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Hollywood sibling stars

Philip Wuntch — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 11:41:21 +0000

Few movies arrive with as many family connections as the upcoming Lymelife, the new dramedy produced by Martin Scorsese. Alec Baldwin, alpha bro of the Baldwin brood, is the biggest name in the cast. Also gathering advance huzzahs are two Culkins, Kieran and Rory, brothers of Home Alone’s Macaulay, as well as Emma Roberts, niece of Julia and daughter of Eric. And then there’s Timothy Hutton, son of the late Jim, giving what some critics say is his best performance since Ordinary People.

The movie world is full of second generation actors. But it’s even more enticing to investigate sibling stars. Anyone ever hear of sibling rivalry?

Among the candidates:

Alec Baldwin, as noted, is the acknowledged alpha Baldwin brother. But he’s trying to soften his sometimes bombastic image. 30 Rock’s success welcomes him into even the most conservative “media rooms.” He’s also making jaunty appearances on Turner Classic Movies, co-hosting the weekly “essentials” series and recommending such mainstream faves as Ben-Hur and Funny Girl. Meanwhile, likable brother William has made a name for himself, while sibs Daniel and Stephen are largely in the background. When Stephen voted Republican in the last two elections, Alec said, “I’m glad Dad isn’t alive to see this.”

You gotta feel a little sorry for the Culkins. Poppa Bear Christopher Culkin has the rep of a ferocious stage father. Home Alone made Macaulay Culkin one of the most famous child stars in movie history. But that was 19 years ago, and Mac now has reason to be sad-eyed. The 28-year-old actor is far from an adult headliner. But brothers Kieran and Rory are winning raves for Lymelife.

Ben and Casey Affleck have established themselves in both indie and mainstream movies. What’s more, they seem to get along just fine. That’s not always the case. For example…

Actors who played gay roles

Philip Wuntch — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:49:47 +0000

At this point, Sean Penn ranks high among probable Best Actor Oscar nominees. The dynamic Penn stars as assassinated gay politico Harvey Milk in Gus Van Sant’s Milk, which opened nationwide Nov. 26. There was a time, though, when such a role would have been considered risky. Among those who proved otherwise: Hugh Jackman. What’s this, People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive once played gay? Yes, and he was heaped with praise for it. Although Jackman’s buff performance in Australia, not to mention X-Man Wolverine, helped make him People’s cover boy, he won a Tony as gay entertainer Peter Allen in The Boy from Oz. That musical hasn’t made it to the screen yet, but if it does, you can be sure Jackman will be cast. Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal. Probably the movie world’s most famous onscreen gay couple, they moved critics and moviegoers in Brokeback Mountain(Watch) . But when Brokeback surprisingly lost the 2005 Best Picture Oscar to Crash, Academy homophobia was blamed. Maybe Oscar voters will anoint this year’s Penn as means of erasing that label. Russell Crowe. Six years before Gladiator, Crowe played a good-natured gay in 1994’s The Sum of Us. He and his widowed father bond while searching for appropriate Significant Others. However, Crowe was reportedly offended when he and his rock band 30 Odd Foot of Grunts played San Francisco and gays threw their underwear onstage. Meryl Streep. In 2002’s The Hours, Madame Meryl played a plain-spoken lesbian who vainly tries to keep AIDS-ridden friend Ed Harris from suicide. And near the beginning of her movie career, when handlers discourage such role choices, she played Woody Allen’s ex-wife in Manhattan. When she writes a book explaining how her same-sex relationship had been much more nurturing than her marriage, Woody’s character was not amused. Didn’t hurt Meryl’s career at all.