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Where Have All The Manly Men Gone?
People who know me know that I’ve talk about this a lot. Where are all the real masculine black men in the movies today? Where’s the 21st century Jim Brown? Whatever you might say about him (and usually it’s women who have nothing kind to say about Brown) you cannot deny that he was the definition of true, hard, black masculinity back when he made movies. Now we’ve got Martin Lawrence and Jamie Foxx about do to a Sheneneh and Wanda drag film together. Oh brother! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… just when exactly did black men in Hollywood get their balls cut off? O.K. who in your opinion fits the bill? And also please make it someone we know and not some obscure actor from some equally obscure cable show no one saw. And NO rappers! I said ACTORS. Someone who actually acts for a living and not someone who does films because someone offers them a role and still even then, can’t show up on the set on time knowing their lines. 28 comments to Where Have All The Manly Men Gone? |
  
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Today I had a talk with one of my closest long time friends and she brought to my attention this article written two weeks ago by Wesley Morris, the African American film critic for The Boston Globe about the lack of real genuine masculine men in movies nowadays, that are both American and under 40. Think about it. Practically all male movie stars that are both Amercian and under 40 are really just oversized boys who haven’t really grown any pubic hair yet. Leonardo DiCaprio, Johnny Depp, Tobey McGuire, that girly looking dude from those Twlight movies. Maybe Matt Damon could fit that bill but that’s only because of those Bourne spy movie,s and even then he doesn’t really have that masculine “weight”. So my friend and I started to think about what well-known established Black actors could fill that bill, and I’m afraid we couldn’t. Idris Elba, Eamonn Walker, Chiwetel Ejiofor and as she put it “that brother from Lost with a name a paragraph long” i.e. Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje are all under 40 and Brits (Actually Agbaje is 42 so even if he was American he wouldn’t count). Will Smith? Nah. First he’s over 40 and let’s be honest he’s never struck me or anyone as being particularly a “manly” man (and in my view just the opposite). Denzel? Over 40. Don Cheadle? Over 40, and not exactly a “manly” man either. Morgan? Samuel? Too old. Terrance Howard? Are you kidding? Tyler P….PLEASE! Do we have to go there? It’s a shame that if we need some masculine brothers in the movies we have to go to the U.K because the pickings here are real slim. Must be something in the water.
Morris Chestnut? *shrugs*
This topic has been done to death the past five years. NY Times, LA Times and a few magazines have talked about how “manly men” no longer exist in the movies and that the guys with edge were from places like Australia or possibly Europe.
First of all its debatable if any true manly man other than Russell Crowe has come from Australia (please don’t even suggest Hugh Jackman). The truth is no one is producing John Waynes, Stallones, Steve McQueens, etc. The current culture doesn’t seem to require those heroes as much on the big screen although that could change at any time. Right now a guy like Matt Damon can get away with being a kick ass action hero/tough guy when twenty years ago, maybe ten years ago too, that would have been out of the question. The tough guy has been replaced by the thin, thoughtful pretty boy for the most part. Since CGI is becoming the stars of films anyhow it may not matter until at least filmmakers get back to making certain types of films.
As for the black guys who aren’t from America the list of guys listed is a bit whack. Eamon Walker is over 40. Idris Elba is more cool than tough. Lets face it if you play a husband who is bossed around by your wife because she demanded that you didn’t hire a beautiful woman to be your secretary, if you play a husband whose wife treats him like a dog for thinking he had an affair even though he didn’t and you as the actor never even got a damn love scene with the other actress to justify all that venom going your way, when you play a husband who in the climatic showdown is on the sidelines while your bossy wife slugs it out with the antagonist, well, I’m afraid you don’t qualify as a tough guy or a manly man. “Obsessesed” took away any possible cred Elba could have had on that front. It also proved he would take ANY role for a paycheck. Made me forget that he one time played Stringer Bell.
Ejiofor is also a guy who is known more for playing the smart, intelligent and thoughtful type than he is being a tough guy. I’m sure he can play that too but he’d be wasted in those roles. He’s a great actor that simply needs better parts.
Denzel Washington was never a man’s man either. Not like Billy Dee Williams who even as a pretty boy seemed tougher on screen. And to be a manly man you gotta like getting the girl and I think Denzel on screen is uncomfortable with that. Yeah, he’s over 40 but even when under 40 he didn’t meet the requirements.
