My problem with James Marsden...

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That's the same problem I have with this guy. You are, sadly, very right...

I actually agree with someone here for once!

My Mom asked me a few years ago (she knows his family, I don't and won't be saying "Yay, he grew up down the street from me!" since I never laid eyes on him)


Sorry for the veer-off. Anyway, not sure about the guy you compared Jimmy to, but YES. He has huge stores of un-tapped talent. He needs to go play Jesse (as he was originally meant to!) on the "Preacher" project! Show another side! Jesse is hot and disturbed. AND comes from the Bible Belt, which JM definitely has. We have seen glimpses of him playing "disturbed". He also, separate from my "Preacher" thought, has a GORGEOUS singing voice, which has been wasted, for lack of better word.

We do differ in that I have no desire to see him all over red carpets, it's one of the things I appreciate about the way he lived in Hollywood, especially pre-divorce.


And getting back to my Mom's question:
"Does he just have a crappy agent?"

:) Yes! I think so! Or he is turning down projects. Jimmy - sorry, James has always had every single thing it has to be Leading Man. Not Guy Who Doesn't Get the Girl And Is Forgotten (Anyone even remember that he was in The Notebook? [except us of course] Nope) He needs to get his cussing light out from under the bushel!!

Do you really think that Preacher is the best for him? I don't know anything about it, except that he was scheduled to play it years ago. He needs something really strong and something that will really challenge him. I think he should lay off the comedies for a while and get into some really deep drama. Maybe The Preacher is the answer.

By the way, I'm watching "True Detective" series on HBO with Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConnaghy. It's a little understated, but it's the kind of thing I was thinking of. That series has received a rating in IMDb of in the 9's, I believe.
9.4. I just looked it up.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman died less than a week ago. James Marsden doesn't need that poor man's demons - God, no.
But Hoffman was a consummate character actor, and that seems to be what Marsden aspires to be.

The guy I compared him to in my post above is a Korean operatic tenor, slightly older than Marsden. His name transliterated is Seung seo Na. (In Asia, they list last name first, so it's Na Seung seo also).
I can't read their language - have just picked up a few characters. But the man had training in his own country, including a college degree, and sought more training in Europe. He sang in a few dozen opera houses, sang in some recordings, then came back to Korea and is singing there.
He will probably never be internationally famous, but he - in my opinion - is the best tenor in opera today.
He has won some singing competitions (and has judged at least one) - and now, besides appearing in opera, teaches on the university level. There are youtube videos of him in Lucie de Lammermoor (2002 in Lyon, France), singing with world-class singers. He has done concert work; the most recent appearances I have seen him are in La Traviata and Don Carlo, both by Verdi, full-length operas. He sings in Italian. He also appeared in Carmen, singing in French, but that hasn't made it to youtube yet. But in an opera gala they did televise and is on youtube, he appears in excerpts from both Don Carlo and Carmen. His voice is the best, and his acting ability is also wonderful. Opera in Korea is in its infancy, and I guess that's why he's back there - to inspire audiences and to help develop upcoming talent.

James Marsden is my favorite actor, with, as you said - "huge stores of un-tapped talent." I don't think he really has tapped into it.
It's a crime and a sin to waste that. I like seeing his face on red carpet events, but enough, already. Red carpets are only rugs to walk on, stand there with hands in pockets, smiling, not smiling. Wearing Versace or Hilfiger or Dior. A new watch. Old Spice grooming products. Okay, you're paying your alimony and child support and keeping your face in front of everyone. BTW, that piece on DirecTV last Sunday embarrassed me.
Go to work. Do something meaningful.

I'm hoping that The Loft, when it FINALLY gets released, will show some of the grit and depth that I think James Marsden is capable of.

I agree and I'm not even that big of a James Marsden fan. He is ridiculously beautiful, has aged remarkably well and actually has acting talent. He has the perfect face & physique for big blockbuster action hero roles so it baffles me as to why he isn't as popular while tons of other actors (with minimal talent and plain appearances) have shot to stardom. Hollywood success is as much luck as it is talent so maybe luck just isn't on his side?

I agree on James, but What minimally talented, plain looking actors have shot up to stardom?