25 years ago, as part of a settlement the tobacco companies made to resolve a series of lawsuits, the iconic “Marlboro Man” billboard that had stood proudly atop the iconic Sunset Strip for nearly twenty years, bathing Hollywood in his reflected macho glow, was pulled down.
I agree with you about Glenn Powell. Look at all the films he's appeared in and the different types of roles he played. He's a very versatile actor. Besides all his big films I also saw him in the film Devotion and I thought he was excellent. Too bad it came out at the time Jonathan Majors career imploded.
Bernthal's Punisher was almost a tough guy manifesto, and I'm glad to see him lean in. He's showing up in time to spell off Jason Statham, who is getting surprisingly creaky.
Agian Your Excellency is right on target. But Your friend hit it with Newman, Wayne and the others of my era. Cary Grant was tough yet debonair. There was no shortage. I can remember as a little boy in the sixties watching all the old movies on T.V., even the silly ones and seeimg men. Maybe its how it is when one grows old, but I don't see men any more. It took me well into my forties to think I was a man. So here in the comments I'm the old fart who pines of the old days of Hollywood and remembers:
Bogart
Grant
Dean Martin
Newman
Gable
Wayne
Curtis
Mitchum
Even Jack Lemon and the one's I missed.
But my buddy the vietnam vet told me once, "John Wayne" and he spit on the ground, "Audy Murphy was one tough Mother F'er." Take care.
One tuff guy that slipped under your radar is Jason Statham; throughout these tuff guy-less years he’s been cranking out testosterone-laden action flicks on a steady basis & they’ve been doing very well $$-wise. The ironic part of it is he’s a Brit; British culture is not exactly known for being muscle bound but he pulls it off well. I would argue as an action star he’s the biggest in the world right now.
One thing about the Hollywood’s golden years of tuff guys; John Wayne, Steve McQueen, James Coburn, Lee Marvin, etc., wouldn’t let a Pitt or a Chalamet take out their garbage.
There are certainly exceptions like Statham and Keanu who prove the rule. I did not include them because they aren't really in the big studio blockbuster movie business, but rather the indie action movie. Hollywood can't survive on those kinds of films, alone. We need the kind of blockbusters Arnold and the crew used to make in the 80's to make a big return. Also, like Cruise and Pitt, they are starting to age out as well.
“We need the kind of blockbusters Arnold and the crew used to make in the 80's to make a big return.”
Unless there’s a sea change in decision makers - now in the death grip of the DEI crowd - don’t see that happening. DEI is a religion to these buffoons & they’ll die on that hill. Good friend of mine does a vlog about this stuff; he says the stuff the insiders won’t. Check him out here: https://www.bitchute.com/channel/yeKAwbRtYfz2
Maybe you’re right and that’s where things are headed, but I hope not. The world is a much more exciting place when everyone is collectively raving about a Maverick or an F1
Agreed. Transporter, The Beekeeper, The Expendables. War was good as were Redemption and Homefront. They'll never be classics but I wonder if Statham could carry a bigger role but hasn't been given the chance.
Demolition Man was a $60 movie… over $100M in 2025 dollars. I love Statham but I can’t get a $125M movie made with Statham attached as the lead star… unless it involves some huge piece of can’t miss IP
Surprised you didn't mention Keanu Reeves, unless you consider him as a different genre. He's the first that popped into my mind other than the ones you mentioned.
I agree with you about Glenn Powell. Look at all the films he's appeared in and the different types of roles he played. He's a very versatile actor. Besides all his big films I also saw him in the film Devotion and I thought he was excellent. Too bad it came out at the time Jonathan Majors career imploded.
I’m a big fan
Bernthal's Punisher was almost a tough guy manifesto, and I'm glad to see him lean in. He's showing up in time to spell off Jason Statham, who is getting surprisingly creaky.
Can’t package a big movie with him yet but he could support a Beekeeper or a John Wick
Agian Your Excellency is right on target. But Your friend hit it with Newman, Wayne and the others of my era. Cary Grant was tough yet debonair. There was no shortage. I can remember as a little boy in the sixties watching all the old movies on T.V., even the silly ones and seeimg men. Maybe its how it is when one grows old, but I don't see men any more. It took me well into my forties to think I was a man. So here in the comments I'm the old fart who pines of the old days of Hollywood and remembers:
Bogart
Grant
Dean Martin
Newman
Gable
Wayne
Curtis
Mitchum
Even Jack Lemon and the one's I missed.
But my buddy the vietnam vet told me once, "John Wayne" and he spit on the ground, "Audy Murphy was one tough Mother F'er." Take care.
One tuff guy that slipped under your radar is Jason Statham; throughout these tuff guy-less years he’s been cranking out testosterone-laden action flicks on a steady basis & they’ve been doing very well $$-wise. The ironic part of it is he’s a Brit; British culture is not exactly known for being muscle bound but he pulls it off well. I would argue as an action star he’s the biggest in the world right now.
One thing about the Hollywood’s golden years of tuff guys; John Wayne, Steve McQueen, James Coburn, Lee Marvin, etc., wouldn’t let a Pitt or a Chalamet take out their garbage.
There are certainly exceptions like Statham and Keanu who prove the rule. I did not include them because they aren't really in the big studio blockbuster movie business, but rather the indie action movie. Hollywood can't survive on those kinds of films, alone. We need the kind of blockbusters Arnold and the crew used to make in the 80's to make a big return. Also, like Cruise and Pitt, they are starting to age out as well.
“We need the kind of blockbusters Arnold and the crew used to make in the 80's to make a big return.”
Unless there’s a sea change in decision makers - now in the death grip of the DEI crowd - don’t see that happening. DEI is a religion to these buffoons & they’ll die on that hill. Good friend of mine does a vlog about this stuff; he says the stuff the insiders won’t. Check him out here: https://www.bitchute.com/channel/yeKAwbRtYfz2
…and unless that sea change happens, “the indie action movie” is where the renaissance will take place.
Maybe you’re right and that’s where things are headed, but I hope not. The world is a much more exciting place when everyone is collectively raving about a Maverick or an F1
Hope you’re right & I’m wrong. But not holding my breath.
Agreed. Transporter, The Beekeeper, The Expendables. War was good as were Redemption and Homefront. They'll never be classics but I wonder if Statham could carry a bigger role but hasn't been given the chance.
Demolition Man was a $60 movie… over $100M in 2025 dollars. I love Statham but I can’t get a $125M movie made with Statham attached as the lead star… unless it involves some huge piece of can’t miss IP
Surprised you didn't mention Keanu Reeves, unless you consider him as a different genre. He's the first that popped into my mind other than the ones you mentioned.
Oddly enough I think Timothee Chalamet is trying to go against his "soft" image. Sports, ESPN, etc.
He's going to eventually get jacked and do an action flick
That would probably be smart
I’ve been telling people for the past 5+ years that Demolition Man was one of the most prescient movies of our lifetime.
I have a long gestating essay about it!