A towering number of people have been logging in to see how Gerard Butler fared in the 2008 Film and Movie Making awards. They would have been pleased to see that one of his movies, Rocknrolla, won a top award while Nims Island came oh so close.
They may be biased in wanting him to win everything, but that’s what being a fan is about. Film stars love their fans, even if that’s not what they say. They need their fan base to stay box office stars.
Gerard Butler (Gerry to his fans) was born in 1969, and is a Scottish actor, even though he now spends his time between London and LA. Some of his family hails from Ireland. He’s also spent time living in Canada.
He appeared way back in the 1997 movie Mrs Brown and followed that up with a small part in the James Bond film, Tomorrow Never Dies. During the years he’s been in around 35 movies, including 300, The Phantom of The Opera, PS I Love You, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life, Beowulf and the wonderful Nims Island and the great Rocknrolla.
We should see him soon in Law Abiding Citizen and then during 2010 in How to Train Your Dragon.
I’m hopeful that some GB fans will let us know which are GB’s best movies and why.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:41 am
Gerry has been in some wonderful films and some not so wonderful films. But even in the not so wonderful films, he was usually the bright spot in the production. He has a way of changing into the character he is playing, and becoming almost unrecognizable. My favorite films of his were Phantom of the Opera, Dear Frankie and The Jury, a British miniseries. In the upcoming Law Abiding Citizen he plays a vigilante out to get the ADA who let his family’s killer go. I hope this movie will alert people who aren’t familiar with him to his great acting abilities.
January 14th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Fans of Gerard Butler were disappointed that he did not finally receive the recognition he has deserved for so long. We all know that when he feels very strongly about a role he tackles it with all the intensity and tenacity he can muster.
His best films show just how very versatile he can be. He can go from being powerful and tough as iron (King Leonidas-300, Atilla), to being very vulnerable and giving way to tears as an ingenius recluse (Phantom of the Opera). He has the most wonderful personality that just draws people to him. Gerry is the kind of person we can all identify with and would like him to be our kind hearted stranger that comes to the rescue (Dear Frankie). Our loyal friend through thick and thin (Reign of Fire). A warm and loving son, husband, (P.S. I Love You), and father (Nim’s Island). The whole world has come to know that he is a man of many talents indeed.
January 14th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Besides his obvious physical attributes (yummy!) Gerry’s greatest gift lies in his versatility. Yes, I loved 300, Phantom, Dear Frankie and the other set favourites, but I would like to remind the film world of his beautiful portrayal of Beowulf in “Beowulf and Grendel”. While the movie bombed, he showed the viewers a very unique actor, one well worth watching. Thank god he gave up a law career to entertain us all!
January 14th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
I would have to say Gerry’s best movies are The Phantom of the Opera, Dear Frankie and indee The Jury. He has been known to stand out in some movies the critics didn’t really give a good rating to but were ready to say that Gerry was the best in his own performances there. Such examples have to be Dracula 2000 in which he only came at the last minute to play the vampire and the best character in there is indeed Dracula. Another movie, where the critics felt he stood out was Timeline as Marek and that is probably a lot of his fans, enjoyed that movie. It was the same thing with The Phantom of the Opera where the Phantom who usually is the villain was indeed best-loved on account of Gerry’s interpretation.
I would have to add other movies like 300 where he really made King Leonidas come alive. That movie is not really a favorite of mine though. I feel that he is one of the few actors out there who really put his heart and guts in the characters he plays and makes them seemingly more human. We feel sad when Dracula dies. We also feel anger when Edilco killed Attila though in real life, the real Attila, might not have elicited from us such emotions.
What I also like about him is his versatility. He constantly reinvents himself in each role he takes. He’s not only a chameleon on screen (the Phantom looks nothing like Marek and Marek doesn’t even look like Gerry Kennedy of P.S. I Love You) appearance-wise but also performance-wise.
