The Oscar Curse

Charlie Sheen was just 18 years old when he costars in Red Dawn, the first of 27 movies.


Although he does costar in some memorable movies, with Wall Street being the best known, his few attempts as lead actor are pretty dismal failures.

At the age of 38, he simultaneously starts his new TV series, and the third Scary Movie comes out. At the same time, The Big Bounce a $50 million dollar movie that makes $6.5 million at the boxoffice is released where he only plays a supporting role.

In the last 8 years he only does cameo appearances in movies, but his sophomoric TV comedy makes him wildly rich. How do you suppose these actresses feel? They ascend the world stage for amazing performances, then shuffle off to relative movie oblivion. Do they get jealous, or do they accept that stardom is not fair?

Quote: pacomartin

Although he does costar in some memorable movies, with Wall Street being the best known, his few attempts as lead actor are pretty dismal failures.

I thought he did rather well at "Hot Shots" and the sequel.

Three's nothing wrong with being a good comedy actor, ask Mel Brooks. Of course you won't ever be even nominated for an Oscar.

Marissa Tomei did alright in that Box office flop `The Wrestler`

Quote: thecesspit

Marissa Tomei did alright in that Box office flop `The Wrestler`

Agree. I think they should have delved into her character more. Truthfully the parallels between them was more interesting than the father daughter story.

By any standard Maresei Tomei is a very successful actress. With 31 movies earning over $800 million in domestic box office (in the top 60 actresses), she has been nominated three times for an Oscar (one win), and a number of other acting nominations. She has been paid as high as $2 million for a picture.

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But, Charlie Sheen has never won an award for his acting in movies, but made the successful Hot Shot. As a result of that success, he has been paid up to $6 million salary for a movie that made $16 million at the box office (Terminal Velocity), his next movie he is paid $5.25 million for a movie that makes $14 million at the box office, and then his next movie he is paid $4 million for a movie that $2.3 million at the box office. After that point producers wise up.

Now CS is making up to $2 million per episode for his sitcom.

Quote: pacomartin

But, Charlie Sheen has never won an award for his acting in movies, but made the successful Hot Shot.

Comedic actors are never nominated.

Quote:

Now CS is making up to $2 million per episode for his sitcom.

Last I heard he'd been fired. So he's making nothing now. That should cheer you up :)

personally I never liked his sitcom. But a hit's a hit. If it makes money the cast should be well paid, even if it includes Charlie Sheen.

Quote: Nareed

Comedic actors are never nominated.

The plus side of being a comedic actor is that if your movie is successful you usually get all the credit. With dramas you share it with the writer, the cinematographer, the support cast, the director, etc. On the flip side, you take all the blame if it is a bomb. With dramas you often hear, well the movie was weak, but the actor was amazing.

A successful comedy movie usually carries over with excellent pay for multiple movies. People like Eddie Murphy are paid $20m (or 20% of the budget( for the "Adventure of Pluto Nash" which made $4.4 million at the boxoffice.

Quote: pacomartin

The plus side of being a comedic actor is that if your movie is successful you usually get all the credit. With dramas you share it with the writer, the cinematographer, the support cast, the director, etc.

In comedy the writing sometimes is a lot more important. One of the biggest comedy hits of all times was "Airplane!" While they somehoew loaded the movie with good actors in secondary parts (Lloyd Bridges, Robert Stack, Peter Graves), the leads were unknowns who by and large didn't move on to better things. That movie would have worked with any kind of actors, because what's funny about it is how the situations are handled, and half the gags are visual. Striker's "drinking problem," and all the type of "A hospital? What is it?" lines are good examples.

On the other hand you have a movie like "Liar, Liar." The writing's pretty good, but all the funny scenes involve Jim Carrey in some way. In fact he's the only one who's funny in the entire movie. you don't laugh at anyone else at all. But look at the scene where the cop pulls him over, and the frantic listing Carrey makes of all his traffic violations. That's great writting, but an even better delivery.

But comedies by and large don't get nominated at Osar times, and neither do comedic actors. Which gives birth to bromides like "Dying's easy. Comedy is hard." Actually the Oscars should split best actor and best movie awards for drama and comedy.

He did okay in "Platoon" and "Young Guns" as part of ensembles. He is also memorable for his role in "Major League". These semi-successes allowed him to indulge in a long pattern of decadent living. Unfortunately, it is catching up with him.