Truthfully outside of Wesley Snipes and maybe Fish for awhile I don’t know of any black actors who carried the bravado of the guys from the 70s. Part of it is that during the Blaxploitation Era the heroes were allowed to be overtly sexual and let’s face it both white Hollywood and black Hollywood has not been comfortable or willing enough to explore that aspect of black leading men the past 25 to 30 years. Michael jai White should have been a guy to fill such a role. Not a great actor but a good enough actor to play an alpha male in major Hollywood films. Plus he could fight and he had that rare combination of being able to come across as tough and appealing. But Hollywood never invested in him. The era in which he should have had his chance was the period in which the studios were hiring rap stars like DMX and Ice Cube. And I should say that DMX had the tough guy aspect down pat. But he had no range; he could only snarl and look tough. And frankly I’d rather go with an actor who has talent than an actor who can only look like he’s angry on the screen.
Ving Rhames had a window of opportunity there but again virtually all of his roles were as a supporting character.
Point is the “manly” actors are not much in demand as we speak. Nonetheless men still dominate the number of roles in Hollywood especially in big budget Hollywood flicks. But these guys are mostly “leading man” types, not rugged hero types. So IMO the question should be why aren’t there more leading black males in Hollywood. That is the true problem especially as Denzel moves closer to 60 and Will starts creeping next to 45. This is a subject that I have discussed a couple of times here on these boards.
Terrence Howard is at least 40 now and appears to be in a dry spell. Don Cheadle is in his mid 40s and frankly never had leading man looks anyway. The same could be said of guys like Forest Whitaker and Sam Jackson both are over 45. Jamie Foxx is over 40 and what is going on with his hair anyway…is that sprayed on? Morgan is ancient. Eddie is basically old and irrelevant now. Martin Lawrence and Chris Rock were always more suited for comedies. Right now there isn’t one black actor under 40 who is well positioned to have a career as a leading man.
It could happen for Idris Elba I suppose. It should have happened already for Ejiofor (if he was white he would be at the top of the list of all these films Hollywood studios set aside for his white British counterparts). Anthony Mackie should be like into his third year as a leading man but he is still stuck in the supporting category. Michael Ealy never gets the movie offers. Derek Luke never gets the great roles. Laz Alonso never gets anything substantial. It would have been nice if Spike Lee made a great film with those three in “Miracle” last year but Spike was more interested in starting childish battles with other filmmakers in the past. What a shame. Those three could have used a boost.
The problem is that black people have been okay with having like one unofficial leading man per generation. That got even worse when Denzel claimed that role for two generations! He still has that title and he’s closing in on 60. That’s ridiculous. It’s a shame that Blair Underwood never got the opportunities to move from TV to big time screen roles ala George Clooney. In another reality, a more fair one, that guy would have become a movie star sometime in the early 90s. It’s a shame it never happened for a guy like Cylk Cozart..
I don’t understand this obsession with “manly men.” Just like ditsy, submissive women that shit is played out–obscure and archaic. Sexiness isn’t being a ladies’ man, a title which masks the more appropriate label: whore( read: James Bond). Nor is sexy suppressing your true emotions or desires to fit some hyper social archetype of what a man should be.
A manly man is someone who is an emotional rock for their friends and family. A Derek Luke (sexy in Antoine Fisher), a Taye Diggs (sexy in everything!) an Omar Epps, a Mekhi Phifer. Sexiness is being comfortable with who you are. Jamie fits that role. I’d argue Will Smith does also.
On the dawn of a new decade, extremes are out. The new sexy is finding a middle. So the man who dominates the damsel–you’re played out like light skinned brothers with green eyes. Sorry. Be secure enough to find your equal–a woman who rivals yet compliments your strength.
Your view is not a surprise. I think many people, especially women, don’t necessarily want to see the “manly man” type on screen if it implies the more sexist attitudes of the days in which those films with such character types were made. I think a lot of people will find such figures off-putting. Maybe even a tad threatening . Certainly we should appreciate individuals, even our screen heroes, who are more prone to thoughtful decisions rather than violent responses. But there are those who would love to see those types of heroes again. There will come a time in which a major film has a character type like that as its lead and the movie will become a huge smash because the current audiences will not have see such a character before. It would start a trend. The way human beings are wired there are plenty of folks who are drawn/attracted to such characters despite themselves. As more women rise up the economic ladder and as more females dominate college campuses I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a bit of a backlash which would lead to millions of men in the country looking for an escape through Hollywood productions. Thus a new audience for such characters and films would be made.
