Actors of the Week: James Franco and Penelope Cruz

Actor or the Week: James Franco

Seth Rogen saving Franco from being in shitty movies.

He’s already won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of James Dean. He already is part of TV history as an ensemble player in the classic 1-year sitcom “Freaks and Geeks.” He’s even part of mammoth superhero franchise ”Spider Man,” one of the most bankable franchises in movie history. Now he has rebounded from a string of forgettable films (remember “Tristan and Isolde”? I didn’t think so) to star in two hot new films. The recent UCLA grad reinvigorated the stoner, drug dealer-trope in Judd Apatow’s hilarious “Pineapple Express” (don’t listen to rumors its too long or boring, its fucking funny). He’s the latest GQ coverboy. And he has a plum part in Gus Van Sant’s upcoming “Milk,” which also stars Sean Penn. The pedigree film, about the first openly gay elected American official, should attract serious Oscar buzz and land Franco back on the short list of many casting directors. As his Spicoli would say “Right on!”

To read GQ’s profile of Franco, click HERE.

Actress of the Week: Penelope Cruz

Smokin'

First thing’s first, Penelope Cruz is beautiful. Not just smutty “do-me-now,” Pamela Anderson hot, but genuinely beautiful, dream-wife material. To top off her ethereal good looks, she’s actively friends with Salma Hayek and Shakira, keeping up hope that out there somewhere is a grainy video of some triple-Latina action.

To match Cruz’s smoking body is an impressive body of work. This week, Penelope can be seen in both “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” (which I’ve already written about), and the critically acclaimed “Elegy.” In “Barcelona,” Cruz effortlessly moves between Spanish and English, between fiery passion and quiet introspection for a role that is already garnering Oscar buzz. In the brooding “Elegy,” Cruz goes toe to toe with acting heavyweight Ben Kingsley (“Ghandi”), playing the woman that might finally make the acommital Kingsley come to terms with his aging sexuality.

Cruz has slowly but surely built a reputable and well-reviewed career. Although never a box-office giant, she has had success in films such as modern classic “Blow,” the trippy “Vanilla Sky,” and her Oscar-nominated performance in “Volver.” Cruz’s streak will likely continue with her upcoming appearance in the highly-anticipated film adaptation of “Nine,” the long-running Broadway musical.

Check out Richard Schickel’s Time Magazine review of “Elegy” here.

And because I can, here are more photos of Penelope Cruz below. Unfortunately for me and the rest of the world’s male population, Cruz is already dating her “Cristina” co-star Javier Bardem. Yeah, the weird-haircut serial killer in “No Country for Old Men.” Go figure.