How else to explain his selection of acting roles? Cusack is the star of my two favorite movies, "Grosse Pointe Blank" and "High Fidelity," witty, meaningful films about being cool and growing up that are untouchable. Yet he's also the star of "Con Air," "Must Love Dogs," and, now, "2012," an apocalyptic action film whose ad featuring a Tibetan monk standing atop the Himalayas looking at waves swallow smaller peaks is simply strange. (This doesn't even begin to address all the movies in the middle of the spectrum, both good and bad, such as "Bullets Over Broadway," which is decidedly in the former category.)
Now, of course, every actor and artist has his high and low points, and sometimes takes roles that can only be explained by the paycheck they provide. But Cuscack's payday valleys are about as depressed as they come. Surprisingly enough, he seems to skate by without too much criticism, unlike Robert DeNiro, whose inglorious coda has been filled with mistakes, though Cusack certainly hasn't come close to reaching the peaks that DeNiro has.
Maybe it's Cusack's still-boyish face that makes action-movie producers recruit him so vigorously, because it serves as a nice contrast to the impending doom and mayhem. "Nothing like a Boy Scout to have around wrongdoing," they must think. But then what does Cusack think while reading the script for 2012? "12,000-foot-high waves, yeah!"? Just because they're lusting after you, Mr. Cusack, doesn't mean you have to take it. Hopefully he doesn't come across this post and sue for defamation. Really, I love him and only want the best for him.
By the way, if you've never seen "Grosse Pointe Blank" or "High Fidelity," stop reading this blog and watch those movies. They're wonderful.
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