Nov 30, 2020 22:58:39 GMT
He's a very good actor, but that indefinable presence and star quality that compels people to want to watch you (that say someone like Keanu has) isn't there. He made a couple of questioniable choices after 12 Years A Slave that did nothing to advance his career. Half A Yellow Sun sounded good on paper, but got mediocre reviews and nobody cared. Z For Zachariah was a critical and commercial flop. Secret In Their Eyes was probably supposed to position him as a Denzel level leading man (he was the lead opposite Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman, which is insane when you think about it) but agsin the movie was met with mediocre reviews and box office, and his performance didn't rise above it.
After that, I think the industry just gave up on hoping he'd become this generational actor/talent or leading man, and just settled for him being a classy Brit character actor who adds bit of class to big budget Hollywood productions (sort of like Jude Law settled into being in middle age after his heat cooled down in the industry) That's true..he needs to hook up with Steve McQueen again, or go down the indie route. I can definitely see him in a Jenkins, McQueen, DuVernay, type project. He's a former Oscar nominee and still young enough, just crazy what's happened with his career. Him/12YAS were the talk of the town in 2013. |
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Post by pupdurcs on Nov 30, 2020 23:08:19 GMT
He's a very good actor, but that indefinable presence and star quality that compels people to want to watch you (that say someone like Keanu has) isn't there. He made a couple of questioniable choices after 12 Years A Slave that did nothing to advance his career. Half A Yellow Sun sounded good on paper, but got mediocre reviews and nobody cared. Z For Zachariah was a critical and commercial flop. Secret In Their Eyes was probably supposed to position him as a Denzel level leading man (he was the lead opposite Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman, which is insane when you think about it) but agsin the movie was met with mediocre reviews and box office, and his performance didn't rise above it.
After that, I think the industry just gave up on hoping he'd become this generational actor/talent or leading man, and just settled for him being a classy Brit character actor who adds bit of class to big budget Hollywood productions (sort of like Jude Law settled into being in middle age after his heat cooled down in the industry) That's true..he needs to hook up with Steve McQueen again, or go down the indie route. I can definitely see him in a Jenkins, McQueen, DuVernay, type project. He's a former Oscar nominee and still young enough, just crazy what's happened with his career. Him/12YAS were the talk of the town in 2013. I dunno. I think sometimes you find the level you are supposed to. Is he a superstar leading man or unquestionable best actor of his generation contender? Not really. But he's pretty well respected, and still gets good mainstream gigs that pay him well. From what I can gather, he's the main villain in Doctor Strange: Multiverse Of Madness. A lot of actors are trying to get roles that prominent in a Marvel film. Even Idris Elba foolishly accepted being a minor side character in several Thor movies. |
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Post by stephen on Nov 30, 2020 23:09:03 GMT
He's a character actor who has always seemed more content to follow the beat of his own drum. 12 Years a Slave made him a household name, but I don't know what other roles since then were something he could've capitalized upon, especially if he didn't want to get pigeonholed into playing historical black characters of importance (I remember there being an actor who remarked that they didn't want to keep getting parts like that, and it might've been him). Ejiofor's also got much more of a low-key energy than the likes of, say, David Oyelowo (who is much more vocal behind-the-scenes) or Idris Elba. There's a consummate professionalism to him that feels more akin to the likes of Mark Rylance: an actor who comes in, lets the work speak for itself, and then leaves.
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Post by futuretrunks on Nov 30, 2020 23:10:43 GMT
I don't know, but I pondered this myself a few years ago. I feel like Ejiofor used to have a commanding and intense screen presence, and it disappeared overnight somewhere around the end of the 2000s. He suddenly seemed intermittently distracted onscreen while acting. I even sensed it in 12 Years a Slave, despite his considerable awards haul. I think it's very weird.
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sirchuck23
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Bad news dawg...you don't mind if I have some of your 300 dollar a glass shit there would ya?
