Let’s face it, 2009 had a season of terrible, big budget, disastrous movies. So much so I felt I threw away over $100 to hyped-up pieces of poo. At the same time, there were some excellent films hidden amongst the Autobots, the superheroes, and The Ugly Truth. For many, most of their success came from the fresh faces we saw in an industry where the same garbage is recycled constantly.
Here are ten actors whom I believe took that next step in their careers this past year.
10) Jesse Eisenberg
Who I always considered the “other Michael Cera,” Eisenberg showed us his goofy and awkward nature in Adventureland, and Zombieland and managed to stand on his own. In 2010, he’ll be starring as Mark Zuckerberg, cofounder and current CEO of Facebook, in David Fincher’s The Social Network.
Stephen Lang
9) Stephen Lang
Public Enemies had many problems throughout. But, it was Lang who upstaged Christian Bale in every scene he was in. In fact, Lang was not only in the last seen of Enemies, but was also in the first in The Men Who Stare at Goats. It’s obvious he got these roles because of the one he’ll be remembered for — the buff, scary, military badass in James Cameron’s Avatar. There is no question in my mind that when Hollywood needs an old, grey haired, macho man in a script, they’ll be calling Lang’s agent.
8 ) Chris Pine
Personally, Pine got my attention back in ’06 when he played one of the Tremor Brothers in Smokin’ Aces. Now, he is known worldwide as the new James T. Kirk. The difference between Pine and William Shatner is that when people watch the old Star Trek, they see Shatner. Pine has the opposite problem; they see Kirk, not Pine. One could argue he was so good for that role you don’t see the actor. Unfortunately, right now, his name is still unknown to many.
