...and now for another episode of When Apples Met Oranges, starring Tom Hanks and Paul Gross.

[primroseburrows]

I'm ecstatic (and very unsurprised) that Slings & Arrows is getting yet another rave review.

But, um.

The main player in ``Slings'' is actor-turned-director Geoffrey Tennant (Paul Gross, a Canadian Tom Hanks best known in this country for the TV cult claassic ``Due South''), who became interim artistic director of the festival....

I really like Tom Hanks (Philadelphia is one of my very, very favourite movies in the world). Very talented guy, and from everything I've heard, a very nice guy. But he and Paul Gross are nothing alike (aside from being talented and, hopefully, nice). Their acting styles are completely different, they don't look anything alike, they don't sound anything alike. WTF? It's also a bad way to promote the series, because not everyone likes Tom Hanks. Not to mention that Tom Hanks as Geoffrey makes me wince a little, no matter how much I like him as an actor. To be fair, Paul Gross as Forrest Gump makes me wince a lot.

Original article is here, but I'm not sure if it's accessible without signing up.


ETA: Visual Aids A and B:

A.

B.

Comments

[rosiedoes.livejournal.com]

I think they mean they're both talented, clean-cut and likeable.

One of those people you just can't not like.

Did I ever talk about Band of Brothers with you, btw? Tom Hanks directed part of that and it's so fucking awesome and so utterly slashy that I believer everyone ever should see it.

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

It's on my list of Things to See. <lj user="peacey" keeps raving about how much I would like it.

[rosiedoes.livejournal.com]

peacey is not wrong.

Seriously.

[topaz7.livejournal.com]

Or they're likeable, actors-turned-directors? Talented and multifaceted? I dunno. They are nothing alike, really.

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

See added Visual Aids. :)

[topaz7.livejournal.com]

Now that I have a good look at the visual aids, I see they almost have the same coloured eyes.

Just saying.

I

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

I guess they're all those things, but that's all circumstantial, and wouldn't make anyone jump to watch something new. They also both have enduring, apparently happy marriages, but so does Ewan McGregor and a bunch of other. *shrugs*

[bjohan57.livejournal.com]

It is a tortuous comparison because I can seriously not think of anyone who is like Paul in the US and it doesn't help the reader at all to mention Tom Hanks when trying to understand who Paul is, as it completely disregards his other roles in the industry for which Paul is equally known.

I took the Tom Hanks thing to refer simply to their respective status: Paul is (highly arguably) the most famous and successful actor north of the border at present, as well as being one of its most versatile; but there the comparison ends really - it certainly wasn't referring to a physical similarity at all. Paul is far edgier as an actor, has way more gravitas and charisma and takes on more interesting projects in my view -and I like Tom Hanks, don't get me wrong, but he hardly dings my bell and I am rarely entranced by him although I appreciate his work.

And Paul as Forrest Gump? I can't believe for a minute that Paul would take on that pile of steaming sacchariny crap. Aside from a few mis-steps, he appears to have a very finely-tuned crapometer in terms of his career.
Of course the other big difference between the two actors is this: Paul has actually done really good work post-1995.

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

It is a tortuous comparison because I can seriously not think of anyone who is like Paul in the US and it doesn't help the reader at all to mention Tom Hanks when trying to understand who Paul is, as it completely disregards his other roles in the industry for which Paul is equally known.

Exactly. That's basically my point, except you say it better. *G*

Imagine if Canadians had never heard of Tom, and their intro was that he was "The American Paul Gross". That would sound even more ridiculous. It's the same thing turned around.

I took the Tom Hanks thing to refer simply to their respective status: Paul is (highly arguably) the most famous and successful actor north of the border at present, as well as being one of its most versatile; but there the comparison ends really - it certainly wasn't referring to a physical similarity at all.

I realize it's not about physical resemblance, but people who don't know Paul who read this are going to assume resemblance, I think. I mostly posted the pics because I like posting pics, but I still think people will think visually at first read.

Paul is far edgier as an actor, has way more gravitas and charisma and takes on more interesting projects in my view -and I like Tom Hanks, don't get me wrong, but he hardly dings my bell and I am rarely entranced by him although I appreciate his work.

As much as I like Tom (and I really do), he's always Tom Hanks, even in his deepest character roles. I never forget that I'm watching Tom Hanks. Paul takes a role and wraps it around him until I forget about anything but the character. Geoffrey Tennant, case in point. I do wish that he'd take darker roles; Murder Most Likely was a screaming departure for him, and gorgeously done, and I wish he'd do something that gritty again. Tom McLaughlin is pretty dark, though. Having said that, Paul brings edginess even to roles where it probably wasn't in the character description. Benton Fraser, case in point OMG. Fraser has this deep, intense current running just under the surface, and okay, that's another meta!post entirely.

And Paul as Forrest Gump? I can't believe for a minute that Paul would take on that pile of steaming sacchariny crap. Aside from a few mis-steps, he appears to have a very finely-tuned crapometer in terms of his career.
Of course the other big difference between the two actors is this: Paul has actually done really good work post-1995.