January 14th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
So which do I go and buy on DVD, ladies?
January 14th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Definitely purchase Phantom of the Opera and Dear Frankie. Both films showcsae Gerry’s ability to convey emotion with his eyes or a twitch of his mouth. Another one of my favorites for entertainment is Timeline. Not only does Gerry look fantastic, but if you read any of the reviews he was the only actor in the cast to receive positive feedback. It’s fun and romantic. Also, The Game of Their Lives (Miracle Match) is a truly good family film. Gerry uses an American accent (but the brogue is always there), shows his athletic abilities playing soccer and is a feel good film.
300 is a beautifully filmed movie, and Gerry BECOMES King Leonidas. Someone mentioned The Jury, which is expensive to buy but soo worth it. He filmed that for British TV while filming Reign of Fire, and is one of the best performances of Gerry’s career. Again he shows his ability to make us feel what the character is feeling.
Thanks for talking about us fans in a positive way. We don’t always get that, so I for one appreciate it. And thank you for respecting us enough to ask our opinions.
Oh, and please . . . his name is GeraRd, not GeraLd - can you please fix your typo? Otherwise, us loyal fan base will have to hunt you down and kick your ass. LMAO - just kidding.
January 14th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Gerry is My Hero. Right from the onset of Atilla the Hun I have watched him. I cried over that movie. Then Dracula even this figure of evil brought depth of compassion and depiced the Judas element I sorrowed for him. Then I saw Phantom .Oh Gerry your voice is beautiful. I wept Dear Frankie so sweet. Beowulf and Grendel beautiful scenery and for once an intelligent slant on the ancient story. Wonderful. Then the Massive 300 Oh my Warrior King. I cried at your historic Bravery. |No other could have played that role. Ps I love you, Tears, a Flood. Then RockNRolla, the premiere I met you and you gave me a Hug.Ohhh. I am no teenager but this Guy is Magnificient. An Actor of the Highest caliber. And a Gentleman to boot. I Love you Gerry, but I Told you that didn’t I.
January 14th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Re Gerry Butler… See his really tender side in Dear Frankie. Or get 300 for the real super-tough and yet still tender guy. As the other fans say, he’s always different. To see his full range you’d have to buy them all
January 14th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
@Lisa Thanks for your kind comments; typo fixed so you can keep your steel boots on your feet LOL.
January 14th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Gerry has had some very powerful roles. In Dear Frankie he brings such depht to the role of the “Stranger”. His facial expressions are so believable, it has everyone crying. In 300 he was a very strong characater,but he had the ability to show tenderness to his family. I think that his ability to touch people and make them laugh or cry is his greatest ability. In P.S. I Love you I think every women wanted to take him home with them. His performance as Gerry was so much of Gerard Butler that it was a delight to see him in action. I have not seen Rock and Rolla,but the trailers look very funny and very Gerry.
January 14th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Stephen, Thanks for respecting Gerry’s fans- they make or break the star and we all want him to suceed and have the recognition he deserves.
Thanks too for asking us for our input on his films.
January 14th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
i think that gerrys films are so different and he portrays them so brilliantly, that its hard to select a favourite because there are comedies, thrillers, action, all sorts. if i had to chose it would be dear frankie, beowulf and grendel and rocknrolla, but i also loved ps i love you although it made me cried terribly, b.o.a.w because of the suspense, p.o.t.o. for the portrayal and singing, but i also loved 300, attila and cradle of life for the action roles. he has had a few films which were a bit of a bomber, but they were his older films, so it shows how well he is progressing in his career and his choices.
January 14th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
I am a loyal fan of Gerard Butlers have almost every movie he has been in. The best is Phantom of the Opera, the Jury, Dear FRankie some were not shown in the USA at all. what a shame. His character changes in each movie so you never really know its him unless you are a fan. Timeline and Dracula 2000 and Attila and of course 300 where he was gorgeous. keep an eye on him he is going places people.
