Perhaps the only media types who enjoy speculation more than
entertainment writers are sports journalists. They're constantly trying
to out-predict their colleagues on which team will win the World Series,
where Dwight Howard will be traded, which rookies will become
all-stars, etc.
A popular format to grade teams and players on where they are and where
they are headed is the Power Rankings.Grantland borrowed this device to recap "Mad Men" episodes, positioning the characters each week in order of how well they handled themselves in the episode.
I'm going to borrow the concept from Grantland and apply it the young
stars of "The Twilight Saga." We're still months away from the final
installment, "Breaking Dawn – Part 2," but we already have a sense of
where the actors stand and what their careers should look like when they
move on from vampires.
Below I've ranked eight celebrities who owe their stardom to 2008's "Twilight" by
how powerful they currently sit in Hollywood. I omitted the older
actors since we already have a good sense of what their legacy will be.
I've also provided a "Floor" and "Ceiling" for each name as a comparison
to the careers theirs may resemble if they miss their potential or
reach it.
1. Kristen Stewart
Floor: Elisabeth Shue
Ceiling: Nicole Kidman
Until
recently, you could have argued that Robert Pattinson should be in the
top spot, but his girlfriend has proven she can carry a blockbuster
("Snow White and the Huntsman") on her own while his projects ("Bel Ami"
and "Cosmopolis") have floundered. K.Stew's critics claim she's just a
pretty face with limited acting range, but she does take bold roles.
Many had the same criticisms early in Kidman's career, but she was
daring with her roles and now has a Best Actress Oscar as well as two
more nominations.
2. Robert Pattinson
Floor: Christian Slater
Ceiling: Johnny Depp
My
younger readers may balk at a Christian Slater comparison, but in the
early '90s his poster hung on young girls' walls – right next to Kurt
Cobain and Luke Perry. Slater never broke out of his teen heartthrob
stage as Johnny Depp did after "21 Jump Street." Pattinson should keep
looking for unique roles as Depp has and not settle for easy schlock as
Slater did.
3. Anna Kendrick
Floor: Helen Hunt
Ceiling: Straight Jodie Foster with comedy chops
AK-47
has taken her relatively small role in the "Twilight" franchise and
spun it into the Power Ranking's third spot. After an Academy
Award-worthy performance in "Up in the Air," Kendrick has become the
go-to cute girl-next-door type with serious acting chops. Like Helen
Hunt, she's proven her worth in both drama and comedy. While Hunt has
fallen off the earth, it's easy to imagine Kendrick having a long career
like Jodie Foster, albeit she's a more affable version.
4. Taylor Lautner
Floor: Richard Grieco
Ceiling: Mario Lopez
Lautner
got his opportunity to star in his own action movie, just like former
teen star Richard Grieco did in "If Looks Could Kill." "Abduction" did
about as well as Grieco's movie, which the world has since forgotten
about ever existing. Lautner's fate may be similar unless he admits to
himself that he's not a great actor and his strength is being the
likable guy with dimples and an uncertain ethnic background. Mario Lopez
has turned that into a career, after all.
5. Kellan Lutz
Floor: Ian Ziering
Ceiling: Brotastic Mickey Rourke
I'm
going to be honest. I don't know if Kellan Lutz can act his way out of a
paper bag or not. He hasn't taken roles that push him too far
emotionally. That may be smart, waiting until he sharpens his acting
chops before taking any chances. Once he does, he may just turn into a
beefy Mickey Rourke without the bad plastic surgery. Or he may follow in
the forgotten steps of Ian Ziering, the fourth banana jock from
"Beverly Hills 90210."
6. Ashley Greene
Floor: Jennifer Beals
Ceiling: Demi Moore
I
place Greene below Lutz in Power Rankings because she doesn't have many
interesting project lined up for her post-"Twilight" career. Greene
seemed to have more heat a year ago, but I'm starting to think producers
are realizing there may not be much to her. She's another pretty face
who can act, but her emotional well may be shallow.
7. Nikki Reed
Floor: Ally Sheedy
Ceiling: Michelle Rodriguez
Nikki
Reed had boundless potential in 2003, when she co-wrote and starred in
Catharine Hardwicke's disturbingly familiar indie, "Thirteen." However,
she hasn't done much with it besides becoming "that bitchy Cullen girl."
I compare her to Ally Sheedy, as she was one of the most interesting
young stars of the Brat Pack and then faded away. The projects she has
lined up seem like action-dramas that the likes of Michelle Rodriguez
would take. I can see her making a solid career as a tough-girl like
Rodriguez.
8. Jackson Rathbone
Floor: New Kids on the Block member you don't remember
Ceiling: Brad Pitt
Rathbone
is the biggest enigma of the cast. In person, he's arguably the most
charismatic of them all. You'd think that would translate into more
screen time on more projects. Maybe he hasn't been given any memorable
roles outside of "Twilight" because he's busy with his band, 100
Monkeys? If he dedicates himself to acting over anything else, I could
see him eclipsing everyone else on this list.