As for the light skinned black male with green (light) eyes, they could hardly be played out if they were never brought out to play in the first place. Unlike black women which have always been over represented by light skinned actresses with natural straight hair and at times light eyes, the light skinned black male on the big and small screens still remains a rarity. One could argue that such men are actually under represented considering Hollywood has been reluctant to use them. Actually it would be nice if Hollywood did present black men more in various different hues. The guys you mentioned like tTaye, Omar, Derek and Mekhi are all the same complexion. More diversity please.
Michael Jai White?
But really, If you’re talking generally, regardless of race, demand drives the supply. So maybe the question you should be asking instead is whether there’s much demand from audiences for movies with men of that brand of masculinity, in general. All those guys you mentioned (Leonardo DiCaprio, Johnny Depp, Tobey McGuire, Matt Damon) are obviously working for a lot of folks, both male and female, so we see a lot more of them. The British guys you mentioned don’t work that often, or don’t have starring roles enough to really register with the masses.
Too pretty looking.
You’d have to very clearly define what you’re looking for Sergio when you talk about “manly” men. Is it just a feeling or are there a specific traits you’re looking for in your “manly” man? And I’m asking seriously, because it’s all relative.
Also your question is an offshoot of a much larger problem, which is the few roles available for black people (men and women) in films. Whites are still on top, so we get variety of white portrayals. We don’t have the luxury of that kind of variety and we aren’t been fully covered. So your “manly” black men, aren’t the only kind of black person missing in film.
When we fix the main problem then the sub-problems will be easier to address.
Hope everyone had a blessed holiday
Without posting a thesis paper, I basically feel that as the image/role/range of female representation has evolved, so has male representation. It’s symbiotic. If Jim Brown is the prototype, I can only think of the (perhaps offensive) comparison to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson… though he hasn’t been afraid to diversify with comedic roles, and yes, he’s a “light bright” halfrican-american.
There’s so many tangential issues to bring up, perhaps I’ll get into those in a later post.
I don’t think that just because a man is a manly man, he has disrespect women. In my opinion a manly man is a man with confidence, swagger and sex appeal. This description can apply to men who are black or other races. It has more to do with his personality than his color. I also think Idris Elba fits that description, so does Terrence Howard. Those twilight boys for example primarily appeal to teenage girls and basically they like everything. But being a real man has less to do about being pretty and more about having inner and outer strength and intelligence but also doesn’t take himself too seriously.
Where have all the manly men gone? Well if there is no great representation of them, couldn’t it be argued that they are no longer in demand, no longer necessary? I guess you would have to look at the biggest or most talked about films this year to see what type of man is in each.
I haven’t seen Avatar, but isn’t Jake Sully a manly man? He’s a soldier, he lost use of his legs, and he creates a resistance to take on an army. Sounds manly.
Also, I read someone say that Denzel Washington is not a manly man. In his latest film, he looks pretty manly to me. He’s a loner, bearded, and chopping fools up like he’s in Blade 4.
Two things:
1) The definition of a manly man has evolved. Time marches on . . . needs change . . . I have to ask why do we need this type of character to come back . . . when i think of these characters . . . I think unnecessary violence . . . and um don’t we already have enough of that in our community?
2) I couldn’t help but continue to read over and over how Hollywood didn’t do this . . . or that . . . um . . . maybe we need to do something for ourselves. Maybe Blair Underwood should have developed a project for himself . . . Micheal Jai White apparently got the memo . . . and voila he does Black Dynamite. Halle Berry, Tatiana Ali, and Megan Goode are all developing their own projects . . . especially for those who have had some success . . . find a good script . . . develop it . . . make it happen.
You can’t expect different results if you keep doing the same thing . . . shake things up.
I hear you, Lady Bug, but that suggests folks like Blair haven’t been trying to do things on their own for awhile. In fact Blair Underwood has been working with two black authors to create/write a series revolving around a black detective. And he hopes to play the character on screen. It may not happen and it may not be that great of an idea. But we simply don’t know what things these folks have been doing behind the scenes all this time. And my point about Balir is that if Hollywood cared about developing leading back men even 1/10 the amount it cares about developing white leading men, then the Blair Underwoods of the world would have gotten a lot more opportunities. That being said you are right in that they could probably do more. The black community of filmmakers are especially to blame IMO.