January 14th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
If Gerard Butler is in a film, it’s worth watching. We are a family of fans. My daughter and I watch them all, especially The Phantom of the Opera, Dear Frankie, and lately P. S. I Love You. Her husband joins us for Dear Frankie and 300. My nine-year-old grandson requests Reign of Fire, Timeline, and Nim’s Island. We see them on the first weekend of release and later buy the DVDs — RockNRolla has been pre-ordered.
He’s indeed our family favorite with such a variety of films and characters. We do watch other films and performers, but we watch and enjoy GB the most and await each new film with enthusiasm.
January 14th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
Gerry is the one actor I really enjoy watching. His best role in my mind was as the Phantom but others might argue that choice. He was a very sexy Vampire and yes I wish they would do a sequel with him in it but no swamp dips ; for Gerry’s sake please.PSILY was another one I really enjoyed; I laughed ; I cried then left the movie feeling good again.Hillary Swank was so cute in that one too.But I really love it when he is being a “Bad Ass” character and look forward to “Game” and “Law Abiding Citizen”.
**May**
January 14th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
its sue grint again, i wanted to say that gerry was very good in some of his older films, like the jury,lucy sullivans getting married and o
more kiss. what i can never understand is how well he does the crying bit in his roles.
January 14th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Gerard..not Gerald…is a great actor. I’ve loved him since Phantom and after that have purchased or rented every film he’s been in…even the UK ones. His mini series The Jury was awesome as was Shooters and a short film clip called Please. He’s got terrific range and versability and I look forward to many more films from him. I love the fact that he mixes it up..from RomComs to filming mighty warriors like Atila and 300. He was absolutely fabulous in 300. He took my breathe away in the battle scene…I loved it. He even sings! I adored Phantom of the Opera. His emotional range and depth of the Phantom’s lonely soul was captured quite well on film. He’s charismatic, charming, handsome and talented. I love Gerard Butler and always will….
January 14th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
Gerry is fantastic in EVERY role, without a doubt, but some of my favorites will always be Phantom of the Opera, PS I Love You, The Jury, 300, Timeline…maybe they are ALL my favorites now that I think about it! Gerry has a gift…an amazing gift to BECOME the character he plays and make you BELIEVE it! Gerry has one of THE most loyal fan bases in the world I think. He brings us together, makes us laugh, cry, and glow with pride with every role he steps into…he is one of a kind and we are so lucky to have this man in our lives…he is FANTASTIC!
January 14th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
POTO is definitely my favorite role, I have not been a fan of any actor in many years and Gerry definitely woke up something inside me. 300, Dear Frankie, The Jury, Rocknrolla and Timeline he also did very well in. I really see him as leading man material and the movies he has played the last few years I have been a little disappointed. The chick flicks are just too much……………hoping he will make some more enjoyable, believable films to enjoy in the future!
January 14th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
Definately my favorite would have to be Phantom of the Opera, and I didn’t see it until August of 2008 after seeing the Broadway production at the Majestic in NYC. That is the role that sparked my “fandom”. I had seen him before in Reign of Fire and Tomb Raider. I guess the third time’s a charm!
January 14th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Gerry’s fans are dedicated to him I believe due to his amazing talent to reach not just that part of himself when playing a character but because he touches that part of ourselves. In 300, his power dominated the screen, some moments in the movie where a simple nod gave great meaning struck the hearts of us all. Phantom of the Opera, his singing had profound emotion, giving the character a desperation I think not portrayed before. I just recently watched The Jury, I thought he dominated the entire series with his portrayal of Johnny Donne a recovering alcoholic. Dear Frankie, a fav, Gerry made us all love him more with this performance. PS I love You, is another favorite, he was so much like a ordinary guy, he made me laugh and cry. Gerry’s versatility and his power on screen is the captivating source for me and I hope he gets the credit he truly deserves in Hollywood’s eyes, they are overlooking a talent that far exceeds their standards. IMO.
