Why is the public so obsessed with the private lives
of celebrities? Is it really important that Katie Holmes had Tom Cruise
jumping on a couch? Is it a big deal that Colin Farrell is trying to stop
the release of a private videotape? That practice is more common than you
might think, but overexposure can be harmful to a celebrity’s
reputation. OK, maybe not in Farrell’s case. Actors such as Tom
Cruise should be judged by their work, not by their romantic endeavors.
Given the media attention that feeds the public fawning, is Hollywood
missing the boat on movie ideas?
Perhaps the failure of celebrity biopics soured many
producers on the topic. Does anyone remember the disastrous Gable and Lombard (1976), the
absolutely dreadful film about the mythic romance of Clark Gable and Carole
Lombard? Probably not, but I’m sure Hollywood hasn’t forgotten.
Real-life celebrity romance has rarely been approached since, although
Martin Scorsese touched on it recently in The
Aviator (2004). Dramatizing Howard
Hughes’ romances with Katharine Hepburn and Ava Gardner was
successful this time out, so future attempts are likely.
Trying to re-create the image of a known personality
is risky, but the same ground can be covered in fiction. Notting Hill (1999) suggests
what might happen if a major movie star (Julia Roberts) were to date
outside her species (Hugh Grant) — in this case, a lowly bookstore
owner. The risk of sappiness comes with any Roberts film, but Grant, who is
the actual protagonist, saves the film with his self-deprecating charm.
Rhys Ifans, one of the strangest actors in movies, deserves special mention
as Grant’s roommate.
Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! (2004) takes a similar premise but switches the sexes. Hamilton
(Josh Duhamel) is a movie bad boy who tries to improve his public image by
offering himself as the prize in a contest. Kate Bosworth co-stars as the
small-town grocery-store clerk who wins. Yes, it’s just as silly,
illogical, and predictable as it sounds, but it isn’t horrible.
Topher Grace (That ’70s Show) steals the film as her long-suffering buddy who is
secretly in love with her.
There are other people in Hollywood besides stars,
and Modern Romance (1981) shifts the focus. Albert Brooks, who also wrote and
directed, stars as an overbearing movie editor who continually breaks up
with his girlfriend (Kathryn Harrold). If you view your romance with a more
cynical eye, this is definitely the film for you. In fact, this is one of
the best romantic comedies ever made.
DVDs scheduled for release Tuesday (Aug. 9): Because of Winn-Dixie, Off the Map, and Kung Fu Hustle.
This article appears in Aug 4-10, 2005.
