Monday, June 14, 2010

"Women of a Certain Age" and Alex O'Loughlin

by carol
Alex O’Loughlin has a female fanbase which is dedicated, somewhat loud, and very passionate. The observation has also been made that many of these women are "of a certain age.”

I have pondered the reason for this, probably because I fit into that demographic myself. I contend that Alex is a throwback to the movie star models who were our first adolescent crushes, the boyfriends and future husbands we wanted when we were women.

We would sit in dark theaters raptly watching them on the big screen in Technicolor, falling in love for the first time. That was a time when big stories were told by big actors.

Guys like Paul Newman, Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, and William Hurt.  These actors were able to showcase their talent in amazing films like Hud, Body Heat, Taxi Driver, Dog Day Afternoon.

Now understand, I’m not comparing Alex to those actors.  But I wish that kind of story featuring such powerful characters was available today to Alex. Alex’s commitment and intensity is certainly equal to the task, but he needs the right material with the right words.

OK, back on topic…When I was thirteen, those actors were the basis for my definition of a “real man.” Whoever Alex may be, as an actor he brings back those dreams of the perfect man, the ideal man.  And c’mon, are you ever too old to dream?  I hope not.

Besides, I would love to hear Alex speaking dialogue like:


Taxi Driver, 1976.  Diary entry voice-over by Travis Bickle (De Niro).
 
Travis: Loneliness has followed me my whole life. Everywhere. In bars, in cars, sidewalks, stores, everywhere. There's no escape. I'm God's lonely man... June 8th. My life has taken another turn again. The days can go on with regularity over and over, one day indistinguishable from the next. A long continuous chain. Then suddenly, there is a change.
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Dog Day Afternoon, 1975. Bank robber Sonny Wortzik (Pacino) becomes anti-hero.
 
TV Anchorman: Well I'm here to talk to you Sonny...
Sonny: Well I'm talking to you. We're entertainment, right? What do you got for us?
TV Anchorman: Well what do you want to get for it? Do you expect to be paid because...
Sonny: No, I don't want to be paid, I don't need to be paid. Look, I'm here with my partner and nine other people, see. And we're dying, man. You know? You're going to see our brains on the sidewalk, they're going to spill our guts out. Now are you going to show that on television? Have all your housewives look at that? Instead of As The World Turns? I mean what do you got for me? I want something for that.

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Body Heat, 1981. Slow, sultry Southern sex and murder with Ned Racine (Hurt).

Ned: I need someone to take care of me, someone to rub my tired muscles, smooth out my sheets.
Matty: Get married.
Ned: I just need it for tonight.
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Hud, 1963. Selfish, arrogant cowboy Hud Bannon (Newman) makes bad look good.


Hud: Man like that sounds no better than a heel.
Alma: Aren't you all?
Hud: Honey don't go shooting all the dogs 'cause one of 'em's got fleas.
Alma: I was married to Ed for six years. Only thing he was ever good for was to scratch my back where I couldn't reach it.
Hud: You still got that itch?
Alma: Off and on.
Hud: Well let me know when it gets to bothering you.


9 comments:

  1. Sigh...LOVE Alex (esp with his "Mick St. John" hair... (and I'm just shy of 55)

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  2. Liked the dialog

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  3. I think a lot of Alex's fanbase are "women of a certain age" because MICK ST. JOHN had that old-time movie star vibe going. Older women fell for Mick and that carried over to Alex.

    I don't find Alex anything like an old-time movie star, either in his non-Moonlight roles or in (what we know) of his offscreen life.

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  4. I've wondered about this myself (I'm 54) and think it might be because Mick St. John was such a romantic character, not just someone who wanted to "hook up" the way so many young people do. And I think that's when most of us fell in love with Alex - as Mick. Also, although Alex pumped up for BUP, he's not into the ego-driven waxed bodybuilder physique of so many young guys these days; he's a real man. And then there's the fact that Alex isn't out getting arrested, involved in scandals, and is genuinely interested in charitable causes. Those sorts of things appeal to us "women of a certain age."

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  5. Kim HusselbaughMonday, June 28, 2010

    It's not too often that you see even non-actors who are his age that are that mature and genuine.

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  6. It was the old-fashioned qualities, respect for women, integrity, that Mick had in Moonlight that captured the attention of women of a certain age. We may have transferred these traits to Alex, but I bet some of them are actually a part of this talented and handsome man.

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  7. Mick is not the reason. It is the actor that is Alex O'Loughlin that appeals, the camera loves him. He has the "it" quality and it shines through. That special kind of actor only comes around every few decades and crosses the boundries of age.
    I saw him before he ever made Moonlight. Took one look at this kid and said he is going to be famous. I said the same thing about a kid by the name of Johnny Depp in a little show called 21 Jump Street
    Alex will have a long career of making women sigh. He's that good.

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  8. My niece (20yr) after watching a few of his shows said: "Does he have a girlfriend? I want to marry him!" So it's not just women of a certain age that "falls" for him. His appeal definitely transcends all ages. The X-Factor - Not many actors can stir your soul so much that even while playing a serial killer you just what to hug him and make that "pain" go away!

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  9. Well i'm the same age as Alex and i have a little crush on him (well a big one actually)
    He's tall dark an rather fit lets face it that's why we love him and yes he's a nice guy to, but be honest we all love a bad boy to i bet he's no saint!!!
    An he's very welcome to put me in handcuffs if he likes mmm!!!

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