January 14th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Thanks for fixing the typos! (Ye missed one in the first line, though — I’m just sayin’ LOL) (As you’ve probably learned the hard way, seeing “GeraLd” is a bit of a pet peeve for those of us proud to be in his “loyal fan base.”)
As to movies, notwithstanding Phantom, Gerry’s role in Rocknrolla is my favorite. Gerry’s character seems “written for him” and he plays it perfectly. What makes RNR so fun, though, is that almost every member of the cast has at least one “moment” that’s all their own. It makes for a very well-rounded and entertaining movie! RNR should be out on DVD by the end of January. Gerry’s career is sorta like the weather in the UK. If you don’t like a role, just wait a bit — eventually he’ll do something just for you. In the meantime, here’s to the release of The Ugly Truth in July! Cheers!
January 14th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
Ditto to many others: my favorite are Phantom of the Opera, Dear Frankie and The Jury. What compassion!
January 14th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
Gerard Butler is a versatile actor. I had seen several of his movies BEFORE I found out who he was!!!
Dear Frankie I think was one of his best performances before he became”known” then of course 300 showed his macho side.
Rocknrolla was too easy, it was like him playing him!!!I loved that movie.
I’m looking forward to the rom-com genre one “The Ugly Truth” for fun, and I’m a sci fi fan so of course can’t wait for “GAME”.
Sorry but I suppose I can’t go past the old Terry Sheridan rogue from Tombraider 2 - such a Bad boy charmer as my all time favourite role.
January 14th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
I have seen some absolutely fantastic movies with Gerry in them, and I have seen some incredibly awful movies with Gerry in them. Without a doubt, in the movies that were not so great, it was only Gerry’s performance, in my opinion, that carried the piece.
Some of his best work would have to be in Phantom of the Opera and 300. What other leading Hollywood actor can go from playing a tormented genius, wanting only the love and acceptance of the woman he loves; to playing a warrior king who commands the greatest fighters of their time, and not miss one single beat in between? Granted, the script of 300 was not so hot, but Gerry took what could have been a one dimensional, lackluster character and delivered something that’s almost indescribable. You have the tough, macho warrior, but at the same time, you have the emotional side of him that’s so in love with his wife that you can tell it’s breaking his heart to leave her.
There are actors here in Hollywood that can give a great performance physically, but if I don’t feel it emotionally, it ruins it for me. With Gerry, all one has to do is look into his eyes during a tense scene. The emotions you find there make you believe that he is really that character, going through what his character is going through.
Take PS I Love You. Again, not the greatest script of all time, but look at what Gerry did with that character. In the book, the character almost leaps out at you with his love of life and laughter, and his adoration of his wife. It could have been so easy to miscast this and have that unfortunate actor fail to drive home what the character was all about. But Gerry brought to the screen all of Gerry’s (the character) goofiness and passion. You fall in love with him as his wife does.
The greatest reaction an actor can get out of his audience is not a standing ovation, but tears. An actor must not only just entertain his audience, but connect with them on a primal, emotional level. And believe me, at the end of 300, in PS I Love You, and along with his tears at the end of Phantom of the Opera, my tears were flowing freely.
January 14th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
Oh, and Stephen, thank you for painting us fans in such a positive light. We don’t get that very often. There have been a select few that give the rest of us who respect certain boundaries a bad name and unfortunately, those select few are the ones that get spoken about the most.
January 14th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
I’ve been an avid movie buff for years, and although I have enjoyed the work of a number of fine actors, no performance by any actor has ever moved/gobsmacked/or impressed me as much as Mr Butler’s interpretation of The Phantom. This is my favorite role for him, but in every role he attempts, he never fails to bring something unique and exciting to the screen…. sometimes with subtlety and sometimes with the sheer force of his masculine appeal. He is able to dig beneath the skin of his characters and is adept at making his characters look physically different from one another, so that one can watch 2 of his films back to back and not know they are watching the same actor.