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Post by sirchuck23 on Nov 30, 2020 23:16:48 GMT
That's true..he needs to hook up with Steve McQueen again, or go down the indie route. I can definitely see him in a Jenkins, McQueen, DuVernay, type project. He's a former Oscar nominee and still young enough, just crazy what's happened with his career. Him/12YAS were the talk of the town in 2013. I dunno. I think sometimes you find the level you are supposed to. Is he a superstar leading man or unquestionable best actor of his generation contender? Not really. But he's pretty well respected, and still gets good mainstream gigs that pay him well. From what I can gather, he's the main villain in Doctor Strange: Multiverse Of Madness. A lot of actors are trying to get roles that prominent in a Marvel film. Even Idris Elba foolishly accepted being a minor side character in several Thor movies. Unfortunately it looks like Elba is finding his level too. He had high profile misses like The Dark Tower and the ungodly abomination that is Cats (bet he regrets that) and it seems like his leading man days might be numbered as well. Like you said foolishly took that minor character role in Thor just to be apart of Marvel. Its crazy how their careers panned out, because back in 2006-07 the expectations of them to be the next generation of Black leading men were high. |
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Post by pupdurcs on Nov 30, 2020 23:16:58 GMT
He's a character actor who has always seemed more content to follow the beat of his own drum. 12 Years a Slave made him a household name, but I don't know what other roles since then were something he could've capitalized upon, especially if he didn't want to get pigeonholed into playing historical black characters of importance (I remember there being an actor who remarked that they didn't want to keep getting parts like that, and it might've been him). Ejiofor's also got much more of a low-key energy than the likes of, say, David Oyelowo (who is much more vocal behind-the-scenes) or Idris Elba. There's a consummate professionalism to him that feels more akin to the likes of Mark Rylance: an actor who comes in, lets the work speak for itself, and then leaves. If Secrets In Their Eyes worked, he'd have become a major star/leading man (it was a role director Billy Ray initially wanted Denzel for, but he turned it down). Putting him opposite Nicole Kidman and Julia Roberts was very much a show of faith that people thought he could be that major leading man. It didn't work, and combined with some other choices that didn't work out, made the industry pull back on trying to make him a big leading man. |
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sirchuck23
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Bad news dawg...you don't mind if I have some of your 300 dollar a glass shit there would ya?
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Post by sirchuck23 on Nov 30, 2020 23:19:16 GMT
He's a character actor who has always seemed more content to follow the beat of his own drum. 12 Years a Slave made him a household name, but I don't know what other roles since then were something he could've capitalized upon, especially if he didn't want to get pigeonholed into playing historical black characters of importance (I remember there being an actor who remarked that they didn't want to keep getting parts like that, and it might've been him). Ejiofor's also got much more of a low-key energy than the likes of, say, David Oyelowo (who is much more vocal behind-the-scenes) or Idris Elba. There's a consummate professionalism to him that feels more akin to the likes of Mark Rylance: an actor who comes in, lets the work speak for itself, and then leaves. Yeah, you don't really hear much from him unless he's promoting something. Very low-key and seems to not have the ambition of say an Oyelowo who like you said is more vocal. Just seems like he's faded somewhat, although his directorial debut, The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind, got some good critics reviews, so perhaps he's looking to go down the actor/director road perhaps. |
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Post by pupdurcs on Nov 30, 2020 23:23:54 GMT
I dunno. I think sometimes you find the level you are supposed to. Is he a superstar leading man or unquestionable best actor of his generation contender? Not really. But he's pretty well respected, and still gets good mainstream gigs that pay him well. From what I can gather, he's the main villain in Doctor Strange: Multiverse Of Madness. A lot of actors are trying to get roles that prominent in a Marvel film. Even Idris Elba foolishly accepted being a minor side character in several Thor movies. Unfortunately it looks like Elba is finding his level too. He had high profile misses like The Dark Tower and the ungodly abomination that is Cats (bet he regrets that) and it seems like his leading man days might be numbered as well. Like you said foolishly took that minor character role in Thor just to be apart of Marvel. Its crazy how their careers panned out, because back in 2006-07 the expectations of them to be the next generation of Black leading men were high. The difference between Elba and Ejiofor is that Elba is a natural born hustler  Elba will do anything, anywhere and isn't afraid of seeking publicity. He's got that Michael Caine or Samuel L Jackson ethos, where they don't seem fussed about doing as many projects as they can. So as dubious as Elba's project selection is, he remains a "star" to the public. I do agree that Elba's days as a leading man in films look numbered. He makes too many bad choices. But he seems like he'd be happy to do character roles and more TV stuff anyway, as long as he stays famous. |
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sirchuck23
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Post by sirchuck23 on Nov 30, 2020 23:29:02 GMT
Unfortunately it looks like Elba is finding his level too. He had high profile misses like The Dark Tower and the ungodly abomination that is Cats (bet he regrets that) and it seems like his leading man days might be numbered as well. Like you said foolishly took that minor character role in Thor just to be apart of Marvel. Its crazy how their careers panned out, because back in 2006-07 the expectations of them to be the next generation of Black leading men were high. The difference between Elba and Ejiofor is that Elba is a natural born hustler Elba will do anything, anywhere and isn't afraid of seeking publicity. He's got that Michael Caine or Samuel L Jackson ethos, where they don't seem fussed about doing as many projects as they can. So as dubious as Elba's project selection is, he remains a "star" to the public. I do agree that Elba's days as a leading man in films look numbered. He makes too many bad choices. But he seems like he'd be happy to do character roles and more TV stuff anyway, as long as he stays famous. ..That's true. My man steady be moving like he's broke. He's never going back to struggling. He's running with the hounds though I bet his heart is still with the fox. |
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Post by quetee on Dec 1, 2020 0:15:25 GMT
He's a very good actor, but that indefinable presence and star quality that compels people to want to watch you (that say someone like Keanu has) isn't there. He made a couple of questioniable choices after 12 Years A Slave that did nothing to advance his career. Half A Yellow Sun sounded good on paper, but got mediocre reviews and nobody cared. Z For Zachariah was a critical and commercial flop. Secret In Their Eyes was probably supposed to position him as a Denzel level leading man (he was the lead opposite Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman, which is insane when you think about it) but again the movie was met with mediocre reviews and box office, and his performance didn't rise above it.
