GLOBAL STAR POWER

Ratings of stars' global star power...


The ranking is, of course, going to be contentious. There is no method to it other than the kinds of sentiments the stars generate when you see them on the screen or when you read something about them in print.

The top five Hollywood stars with unstoppable global audience pulling powers...

1. Adam Sandler - his comedy has universal appeal and he has a likeable persona on screen;
2. The Rock - his charisma is unstoppable and he has fun in playing his roles -- the audience can sense this;
3. Johnny Depp - probably the most bankable star in Hollywood at the moment because of the Pirates trilogy and his always-delightful collaborations with director Tim Burton;
4. Russell Crowe - his star muscle is much respected -- has to be careful about the director(s) he chooses to work with, though;
5. Denzel Washington - a very dignified and talented actor who takes his work seriously and whom the global audience respects;

Just out of reach of the top five list:
1. Samuel L. Jackson -- always gives delightful performances nowadays;
2. George Clooney - good looks, brains and great screen performances;
3. Matt Damon - made the best decision in the world to play Bourne, although his bankability in other films is yet to be proven


The top five women in Hollywood with global pulling power...
1. Angelina Jolie - edgy, dares to have fun with her roles, her beauty helps too
2. Cameron Diaz - girl-next-door charm -- although the charm is wearing thin with lame movie choices
3. Julia Roberts - she still has it and people just love watching her
4. Scarlett Johansson - beautiful actress with a reckless edge, somewhat like Jolie, which makes her fun to watch on the screen
5. Keira Knightley - delivers her roles with a suitable amount of performance fakery, which is perfectly fine with audiences

Tiresome woman to watch on the screen: Jennifer Lopez
Recent overrated Oscar performance: Helen Mirren for The Queen

This is the planets biggest "iffy" stars at the moment...
1. Will Smith -- he has been very fortunate with his cinematic choices which seem to miraculously work -- but, somehow, he exhibits a hubris that is a big turn off to many viewers (there's an air of the sanctimonious about this man)
2. Tom Cruise -- his star is slowly descending into oblivion thanks to his innate ability to turn himself into a joke, but clever movie choices and working with the right director(s) can keep his career afloat for a while yet


Box office poison...
1. Jim Carrey -- he transforms his characters into unlikeable people -- the flawless Eternal Sunshine of a the Spotless mind could have been a monster hit if someone else was cast in the lead
2. Sean Penn - a one-note wonder on the screen -- what a chore to see his performances!