Gerry hearkens back to the male stars of Hollywood’s golden age, and I am glad he is finally receiving the recognition he deserves.
January 14th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
@ HollyG: thanks for your editing help. When my next ghostwritten screenplay is ready, I’ll send it to you for proofing and editing. I don’t mean that sarcastically, but you didn’t tell me there were two typos, so I only went to the one you mentioned LOL.
I’ve given the writer ten lashes and sent him off to the beach for a rum punch and to rest. Personally I blame Microsoft Word (not myself)and its spelling checker. You would have thought it could pick out actors names, by now.
I’m really pleased that fans are prepared to show loyalty. Many are just so fickle and don’t think the artist should even have a say in what he/she takes on. On reflection, the GeraRd fans who have responded here have all shown that they’re prepared to acknowledge greatness and also failings. It’s a nice sensible balance.
January 14th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Thank you Stephen for your nice compliments. Yes, we GeraRd fans are pretty loyal to the guy. Thanks for your wonderful Blog and getting the chance to get other fans to express their feelings of the many talents of Mr Gerard James Butler, who by the way, as acknowledged his fans by thanking them from time to time! His generosity and time is awesome. His talents as an actor and humanitarian is fantastic! I, for one, look forward to many of his films coming up…If you get a chance, please take a peek at the short clip “Please”. I belive Youtube has it up and RocknRolla is a wonderful film as well as Dear Frankie.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
Stephen, I think the failings prove that the actor is in fact, human. For those who haven’t interacted with celebrities in person, I think it’s hard for them to make the connection that they’re actual human beings like the rest of us, because they only experience them through movie or television screens. Wouldn’t you agree?
I mean, they know they’re real, but they can’t talk to them and have them respond, shake their hand, etc. And because they can’t do that, they still have that fantasy, unreal, untouchable status that makes the vast majority of people think they’re beyond normal human boundaries.
Okay, I’m ranting. I’ll shut up now.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Gerard Butler is the King….well King Leonidas that is! The first movie I ever saw him in was Dracula 2000. At the time I had been on a double date and lets just say my date didn’t work out but Gerard did…lol!
He captured my attention because he puts his own spin on the roles he takes. I agree with other people when they say if he hadn’t been in the movies he’d been in that the movies would have been complete crap! You can tell that he really puts his all into every role.
300: was an epic, epic, movie and I think this is one of the gems in Gerry’s crown.
Rock n Rolla: was very cool, smart, and sexy. I love seeing Gerry get to have some fun in a role.
P.S I Love You: was such a touching, sweet, and moving movie! Every time I watch it I cry. Also it shows that life is so precious and you have to live every moment as if it were your last.
I look forward to seeing The Ugly Truth since Gerry can once around goof around and have some fun. Game looks pretty cool, and I’m sure that Law Abiding Citizen will be off the hook. Plus we can see what Gerry looks like in Orange.
Peace & Respect
January 15th, 2009 at 12:03 am
Gerare Butler is the most under-rated star…he has woneerful talent and plays his characters completely: he walks differently, uses different cadences of speech; has different mien and demeano; and he looks and acts completely differently in every role. The oft-used term of “chameleon” applies to him. As I was becoming a fan, starting with Attila, I didn’t know he was in”Timeline”…and the Lara Croft character of Terry..he looked and was unrecognizable. His gangster in “Shooters” was again, so varied and nuanced than other roles. He should have gotten awards for Phantom: I feel that Hollywood “insiders” thought he was an upstar who had not paid his dues(I think he did…)and they might have been jealous of his law degree when many barely made it out of high school.
Others might have ignored his genius because of xenophobia…he is Scottish. How many Scots does Hollywood cater to? Sean Connery? Ewan MacGregor? James McAvoy?
Perhaps there’s a bit of jealousy on their parts.
