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Hi, everyone!
Above is defender Siri Worm, forward Rianna Dean, and defender Lucia Leon after Spurs booked a spot in the FA Cup quarterfinals.
Ramble of the Day
Though infrequent, any recent thoughts about Ryan Reynolds’s career have ended with me asking a variation of two different questions, both related to his taste:
- Can Ryan Reynolds act, or does he just refuse to?
- Is Ryan Reynolds the most corporation friendly actor in Hollywood?
These are questions I had before I finally got around to watching 6 Underground yesterday, but the film only added to it. The trailer was a dead giveaway that the film would end up with a 36% Rotten Tomatoes score, and any film that looks like that always leads me to questions of taste. More so, it led me to a specific question of the type of work Reynolds is doing — from his Golden Globe nominated turn in Deadpool to the upcoming Free Guy, it seems like Reynolds is playing the same character over and over again, and that the more times he does it, the closer he gets to phoning it in.
It would be unfair to suggest Reynolds is the only actor to repeat roles — Leonardo DiCaprio is guilty of a similar crime, though the results have clearly varied. One might wonder why Reynolds, after establishing himself as a comedically gifted actor and a box office draw hasn’t gone for a little bit more variety in roles, or something that appears to be a passion project (outside of the Deadpool films, of course). It is an easier thing to say than do — Daniel Craig is only just phasing out of James Bond with the likes of Logan Lucky and Knives Out, though he’s really showing his range. Reynolds has actually done the same in the past, from The Proposal to indie Mississippi Grind. I suppose it’s a possibility he does not have the pick of the lot when it comes to roles, but I really do think he’s just been picking the most big studio fare that’s been offered to him.
Again, Reynolds is not the only actor who does this, and it really is not criminal to do so. What I’d like to classify as slightly awful, though, is Reynolds’s association with brands. 6 Underground had perhaps the most product placement I’ve ever seen, with 26 brand name-dropped in a 128 minute film, an average of one brand popping up about every five minutes. In an article for The Hollywood Reporter, Richard Newby described it as a staple for director Michael Bay; I’d argue you could extend it to Reynolds, who recently, randomly collaborated with the wife from that Peloton commercial for an advertisement for his gin company, Aviation American. It would be hard to say Reynolds has really developed a habit, but it’s hard not to be surprised he’s the one starring in 6 Underground.
It’s, again, a decent way to keep food on the table, and I won’t call him bad for it, but it does not exactly breed engaging and interesting content. As someone who really made a name for himself being a superhero known for being original, is it too much to ask?
tl;dr: I watched 6 Underground and I think Ryan Reynolds needs to reevaluate his career choices a little bit.
Links of the Day
Former Norwich forward Justin Fashanu, Britain’s first openly gay male footballer, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at the National Football Museum.
Chelsea’s Fran Kirby revealed that her three month absence was because of a virus that caused pericarditis, and that she is “on the other end” of the illness.
La Liga gave Barcelona permission to make an emergency signing after Ousmane Dembélé was diagnosed with a hamstring injury that will keep him out for six months.
Today’s longer read: Rory Smith on Atlético Madrid’s trying season, and the evolution of both Diego Simeone and the club from outsiders looking in to insiders for The New York Times