Hollywood, you're overdoing it

One of my all-time favorite things to do is sit down and watch a movie. There’s something about escaping reality and settling into a fictional world that will never lose its appeal for me. 

So, imagine my frustration when I turn on yet another movie just to be met with one of the same five familiar faces as the protagonist. It completely takes me out of it. 

I don’t see Marty Supreme from “Marty Supreme:” I see Timothée Chalamet. I don’t see Odysseus in “The Odyssey;” I see Matt Damon. I don’t see Chani in “Dune;” I see Zendaya. 

This isn’t to say any of these actors are bad actors—that’s not what is taking me out of the movie. It’s the constant appearance in popular movies; the constant pushing of actors and actresses onto audiences. 

They dominate the screens. They immediately make any film feel like Hollywood. They’re cast regardless of whether they actually fit the character description.

Heathcliff from “Wuthering Heights” is written as a darkskinned man, yet Jacob Elordi got the part. Evan from “Dear, Evan Hansen” is written as a 17-year-old, but 27-year-old Ben Platt reprised his Broadway role. The list goes on. 

Instead of seeking new talent, Hollywood relies on the same familiar faces over and over again. I understand these celebrities are celebrities for a reason. Their talent is undeniable, but sometimes it just feels lazy. 

Companies and casting directors know which actors will stir the most conversation and bring in the most audiences. 

Ultimately, money overrules promoting new talent and staying true to the material of the adaptations. 

The most popular movie by far this summer was “Obsession.” The chilling movie was widely praised and was received well by millions. 

I believe part of the reason for its success, whether or not watchers realize it, was that the main actors were relatively unknown. The film was as scary as it was because we didn’t have the comfort of recognizing our favorite Hollywood stars. 

It was terrifying acting from strangers, which made it even more terrifying. 

Sometimes a low-budget film with unknown actors is just as good as a high-budget film with the most popular actors in the world.

I think unknown actors allow the watcher to connect with the story and characters, rather than recognizing our favorites and having to work to imagine them as a certain character, separate from how we already perceive them. 

The allowance of new talent in films like “Obsession” also facilitates the progression of people’s careers that otherwise might have never been discovered. It brings in new favorites and encourages unknown actors to keep trying.  

My two favorite movies this year were “Obsession” and “Leviticus.” It’s no coincidence that both movies had fresh faces. I was able to fully feel the characters and the acting without the barrier of familiarity. 

As much as I love popular actors and actresses, I want new talent, and with how well “Obsession” did in theaters, I don’t seem to be the only one. 

Casting fresh faces doesn’t automatically ensure the film won’t do well.

Hollywood needs to take a chance on new and unfamiliar actors rather than recycling the same pool of people for each film. Who knows what talent they could discover if they just gave unknown actors more chances?