I noticed that the same elite cabal of actors (male and female) keep getting the good scripts…and keep getting nominated when perhaps their roles weren’t as good. It’s like the old tale of the “Emperor’’s New Clothes:…people at the top of the hierarchy say something..and everyone else jumps on the idea , too. Now perhaps they will start seeing Gerard as an action hero/leading man in comedy/ dramatic actor when they actually watch him in his roles. My favorite movie? I can’t pick just one. I even loved him in “Fast Food”!!!!! The latest film I’ve watched with him was “Rocknrolla”..he should have been nominated for comedy. Why didn’t he? The elitist nominators look down their noses at Guy Ritchie movies…but they shouldn’t . They’re well-written, well-acted, well-didrected, etc. Many less important critics pointed out Gerard’s charisma and talent in that role. We can only see better roles coming up the proverbial pike for Mr. Butler.
January 15th, 2009 at 1:43 am
My favorite role for Gerry has always been Gerard Butler in Real Life. I was impressed with Phantom but it wasn’t until I saw him in his non-acting persona that was I wowed. A entertaining person on or off screen.
January 15th, 2009 at 7:44 am
Thank you so much Stephen for your article and further responses, you genuinely seem to understand the ethos that it is the ‘paying customers’ aka the fans, who make or break a movie. We fans are devoted because of the many good qualities that we have observed in Gerry….and that he is devillishly handsome to boot derserves some mention. So my humble thanks again to you Stephen,
hugs,
Anna X
January 15th, 2009 at 11:11 am
Stephen - there are times when a unique persona comes on the scene and tptb simply do not have any idea on how to handle him !!!
Imho gb is one of them -he is one of a kind that marches to his own drummer !!!
He indeed has the intelligence and the acting ability to get the job done !!!
January 15th, 2009 at 11:33 am
Thanks Stephen for a great article and being very positive towards us fans and great to see you popped along to GALS. I agree Gerry is very much the chameleon because so many have said he can look so different in each of his roles - that is the sign of a gifted actor - you are seeing the character not the actor because contrary to rumours we do not really know much about Gerry’s private life to cloud our judgement and belief of the characters he portrays- just what the tabloids want us to believe!!!. Gerry has made great movies and made not so great movies alot better. Timeline’s Marek is a favourite of mine especially “his discovery” at the end - priceless moment. Dear Frankie and POTO will make you fall in love with guy - or in a guy’s case if you see 300 he’ll be your mancrush for life LOL. RocknRolla is one of my fave Gerry movies simply because I feel it is the closest to the real Gerry I see in interviews and it was a Leno interview from 2005 I watched online after seeing 300 that made me realise I should have “got” Gerard Butler 3 years earlier LOL.
January 15th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Stephen,
Thank you so much for your post. It is refreshing to read about Gerry, without the author focusing on his looks. Also thank you for painting us “his loyal fans”, in a positive light.
I must agree with many of the previous comments in regards to which movies to watch. I have seen Gerry in all but 2 roles he has portrayed. I had seen Dracula 2000, and TR2:The Cradle of Life at the theatre, but it was not until The Phantom of the Opera came out on DVD did I realize these were all the SAME MAN! Since then, Gerry has taken me on many different rides. He’s made me care and feel for each character he’s done. I wait anxiously for each new role just to see where he will take me next!
My Top 3 movies to watch are Phantom, One More Kiss, and The Jury. After you see some of our top picks, I hope you come back here and let us know what you think.
Yours, Deb
January 15th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
I want to add my comment about Gerry being a great guy, and so thoughtful to his fans. Through a lucky connection, my husband and I were able to “meet” him on the opening night of 300 here in LA. It was late at night, and he was running from movie theater to movie theater all day (sneaking in, and paying his way) to check out the audience’s reactions to the film (which was off the charts!) and we were told to wait for him at a specific location. Well, we were not quite in the right spot, and even though he was trying to cap off his day by going to the last show in a certain theater, he waited for us. And I mean, he really waited for us! And he spent nearly 5 minutes talking to me and asking me how I liked the film (I’d already seen it earlier that day). I have been a fan of his since early 2006, but at that moment, he got me for life! I’ll never lose my affection and respect for that man. He’s a great, sensitive actor, and a warm and giving person. He deserves the best Hollywood and the world can give him.
