Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Happy Josh Day

Happy 18th birthday to one of the most in demand young actors in Hollywood, Josh Hutcherson. As time goes by, I've stopped handing The Bening, Juli and  Ruff' all the credit for the beauty of The Kids Are All Right and the glory of the ensemble work becomes clearer.  (They'd better get a SAG ensemble nod in January.) When the DVD arrives in November, I know it'll be the type of movie that gets a lot of spins.

In our introduction to "Laser", we seem him watching his friend's dad wrestle and Josh lends Laser a heartbreakingly specific look, equal parts longing, physical adrenaline (there is wrestling involved), and inchoate wonder. It's really a beautiful moment, telegraphing exactly what we need to know about the character, the one whose emotional needs kick off the film's plot. Well done, Josh.

In truth this was my first exposure to the young actor but I understand he was a minor child star? Anything worth seeing from his filmography?

Here is The Bening (!!!) -- who hasn't been leaving the Beatty estate much this year -- presenting him with a "Breakthrough Film Actor of the Year Award" a couple of months ago at something called, hey look at that, the "Breakthrough of the Year Awards"...



You'll next see Josh in either the already completed remake of cheesy 80s flick Red Dawn (the release has been shelved for the time being due to MGM problems), the art forgery drama Carmel (whenever that comes out) or the slasher comedy Detention .... no scratch all that. You'll next see Josh on the red carpet since The Kids Are All Right will get some sort of awards run... Size TBD by various precursor voting bodies.

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24 comments:

Ryan T. said...

I might be committing blasphemy with this comment, but I'll take my chances. I actually preferred the kids to the adult stars in the film. Not sure why exactly, but to me the film lagged when the kids weren't on screen. In the end, I was wishing we had more scenes with the kids.

BTW just want to also mention how much I love LOVE Moore, Ruffalo, and Bening. Just so everyone would throw tomatoes at me rather than bricks. Commence.

anna said...

"Bridge to Terabithia" is actually quite a nice film, also very sad. I cried like a baby watching it.

Caroline said...

I know he did the the voices for The Polar Express and Howl's Moving Castle, so both wonderful movies. But I mainly know him from "Bridge to Terebithia", which is in my mind a fairly crappy adaptation of a book dear to me heart. But he did make me cry in that movie.

Paolo said...

I agree, Ryan. Mia Wasikowska's character is easily the most quotable one of the bunch, Annette Bening coming in at a close second.

Also, Happy B-Day, Hutch!

Ben said...

Little Manhattan is superb. Really excellent film, and both Hutcherson and whomever plays his love interest are fantastic (I don't think she's done anything else, unfortunately).

/3rtfu11 said...

He’s legal and I’m freaking ten years older. Although I have to the 12th of next month to still be twenty-seven.

Robert William Berg said...

He was in Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant, which I think my partner and I are the only two people on the planet who actually liked. If you go in expecting something silly and mostly disposable but with some fun and nifty bits and some good shots here and there, it might be worth a look.

Blinking Cursor said...

Josh was also in the Journey to the Center of the Earth remake. I'm glad he didn't get the role of Peter Parker/Spiderman in the upcoming reboot. Nothing against Josh or for Andrew Garfield (who I haven't seen in anything yet; though I'll likely see Never Let Me Go soon), but rather Josh is too good looking to play Parker. Remember, Parker's suppose to be a nerd. Josh has the square jawed good looks of the old school superhero, he wouldn't have been a good fit for the role of Spiderman.

BTW, speaking of superheroes, today is also Hugh Jackman's birthday. Yes, the man that is Wolverine is celebrating his 42nd, I believe.

J.D. said...

He is MINE. That is all.

Volvagia said...

Exactly. In terms of looks, Jamie Bell was probably the most appropriate name being tossed about (Andrew Garfield still looks a bit too "movie star" for it, but since Spidey's not tied to any national pride, to my knowledge, he could very well be a British exchange student who uses an American accent in costume. At least, then, it won't have to be as harsh as Bale's BatGrowl (TM).)

Andrew R. said...

They honestly invented a "Breakthrough of the Year Awards"? Seriously? How you determine if someone is eligible for that award?

Outside of Kids Are All Right and the horribly cliched Bridge to Terabithia (and I liked the book!), not much to watch.

adam k. said...

He was very good in Bridge to Terabithia, even though the film was rather lazy and mediocre. It's worth seeing now just to go back in time to him as a kid. I remember thinking way back then that he'd grow up to be a delicious man, and look at that, I was right (and can say it now finally without guilt!).

I'm sure he and his co-stars will get the SAG nod. I've been counting on them to win the whole thing, though that's still quite the longshot, what with Social Network and King's Speech looming.

What do we think the SAG nominees will be? Probably those three, plus maybe Inception and The Way Back or True Grit or... what? Other likely 5th slotters are eluding me...

adam k. said...

Actually, now that I think about it, For Colored Girls could definitely pop up there...

Richter Scale said...

Nat, I definitely think you should watch Bridge to Terabithia. Even though AnnaSophia Robb is the heart of that film, Josh Hutcherson carries most of the emotional weight on his shoulders, and he does it so beautifully. It's not a masterpiece, but it's very moving and it features a fantastic youth ensemble. There's also a very moving performance by Bailee Madison (whom you might remember from Brothers).

Simon said...

I was kind of in love with him for five minutes after Bride to Terabithia. So there's that.

Stella said...

No, you should not see Bridge to Terebithia. It really is a waste of time. Pleasant, but utterly mediocre in every aspect. At least, don't *actively* seek out to watch it.

Volvagia said...

From A-F, Terabithia would personally be a C-. Pleasant, yes, but not phenomenal. Watchable in the most inexplicable way. (I believe in the John Stuart Mill theory of entertainment. It's genius, and anyone who bashes Michael Bay is, in Mill's eye, more moral than someone who attacks Fellini.)

par3182 said...

he's only 18? now i feel really dirty...

Julienne said...

little manhattan and bridge to terabithia

J.D. said...

Okay, FTR: Bridge to Terabithia isn't the book (which I adooooore), but it's rather REALLY good for a modern live-action Disney film? Even if they had to Narnia-ize it a tad.

Glenn said...

As movies made for children, Terabithia is very good. I cried, true.

He is very good looking though and it's quite disconcerting that he's only just turned 18. Yikes.

Sawyer said...

Bridge to Terabithia was overshadowed by Narnia, but the writing and acting by the young stars was much better. Plus it's a heartwrenching story.

Sawyer said...

And Zooey Deschanel plays a hippie music teacher. She phoned it in, but her phone-ins are still a cut above.

TC said...

Josh at his best pre-TKAAR - check out the criminally forgotten Fragments; he delivers what should have been an award-winning performance. He was also deliciously scummy in Cirque Du Freak and tons of fun in Journey To The Center Of The Earth! Just a few of a dozen or so reasons why our podcast picked Josh as our #1 male Rising Star in 2010...:-)