On this week’s episode, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) discuss the aging up of our movie star roster. Then they review The Accountant 2, a buddy comedy masquerading as an action movie. Make sure to swing by Bulwark+ on Friday for our bonus episode about Revenge of the Sith. And if you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend!
The analysis of autism as a superpower is just wrong based on the first movie. Ben Affleck's character was not a better hitman because he was autistic (the math, yes). At least the movie did not provide any evidence that his autism made him a better hit man. The first movie went into great detail how the father subjected the two boys to grueling combat and martial arts training (maybe because of Affleck's autism) which was the suggestion on why they had such skills.
With Alyssa the father is really why the brothers are who they are. I thought 1st movie was better. I did enjoy they made a 2nd one in a not really movie plot critic where nothing makes sense and too much killing.
BTW, the roller on shins was for conditioning. People in the martial arts, roll their shins so that they can kick other people's shins without pain.
Regarding Peter's idea that studios are trying to not create movie stars reminds me of McDonalds firing the guy who played Ronald McDonald because he wanted more money because he knew that he was identified as Ronald, at least that's how I remember it. You could definitely identify that there was something very wrong with the Ronalds after that guy.
The execs would like AI to produce "actors" that are their IP and thus they will not have to pay them. if they can't do that, then keep the rotation going so that no one person can claim enough fame to allow them to demand higher than union wage, if there remains a union. Everyone needs to be disposable and replaceable.
Remember also actors are aging slower due to plastic surgery and less smoking. Wilfred Brimley was famously only 49 during the filming of Cocoon.