I liked Forrest Gump until my kids overplayed it and I got sick of it. Also Road to Perdition and The Green Mile. But yeah, there's only a couple of Paul's films I refuse to see, and I think those were made for exposure and quite possibly to pay the rent.

[bjohan57.livejournal.com]

Paul's edginess: Another case in point is Brian in TOTC. In the books and in the subsequent installments where Brian was played by a different actor, the character is far nicer, more of a dopey loser who is running out of luck with women. Paul played him angry, pissed at the world and at women and someone who was actually a nice guy underneath the turmoil. It made the whole thing far more interesting and the Brian character far more realistic.
I just always get the impression that there is far more going on underneath the surface - and that works for Geoffrey, Fraser, Tom, Chris Cutter and any other character that you care to name. And yes, we have said this before a few times, but the minute one of Paul's characters walks onto the screen, he's that character to me, even in still promotional shots:



(I also like posting pictures!)

[joandarck.livejournal.com]

Hm. I think they mean the sweet-little-boy look, but it makes Paul sound more... well, boring, than he is. Paul Gross is flamboyant, a little bitchy and unpredictable. Tom Hanks is more of a, well, canvas for people to project onto. He has a kind of stealth darkness under it, but it's not the same effect.

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

I don't see so much stealth darkness with Tom. I don't know a whole lot about him, either, so my observation isn't exactly the Tom Hanks version of the Oracle of Delphi. He's got the Nice label pinned on really tight, though, and I bet he doesn't like it.

[catwalksalone]

-_- *hides eyes from appalling comparison*

If I didn't know better, i.e. was a P.G. virgin, the Tom Hanks reference wouldn't have made me rush out and watch. Probably the opposite.

But yay! for rave review. Sooooooooo well deserved.

(My friend at choir has now watched all my DVDs and keeps nagging about s3 - everyone falls under the spell of Geoffrey in the end. It's inevitable.)

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

I've got S2 out on loan to a co-worker, and another friend has already seen S1 and 2. I've got S3 possibly coming my way on a recorded DVD, so yay, pimpage! Neither of my two friends are familiar in any way with fandom, either. S&A is so in a class by itself. *g*

[bjohan57.livejournal.com]

i.e. was a P.G. virgin

Oh, I just pity the poor people who are.

[isiscolo.livejournal.com]

I join you in the general jawdroppery. Tom Hanks?!?

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

*pictures Tom Hanks as Fraser* I somehow don't see the connection. Um?

Tom might make an acceptable Buddy French, though. It's the only role I can think of that even looks like something Tom would choose.

[ruthless1.livejournal.com]

*grabs soapbox*
It's cultural imperialism. The writer can't imagine that someone of PG's talent can exist in his own right outside of this country. So in order for the not-so-smart American cultural unelite to understand PG's talents - they have to compare him to Tom Hanks. Who is quite talented - but not nearly as much as our dear Canadian friend.
//end rant//

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

It's also the fact that the entire planet looks to Hollywood for the cream of the crop (and Tom Hanks is certainly one of the best). Unfortunately, the planet's missing out on Paul Gross and Callum Keith Rennie and holy shit, Don McKellar (who blows my mind with just how good he is), and that's just a tiny sampling in one country.

[ruthless1.livejournal.com]

*shakes fists in the air*
YEAH!!!!!
Boy - I must be feeling a bit feisty and revolutionary today!

[sam80853.livejournal.com]

It's obviously meant as a compliment ... For Paul or Tom is anyone's guess. But I was laughing out loud reading it. The picture of Paul writing love letters to Meg Ryan sprung to my mind and ... ::chuckles:: ... ::giggles:: ... See?

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

It's obviously meant as a compliment ... For Paul or Tom is anyone's guess

I guess it's really a compliment for both of them. They both are way talented. Just...their acting styles are like night and day.

The picture of Paul writing love letters to Meg Ryan sprung to my mind and ... ::chuckles:: ... ::giggles:: ... See?

Or carrying Gary Sinise through the jungles of Vietnam...

[bjohan57.livejournal.com]

the thought of Paul writing love letters to anyone makes me giggle.
As for carrying Gary Sinise...I wonder if there will be a scene in Passchendaele of Paul carrying an injured CKR across the battle field. Ah the fandom will go wild.

I heard a rumour that the ACTRA strike may be nearing it's end by the way.

[mickeymvt.livejournal.com]

Ehh, they sorta, kinda look like. If you squint. A lot. As much as I like Tom Hanks as an actor, I really don't believe he could pull off crazy-cakes Geoffrey. JMO, of course.

[primroseburrows.livejournal.com]

If you're Ray Kowalski and you squint, maybe. *g*

Geoffrey is Geoffrey. If someone else played him, he wouldn't be Geoffrey. I guess the same goes for Ray Kowalski. *loves*