However the examples you give…Michael Jai White is just getting around to doing this? How long had he been in the business? For quite awhile right? And when the movie came out did black audiences support it? Halle Berry has been in the industry longer than Jai White so it looks like it took her two decades to get around to the idea (from what we know). The other folks you mention may see their work go straight to DVD. We’ll have to wait and see.
Its never easy. And even those with great ambition need some luck. If the foreign born director of Independence day did not decide only to cast Will Smith as the pilot but stick by that choice when the studios urged him to cast a white actor instead, Will Smith would have likley never become the huge international star he is today. And if he had not become that star it would not have been because of lack of ambition. Most people’s fates in Hollywood are determined by forces they can’t control. You think there aren’t black actresses with talents and looks that have been busting their butt to get what Zoe Saldana is getting? Of course you don’t. But fate is kinder to some than it is to others.
I think Anthony Mackie portrays Manly Men. He has quite the presence on screen.
Anyway that’s all I’ll say on the subject.
I’d second this. Anthony Mackie is manly in my estimation and a great actor.
But I agree with others who are asking Sergio to define exactly what he means. Who were the manly men of yesteryear? Furthermore, are those types even necessary any more? The world changes and so too do our conceptions of gender. Matt Damon does it for me, not just because of any manliness but even more so because he is SMART.
I always saw the macho men as Jim Brown, Sean Connery, Bruce Willis types. Men who looked like men, broad shoulder, square jaw, no smiling unless there was a woman around, heavy handed dudes. There demenure would be like that of a big cat laid back but you know they could rip your head off the moment you crossed them. These cats out here today…..lets be real they look as soft as a babys bottom, there not busting a grape in a food fight. The look has changed maybe cause the people who make and write these movies are not those types. As for the violence part anyone with some real life experience knows to never trust a man who has never been in a fight, cause thats the dude that wont be there when times get hard.
I like rise of nerdy guys in films. A witty but shy, sensitive poetic type with a nice set of abs is what I like to see. hehe. Most of the actors Sergio mentioned are actors that I enjoy (Leonardo DiCaprio, Johnny Depp, Tobey McGuire). No complaints from me! Their masculinity isn’t an issue.
Just after I read the original post I saw parts of the BBC’s latest Hamlet performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company. The guy who played Horatio, Peter de Jersey, jumped out at me as a “manly man”, but, again, he is British.
I couldn’t find any biographical info on him to learn his age, but he fit the bill in my book. He may not meet this discerning audience’s approval as he is either very light skinned or bi-racial, but he could slay any dragons for me.
I don’t know what it is in the water over there, but the Brits sure now how to grow hot, black manly men!
From your comments I see that many women are happy to see more nerdy, nice guys on the screen. I’ve got one of them at home. On the big screen I want a bit of fantasy!
Sergio,
Firstly I think you’ve got a major problem in that the just don’t make “Manly Men” Pictures anymore. If they do & they want a Black star it’s gonna be Mr. Smith who you’ve discounted above.
It has to be said that only one Actor to my mind in the last 10-15 years has been born or made from an out & out “Manly Man” film and that has to be Russell Crowe in Gladiator.
As to Mr. Smith here’s why he don’t make the cut
Will’s big break was Indepedence Day in 96 when he was aged 28. Between IDay and his 40th birthday he starred in Enemy of the State, MiB II, Bad Boys II, I Robot & Hancock. Unfortunately none of those films are to my mind Manly enough.
Jamie Foxx
Has had a few roles but always as a side-kick Collateral (Which he should ahve won his Oscar for) and is a dramatic part and Miami Vice.
Denzel Washington
As for Denzel he reached the 40 during the Mid 90s so we’ll discount him too.
Of the Newbies
Sorry about this America there’s only 1 American (What you putting in the Water) all the others are Brits.
Anthony Mackie
He does have everything on his side. Looks and that kind of sadistic look that Women seem to like in a Manly Man (See Jim brown, Sean Connery & Crowe) we’ve had tantalising glimpses in films like Half Nelson & Million Dollar Baby.
I think he just needs the right role but that gonna be a hard push. He might get the break he needs if he gets a Oscar Nom.
Idris Elba
If anyone embodies what you’re looking for in a Manly Man its Idris. Again, hampered by the fact he hasn’t starred in the right type of film. His up & coming 2010 roles in films such as Takers, The Losers (Both co-starring with current hot property Zoe Saldana) and Thor might be the push. All he need do is keep away from anything requiring and African accent and no Urban Comedies.
