It's an ever growing trend.

Like we discussed before, think how few actors make the leap that Dirk Bogarde did. . . he started out with a commercial career but traded it all in for more artistic pursuits.

Now you have actors doing the exact opposite! It's so strange. Actors you see in small american films or certain foreign films are popping up in the most bizarre hollywood/commercial projects.

Even a formerly talented "indie" director like Soderbergh has gone in the direction of the dollar. (Ocean's Twelve is on the way).

But it can't be just the dollar, or *just* the hollywood meat-grinder can it?

Think of other actors from the past who existed in that atmosphere but gave great performances in hollywood films: Marlene Dietrich, Marlon Brando, James Stewart, or even people like Robert Ryan and John Garfield (two of my favorites).

Think of Douglas Sirk who got all those potentially ridiculous soap-opera scripts dumped on him, but turned them into incredible works of art, human and political.

There seems to be a general artistic weakness going around today. Something is missing. There doesn't seem to be much direction. Even american "independent" filmmakers define their "independence" only in financial terms and not on artistic or political grounds.

Consider this too: some of the best performances in acting today are done by total amateurs, all those first-time actors in Iranian films for instance. Consider also their background--many of them living in poverty and under an oppressive and corrupt government like no other.

Compare that to America's "best and brightest": Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Josh Hartnett, the blonde guy from Fast And The Furious, and more.

There's something there I think. It's worth exploring.