After that, I think the industry just gave up on hoping he'd become this generational actor/talent or leading man, and just settled for him being a classy Brit character actor who adds bit of class to big budget Hollywood productions (sort of like Jude Law settled into being in middle age after his heat cooled down in the industry) Yeah, there's no fire. I remember as a kid being drawn to Paul Newman. You gotta have that charisma. My mom doesn't go to movies that often but tell her Denzel has a new one and she has one foot out the door already. |
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Post by futuretrunks on Dec 1, 2020 2:50:21 GMT
Unfortunately it looks like Elba is finding his level too. He had high profile misses like The Dark Tower and the ungodly abomination that is Cats (bet he regrets that) and it seems like his leading man days might be numbered as well. Like you said foolishly took that minor character role in Thor just to be apart of Marvel. Its crazy how their careers panned out, because back in 2006-07 the expectations of them to be the next generation of Black leading men were high. The difference between Elba and Ejiofor is that Elba is a natural born hustler Elba will do anything, anywhere and isn't afraid of seeking publicity. He's got that Michael Caine or Samuel L Jackson ethos, where they don't seem fussed about doing as many projects as they can. So as dubious as Elba's project selection is, he remains a "star" to the public. I do agree that Elba's days as a leading man in films look numbered. He makes too many bad choices. But he seems like he'd be happy to do character roles and more TV stuff anyway, as long as he stays famous. Man, I loved Elba on the earlier seasons of Luther (and as Stringer Bell on The Wire). It's like he's evaporated. |
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Post by therealcomicman117 on Dec 1, 2020 5:21:27 GMT
It's an interesting question. His last two roles were The Old Guard, and Maleficient: Mistress of The Magic, I haven't seen the later, but in the first he was playing a fun stocky type villain, but not much more then that.
I wonder if the roles he's receiving just aren't up to snuff as of late. Perhaps that upcoming Doctor Strange sequel, whenever it gets made will give his career a slight boost. It probably doesn't help though, that he's never been seen as a traditional leading man, and most of his recent parts really reflect that.
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Post by hugobolso on Dec 1, 2020 5:37:56 GMT
Well there are too many actors and very few work, and very few of the most busy becomes major stars, I guess people has no idea who is him.-
Also he is british, so why American Audiences should love him? Why the African-American community should raise him?
He has luck for be a guy, if he was a woman, nobody will remember him right no.-
Someone remembers poor Marianne Jeanne Baptiste or Sophie Okonedo?
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Post by franklin on Dec 1, 2020 12:30:00 GMT
Still can't believe a "just good" actor like Mahershala Ali has two Oscars for just fine performances in Moonlight and Green Book, but wildly superior actors like Chiwetel Ejiofor, David Oyelowo, and Idris Elba have none.
Someone has to explain this thing to me.