January 15th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
You know, as a loyal fan, I am perfectly willing to admit when Gerry misses the mark with one of his roles. He is growing and learning in his craft, and in order to grow, one must stumble along the way. Gerry isn’t always perfect in every film, sometimes he does have a tendency to overact, but even in those roles where he tries a bit too hard, he makes you care about the character. A perfect example is Neil Randall in the Peirce Bosnan thriller, Shattered. There are moments in the film when Gerry definitely plays the character too broadly, but others where his emotional distress is note perfect. I really can’t stand Dracula 2000, but there are flickers of sheer talent and charisma in Gerry’s portrayal of the title role, and he makes even a bad movie worth watching.
January 15th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
@ryanbow It’s good to see the so called ’stars’ behaving in a ‘normal’ manner, even in your case, overstepping the usual mark and taking time to see what ticket purchasers think. Some stars (like GB) know what keeps them on the big screen while others are too far up themselves, believing their own publicity. Such a shame; at the end of the day they’re people as well; it’s the press that turns some of them into monsters, but is it all just for the marketing/press? One actress I know is always happy to talk to the real public and share a coffee and discuss their movies freely. If the press arrives, it’s a different persona performing.
January 15th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
“If the press arrives, it’s a different persona performing”…I had to requote that Stephen..but so true. I had the good fortune of knowing a celebrity years ago..not only the “persona” he had but as a person. We were friends and he let me know that he loved to rub shoulders with the locals and the public watching his movies. Those are the “people” who will let you know whether you were any good or not..not the ‘press” or the people working for him…It’s good to get out of those “Ivory Towers” and live among the locals…The ones who pay hard earned money to see a quality movie…especially in these times..I never forgot that.
January 15th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
Stephen–thanks for fixing his name–it may have saved your life–as too which movie to buy–I suggest buying any and all movies with his name on them and get ready to enjoy. No matter what your in the mood to watch Gerry will please–My personnel favs are 300 and Phantom of the Opera also Dear Frankie and PS I Love You are right up there. Timeline and Dracula 2000 are excellent films as others have mentioned Gerry is like a chemelion and seems to take on the character he is playing–he seems to physically change for each part–it’s his voice that gives him away more than his looks. And that voice and those eyes along with his smile are really so sexy. I truly feel he’s going too be around a long time and only get better with age– he’ll be right up there with the likes of Sean Connery, Clint Eastwood etc..
January 16th, 2009 at 7:35 am
Hi Stephen,
Gerry’s ‘best’ movies will, naturally, vary according to personal tastes and an ensemble effort, but I think most people would agree that, while many of his roles display versatility, there are just a few where everthing comes ‘together’ to be nigh on perfect. Number one on that list would be his role as ‘the stranger’ in Dear Frankie: played with great restraint and, in consequence, power, it demonstrates how Gerry can absolutely ‘nail’ a ’sensitive part. If he has a fault it is that, on screen, he draws the camera and can sometimes be ‘too’ much: Dear Frankie shows how ‘reining it in’ produces fantastic results. In contrast, Number two would have to be Leonidas in ‘300′ - where that ability to draw the camera is ‘pumped up’ to exactly suit the material: very few actors could have made that part ‘come alive’ and become three dimensional with what is, essentially, a very two dimensional script and source. Close to these in effectivenes is ‘Phantom of the Opera’ where grand operatic passion and a vulnerable human needs are beautifully portrayed through song. Gerry is weak with accents (PS I love you) but has a deft comic touch (RocknRolla) - and that’s part of the joy of being a fan of his: knowing how brilliant he can be and wanting every part he takes to prove to everyone that he is indeed a great movie star AND a great actor. We already know he’s a lovely human being! Upcoming films like ‘The Ugly Truth’ and ‘Game’ may be good movie fodder but it will be a role like that of Robbie Burns in ‘Burns’ (if it ever gets made) that will put Gerry on the truly ‘great’ list!