Eamonn Walker
Again has everything you’re looking for save I guess a US Passport. Again needs to star in right vechile and has only one film in 2010 and that’s against Idris. Again needs to stay away from doing African accents as his is rubbish.
Chiwetel Ejiofor
No. Never a Manly Man.
Firstly, he’s a light to heavy and always to my mind looks fat & overweight. Very similar to Forrest Whittaker in fact always a Support/Character actor never one for the all out Action role that is a must for MM star.
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
No from me. Has the body but not the looks. He’d also need to beef up his roles.
One for the Future
Ashley Walters
Again he’s a Brit and if you’ve seen films such as Get Rich or Die Tryin’, Stormbreaker, Speed Racer and Small Island you may have caught him.
He’s in his Mid 20s so rather early days but just needs to bump up the roles he plays. Has that air about him that you can see him in about 10 years filling the MM role to a tee
Eamon has my vote as I think he’d appeal to men as a manly man and to women as a sexy man. However, it’s not just his brit passport that would disqualify him in this instant – I’m sure he’s been in his 40s for a few years now.
You do realize it was Chiwetel in 2010, not Idris Elba? Or do you think they look alike? Also you are the first that I’ve come across to think Chiwetel looks fat. To compare him to Forest Whitaker? Seriously?
Check out Chiwetel in The Firefly film Serenity, in Redbelt and in even in that horrible John Singletom movie Four Brothers. He can play the part. Truth is he can play ANYTHING. Much better all around actor than Idris and he won’t say yes to ANY movie like Idris does.
@AccidentalVisitor
re: Idris
I meant the year not the film 2010. He stars in the above mentioned films all due a release sometime in the New Year.
re: Chiwetel as Forest Whitaker
Not in looks or stature but as actors’. Both are very good performers but I my opinion aren’t or never going to be leading men.
Idris vs. Chiwetel
I agree that Chiwetel is a much better actor, however as I said above he’s No leading man were Idris is.
My bad, Forde. I misrad the 2010 thing.
Still have to disagree. I think both are capable leading men. I will say it is interesting that when it comes to people who like films that I interact with there are plenty of folks who really like both as potential leading man though if I had to guess more non-black people lean towards Chiwetel while more blacks appear to favor Idris. I won’t get into that.
What I will get into is that no matter the quality of the film Chiwetel always comes away smelling like a rose to the critics. Even in “2012″ he tended to get the most favorable views out of any fellow cast members. Still a relative unknown the guy has already 3 Golden Globe nominations to his credit and has won prestigious theater awards in Britain. This is also the one of the only black actors to play a major role in a Woody Allen film (if that means anything). Not to mention he was one of the few actors who played Othello on stage and was able to outshine the co-star playing the more interesting Iago. I think he is a special talent.
Meanwhile my boy Idris (who I loved on “The Wire”) appears in any piece of shit as long as there is a check that goes with it and will play characters indistinguishable from those he played before or those he played after. I understand he is trying to make a name for himself but damn. Just looking at both of their respective IMDB list of films it shows one at least trying to work with some thoughtful directors and willing to appear in a variety of non-Hollywood films while the other seems to get attached to films directed by, um, talents like Sylvian White.
Both will be leading men although neither is exactly a young Denzel in the looks department. I simply see Idris starring in much more crappy films than Chiwetel. Time will tell.
LOL! Co-sign!
Idris is WAY OVERRATED. Chiwetel has much sharper acting chops than him. Idris plays the SAME guy no matter what the film.
Sergio,
Are you a 70s Baby 80s Child?
They haven’t really been that many films that you could really cast your Actor in.
I guess as 2010 is the year of the 80s retreads what with A-Team, Clash of the Titans, Karate Kid & Predators, we could dust off some titles for a “reimagining”.
Any suggestions anyone?
Baby I’m a 60’s-70’s child!
Sergio,
I think Michael Jai White is the best your gonna get that fits the criteria.
Maybe its not “manly man” but “a man’s man” instead. If it is then the best definition of a man’s man is not just someone you as a man want to be but someone you would follow into the gates of hell. a true alpha leader. If so Crowe in Gladiator fits that description but no character Matt Damon, Johnny Depp, etc has played fits such a description (no disrespect to those actors’ considerable talent and thoughtfulness). And perhaps this suggests that this is a characterization (a man’s man) mostly defined by male viewers. John Wayne, at least on film, was a man’s man. Tom Cruise never was.