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Post by pacinoyes on Dec 1, 2020 12:46:24 GMT
Loved him in 12YAS and Dirty Pretty Things but he has no legit star power.......he's in Phil Spector (2013) w/ Mirren & Pacino........no one notices him - at all - watch the scene where Pacino explodes on him to see this, and that's not just because he's having the Pacino-tornado coming at him either. It's a little role but he does nothing with it either .........and he's opposite 2 of the GOATs .... With Mirren here:  |
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Post by countjohn on Dec 2, 2020 4:54:42 GMT
I don't know how much I've talked about it at length on here, but I thought his 12YAS performance was an all timer. Might be the best post DDL in TWBB. I assumed he would blow up afterward at the time. I guess as others have said he doesn't have quite the action hero presence. I thought at the time he'd end up being the black Leo or Gosling, the "mid budget auteur prestige drama" guy. Most his parts post 13 have been second lead type stuff in blockbusters. He might be doing those parts hoping it'll get his foot in the door ad he'll get his own franchise or something. I wish he'd just find some good dramas to be in. He's one of the best pure dramatic actors around. Speaking of the NYT thread he's another guy who could have been on the list. I'd say he and Ali are the two guys you'd consider as the second most accomplished black 21st century actor. Hollywood probably doesn't know what to do with him. Well I don't know why, he's a good looking guy and a really good actor who can play pretty much anything. If I'm doing a straight drama he'd be on the short list of who I'd want to try and get for the lead |
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Post by quetee on Dec 2, 2020 6:08:40 GMT
I don't know how much I've talked about it at length on here, but I thought his 12YAS performance was an all timer. Might be the best post DDL in TWBB. I assumed he would blow up afterward at the time. I guess as others have said he doesn't have quite the action hero presence. I thought at the time he'd end up being the black Leo or Gosling, the "mid budget auteur prestige drama" guy. Most his parts post 13 have been second lead type stuff in blockbusters. He might be doing those parts hoping it'll get his foot in the door ad he'll get his own franchise or something. I wish he'd just find some good dramas to be in. He's one of the best pure dramatic actors around. Speaking of the NYT thread he's another guy who could have been on the list. I'd say he and Ali are the two guys you'd consider as the second most accomplished black 21st century actor. Hollywood probably doesn't know what to do with him. Well I don't know why, he's a good looking guy and a really good actor who can play pretty much anything. If I'm doing a straight drama he'd be on the short list of who I'd want to try and get for the lead Hollywood has the tendency to overhype and shove certain people down our throats. Seriously, I wish they would stop trying to make Armie Hammer happen. We get it already, now let's move on. It doesn't matter if Chiwetel is nice looking and a good actor, if Hollywood doesn't see it then all that doesn't matter. There are a lot of talented people out there who never make it. It's too bad Chiwetel landed somewhere in the middle but that's the way the ball bounces. |
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Post by pupdurcs on Dec 2, 2020 7:35:54 GMT
I don't know how much I've talked about it at length on here, but I thought his 12YAS performance was an all timer. Might be the best post DDL in TWBB. I assumed he would blow up afterward at the time. I guess as others have said he doesn't have quite the action hero presence. I thought at the time he'd end up being the black Leo or Gosling, the "mid budget auteur prestige drama" guy. Most his parts post 13 have been second lead type stuff in blockbusters. He might be doing those parts hoping it'll get his foot in the door ad he'll get his own franchise or something. I wish he'd just find some good dramas to be in. He's one of the best pure dramatic actors around. Speaking of the NYT thread he's another guy who could have been on the list. I'd say he and Ali are the two guys you'd consider as the second most accomplished black 21st century actor. Hollywood probably doesn't know what to do with him. Well I don't know why, he's a good looking guy and a really good actor who can play pretty much anything. If I'm doing a straight drama he'd be on the short list of who I'd want to try and get for the lead I wouldn't say "action hero presence" (whatever that is). Just "presence". It comes in different forms, but you know it when you see it. Angelina Jolie has it, and not just in action movies. But Ejiofor doesn't have it. It's what makes actors stars and people that compel audiences to watch them over and over in a variety of things. For a movie actor, it is not a minor thing and I'd argue that for screen actors at least, having that "presence" takes you almost halfway (sometimes all the way) to being "great". This is why I said that critics often toss out the criteria for being an actor of considerable technical ability and range (which Ejiofor is) when it suits them, to champion more technically limited actors with that "presence". Ejiofor probably hoped to follow the Denzel model, which is to balance prestige drama with action/thriller/popcorn movies (I guess that's why he did things like Secrets In Their Eyes and Triple Nine). It's a sound formula in theory, but crucially requires that you have the presence and star quality (and overall talent and ability to elevate so-so material) of a Denzel to actually make it work. If it was that easy to pull off, every good actor would be Denzel. |
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) but he's older now and Hollywood is having a hard time finding another black male crossover lead. 