January 16th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
I am so happy and thankful that our Gerry is getting some recognition at last. I have been mesmerized by this man ever since seeing him in Phantom of the Opera. He literally stole my heart and I’ve read every thing about him that I can find. Naturally, I see every movie he makes even tho some are not my style. I also buy the DVDs so I can watch him over and over. Yep, I’m smitten for sure. In addition to his great acting and breathtaking good looks, he seems to be a genuinely nice man.
January 16th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Hi Stephen,
For me and many others as you can see it was The Phantom Of The Opera that brought so many of us to know about Gerard Butler and it is still the film i love the most, quite unforgettable. Gerard is incredibly charismatic more than any other actor i can think of right now and shows wonderful facial emotion without having to say too much. I enjoyed all his films since. He can play powerful and mesmerizing as Phantom, Attila, Leonidas, Beowulf, Dracula, yet can show great sensitivity and softness as in Dear Frankie, PSILY and Nims Island, as well as playing comedy as in RocknRolla. His peformance in The Jury was striking, his drunken scene one of the best. All the above are great examples of his incredible versatility as an actor and he is very handsome and sexy too which doesn’t hurt. He has my vote for the
best male lead around by far.
Rose
January 16th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Gerry is a very versatile and talented actor, puts everything into every role he plays and ‘becomes’ that character. I am amongst the multitude that has Phantom of the Opera at Number One, he was incredible as The Phantom and simply took my breath away. I have always been a fan of the stage show but the movie exceeded all expectations.
My other favourite movies are Dear Frankie, P.S. I Love You, Attila the Hun, The Jury and of course 300, what a great King Leonidas he was and I was devasted with the ending, although I did know how it would end. There are many of his movies I do not like but that has nothing to do with Gerry, his acting is always superb.
Kathy
January 17th, 2009 at 12:57 am
Stephen,
I agree with most of what the everyone above has said - Gerry is versatile and plays his characters with depth and apparent understanding. Definitely Phantom of the Opera, Dear Frankie, The Jury, and 300 are standouts. However, RockNRoller has to be my favorite. The mix of the serious and humorous is wonderful and hits the right note for the film.
It seems to matter little that some movies or scripts have been less awe inspiring - Gerry always stands out from the crowd and provides a solid and captivating performance.
Can’t wait till RNR comes out on DVD to add to the collection.
February 4th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Thank you Stephen for putting a spotlight on the good that fans can do. We are so often painted negatively. I’ve been a fan of Gerry’s since 2005 and I own almost every single one of his films. My favorite, as it’s the one that brought me to his fandom, is Phantom of the Opera…it always will be at the top of my favorite movies list. Dear Frankie was a movie that spoke to me personally and The Jury a mirror of Gerry’s life. I would put 300 right up near the top…King Leonidas made me want to follow him into battle…I saw it 18 times in the movie theaters. But I also love PSILY (the real Gerry?) and RocknRolla. He actually was on the list for actors in a comedy for RnR at the Golden Globes, but didn’t make the short list.
No matter what he does I’ll be right there buying my tickets and supporting him 100%! I know I’ll be getting an amazing performance. I’m looking forward to The Ugly Truth in July.
February 10th, 2009 at 9:00 am
- Phantom of the opera: good film, good interpretation, good story, good music.
- Dear Frankie: good interpretation, good story.
Yes, he is cute, but a good actor as well.
December 18th, 2009 at 11:24 am
Great Article thanks.